Photo of L-667 BM-ST Bruce Forshee via Williamson Daily News
By Local 667 (Charleston, West Virginia) BM-ST Bruce Forshee as appearing in the Williamson Daily News
West Virginia is on the brink of a surge of economic development that the state hasn't seen in its entire history. I am talking about the creation of the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub, known as ARCH2, and the jobs and economic expansion that it will bring.
A hydrogen hub is a system of interconnected infrastructure that addresses the production, transportation, storage and use of hydrogen. In this hub, hydrogen will be produced using natural gas. The hydrogen can then be transported downstream for a wide range of uses ranging from manufacturing to electrical production. It can even be used to heat homes. This hub will require billions of dollars in investment in the state. Sen. Joe Manchin and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito secured $925 million in federal funding to make this project a reality. This money will be matched by private funds.
Senator Manchin also secured tax credits for carbon capture and sequestration, which makes hydrogen production using natural gas feasible. Without the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill that was supported by both senators, and the Inflation Reduction Act, which was championed by Senator Manchin, none of this would have been possible.
The hydrogen hub will mean that West Virginia stays at the forefront of energy production for generations to come. It will mean energy security for our nation because it will reduce reliance on foreign countries to meet our energy needs. But, most importantly for me and for my union brothers and sisters, it will mean job creation. Union labor will be tapped to build these hydrogen production, storage and transportation facilities. This includes Boilermakers like those in Local 667 that I represent. Our local union covers the majority of the state and three bordering counties in Ohio. We will see several projects in our jurisdiction. This will keep us, and the other unions such as the electrical workers, the pipefitters, and the painters (just to name a few) busy for years to come.
Projects are going to spring up throughout West Virginia, so there isn't a corner of this state that won't see the benefits of this investment. ARCH2 will not only benefit West Virginia, but we're going to see portions of this hub in Ohio and Pennsylvania as well. Studies show that there could be as many as 20,000 direct and indirect jobs created by this project.
These jobs will be in a wide range of fields, ranging from construction to natural gas production. Jobs will also be created in the service sector because we will see more money being spent in local mom-and-pop shops and restaurants around the state. This means that the money made by union members will be spread throughout the many communities in which they live and work.
The project will also spark additional development in the natural gas industry, and it represents a significant investment in technology in the state. Natural gas will be used to produce the hydrogen, which will increase demand and help propel the economic boon that our state is going to see.
The hydrogen hub is a win/win for the state, for workers and for businesses. It was all made possible by the hard work and leadership of our senators. Senator Manchin and Senator Capito have both worked hard to secure this funding and they both deserve our thanks.
