Solar power plant approved for Mineral County

MINERAL COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A 100-megawatt solar power plant with accompanying battery storage in Mineral County was approved Wednesday by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia.

The Commission canceled a hearing planned for April 25 on the siting certificate of Potomac Hills Energy, LLC. The Commission said no letters of protest were received concerning the plant, which is to be located on 650 acres formerly used for strip mining.

In addition to the wholesale generating facility, the company also proposed a 200-MWh battery storage system with the plant. The plan is to install 265,000 solar photovoltaic modules, organized in rows. A substation to be constructed will deliver power to FirstEnergy Corp.

The company, which is owned by Energix US, LLC, of Arlington, VA, applied for the site certification on December 20, 2023. Energix said it is “one of the leading solar energy entities” in the mid-Atlantic region.

Commission staff said the plant has a useful projected life of 35 years. The order said the company estimates construction will have a $64.7 million economic impact for the county. In its application, the company estimated the facility represents an investment of $243 million.

A 100-megawatt solar power plant can generate enough electricity to power approximately 60,000 homes for a day,according to the energy site OGM.com .

“The Commission welcomes all forms of energy coming into West Virginia,” PSC Chairman Charlotte R. Lane said.

More information on this case can be found on the PSC website: www.psc.state.wv.us . Click on “Case Information” and access Case No. 24-0075-E-SCS-PW