Agreement Reached to Build Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2)
31 Julio 2024 - 5:38PM
Business Wire
- ARCH2 awarded up to $925 million over project lifetime to
jumpstart a regional clean hydrogen economy.
- Appalachian region will benefit from billions of dollars in
public and private investments catalyzed by ARCH2.
The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) has executed
a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) to receive up to $925
million in federally funded dollars to spearhead the development of
a clean hydrogen hub in Appalachia. This federal funding will
unlock billions of dollars in private sector investment to create
thousands of well-paying jobs in Appalachia’s emerging hydrogen
economy. In partnership with OCED, ARCH2 will create a clean,
economically viable, and socially equitable hydrogen ecosystem
within Appalachia, revitalizing local communities impacted by the
energy transition.
H2Hub Program Background
In October 2023, the DOE selected ARCH2 as one of seven hubs
from across the nation to enter award negotiations for the DOE’s
Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs Program (H2Hubs). The H2Hubs are a
long-term initiative that aim to create regional clusters of clean
hydrogen producers, consumers, and connective infrastructure that
will form the foundation of a national clean hydrogen network. The
program is divided into four phases that span more than a decade.
ARCH2 was awarded $30 million for Phase 1, which is expected to
last up to 36 months, starting in July 2024. The remaining portions
of the allocated federal dollars will be unlocked in future phases
as the hub successfully reaches specific milestones set by the
DOE.
Regional Benefits
ARCH2 will bring significant economic, environmental, and social
benefits to the Appalachian region, including:
- Environmental: Produce clean hydrogen to decarbonize
hard-to-abate sectors such as manufacturing and
transportation.
- Economic: Create thousands of new jobs and train local workers
for the energy jobs of tomorrow.
- Social: Ensure 40 percent of the overall program benefits flow
to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by
underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
Community Engagement
ARCH2 will share additional details on the project portfolio,
Community Benefits Commitments, and plans for Phase 1 community and
labor engagement during an upcoming webinar. Please check ARCH2’s
Events page for details.
Further Information
More information on ARCH2 is available here:
- ARCH2 Website
- ARCH2 Hub Fact Sheet
- ARCH2 Awardee Fact Sheet
- ARCH2 Community Benefits Commitments Summary
About the Appalachian Regional Clean
Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2)
The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) is a
collaborative initiative between the United States Department of
Energy (DOE), private industry, state and local governments,
academic and technology institutions, non-profit organizations, and
community groups working together to build a safe and sustainable
clean hydrogen ecosystem in Appalachia. With a project portfolio
that spans West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, ARCH2 will
leverage the region's vast resources for diverse clean hydrogen
production, storage, delivery, and end-use applications. ARCH2
Project Development Partners include Air Liquide, CNX Resources
Corp., Enbridge Gas Ohio, Empire Diversified Energy, EQT Corp.,
Fidelis New Energy, Hog Lick Aggregates, Hope Gas Inc.,
Independence Hydrogen Inc., KeyState, and Plug Power. Management of
ARCH2 is led by Battelle, Allegheny Science and Technology (AST),
GTI Energy, and TRC Companies, with support from the National
Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
For more information, please visit www.arch2hub.com.
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Battelle Katy Delaney Phone: 614.424.7208
delaneyk@battelle.org