With the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations recently announcing funding for seven regional hydrogen hubs, which will receive a combined $7 billion allocated from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), many West Virginians may find themselves wondering what this means for the state.

These regional hubs are receiving dedicated federal funding, combined with private investments, to accelerate the U.S. development, production, and market share of affordable, clean hydrogen. Among the seven regional hub projects, the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) headquartered in Morgantown, WV, will receive up to $925 million to leverage Appalachia’s dependable, abundant, and affordable natural gas resources for hydrogen production while deploying new carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies on industries within the tri-state region.

Appalachia (and West Virginia specifically) is uniquely positioned to facilitate large-scale hydrogen and infrastructure development using legacy infrastructure and abundant natural gas. Natural gas is used as a feedstock in hydrogen production through a process known as “natural gas reforming.” It is a safe, proven process that creates a path for America’s largest and most complex industrial processes to reduce their environmental footprint. The ARCH2 network will also apply CCS technology to capture fugitive emissions, ensuring hydrogen is produced in the safest, most environmentally responsible manner possible.

What is the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2)?

ARCH2 is a collaborative effort between entities involved in hydrogen production and use across the value chain, including the National Energy Technology Laboratory, academic institutions, community organizations, and non-governmental organizations. Many GO-WV member companies will play a key role in facilitating ARCH2’s development—bringing economic, environmental, and community benefits to the region. With West Virginia’s access to an abundance of natural gas, our state is in a prime location to support the development and implementation of hydrogen into America’s energy strategy. ARCH2 is expected to directly support over 21,000 jobs, ensuring family-sustaining career opportunities for communities across West Virginia and the broader Appalachian region.

With this investment, West Virginia’s energy industry will work to:

  • Develop new facilities to manufacture and assemble equipment from hydrogen production;
  • Produce hydrogen and ammonia with captured coal-mine methane;
  • Build or convert existing facilities to use hydrogen in hard-to-abate industries, including industrial manufacturing, chemical plants, data centers, and power generation;
  • Construct pipeline infrastructure to transport hydrogen and natural gas-hydrogen fuel blends;
  • Employ CCS technology for permanent carbon dioxide storage.

What They are Saying

  • “Securing a hydrogen hub in West Virginia is a clear win for our economy, workforce and environment and we appreciate the leadership from Senators Manchin and Capito who continue to be strong advocates of leveraging West Virginia’s energy resources for the shared benefit of all. Through this hub, we’re showing how natural gas can advance clean hydrogen in America, which’ll drive down emissions, support good-paying, local jobs, and advance our economy. Like all West Virginians, we’re excited to get the hub underway.” – Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia Executive Director Charlie Burd.
  • “You here, in West Virginia, will be leading the nation in this new clean energy world. This is creating a whole new energy economy. This hub is going to be reducing the greatest amount of carbon pollution from the atmosphere of any of the hubs—that is an amazing thing. America is going to be the place where we create the highest paying, longest lasting jobs, with the best workers in the world, and you are at the tip of the spear, West Virginia.” – U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.
  • “[Hydrogen hubs] are going to change a powerhouse of an energy hub, such as West Virginia, and that is what we are. We have a little bit of everything going on here and basically everybody can benefit from it. Not just the people in West Virginia and all the citizens here and the transitions that are going on, but we’re going to be able to provide good jobs, a lot of innovation and creation is going to come from this, and we are going to share that with the rest of the world.” – West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin.
  • “West Virginia has always been an energy state—it’s been an energy region, with Pennsylvania and Ohio. This announcement today solidifies that for our future for many, many generations to come. ARCH 2 creates thousands and thousands of jobs, cleaner, greener energy. When you have a visionary and an innovative thing, like a hydrogen hub that has such a long future to it, this to me says to the next generation you’re going to want to stay, be here and contribute.” – West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito. 
  • “This is a milestone moment in West Virginian state history. Not only does this announcement today bring the promise of tens of thousands of jobs, but it reinforces the critical role that our state has played and will continue to play in this country’s energy innovation. This represents economic opportunity for our state. In addition to jobs, it brings investment that will have a spin-off effect. It also brings innovation that will be a catalyst to foster innovation between private industry and the institutions of higher education in research and development.” – President of Marshall University Brad Smith. 
  • “We’re thrilled the DOE chose the ARCH2 team to advance this vital path toward a clean energy future. We intend to lead this public-private partnership with vigor and excellence meeting government and industry objectives, addressing technical, commercial, and social justice goals, including proving hydrogen’s economic viability, in a highly transparent manner.” – President and CEO of Battelle Lou Von Thaer.
  • “CNX is pleased to provide ultra-low carbon intensity feedstock and carbon capture and sequestration services for the Adams Fork project, an anchor project in the recently approved ARCH2 hydrogen hub application. With today’s announcement, the U.S. Department of Energy has recognized the vital importance of ARCH2 and Adams Fork in improving our nation’s energy security. The Adams Fork project is expected to be the largest clean ammonia facility in the United States, once completed and is expected to support jobs and economic investment in an economically disadvantaged community in the heart of Appalachia.” — President and CEO of CNX Resources Nick Deiuliis.
  • “ARCH2 is giving an opportunity for our industry to come back and lead. The American energy independent has been an energy powerhouse force that has been sitting on the sidelines during this energy transition. With ARCH2, I am telling you, we are here to lead. The last energy transition took place 20 years ago, and we were running out of energy. The American energy independence cracked the code on shale and transformed America from being energy dependent to being an energy powerhouse in the world. We are incredible excited about the opportunity that ARCH2 provides us, and our industry has made the energy we produce cheaper, it’s made it more reliable, and it’s made it cleaner.” President and CEO of EQT Toby Rice.