NETL Director Brian Anderson, Ph.D., will moderate a panel discussion on efforts to establish a collaborative network dedicated to advancing low-carbon and hydrogen technologies as part of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association’s Energy Growth Summit Tuesday, May 3 in Wheeling, West Virginia.

According to Rebecca McPhail, president of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association, which sponsors the event, the summit, set for Wheeling’s Oglebay Resort, is intended to “build upon the foundation of our manufacturing and natural gas development industries, while exploring broader industry issues. We will examine environmental and sustainability trends, job creation, and dive into the current regional economic outlook. The summit agenda is designed to explore the intersections of our manufacturing and energy sectors, and the challenges and opportunities they face.”  

NETL senior fellow Nathan Weiland, who leads the Lab’s hydrogen research and development activities, is also scheduled to participate in the summit that was formally known as the Marcellus and Manufacturing Development Conference.

The discussion that Anderson will moderate, “Tri-State Low Carbon/Hydrogen Industrial Hub Efforts,” will address the potential for a network dedicated to advancing low-carbon and hydrogen technologies that would bring together industry, labor, universities, communities, government, research institutions, and other key stakeholders for a systems approach across carbon capture, utilization, and storage, as well as hydrogen production and utilization. From advanced technologies, to maximizing funding available for development, to establishing a strong focus on jobs in disadvantaged communities, the panel will provide insight on goals and implementation for this aggressive program.

Anderson will be joined on the panel by Brandon Farris, who heads federal government relations for the Chemours Company; Eelco Gehring, country lead for hydrogen industry activity in the U.S. for Shell; and Kevin L. Zeik, Ph.D., senior fellow for innovation and sustainability with U.S. Steel.

Anderson leads NETL’s 1,300-plus employees and guides more than 1,000 R&D projects and project performers in 50 states with a total award value of $5 billion. Under Anderson’s leadership, NETL has initiated technology development and deployment projects that include direct air capture technologies for decarbonization, chemical looping combustion with potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the incorporation of diverse energy sources — including renewable, nuclear and fossil with carbon capture — to more effectively provide environmental sustainability.

In addition to his role at NETL, Anderson serves as the executive director of the Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization, a partnership among the White House and nearly a dozen federal agencies committed to pursuing near- and long-term actions to support coal, oil and gas and power plant communities as the nation transitions to a clean energy economy.