Culturally and historically, the Energy and Environmental Corridor is an industrial region. The business infrastructure and resources are in place. The region houses corporate headquarters and bases of operation for key industrial, commercial, and financial businesses. The region is home to almost 1000 environmental consulting firms and numerous related professional associations such as the Air and Waste Management Association, The Combustion Institute, and the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering.
Intellectual capital abounds.
The region is home to world-renowned universities with core competencies in both energy and environment. The region is home to key federal and state government agencies and facilities that catalyze, fund, and implement the research, development, and commercialization of high technology products. Combined, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland have 86 gigawatts of utility capacity that generate 430 billion kWh annually - almost 15 percent of the Nation's consumption. With a long- standing history for the appreciation of the region's natural beauty, and the recognition of its economic importance, stakeholders are determined that energy and environmental development will not be mutually exclusive. Along with its acres of timber, miles of waterways, and vast recreational areas, the region annually produces more than 8 quads of energy for the Nation.