MINERAL COUNTY, W.Va. — The state Public Service Commission has approved a 100-megawatt solar power plant with a battery storage system in Mineral County.
Since there were no letters of protest sent in to the PSC about the plant, the commission canceled a hearing planned for April 25 on the siting certificate of Potomac Hills Energy, LLC. The company is owned by Energix US, LLC, out of Arlington, VA. They applied for the site certification on December 20, 2023.
The company estimates construction on the plant will have a $64.7 million economic impact for Mineral County with the facility representing an investment of $243 million. The plant is expected to sit on 650 acres that used to be used for strip mining.
According to the energy site OGM.com, a 100-megawatt solar power plant can generate enough electricity to power approximately 60,000 homes for a day.
“The Commission welcomes all forms of energy coming into West Virginia,” PSC Chairman Charlotte R. Lane said.
Commission staff expect the plant to have a useful projected life of 35 years.
Along with the wholesale generating facility, the company also proposed a 200-MWh battery storage system with the plant. The company’s plan is to install 265,000 solar photovoltaic modules.