Congratulations Cathy McAlister
Community Engagement
ARCH2 is committed to transparency and public engagement, ensuring all stakeholders— including residents, labor organizations and environmental groups— have a voice in the development, construction and operational processes.
Throughout fall and winter, ARCH2 hub-level meetings and engagement have taken place with communities and stakeholders across the tri-state region. The hub’ s community benefits and engagement teams maintain ongoing dialogues with various groups, including trade unions, business leaders and environmental advocates. In November 2024, the first in-person community open house event was held at West Virginia State University, which provided local residents with the opportunity to meet representatives of ARCH2 and the DOE. Additional open house events were held in Ohio and Pennsylvania shortly after the new year, with more to be scheduled throughout 2025 to keep communities informed and involved.
At the hub level, planning for ARCH2’ s individual projects has proceeded at a robust pace. Led by ARCH2’ s 11 project development partners, these innovative projects will produce hydrogen from novel methods and feedstocks, further solidifying West Virginia’ s role as a leader in the hydrogen economy.
Growing West Virginia’ s Economy
Over its six-decade history, the Appalachian Regional Commission( ARC) has invested approximately $ 5.65 billion across a range of infrastructure and economic development projects.
While smaller in total, the $ 925 million federal investment in ARCH2 will be distributed over just a decade, concentrating its economic impact in a much shorter time frame and potentially rivaling ARC’ s long-term influence on the region.
Although other regional development projects are larger and more expensive, it’ s important to note that $ 925 million is a huge investment. To put it into perspective, if you spent one dollar every second, it would take you over 29 years to spend $ 925 million. If divided among every person in West Virginia, about 1.76 million people, each person would get over $ 525. If you made $ 50,000 per year, it would take you 18,500 years to earn $ 925 million.
What’ s Next for ARCH2?
ARCH2 is poised to become a cornerstone of West Virginia’ s economic and energy future. In the near term, the hub and its partners will be focused on completing the initial planning and due diligence associated with such a massive infrastructure project. After that, work will begin to secure all required state, local and federal permits, followed by the design and engineering of the facilities for each project, along with developing offtake agreements. Looking ahead, the installation, building and construction phase will likely begin in the early 2030s, assuming all goes according to plan.
ARCH2 is an ambitious project that will solidify West Virginia’ s position as an energy production powerhouse. Thanks to the state’ s congressional leadership and the cooperation of countless organizations and individuals, the future looks bright. •
Congratulations Cathy McAlister
Executive Director Highmark West Virginia Charitable Fund for Health
on being named a 2025 West Virginia Executive Sharp Shooter!
Thank you for your more than 40 years of service and dedication to West Virginia.
WWW. WVEXECUTIVE. COM SPRING 2025 83