Ohio Lands Projects as Part of New Appalachian Federal ‘Clean Hydrogen Hub’
The Biden Administration has announced a selection of seven regional “clean hydrogen hubs” across the United States, including an Appalachian regional hub that will include projects in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm was in Morgantown, WV, accompanied by U.S. Senator Joe Manchin and WV AFL-CIO President Josh Sword, to announce the selection of the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen (ARCH2) application which will receive a portion of the $7 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for the hubs. The Energy Department said each hub will create “networks of hydrogen producers, consumers, and local connective infrastructure to accelerate the use of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier that can deliver or store tremendous amounts of energy.”
"President Biden continues to deliver on his campaign promises to revitalize the middle class through re-shoring manufacturing, rebuilding America's infrastructure to meet the 21st century demands and creating the renewable energy jobs of the future," said Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga.
The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen (ARCH2) hub centered around the Ohio River Valley will create 18,000 construction jobs and 3,000 permanent jobs , White House officials predicted. They said it would take advantage of the region’s bountiful natural gas, and provide hydrogen to the nation’s industrial heartland. It will get up to $925 million in federal money.
Its strategic location and the development of hydrogen pipelines, multiple hydrogen fueling stations, and permanent CO2 storage also have the potential to drive down the cost of hydrogen distribution and storage, a White House announcement said.