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Breaking: Brown Secures Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub

October 16, 2023

(October 13, 2023) CLEVELAND, OH – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that he successfully secured critical funding for the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub, helping ensure that Ohio plays a critical role in building the energy economy of the 21st Century. Brown has been an aggressive champion for the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub, successfully pushing the U.S. Department of Energy to provide funding to make the project possible through the department’s Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub program.

“This project will help ensure that Ohio workers and Ohio businesses are the leaders in the energy economy of the 21st century. I fought for the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub because I knew our state had the passion, the talent, and the infrastructure to power America’s future,” said Brown. “For generations, Appalachia has powered this country.  The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub will build on that history while creating good-paying jobs that can’t be offshored, lowering energy costs, and ensuring that Ohio remains a national leader in manufacturing and innovation.”

The establishment of the hub is being led by Columbus-based Battelle and includes a broad-based coalition of public and private sector entities spanning multiple states – Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Leveraging the region’s abundant energy resources, the hub will help lead efforts to develop the clean hydrogen economy. The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub is supported by the Ohio Clean Hydrogen Hub Alliance, a group of more than 200 public and private sector organizations, led by the Midwest Hydrogen Center of Excellence (MHCE), Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA), Dominion Energy, and Cleveland State University, who together have laid the groundwork for Ohio’s key role in the project.

“We’re thrilled the DOE chose the ARCH2 team to advance this vital path toward a clean energy future,” said Lou Von Thaer, Battelle President and CEO. “We intend to lead this public-private partnership with vigor and excellence meeting government and industry objectives, addressing technical, commercial, and social justice goals, including proving hydrogen’s economic viability, in a highly transparent manner.”

“This is a great win for Ohio and puts us in a leadership position of the worldwide clean energy transition.” According to Kirt Conrad, CEO of the Stark Area RTA co-founder of the Clean Hydrogen Alliance.  “The increased use of clean hydrogen is the key in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. I want to thank Senator Brown for his help in building the largest hydrogen fleet in the country outside of California and his leadership in this award.”

The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub is anticipated to create more than 21,000 good-paying jobs in the region– including more than 18,000 in construction and more than 3,000 permanent jobs.

Brown originally pushed for funding for regional clean hydrogen hubs like the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which he helped write and negotiate.