WASHINGTON (WV News) — The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) has submitted its full application to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, according to state officials.
The DOE’s Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program includes up to $7 billion to establish six to 10 regional clean hydrogen hubs across America. The DOE will review the submitted applications and make an announcement in 2024.
Clean hydrogen hubs 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, according to the DOE.
“West Virginians are immensely proud of our long history as America’s energy powerhouse, and I am thrilled the Mountain State is continuing to pursue that legacy as the home of a regional clean hydrogen hub,” said Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. “With ARCH2’s submission to the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program, I am confident the Department of Energy will conclude there is nowhere better suited to host the growth of this industry than the Appalachian region.”
“West Virginia is uniquely positioned to host a regional clean hydrogen hub, and I am confident it would make a tremendous impact in our communities, further strengthen our energy sector and continue the proud tradition of energy generation in our state,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.
“The establishment of a hydrogen hub enables our state to continue being an energy powerhouse, and we’re uniquely positioned to work closely with neighboring states,” Gov. Jim Justice said. “Thank you to everyone involved in our efforts to secure a bright future for energy production in West Virginia.”
The West Virginia Hydrogen Hub Working Group was launched in February 2022 to foster the creation of a hydrogen industry in the Mountain State.
ARCH2 is a public/private partnership between the state and several leading energy production companies.
Arria Hines, prime partner of ARCH 2, recently spoke about the potential of landing one of the hubs in West Virginia during the fifth annual Focus Forward symposium in Morgantown.
“It’s multiple facilities. It’s not just one thing. It’s a hub,” she said. “In this hydrogen economy, we’re going to build on the workforce that we currently have that we know are used to working in very safety-conscience, high-risk areas such as coal and natural gas.”
The development of a regional hydrogen industry “won’t happen overnight” but could have big potential for West Virginia in the decades to come, Hines said.
