RIVESVILLE, W.Va. — The second utility-grade solar project proposed by FirstEnergy Corp. subsidiaries Mon Power and Potomac Edison is under construction in Marion County.
The Marion County site is being constructed in the former operational area of the Rivesville Power Station that was deactivated in 2012. Spokesperson Hannah Catlett said the site is on 27 acres in the Rivesville area off Morgan Ridge Road.
“It will produce about 5.5 megawatts of renewable power,” Catlett said. “One megawatt of solar energy powers a national average of 173 homes, according to the Solar Energy Industry Association.”
The utility’s initial site is near the Fort Martin Power Station is about 80 acres, produces 18.9 megawatts and was completed late last year and put into service in January.
“We’re really excited to do this to meet the energy needs of the state and encourage economic growth,” Catlett said.
The Rivesville site is similar to the Fort Martin site that was built on an 80-acre brownfield as well.
“We are really excited to be transforming what was the former coal ash disposal site into this source of clean, renewable energy,” Catlett said.
Catlett said the company is using union laborers that are currently clearing trees, building roads, and erecting fences around the proposed solar array area. Additionally, racking systems and all supporting electrical equipment are manufactured in the United States.
“We’re using local union labor to build this site, so we have those crews over there working now, and it’s a good thing for the local economy to use local labor.”
In addition to Fort Martin and Rivesville, the company plans to build two future solar arrays in Tucker County and another in Hancock that will add about 20 more megawatts of renewable power generation capability. The move could draw economic development interest from companies that meet renewable power use requirements.
“We think this will further stimulate the economy because a growing number of businesses are requiring a portion of the electricity they use to be generated by local sources,” Catlett said.