Washington, DC — Today, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee, joined the Charleston Area Alliance Board of Directors meeting and the North Central West Virginia Business Summit to discuss the recent selection by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) of the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) to develop a hydrogen hub with a focus on counties in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky.

“West Virginia and ARCH2 have been given an exciting opportunity to help develop the hydrogen market right here in the Mountain State. Today, I had the chance to meet with the community and economic development leaders that will play a large role in guiding the new businesses, families, and workers that this hydrogen hub will bring to West Virginia. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our state, and I will continue to work with local leaders to ensure that we are able to fully realize the benefits this hydrogen hub will bring to West Virginia,” said Chairman Manchin. 

The announcement that ARCH2 will develop a hydrogen hub makes available up to $925 million in federal support under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that will bring a hydrogen hub to West Virginia. Chairman Manchin’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included $8 billion for Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs to jumpstart the production, transport, and use of clean hydrogen across the U.S. As a Hydrogen Hub selectee, ARCH2 will develop a network of hydrogen-based energy and products manufacturing in West Virginia. The Hub is projected to create over 20,000 jobs, with the majority of those in West Virginia. The $925 million in federal funding is expected to unlock up to $6 billion in additional private sector matching funding.