Northern Appalachian low carbon alliance

The northern Appalachian region, covering Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, has helped America tap its energy reservoir over the past 150 years, supplying the country with its first oil and coal. Now the area’s industry is seeking to pivot to a lower-carbon future.

Seven companies have formed the alliance aiming to establish a low-carbon and hydrogen industrial hub for the tri-state area. The goal is to help decarbonize the industrial region by focusing on two technology pathways: hydrogen utilization and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS)—both of which can help reduce or mitigate carbon emissions from industries including power generation.

The member companies include GE, natural gas producer EQT, Equinor of Norway, Marathon Petroleum, MPLX, Mitsubishi Power, Shell Polymers, which is building a petrochemical plant near Pittsburgh, and U.S. Steel. They selected the Ohio-Pennsylvania-West Virginia region because of its universities and national laboratories, as well as strong industrial roots in manufacturing, materials and energy, and a skilled and experienced workforce.