The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has issued a plan approval for United Refining Company to build and operate a hydrogen plant.

The overview of the permit states, “The Steam Methane Reformer (SMR) Hydrogen Plant will produce high-purity hydrogen from natural gas. Additionally, hydrogen plant operations will generate 41,500 pounds per hour of steam. The primary benefit of the SMR hydrogen plant is to produce high purity hydrogen so that URC no longer needs to purchase hydrogen from outside vendors.”

The company’s annual reports to the federal Securities and Exchange Commission explain that hydrogen and naptha are used to remove sulfur from fuels, including kerosene and diesel.

Some construction is underway, but United Refining representatives did not respond to multiple requests for comment.