Peoples Gas

Apr 25, 2022

Inaugural hydrogen summit focused on the future of hydrogen in our region Leaders from Peoples Gas, an Essential Utilities Company, the Energy Innovation Center Institute and Bedford Funds hosted the inaugural H2 Summit: Fueling the Future to discuss the role of Western Pennsylvania Tri-State region’s world-class natural gas reserves in the development and commercialization of energy transition technologies. The Summit was an invitation-only event of over 100 CEOs, top-level executives and academics from around the region and country held at the Energy Innovation Center in Pittsburgh. “The ability to develop hydrogen as a low-carbon energy source is dependent upon the supporting infrastructure and the eventual cost of hydrogen supply” The event brought together key stakeholders in the natural gas and electric utilities, global energy companies, global private equity investing groups, regulators, and academia to stimulate discussion and action towards securing a hydrogen hub for the Western Pennsylvania region. Presentations and panel discussions included the transportation and distribution of hydrogen, technologies related to the production of hydrogen including carbon capture and funding opportunities. “The ability to develop hydrogen as a low-carbon energy source is dependent upon the supporting infrastructure and the eventual cost of hydrogen supply,” said Michael Huwar , president of Peoples Gas. “The region has long been at the forefront of energy innovation with abundant natural gas reserves, ample interstate transmission lines, highly skilled labor and pioneering sources of capital. This is an exciting day and an exciting time. The attendees of the event are committed to the continued success of this region. We are excited at the prospect of emerging energy transition strategies and continuing to ensure the region shapes the future of energy.” The Appalachian Basin, primarily spanning Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, contains two shale formations which account for more than one-third of all U.S. dry natural gas production. The basin is the third-largest natural gas producer in the world, behind Russia and the rest of the U.S. Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy released Requests for Information to establish large-scale hydrogen hubs in the United States. The Summit was created to spur action to assist the region in securing one of these hydrogen hubs and facilitate networking between policymakers and experts from related industries to advance the use of hydrogen in our region.