U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., did an important thing as they talked about the potential for the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub in West Virginia. They were optimistic but avoided “This is a done deal that will immediately bring our state prosperity” theatrics.

“We are not — and I think that people need to realize this — we are not in the final phase of a full thumbs up to move forward. So today, negotiations begin,” Capito said.

How refreshing, to hear an elected official remind us economic good news does not mean we can all sit back, relax and wait for this year’s headline-grabber to start saving us.

Instead, we’ve still got to conduct ourselves as though we understand our economic prosperity depends on our own actions rather than the swooping-in of an outside element. Among the upcoming hurdles are permits to be granted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and whether there is housing (short-term, that is) for the thousands of workers who would build the project.

With a component of the project here in Harrison County, our immediate responsibility is to prepare our communities for the economic expansion and diversification we say we want, rather than waiting for the federal government to do all the work for us. If we do that, maybe we’ll be ready for what comes after the hub builders are gone.