A coalition of 54 environmental and community groups has urged the Department of Energy to pause the development of the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) pending greater public transparency and involvement. The project, focused on hydrogen production using natural gas, is set to span West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky with nearly $1 billion in federal funding potentially supplemented by state-specific incentives.
The groups’ concerns, articulated in a letter, include the lack of detailed public information about the hub’s operations, health impacts, and government subsidies. They criticized the closed-door nature of the ongoing negotiations and the minimal opportunity for public influence over the project’s planning.
Despite the controversy, some political figures and industry leaders support the hub. U.S. Senator Bob Casey, for example, has advocated for applicable federal hydrogen tax credits for the project. Meanwhile, the Marcellus Shale Coalition sees the pause as detrimental, highlighting the economic and environmental benefits the hub could bring to the region.
Critics also point to unproven aspects of the hub’s emissions reduction strategy, particularly the effectiveness of carbon capture technology, which relies heavily on federal support.
