Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub

The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) is a collaborative initiative dedicated to establishing a clean, economically viable, and socially equitable hydrogen ecosystem in Appalachia. The hub secured a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to receive up to $925 million in federal funding to spearhead the development of a clean hydrogen hub. This funding will unlock billions of dollars in private sector investment, creating thousands of well-paying jobs and revitalizing communities impacted by the energy transition.

ARCH2 is committed to using the nation’s lowest-cost natural gas as primary feedstock to enable and sustain a regional hydrogen economy across multiple end-use sectors. The project spans West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, leveraging the region’s vast resources for hydrogen production, storage, delivery, and end-use applications. The hub is comprised of 12 Project Development Partners (PDPs) and a Program Management Office (PMO) with expertise in applied science, project management, and community engagement.

The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) aims to establish a clean, economically viable, and socially equitable hydrogen ecosystem in Appalachia. Leveraging the region's abundance of low-cost natural gas, ARCH2 will develop a regional hydrogen economy across multiple end-use sectors while ensuring fair and equitable distribution of economic benefits among local communities. The hub will serve as a model for a national clean hydrogen network, demonstrating sustainable production, storage, delivery, and end-use of clean hydrogen.

Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) promotes a collaborative and inclusive culture, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and stakeholder involvement. They are dedicated to building a clean hydrogen ecosystem that benefits the region by creating jobs, promoting economic growth, and addressing environmental concerns. Their commitment to equity and fairness ensures that the benefits of clean hydrogen reach disadvantaged communities and all residents. ARCH2 fosters transparency through communication and actively encourages feedback and participation, creating a collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and empowered.

Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion by ensuring at least 40% of its overall program benefits flow to disadvantaged communities. This commitment is embedded within the ARCH2 Community Benefits Commitments, which aims to address underinvestment and environmental burdens often faced by these communities. ARCH2's approach includes stakeholder engagement, proactive communication, and measurement processes to ensure the benefits of the clean hydrogen economy are shared equitably and reach those most impacted by past energy transitions.