West Virginia marked a significant milestone by launching the first phase of the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub in Morgantown, supported by a $30 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations. This initiative, known as ARCH2, aims to establish a hydrogen-powered economy through the production of clean hydrogen using natural gas. With a total investment of approximately $96 million in phase one, the project plans to create production nodes across West Virginia, southeast Ohio, and parts of Pennsylvania. The Appalachian Hydrogen Hub, part of President Joe Biden's strategy to promote clean energy, is expected to be a key player in the global production and export of clean hydrogen. By utilizing natural gas to produce hydrogen—referred to as blue hydrogen—the emissions generated will be sequestered underground. The hub's potential extends to decarbonizing manufacturing processes, such as steel and metals production, as well as providing long-term energy storage solutions. The project, estimated to attract over $925 million in investment, foresees the creation of thousands of jobs, both temporary and permanent, in various sectors. Collaborations with federal entities like the National Energy Technology Laboratory and academic institutions such as West Virginia University and Marshall University are integral to the hub's success. The ARCH2 project's phased approach, with stringent deliverables to unlock further federal funding, aligns with the Biden administration's climate goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving carbon neutrality by 2035.