Green Hydrogen & Mineral Recovery on Reclaimed Mine Lands in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania
Executive Summary
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has the largest Appalachian population in the U.S. and has historically relied on coal production. However, declining coal demand has led to economic and environmental challenges, including job losses and abandoned mine lands. As of 2019, 287,000 acres of mined land require reclamation, with Pennsylvania needing over 50% of the total funding required for unfunded reclamation projects nationwide.
Technological advancements by the U.S. Department of Energy have created opportunities to extract valuable commodities from legacy mining waste, such as critical minerals and rare earth elements. These activities can generate revenue to offset the cost of reclamation and to reduce the cost of producing green hydrogen. Pennsylvania’s innovative reclamation practices integrate mineral recovery with environmental restoration, enhancing economic resilience in Appalachia.
Elk and Clearfield Counties, with their advanced manufacturing operations and highly skilled workforce, stand to benefit from these initiatives. Local production of raw materials can close supply chain gaps, reduce import reliance, and create new jobs. Using solar energy to produce hydrogen and incorporating battery storage offers a competitive advantage, so that the raw materials and feedstocks, along with the hydrogen, remain in the local ecosystem.
The Concept that Grow Rural PA has designed produces hydrogen, integrates raw material production using legacy mine byproducts, addresses supply chain and workforce gaps, and fosters community engagement. A solar-powered hydrogen production facility in Clearfield County will support regional manufacturing and facilitate the recovery of critical minerals and it will create new jobs and strengthen the regional workforce. The Grow Rural PA Concept is presented in this Report.