CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — State officials announced Friday the U.S. Department of Energy will provide support to bring a hydrogen hub to West Virginia, a project that is expected to create more than 20,000 jobs.
The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub will receive up to $925 million in federal funding, bringing a network of hydrogen-based energy and products manufacturing to the Mountain State, according to the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito released statements following the announcement.
“On behalf of the West Virginia Hydrogen Hub Coalition I am so honored to announce that today 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," Manchin stated in a news release. "This means West Virginia will be the new epicenter of hydrogen in the United States of America. We won the hub because of the hard work of countless individuals and organizations, and I could not be prouder to be making this announcement today."
“Today is a major win for the ARCH2 team and for future economic development and energy production in West Virginia,” Capito said. “Since we included language and funding for a hydrogen hub competition in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and at every stage since, I consistently supported efforts to help make this project a reality. I’m thrilled for the ARCH2 team, and am so proud West Virginia will continue its tradition as an innovative, energy-producing state through a regional hydrogen hub.”
The development falls under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which allocated $9.5 billion for hydrogen on the federal level and requires a hub to be located Appalachia.