Marcellus Shale Coalition Encourages Hydrogen, CCS Hub Development
The Marcellus Shale Coalition proudly represents the entire value chain for Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry, encompassing upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors as well as supply chain and service companies. We are fully committed to safely and responsibly developing, transporting, and utilizing natural gas resources from the Marcellus, Utica and related geologic formations.
A tremendous emerging opportunity for the utilization of this resource is through clean hydrogen production. The U.S. Department of Energy is currently accepting applications for the development and implementation of regional hydrogen hubs – networks of clean hydrogen producers, potential consumers, and connective infrastructure, likely consisting of carbon capture facilities. The Marcellus Shale Coalition supports the awarding of hydrogen hubs that can encourage development in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania’s abundant natural gas resources are recognized as the cleanest in the nation and it’s the most viable feedstock for hydrogen production. These world-class resources, coupled with our proximity to markets and our superior workforce make the Commonwealth a logical choice to produce clean hydrogen and deploy related carbon capture facilities. Hydrogen derived from natural gas and carbon capture can be effective tools to decarbonize key sectors of the Pennsylvania economy, promote growth, and serve as a model for the rest of the nation.
To seize upon this historic opportunity, it is critical that industry, regulatory agencies and our elected officials work together to advance a common agenda. We respectfully urge the Commonwealth to establish the regulatory framework necessary to showcase that Pennsylvania is open for business and that we can adapt and encourage the development of cutting edge of technologies designed to minimize the Commonwealth’s environmental footprint while advancing economic prosperity.
Achieving primacy of Class VI injection wells – in an expeditious manner that safeguards the environment while eliminating duplicative permitting and regulatory burdens at the state level – is a key first step. Additionally, we look forward to working with policymakers on addressing other key issues such as liability, monitoring and control standards, and the build out of critical pipeline infrastructure necessary to move hydrogen and captured carbon safely and efficiently.
The responsible development and deployment of Pennsylvania natural gas has transformed our economy, extended a lifeline to numerous communities across Pennsylvania, provided tremendous job opportunities for the construction trades, and driven much of the significant environmental progress that has been realized over the last decade. The development of one or more approved hydrogen hubs in the Commonwealth presents another generational opportunity to build upon this strong foundation and secure a prosperous and sustainable energy future.
