WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) sent a letter to the Director of the National Economic Council, Gary Cohn, encouraging him to examine the benefits of the development and construction of the Appalachian Storage Hub, a world class natural gas liquid storage and distribution hub in the Appalachian region.
The Senators said in part: “The Appalachian Storage Hub is a vital American infrastructure project that would enhance energy and national security while leveraging the region’s unique energy resources for the long-term economic benefit of families, manufacturers, and communities in nearby states and across the nation. An abundance of wet natural gas in the Marcellus, Utica and Rogersville shale formations has recently resulted in significant announcements of new investment in the Appalachian region, particularly by the petrochemical industry.”
Read the full letter below or click here:
Dear Mr. Cohn:
As the White House considers the future of our nation’s energy infrastructure, we encourage you to examine the numerous benefits of the development and construction of the Appalachian Storage Hub, a world-class natural gas liquid (NGL) storage and distribution hub in the Appalachian region. The Appalachian Storage Hub is a vital American infrastructure project that would enhance energy and national security while leveraging the region’s unique energy resources for the long-term economic benefit of families, manufacturers, and communities in nearby states and across the nation.
An abundance of wet natural gas in the Marcellus, Utica and Rogersville shale formations has recently resulted in significant announcements of new investment in the Appalachian region, particularly by the petrochemical industry. In fact, the region’s supplies of NGLs is highly underutilized. Stakeholders in the industry and Appalachian communities are increasingly optimistic that the development of a regional storage hub could attract at least six world-scale petrochemical complexes, along with a number of smaller facilities.
In a recent economic study, the American Chemistry Council concluded that the creation of such a hub would allow the Appalachian region to seize on the opportunities associated with these valuable natural resources, potentially attracting up to $36 billion in new chemical and plastics industry investment and creating 100,000 new jobs in the area. The construction of a hub and the associated infrastructure and ethylene/polyethylene facilities, will attract sorely needed economic activity to this underserved part of the country, which continues to suffer from high unemployment as a result from the downturn in energy and manufacturing production.
In addition to the national and energy security benefits that come with a new production and storage center for these vital materials, the Hub would create economic growth, workforce development, high-paying jobs, and more resilient supply chains. The cumulative effect of these benefits would have an immeasurable effect on the economic revitalization of the region.
We look forward to discussing these opportunities with your Administration as well as working with Congress. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.
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