West Virginia’s four legislative leaders joined the West Virginia Hydrogen Hub Coalition, lending their support to those trying to bring a hydrogen hub to the state.
With money from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the US Department of Energy plans to build four regional hydrogen hubs, one of which will be in Appalachia, the country’s largest natural gas-producing region. On March 21, the West Virginia Hydrogen Hub Coalition filed an official response to the Department of Energy’s first step in the process of selecting winning hydrogen hubs.
Senate President Craig Blair, Minority Leader Stephen Baldwin, House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, and Minority Leader Doug Skaff joined the coalition on Thursday, according to Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito, and Rep. David McKinley.
Senator Joe Manchin, who leads the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, stated, “We are ecstatic to have the support of West Virginia’s legislative leadership in our efforts. Its state is ideally positioned to compete for the development of a hydrogen hub due to our rich energy resources and excellent connections. Our plan demonstrates how West Virginia can continue to lead the country—and the world—in energy technology advancements while also creating well-paying employment.”
“When it comes to investing in and establishing a hydrogen hub, West Virginia’s leaders—Democrat and Republican—are unified on the potential we know is waiting to be released right here in our state,” Capito said.
On Thursday, she told The Dominion Post that DOE would most likely have news on the selection process this summer. According to a presentation from Manchin’s office, the hub will be chosen in May 2023.
According to Capito, who spoke to The Dominion Post, “The best approach to deal with what we’re seeing in terms of climate change is to innovate and explore… One of the imaginative paths to a cleaner, greener, and more powerful future would be a hydrogen hub.”
In his statement, McKinley stated, “We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to improve infrastructure that will support a regional hydrogen center thanks to the Infrastructure Bill. As a result, West Virginia, as one of the country’s largest coal, gas, and oil producers, can lead an all-of-the-above energy strategy that leverages the state’s existing resources while developing next-generation technologies that will support good jobs and long-term energy security for the United States.”
Republicans Alex Mooney and Carol Miller, the other two members of West Virginia’s congressional delegation, voted against the infrastructure measure and did not attend the announcement.
The four parliamentary leaders also expressed their opinions.
“We are developing a new economy here in West Virginia,” Hanshaw said, “and we stand ready to do everything we can to ensure that the state is attractive to this enterprise and many others.”
“West Virginia has a long history of fueling our country,” Skaff said, “and bringing a hydrogen hub to the Mountain State will allow our hardworking families to be a part of powering our wonderful country well into the future.”
“I look forward to us becoming leaders in energy technology as we strive to grow our strategy and portfolio into the next generation,” Blair said.
Baldwin also stated, “We need to be a more varied and greener energy state for the sake of our future. Expanding the hydrogen market in the United States would allow us to create employment, provide energy for our own population, and create a more sustainable economy.”
Steam methane reforming, which involves burning natural gas to reform methane into hydrogen and carbon dioxide, then capturing and sequestering the CO2, produces blue hydrogen. Microwaves are a viable alternative, cleaner approach to manufacturing blue hydrogen; they can produce hydrogen quicker while using less energy.
Steam is used to make grey and brown hydrogen, but it is not sequestered. Green hydrogen is created by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen.
According to Manchin’s office’s presentation, a hub is a network of clean hydrogen producers, potential consumers, and connecting infrastructure. At least one center will generate hydrogen from fossil fuels, another from renewables, and still another from nuclear power (pink hydrogen).
At least one hub will show how to clean hydrogen may be used for electricity production, industrial uses, home and commercial heating, and transportation.
The infrastructure bill included $9.5 billion for hydrogen, including $8 billion for Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs, which will jump-start the production, transportation, and use of clean hydrogen across the United States; $1 billion for a Clean Hydrogen Electrolysis Program, which will lower the cost of hydrogen produced from clean electricity; and $500 million for Clean Hydrogen Manufacturing and Recycling initiatives, which will support equipment manufacturing and strong domestic supply chains.
The West Virginia Hydrogen Hub Coalition was launched on Feb. 15 by Manchin, Capito, McKinley, and Gov. Jim Justice. The first organizational meeting was held on February 25. GO-WV, the West Virginia Gas and Oil Association, is also a member.
