Charleston Leader

Today, U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate on Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.), as well as Governor Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), and former U.S. Rep. David McKinley (R-W.Va.) announced the initial $30 million of the total $925 million award was released from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to officially launch the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) in West Virginia. This funding was made possible by provisions secured by Senator Capito in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

“This initial funding announcement marks an important step in helping the ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub come to fruition,” Ranking Member Capito said. “As part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, we ensured West Virginia could continue its proud history of energy production with a clean hub to produce, transport, and use hydrogen as an energy source in our region. I look forward to continuing to support this project and the potential economic impact it will have for communities across our state now and into the future.”

“Since our state’s founding in 1863, we have cemented our legacy as America’s energy powerhouse. Today’s announcement adds to West Virginia’s ability to power this great nation well into the future,” Senator Manchin said. “I was proud to help bring ARCH2 to the Mountain State, which will strengthen America’s energy independence, adding to our all-of-the-above approach to energy production through the expansion of hydrogen energy while lowering emissions and bringing good paying jobs to our state.”

"West Virginia is leading the charge in our nation's energy future, and this award for the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub is a testament to our state being a powerhouse in the energy industry," Governor Justice said. "West Virginia is an ‘all of the above’ energy state, and harnessing the power of hydrogen allows us to create new economic opportunities and high-quality jobs for our communities. I'm proud that West Virginia will continue its tradition as an innovative, energy-producing state. Today is a great day for West Virginia.”

“I was honored to work alongside Senators Manchin and Capito as well as Governor Justice to make this long overdue project a reality,” Former Rep. McKinley said. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to fix not only our nation’s broken bridges, roads, and waterways but is also rejuvenating our state’s energy industry. Thanks to the historic investments in our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, West Virginia will continue our vital role in America’s energy production.”

A timeline of the West Virginia Hydrogen Hub Coalition’s work on ARCH2 is available below:

On October 13, 2023, Senator Capito, Senator Manchin, Rep. McKinley and the Governor’s Office celebrated ARCH2’s selection as one of the DOE Hydrogen Hubs, making it eligible for up to $925 million in federal support.

On April 11, 2023, Senators Capito and Manchin and Governor Justice applauded ARCH2’s Application to Compete for Regional Hydrogen Hub.

On January 17, 2023, Senators Capito and Manchin and Governor Justice applauded ARCH2’s announcement that the DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations encouraged the Hub to submit a full application.

On September 28, 2022, Senators Capito and Manchin, Rep. McKinley and Governor Justice announced their support for the new Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub comprised of over 40 entities.

On July 28, 2022 Senators Capito and Manchin Rep McKinleyand Governor Justice convened a robust group of energy industry leaders for a morning of panel discussions and presentations

On April 28 2022 Senators CapitoandManchinRepMcKinleyandGovernorJusticewelcomedbipartisanmembersofWestVirginia'slegislativeleadershiptotheWestVirginiaHydrogenHubCoalitionincludingSpeakeroftheHouseRogerHanshaw(RWVa)PresidentoftheSenateCraigBlair(RWVa)SenateMinorityLeaderStephenBaldwin(DWVa)andHouseMinorityLeaderDougSkaff(DWVa)

On March 21 2022 SenatorsCapitoandManchinRepMcKinleyandGovernorJusticesubmittedtheWestVirginiaHydrogenHubCoalition'sofficialresponsetotheDOE'sfirststepintheprocesstoselectwinninghydrogenhubsfundedbytheIIJA

On February25th2022SenatorsCapitoandManchinRepMcKinleyandGovernorJusticeconvenedtheinitialorganizingmeetingoftheWestVirginiaHydrogenHubCoalition

On February15th2022SenatorsCapitoandManchinRepMcKinleyandGovernorJusticeannouncedthelaunchoftheWestVirginiaHydrogenHubCoalitiontocollaborateandsupportastrongWestVirginiacandidatetobechosentodevelopahydrogenhubfundedthrough$95billionallocatedtotheDOEbytheIIJA

The IIJA included $9.5 billion for hydrogen including $8 billion for Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs that will jumpstart production transport useofcleanhydrogenacrosstheUSeconomy;$1billionforCleanHydrogenElectrolysisProgramtoreducecostsofhydrogenproducedfromcleanelectricity;and$500millionforCleanHydrogenManufacturingandRecyclinginitiativestosupportequipmentmanufacturingandstrongdomesticsupplychains.ThelegislationalsorequiresonehubbelocatedinAppalachiaasthelargestnaturalgasproducingregion.

Learn more about hydrogen hubs here.

Learn more about Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub here.