As the energy world changes, Wyoming is searching for ways to remain what it has always been, an exporter of energy. One of the possibilities drawing attention is hydrogen, a fuel that produces no carbon dioxide when burned and could play a growing role in a lower-carbon economy.

Hydrogen can be produced in several ways, including from natural gas paired with carbon capture, or from water using electricity. Wyoming's abundant natural gas, its potential for carbon storage, and its enormous wind resources give it, at least in theory, several routes to becoming a hydrogen producer. State leaders have expressed interest in positioning Wyoming at the forefront of an emerging hydrogen economy.

The appeal is obvious for a state watching its coal industry fade. Hydrogen could offer a new use for Wyoming's natural gas and wind, new industries and jobs, and a way to keep the state relevant in national energy markets rather than being left behind by the transition.

Significant hurdles remain. Producing hydrogen cheaply, transporting it, and building markets for it are all challenges yet to be fully solved, and the industry is still in its infancy. Whether hydrogen becomes a pillar of Wyoming's economy or a footnote depends on technology and markets still taking shape. But the state is determined to be in the conversation.