Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2): An Impact Analysis

Through the Biden Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the Department of Energy (DOE) funded seven regional “Hydrogen Hubs” across the United States that will serve as regional networks for hydrogen production, transportation, storage, and usage, in an effort to decarbonize the American economy. This analysis focuses on the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) given that Appalachia has experienced generations of negative impacts from an economy based on natural resource extraction, and some communities fear the creation of a hydrogen hub might result in continued reliance on natural gas extraction as well as further entrench inequities throughout the region.

This overview of the region, including analysis of the counties included in ARCH2, explores existing socioeconomic issues using data from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) EJ Screen tool to help decision-makers and community members understand the current state of the region to better determine how hydrogen development might actually lead to local, concrete community benefits, and thus be considered a true "just transition" solution. Understanding existing issues and concerns in potential hub communities is a key component to ensuring the equitable development of the hydrogen sector, in addition to prioritizing meaningful, sustained community engagement to avoid creating new or exacerbating existing inequalities.