West Virginia Hydrogen Hub Working Group Convenes First Meeting
Charleston, WV – Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Representative David McKinley (R-WV) and Governor Jim Justice (R-WV) held the initial organizing meeting for the West Virginia Hydrogen Hub Working Group, an enormous opportunity made available through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. To learn more about hydrogen hubs, please click here.
The Hydrogen Hub Working Group will collaborate and support a strong West Virginia candidate to be chosen to develop a hydrogen hub, funded through $8 billion allocated to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop at least four hubs through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The hydrogen hub would be a major energy producing facility tied in with end-use partners to create good-paying, long-term jobs and lead in the advancement of this critical technology.
“Today the Hydrogen Hub Working Group held our first meeting to discuss the best way to collaborate and compete for one of the hydrogen hubs funded by our bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” said Senator Manchin. “I am proud of our bipartisan collaboration on this incredible opportunity to showcase how West Virginia can continue to lead the country – and the world – in advancing energy technologies and bring good-paying jobs to the state. In the weeks and months to come, we’ll continue to work together to showcase our great state to the rest of the nation as we compete for a hydrogen hub.”
“Today’s meeting for our Hydrogen Hub Working Group further solidifies our shared goal of advancing hydrogen energy development in West Virginia. For centuries, West Virginia has shown its capability as an energy production leader, while also fostering innovation that has revolutionized production and manufacturing in our country. Bringing a hydrogen hub to West Virginia will further that proud tradition and bring good-paying jobs that spur economic development opportunities within our communities. It is vital that our state takes advantage of developing opportunities created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and I’m confident in our ability to do so,” Senator Capito said.
“For over a century West Virginia has helped provide the energy that powered America’s strength. We can continue to lead the way on emerging hydrogen technologies,” said Rep. McKinley. “Competing to become a Hydrogen Hub means that West Virginia has a chance be a center of innovation and development of these next generation energy technologies, bringing jobs and opportunities to the state.”
“I was incredibly proud to join Senator Manchin, Senator Capito, and Representative McKinley for today’s meeting, where we really hit the ground running in strategizing how to prove to the world that West Virginia truly is the perfect landing spot for this hydrogen hub,” said Governor Justice. “Going back to our earliest days, West Virginia has been an energy powerhouse for our nation, and we want to continue to be that for all time. Our incredible West Virginia miners have worked hard to keep the lights shining across America and I believe, with all in me, we are the perfect people and the perfect state to maximize the exciting potential of hydrogen. With this A-team pulling the rope together, we will prove it.”
The recently passed bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act included $9.5 billion for hydrogen, including $8 billion for Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs that will create jobs to expand use of clean hydrogen in the industrial sector and beyond; $1 billion for a Clean Hydrogen Electrolysis Program to reduce costs of hydrogen produced from clean electricity; and $500 million for Clean Hydrogen Manufacturing and Recycling initiatives to support equipment manufacturing and strong domestic supply chains. The legislation also requires one hub be located in Appalachia as the largest natural gas producing region.
DOE previously announced two Requests for Information (RFI) to collect feedback from stakeholders to inform the implementation and design of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Regional Hydrogen Hub and the Electrolysis and Clean Hydrogen Manufacturing and Recycling Programs. This is the first step in the clean hydrogen hub selection process. Details can be found here.
To learn more about hydrogen hubs, please click here.
Photos of the first Hydrogen Hub Working Group meeting can be found here
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