What They’re Saying
Appalachia First 2.0
September 25, 2025
By Positive Energy Hub staff
Learn more about Appalachia First 2.0 ⬇️
A Social Contract with the Pittsburgh Region: Appalachia First 2.0
Catalyzing and sustaining new pathways for the region’s energy, environmental, and socio-economic future.
www.positiveenergyhub.com
"The PA State Building Trades fully support all efforts to bring and sustain jobs to Pennsylvania. The opportunity we have in Western PA is rooted in our strong history of energy development. Capturing and utilizing wasted fuel sources such as coal mine methane checks all of the boxes, creating jobs, producing more energy, driving emissions reductions while helping to attract end users to the region. We will be there to provide the current and future workforce to build and support these investments and will stand side by side with CNX to help deliver these opportunities."
-Robert S. Bair, President
PA State Building Trades
"The Building Trades and CNX have collaborated closely together for years, culminating with this unique opportunity the region has to lead the US in waste methane capture starting right here in western PA. We’re excited about CNX’s commitment to the building trades on both the capture work as well as the downstream opportunities to utilize the captured and repurposed methane emissions to create new manufacturing jobs. This could be a gamechanger for the building trades and we’re proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with CNX not only on the jobs and economic opportunity that methane capture and beneficial use represents, but on the broader effort to make this region a better place for all of us – together."
-Greg Bernarding, Executive Business Manager
Pittsburgh Regional Building Trades Council
“There’s something powerful happening when a kid from our region, who grew up just down the road, walks into a job site ready to work — not just with skills, but with pride and purpose. The CNX Mentorship Academy is changing lives, and we see it every day. As a proud premier hiring partner we see these young people stepping into real careers, and in turn, they’re strengthening our companies, our communities, and our future. This is what investing in our own looks like — moving Appalachia forward and we’re all better for it.”
-Jerome Bettis, CEO
M&A Resources
"The regional building trades and CNX are in lock step in our efforts to catalyze waste gas capture and beneficial use in the region. Ultra-low emissions, locally sourced remediated mine gas can be a gamechanger for uses such as feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel at the Pittsburgh airport and many others. The Steamfitters and the wider building trades unions are proud to partner with CNX to bring this technology to bear in the region, which will help clean up the environment and create a new industry and new good-paying jobs for our members in western PA. We appreciate CNX’s strong commitment to the building trades and look forward to continuing to partner with them to bring this vision to reality."
-Kenny Broadbent, Business Manager
Steamfitters Local 449
"Capturing and repurposing waste emissions from our industrial past is an economic and environmental winner that can help propel us into a new energy and manufacturing future. Nick and CNX have made a strong commitment to western PA labor as they catalyze this important work in the region, and we’re proud to partner with them to continue to advance this vital industry. But this isn’t just about one project or one issue, it’s a commitment to working together across the board leveraging our unique strengths to help us reach our full potential. We’re proud to stand side by side with CNX as we work together to make this region a better place for everyone."
-Darrin Kelly, President
Allegheny County Labor Council
"The working relationship between the Pittsburgh Building Trades and CNX was effortless. Nick, Brian, and the rest of their team's knowledge of the process and the amount of great things that will come from it for all of Western Pennsylvania and beyond was remarkable. The number of jobs created is one thing, but the benefits to the environment and the region are limitless."
-Tom McIntyre, Business Manager
IBEW Local 5
"Passport Academy's collaboration with CNX has been fantastic for our students. With financial support through the RK Mellon Foundation, we recently had a study done through the RAND Institute where they helped us identify workforce recommendations to strengthen our career-readiness curriculum. At the time the study was done, we had not even considered jobs in the region that exposed our students to careers in gas & oil. Since that day, with the help and support of the CNX Mentorship Academy, we have had many students who have various experiences learning more about the gas and oil industry and how integral these jobs are to our region. Our collaboration has not only helped the school in developing partners to engage with our students but has created integral career-ready opportunities for future students to learn about jobs and gain employment while staying in our region."
-Joe Oliphant, Principal/CEO
Passport Academy Charter School
"CNX’s bold step forward in capturing the full economic, environmental, and community potential of our region’s energy assets is exactly the kind of collaborative, future-focused approach that we are proud to champion at the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. By working in partnership with industry and labor, CNX is creating family-sustaining jobs, advancing climate-smart energy solutions like remediated mine gas capture, and preparing the next generation through workforce initiatives. Together, we are proving that western Pennsylvania can lead the nation in energy development while strengthening our economy and community for decades to come."
-Matt Smith, Chief Growth Officer
Allegheny Conference on Community Development
"Boilermakers build, repair, and power the backbone of American industry. We are proud to stand together with CNX and put our skills to work capturing and repurposing waste emissions, which will create good union jobs, strengthen manufacturing, and secure our energy future in Western PA."
-Shawn Steffee, Inspector/Business Agent
Boilermakers Local 154
“Real, verifiable data is critical to demonstrating that natural gas development is conducted responsibly and in full compliance with rigorous environmental and operational standards. Through transparent, science-based information, we ensure the communities in which we operate – not to mention the employees who work tirelessly each day in the industry – have confidence in the industry’s commitment to safety and environmental stewardship.”
-Jim Welty, President
Marcellus Shale Coalition
"The CNX micro-TIL program has been instrumental in supporting residents across Westmoreland County throughout the disaster recovery process. In addition, their partnerships with the Department of Public and Human Services agencies have strengthened our ability to extend support further into the community. Their generosity has brought vital relief, and we are deeply grateful for their unwavering commitment and support."
-Michele Whiting-Zona, Disaster Recovery Specialist
Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety
“Westmoreland Community Action has found the partnership and support from CNX to be an amazing breath of fresh air. In a time when so many of our funders have limits on purpose for funds, CNX’s direct support to meet individual’s daily and practical needs has been a tremendous help countless times. The official, formal term for the interventions that we conduct with support from CNX is Social Determinants of Health, but, for the individuals and families who receive the support, it means survival and a lifeline.”