Canton area could play key part in Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub

Kelly Byer, Canton Repository
·3 min read
SARTA buses are parked at their refueling point in Canton in this file photo.
SARTA buses are parked at their refueling point in Canton in this file photo.

CANTON − A Stark Area Regional Transit Authority and Dominion Energy Ohio project could produce hydrogen for regional transportation as part of a federal initiative to reduce carbon emissions and create jobs.

The Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations hosted a recent webinar to share new details about the early-stage Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub, which includes a proposed Canton-area project.

The U.S. Department of Energy announced Oct. 13 that $7 billion, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will go toward seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs). The Appalachian hub involves a mix of hydrogen projects across Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Here's what to know about the project:

What is 'clean' hydrogen?

Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical element and a clean-burning fuel that produces only water vapor. It's designated as a color based on how it's produced.

The types involved in the regional hubs will be "green hydrogen" ― produced through electrolysis with renewable energy ― and "blue hydrogen" ― produced from natural gas with carbon capture and storage.

Where is the Appalachian hub?

The federal investment is for seven hubs divided by region: Appalachian, California, Gulf Coast, Heartland, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Pacific Northwest.

Each regional hub is composed of several proposed projects to increase American hydrogen manufacturing and use. The Appalachian hub will receive up to $925 million in federal funds.

The proposed sites consist of seven in West Virginia, five in Ohio and three in Pennsylvania. The Ohio projects are:

  • MPLX, a partnership formed by Marathon Petroleum, would develop a storage facility and connective infrastructure in eastern Ohio.

  • Dominion Energy and SARTA would build a production and carbon capture facility in the Canton area.

  • Plug Power and Amazon would create a distribution center with a hydrogen fueling station near Cleveland.

  • First Mode would build a manufacturing facility in Northeast Ohio to retrofit mining trucks with a hydrogen fuel cell power system.

  • Independence Hydrogen would establish a production facility using industrial off-gas as fuel in the Ashtabula area.

Who's behind the hub?

The federal investment in hydrogen is part of President Joe Biden's Investing in America agenda to bolster manufacturing and infrastructure across the nation. The Department of Energy's Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations is overseeing the hydrogen hub program.

SARTA, Midwest Hydrogen Center of Excellence, Dominion Energy and Cleveland State University formed the Ohio Clean Hydrogen Hub Alliance, a coalition of public and private individuals and organizations to advocate for available funding. They later joined the campaign for the multi-state Appalachian hub.

Read more: SARTA seeks to build support for hydrogen hub in Ohio

Battelle, the Columbus-based applied science and technology company, is the program manager for the Appalachian hub.

What happens next?

The nationwide hydrogen hubs are expected to spur additional private investment and create more than 18,000 construction jobs and 3,000 permanent jobs.

The Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations is hosting a series of hub community webinars through Nov. 1 and the next step in the process is negotiations with project selectees. If the negotiations result in a cooperative agreement with the agency, then detailed planning will begin.

Kirt Conrad, CEO of SARTA, said the number of local jobs created and whether the project will involve green or blue hydrogen has yet to be determined, like the timeline and exact location. SARTA currently uses "gray hydrogen," which involves no capture of the carbon created by its production, from Canada.

"It's always been our goal to have some type of on-site and more of a green production," he said.

Conrad said some other transit systems in the participating states have expressed an interest in using the hydrogen to be produced from the project but it's "kind of like the first innings.” Still, he said it's exciting to be part of the project and emerging industry.

Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323 or kelly.byer@cantonrep.comOn X, formerly known as Twitter: @kbyerREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton could play key part in Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub