DOE/EIS-0569: Appalachian Hydrogen Hub

Summary

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) to assess the potential environmental impacts for the proposed action of providing financial assistance to the Battelle Memorial Institute (Battelle) to facilitate the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub (also referred to as the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub or ARCH2) in the Appalachian Region including Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The Appalachian Hydrogen Hub is proposed to consist of a suite of demonstration projects involving clean hydrogen production, transportation, and end uses located within the Appalachian Region that includes Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Battelle is the primary funding recipient and lead Appalachian Hydrogen Hub manager. 

As currently proposed, the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub would encompass 12 proposed projects, including hydrogen production facilities that could produce at least 1,700 metric tons per day of clean hydrogen (autothermal reformation facilities with carbon capture, biomass pyrolysis facilities, electrolysis facilities, and facilities for recovering hydrogen from waste gases), hydrogen liquefiers, and a range of end uses including residential fuel cells, materials handling equipment, mobility, and industrial uses, including production of ammonia, urea, and low-carbon aviation fuel.

DOE will be the lead federal agency in the preparation of the EIS.

What’s New

December 2024 - Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the DOE has determined that an EIS is required to inform a decision on whether to provide federal funding to Batelle in support of portions of the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub. DOE welcomes your input on the proposed scope of the EIS on or before March 3, 2025.

Project Schedule

Public Comment Opportunities

Attend Public Scoping Meetings 

As part of the NEPA scoping process and to provide an opportunity to gather information necessary to prepare an EIS, DOE will hold one virtual public scoping meeting at the following date and time (eastern time):

• Thursday, January 16, 2025 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
• Registration link: https://trccompanies.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8MC07shGQeGfjmYmXQwZuQ 
• The public scoping meetings scheduled for February 5, 12, and 13 have been cancelled.

Provide Written Scoping Comments 

DOE welcomes written comments on the scope of the EIS until March 3, 2025.  Comments will be accepted and considered to the extent practicable throughout the EIS process. However, commenters should be aware that their comments should be timely for them to be fully considered.

To provide written comments through the www.regulations.gov web portal: 

Navigate to www.regulations.gov, search for Docket No. DOE-HQ-2024-0082, and follow the instructions for submitting comments.

To provide comments by mail or hand delivery service, please address your comments to: 

DOE/EIS-0569 TRC APPALACHIAN HYDROGEN HUB Coordinator

Teays Corporate Centre, 135 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 540

Scott Depot, West Virginia 25560

Additional Information

Learn more about DOE’s Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs Program. 

Appalachian Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) | Department of Energy

Additional project information is also available at www.arch2hub.com.

For further information about the EIS email: [email protected].