Gov. Kristi Noem has signed a bill giving the Public Utilities Commission regulatory oversight of hydrogen pipelines.
House Bill 1034 grants legal authority over hydrogen pipelines to the PUC similar to their authority over carbon dioxide pipelines.
PUC commissioners said the bill is a precautionary measure based on federal interest in developing a Heartland Hydrogen Hub.
The Heartland hub would include Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The project is a part of a larger $7 billion dollar investment by the Biden-Harris administration to develop multiple clean hydrogen hubs across the nation.
There are not currently any organizations seeking a hydrogen pipeline permit in the state.
