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APPALACHIAN REGIONAL CLEAN HYDROGEN HUB SELECTED FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY’S HYDROGEN HUB FUNDING
Morgantown, WV – October 17, 2023 – The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) as a recipient of the regional clean hydrogen hub funding as designated in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which establishes an investment of up to $8 billion for the development of clean hydrogen projects across the country.
ARCH2 will leverage diverse resources across West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky to establish a sustainable clean hydrogen hub capable of expansion and seamless integration into a broader national clean hydrogen network. Led by prime applicant Battelle, the world’s largest independent applied science and technology company, ARCH2 features a premier Program Management Office team, including Allegheny Science & Technology (AST), GTI Energy, and TRC Companies.
“We’re thrilled the DOE chose the ARCH2 team to advance this vital path toward a clean energy future,” said Lou Von Thaer, Battelle President and CEO. “We intend to lead this public-private partnership with vigor and excellence, meeting government and industry objectives while addressing technical, commercial, and social justice goals, including proving hydrogen’s economic viability, in a highly transparent manner.”
“Clean energy – and a clean planet Earth – is vital to us all,” Arria Hines, CEO of AST noted. “AST is excited to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Hydrogen Hubs initiative, one that will guide the United States’ clean energy strategy for decades to come.” Further, Hines noted, “The time is right to tap into hydrogen’s potential to play a key role in a clean, secure, and affordable energy future. Clean hydrogen offers opportunities to decarbonize existing energy sources along with the flexibility and scalability to meet growing national energy demand.” “AST will utilize its vast experience in energy technologies and collaborate closely with DOE and ARCH2 stakeholders to safely integrate the use of clean hydrogen energy in our local communities.”
"GTI Energy is honored to join our ARCH2 partners in leveraging the power of innovation and collaboration to bring cleaner air, well-paying jobs, and broad economic benefits to Appalachian communities,” said Paula Gant, PhD, President and CEO, GTI Energy. “The ARCH2 Hub will join other Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs as a proving ground for how industry and community together can develop cleaner energy systems that deliver direct benefits to local communities.”
"With our roots firmly planted in innovation 60+ years ago, TRC is proud to be part of the ARCH2 team and play a role in accelerating the clean energy transition in the U.S.,” said Christopher Vincze, Chairman and CEO of TRC. “ARCH2 is a win-win for the environment and the Appalachian region with good-paying jobs in an industry poised for growth. We are thrilled to leverage our state-of-the-art, environmentally focused, and digitally powered solutions to further advance the use of Hydrogen as clean fuel.”
ARCH2 has come together as an impressive collaboration of dozens of industry leaders and stakeholders across the Appalachian region. Soon after the bipartisan Infrastructure Law was signed, Battelle partnered with EQT Corporation and GTI Energy to build a team to bring a hydrogen hub to the region. In parallel, the West Virginia Hydrogen Hub Coalition and the Ohio Clean Hydrogen Hub Alliance were pursuing similar efforts. The groups merged efforts based on common objectives and formed ARCH2, extending outreach efforts across the Appalachian Region. Today, ARCH2 boasts a collective of more than 200 strategic partners and stakeholders interested in developing a clean hydrogen economy in northern Appalachia.
“I am so honored to announce that the U.S. Department of Energy has selected the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub for up to $925 million in federal support under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Senator Joe Manchin (D – WV). “This means West Virginia and the Appalachian region will be the new epicenter of hydrogen in the United States of America. As Chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, I wrote and fought for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to include $8 billion to establish hydrogen hubs to demonstrate the production and use of clean hydrogen. Now, our region will be on the leading edge of building out the new hydrogen market while bringing good-paying jobs and new economic opportunities in West Virginia and the Appalachian region.”
In addition to Senator Manchin’s support, ARCH2 received tremendous backing from other federal and state officials, as well as the business communities from West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania to secure this important infrastructure program for the Appalachian region.
“The announcement that the ARCH2 coalition has been chosen as a new regional hydrogen fuel hub will open up new opportunities for the resource- and talent-rich Appalachian region,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “By choosing Appalachia, the new hydrogen hub will be where there is an abundance of natural resources including low-cost natural gas production and storage, existing pipelines and transportation networks, and vast end-use markets as well proximity to end-use markets in the Midwest and Northeast. Creating a hydrogen hub is also an important component of a diversified and reliable energy portfolio."
"I am immensely proud that we have secured the approval of the ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub application by the U.S. Department of Energy,” said West Virginia Governor Jim Justice. “This achievement is a testament to our commitment to shaping the future of energy production in West Virginia and reaffirms our role as an energy powerhouse for America. I extend my thanks to everyone who contributed to this remarkable success, and we stand ready to work together with our surrounding states to ensure the boundless potential of our Hydrogen Hub becomes a reality."
"This represents yet another opportunity for the Appalachian region to lead in national energy production. West Virginia has a strong sense of pride in its growing energy portfolio, which includes crucial natural resources necessary for the success of a hydrogen hub,” noted West Virginia Secretary of Economic Development Mitch Carmichael.
"This is great news for Ohio and the Appalachian region that we can lead the nation and the world in the hydrogen industry.," said Kirt Conrad, CEO of the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority in Canton, Ohio, and Co-founder of the Ohio Clean Hydrogen Alliance. "We have been working with Battelle and our alliance partners for nearly 2 years to make this a reality and look forward to building a stronger region."
The deployment of ARCH2 will support the administration’s objectives of attaining net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. As the Hub delivers cleaner energy to the nation, its robust Community Benefits Plan (CBP) will implement proactive strategies to foster meaningful local engagement and produce consensus-driven benefits for the people of Appalachia.
“The DOE’s selection of ARCH2 reinforces the critical role natural gas, particularly Appalachian natural gas, will play in our nation’s transition to a lower carbon energy future,” said Toby Z. Rice, President & CEO of EQT Corporation. “EQT is proud to be a leading partner in the ARCH2 coalition, which brings together a diverse group of stakeholders with a united vision for a lower-carbon future. Our vast supply of affordable, low-emissions natural gas will enable our region to answer the world’s call for cheaper, more reliable, cleaner energy while deploying innovative, commercial-scale technologies that promote the growth of our economy and improve the environment.”
The ARCH2 project portfolio includes a diverse group of partner companies poised to bring economic, environmental, and community benefits to Appalachia through participation in ARCH2. Key project development partners under ARCH2 include Air Liquide, The Chemours Company, CNX Resources Corp, Dominion Energy Ohio, Empire Diversified Energy, EQT Corporation, Fidelis New Energy, First Mode, Hog Lick Aggregates, Hope Gas Inc., Independence Hydrogen Inc., KeyState Energy, MPLX, Plug Power, and TC Energy.
The ARCH2 consortium includes organizations spanning the hydrogen value chain, including technology organizations like the National Energy Technology Laboratory, academic institutions such as West Virginia University, Marshall University, Cleveland State University, consultants, community and labor organizations, and NGOs that will provide commercial, technical, labor, community, and programmatic leadership for the development and buildout of the hub.
At its peak ARCH2 is expected to create more than 21,000 jobs—including more than 18,000 in construction and more than 3,000 permanent jobs, helping ensure the Appalachian community benefits from the development and operation of the Hub. It is anticipated that negotiations with DOE/OCED on the ARCH2 award will commence in early November.
For additional information on ARCH2, visit www.arch2hub.com.
AST Contact
Stephanie Pethtel
Director of Marketing Communications
304.657.9107
[email protected]
Battelle Contact
Katy Delaney
Director of Media Relations
614.424.7208
[email protected]
EQT Contact
Bridget McNie
Director of Communications
412.720.4500
[email protected]
GTI Energy
Diane Miller
Director of Marketing Communications
847.768.0683
[email protected]
State of West Virginia Contact
Andy Malinoski
Director, Marketing and Communications, WV Dept. of Economic Development
[email protected]
TRC
Anne Bonelli
Senior Director, Communications
[email protected]
303-881-8496
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About Battelle
Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org.
About AST
AST is an energy solutions firm harnessing world-class agile expertise in applied science, energy efficiency, data analytics, and decision support tools to help build a better world. Utilizing scientists, consultants, and subject matter experts, AST delivers innovative solutions that drive clean, affordable, and sustainable energy technologies for its clients.
About EQT
EQT Corporation is a leading independent natural gas production company with operations focused in the cores of the Marcellus and Utica Shales in the Appalachian Basin. We are dedicated to responsibly developing our world-class asset base and being the operator of choice for our stakeholders. By leveraging a culture that prioritizes operational efficiency, technology and sustainability, we seek to continuously improve the way we produce environmentally responsible, reliable and low-cost energy. We have a longstanding commitment to the safety of our employees, contractors, and communities, and to the reduction of our overall environmental footprint. Our values are evident in the way we operate and in how we interact each day – trust, teamwork, heart, and evolution are at the center of all we do. To learn more, visit eqt.com.
About GTI Energy
GTI Energy is a leading technology development organization. Our trusted team works to scale impactful solutions that shape energy transitions by leveraging gases, liquids, infrastructure, and efficiency. We embrace systems thinking, innovation, and collaboration to develop, scale, and deploy the technologies needed for low-carbon, low-cost energy systems.
About TRC
Groundbreaker. Game changer. Innovator. TRC is a global firm providing environmentally focused and digitally powered solutions that address local needs. For more than 50 years, we have set the bar for clients who require consulting, construction, engineering, and management services, combining science with the latest technology to devise solutions that stand the test of time. TRC’s almost 7,000 professionals serve a broad range of public and private clients, steering complex projects from conception to completion to help solve the toughest challenges. We break through barriers for our clients and help them follow through for sustainable results, solving the challenges of making the Earth a better place to live — community by community and project by project. TRC is ranked #16 on ENR’s list of the Top 500 Design Firms in the United States. Learn more at TRCCompanies.com.
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