Jun 11, 2025 By Electra Janis 4 min read

In Washington County, we understand the value of a good job and what it takes to bring one here. We also know that real economic growth does not happen by accident. It requires partnerships, infrastructure, workforce readiness, and the right policies to sustain momentum.

Through the development of the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub, known as ARCH2, hydrogen energy is offering our county a genuine opportunity to lead in America’s energy future. Critical tools such as the 45V hydrogen production tax credit are helping to turn that opportunity into reality.

Opportunities for transformational growth are rare. Hydrogen energy represents one of them. The hub has already brought new energy into our local economy, attracting interest from companies that may not have considered our region just a few years ago. It is giving our workforce and institutions a strong reason to invest in the future, because that future is beginning to take shape right here at home.

This momentum builds on what Washington County and Southwestern Pennsylvania have done well for decades. Thanks to the Marcellus shale, we have world-class energy resources, a skilled workforce, and a well-established infrastructure network. Hydrogen development does not replace these assets; it complements them by creating new markets for natural gas and expanding opportunities for American energy workers.

What makes this moment especially significant is that it places communities like ours at the center. We are real partners in building the next generation of American energy and manufacturing. For a growing county with deep industrial roots, this matters. It means opportunity is not just passing through — it is being built here.

We are already seeing signs of early-stage investment linked to this growth. Conversations that once felt hypothetical now focus on timelines, training needs, and infrastructure readiness. This kind of progress does not happen often. That is why decisions currently being made in Washington are so important. The hydrogen production tax credit, known as 45V, is one of the key federal tools that made this growth possible. It helped make clean hydrogen investment viable and gave communities like ours a seat at the table.

Weakening or narrowing the 45V credit now would risk stalling or even reversing the progress Washington County and other regions are beginning to see. This moment is about more than energy policy; it is about whether we will stay the course on a strategy that is already delivering tangible results for Southwestern Pennsylvania. That is not a risk we can afford to take, especially now that regions like ours are finally being recognized as vital contributors to the energy transition. We have already started doing the hard work to be ready.

I know what economic growth looks like in a community and what it takes to attract new employers. I understand how critical predictability is when asking companies to make long-term investments in a region. I also know how quickly uncertainty can cause interest to fade.

Our region is showing that we can help shape the future of American energy and manufacturing. But we need the right tools to sustain that progress, and we need them to last. The 45V production credit is more than just an incentive. It is a promise to the communities working to deliver this country’s energy future. It is a commitment to follow through.

Washington County is not waiting for change to happen. We are working to make it happen. We have stepped up to be part of something larger than ourselves, and we are doing so with focus, collaboration, and pride.

We cannot carry the weight of this transition alone. We need federal leaders to uphold their end of the deal. We must protect the policies that made this momentum possible and give communities like ours the support to keep building.

We know how to make the most of an opportunity. Just give us the chance to keep going.

Electra Janis serves on the Washington County Board of Commissioners.