We’re excited to share a mid-year update on the progress we’ve made in 2024 towards establishing a clean hydrogen economy in Appalachia.
ARCH2 and the H2Hub Program
The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) is part of the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) long-term initiative to develop Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) across the U.S. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the hubs are intended to lay the groundwork for a national network of hydrogen producers and consumers and the infrastructure necessary to connect them.
ARCH2: From concept to reality
Less than a year ago, ARCH2 was merely a proposal. Today, we are diligently transforming that idea into reality. While we still have a long journey ahead before our hub becomes operational, we are proud of the significant progress made from application, to hub selection, and entering award negotiations with DOE.
Building ARCH2
Before our work could truly get started, we had to build ARCH2 as an organization from the ground up. This foundational phase was crucial to setting the stage for our hub’s long-term success. From assembling the right team to developing foundational policies and procedures for day-to-day hub management, standing up an organization like ARCH2 is no small feat and required the cooperation, dedication, and hard work of the entire ARCH2 consortium.
Award negotiations
Our top priority for the first half of the year was to successfully complete award negotiations with DOE. Negotiations are an intricate process spanning multiple months during which an organization must prove to the government that it is capable of properly managing a federal funding award. It involves reviews of an organization’s financial controls and management systems, project plan analyses, regulatory and legal compliance checks, and extensive documentation. The process culminates in a formal agreement on the award terms and conditions, and ARCH2’s obligations under the award.
Public outreach and engagement
We understand the importance of communicating and engaging with communities across the region to build trust and foster collaboration. Here’s a recap of our outreach and engagement efforts since October 2023:
- Extensive engagement with a wide variety of local, regional and national media outlets.
- Representatives of ARCH2 have participated in nearly two dozen events so far this year, ranging from industry conferences to legislative hearings to panel discussions.
- ARCH2 has participated in multiple stakeholder briefings and listening sessions, including:
- 10/24/23 – Community briefing co-hosted with OCED. View the slides here.
- 3/27/24 – Virtual public listening session #1 hosted by OCED. Read the summary here.
- 5/8/24 – Virtual public listening session #2 hosted by OCED. Read the summary here.
- Releasing a comprehensive set of the most Frequently Asked Questions about ARCH2.
In the months ahead, our outreach and engagement efforts will ramp up significantly with the start of Phase 1.
Looking ahead
As we enter the second half of 2024, we are excited about concluding the award negotiation process and beginning Phase 1 of the H2Hub program. The dedication and hard work completed in the first half of the year positions us to continue advancing our project plans and move closer to realizing our vision of a clean hydrogen economy in Appalachia. We look forward to sharing our achievements with you in the coming months.
Stay tuned for information about a webinar that will be held roughly 30 days after ARCH2 is awarded that will address, among other topics, how interested parties can participate in the ARCH2 Consortium.
