Sens. Fetterman, McCormick team up on bill to bring federal energy office to Pittsburgh

U.S. Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick have introduced bipartisan legislation to move a Department of Energy office to Pennsylvania.

The bill would move the department’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) from Washington, D.C., to Pittsburgh.

In a joint statement, McCormick said it makes sense for the office to be near the Marcellus Shale natural gas range that stretches from southern Virginia across West Virginia and Ohio and into Pennsylvania and southern New York state.

“For far too long, federal agencies in Washington have been physically removed from the workers and industries they regulate,” McCormick said in a joint statement. “I’m proud to partner with Senator Fetterman on this legislation to bring a critical Energy Department office to Pittsburgh near the heart of the Marcellus.”

Fetterman said that Pittsburgh is “uniquely qualified” to host the office “with its rich history of energy production, top-tier universities, and state-of-the-art manufacturing infrastructure.

“I’m proud to join Senator McCormick to introduce legislation calling for this move while protecting the union way of life,” said Fetterman. “FECM is an important agency that supports lower-carbon fuels like natural gas while addressing and lowering carbon emissions. Housing federal agencies in the communities they impact is a no brainer.”

Last year as a candidate, McCormick proposed moving the Department of Energy to Pittsburgh, which was reported in May 2024.

According to the joint statement, Pennsylvania is the second largest producer of natural gas among states and the hub is in Western Pennsylvania.

The senators’ statement said the FECM has about 750 employees, including scientists, engineers, technicians and administrative staff. The FECM’s National Energy Technology Lab is already located near Pittsburgh.