The Ohio-Pennsylvania-West Virginia effort aims to be selected as one of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs
Harrisburg, PA – Team Pennsylvania Foundation (Team PA) last week submitted its application to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program (H2Hubs). H2Hubs is allocated through the bi-partisan federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which includes up to $7 billion to establish six to ten regional clean hydrogen hubs across America. As the prime applicant, Team PA joined industry leaders and established the Decarbonization Network of Appalachia (DNA) H2Hub, which represents a collective vision for emissions reduction and economic revitalization driven by increased GDP, the creation of new family-sustaining jobs, an expanded and shared concept for community-level investments, and new business opportunities for local supply chains.
“Western Pennsylvania has a long history of energy production and industrial manufacturing – and is home to a skilled workforce ready to build and support the Decarbonization Network of Appalachia (DNA) H2Hub. The DNA coalition has a vision for emissions reduction that prioritizes large-scale deployment of clean hydrogen production and end-users in the tri-state region of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia – a vision that greatly benefits the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and one that I share and strongly support,” said Governor Josh Shapiro in support of the project. “We can and must protect and create jobs and protect our planet, and this project will be key to demonstrating that Pennsylvania can lead in this way.”
Leveraging innovative, proven, and industrial-scale technologies, DNA H2Hub leans into the strengths of Appalachia’s people and natural environment – a capable workforce and competitive edge in natural gas and power production, nimble universities and research institutions, and favorable geography – to deploy low-carbon blue hydrogen across the tri-state region. Thanks to these assets, DNA H2Hub aims to unlock affordable, clean hydrogen and decarbonize the supply chains, manufacturing, and power production in America’s industrial heartland.
“Rising to the challenges of our time — climate change, economic transformation, and global inequity — will only be possible with strategic public-private partnership. In kickstarting the clean hydrogen market, Pennsylvania and this region will begin to unlock the solutions for the energy transition and light the way for the nation and the world,” said Abby Smith, President and CEO of Team PA. “Team PA is proud to submit an application grounded in a spirit of collaboration and driven by the power of our industry, labor, academic, nonprofit, and civic leaders.”
The DNA H2Hub project will put the energy powerhouse tri-state region, with Pennsylvania as its foundation, on the map as a major corridor and crucial link in the nation’s clean energy infrastructure. Industry leaders Shell USA and Mitsubishi Power Americas will oversee the technical and commercial aspects and implementation of multiple hydrogen production facilities and supporting infrastructure. Together, this build out intends to supply clean hydrogen to end-users in polymer manufacturing and power generation. As it expands, it has the opportunity to decarbonize industries such as steel that lie at the heart of regional manufacturing, growing the economy while reducing pollution. The effort will also strengthen local small business enterprises and engage directly with communities to ensure that they realize the significant benefits of this historic investment.
“Labor is and has always been prepared to take on big energy projects, and we’ve known from the beginning that this country will have to build its way to a greener economy and a stronger society,” said Darrin Kelly, President of the Allegheny/Fayette Central Labor Council. “The DNA H2Hub is for the working families of today and the working families of tomorrow, in Appalachia and across the country. Our labor workforce stands with Team PA’s effort, committed to making clean hydrogen a reality for this region: we are ready to train, ready to work, ready to build.”
Leading this work on Team PA’s behalf is Tom Murphy, Senior Managing Director of Strategic Energy Intiatives. Murphy was formerly the Director of the Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research at the Pennsylvania State University. He has proven leadership with a holistic range of energy transition projects spanning 35 years, both across North America and internationally. He has similar experience at the convergence of shale energy and renewables, specifically with utility scale solar in greenfield communities. These previous projects inform his current decarbonization efforts focused on the direct replacement of natural gas with hydrogen in hard-to-abate industry sectors.
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“This is a generational opportunity for Pennsylvania and the region,” Murphy said. “And we’re ready to take the lead.”
