The directive will create an initiative under constitutional and state law to lead Michigan’s efforts on the naturally occurring energy carrier.

This involves coordinating state-wide planning, regulatory readiness, workforce and economic strategy, infrastructure assessment, and environmental evaluation, necessary to explore the extraction of geologic hydrogen in Michigan.

The Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy is obliged to submit a report on the physical, regulatory, and technical feasibility of utilising naturally occurring hydrogen in the state, by 1 April 2026.

Whitmer said the geological properties and the midcontinent rift system promise of hydrogen underground could generate “tens of millions of dollars annually in direct state revenue.”

“Clean geologic hydrogen could preserve and create thousands of good-paying industrial jobs by keeping Michigan industries competitive in a price-sensitive, energy-restricted global market – while still reducing industrial emissions,” the Governor’s directive stated.

Natural hydrogen, also known as geologic or white hydrogen, is formed by natural geological processes within the Earth’s crust, where it can accumulate and continue to be generated over time.

It has gained attention for its potential to deliver huge volumes of low-cost, low-carbon hydrogen. There are estimated to be over 40 companies worldwide exploring for natural hydrogen reserves today.

However, the extraction of natural hydrogen is still very much in its infancy. While proponents suggest existing oil and gas technologies and processes could be used, more research efforts are required.

The directive comes after wider clean energy and hydrogen setbacks under the second  Trump administration.

It remains unclear if the Michigan initiative will face headwinds from the administration, whose “drill baby drill” ethos has seen the termination of two clean hydrogen hubs and billions of dollars of funding for clean energy projects withdrawn.