FirstEnergy proposes $2.47 billion gas plant in West Virginia

FirstEnergy is seeking regulatory approval for a proposed 1,200-megawatt, $2.47 billion natural gas plant in Monongalia County, West Virginia. The project is planned for a generation corridor near the existing Fort Martin and Harrison coal-fired power stations.

Critics and industry experts have raised concerns regarding the impact on existing coal infrastructure. Under West Virginia House Bill 2014, state law requires the preservation and upgrading of in-state coal plants. There are questions regarding whether the new gas facility could undermine these mandates or cause transmission congestion in the Fort Martin-Harrison corridor.

Utility proponents justify the project based on projected demand from prospective industrial customers and a proposed 1,012-megawatt data center, though some experts characterize this demand as speculative.