CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Governor Patrick Morrisey has announced plans for another major investment in West Virginia’s power generating capacity. Dominion Energy will construct a new natural gas fired power plant in Grant County which will produce 2.6 gigawatts of electricity.
The company seeks to build the Mt. Storm Combined Cycle Station. The project would create more than 1,400 construction jobs and when operational bring 150 permanent jobs. The company estimates the project will generate more than $259 Million in economic activity for Grant and Tucker counties during construction and nearly $950 Million in tax revenue for Grant County in the first 36 years of its operation.
Construction is pending all regulatory and permit approval. The company applied for an air quality permit with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection last week. Company officials say the projected opening of the plant will be in 2034.
According to a release from Morrisey the company plans to continue operating the existing 1.6 gigawatt coal fired Mount Storm Power Station. The company says the facility is vital to serving the region’s power needs for years to come. Company spokesman Jeremy Slayton echoed the statement.
“It will not have any impact on the existing Mount Storm Power Station. It will not replace it. The existing Mount Storm Power Station remains a vital power generation facility that will continue serving the region’s power needs for years to come,” said Slayton.
“For generations, Mt. Storm Power Station has been an economic engine for West Virginia and a reliable power source for our entire region,” said Ed Baine, Dominion Energy’s Executive Vice President of Utility Operations and President of Dominion Energy Virginia. “This proposed power station will further enhance Mt. Storm’s positive impact on the economy and grid reliability for decades to come. It will create thousands of new jobs, generate billions in economic investment, and strengthen our region’s energy independence. The project demonstrates our continued commitment to West Virginia and supports the state’s energy goals.”
“West Virginia is demonstrating that we can lead with coal, natural gas, nuclear energy, and other forms of reliable energy that power America’s future,” said Morrisey. “These investments strengthen our position as America’s energy state, create good-paying jobs, and help ensure we can meet the nation’s growing demand for reliable, affordable power.”
Morrisey said the project marks another major step forward in his 50 by 50 Generation Plan, to have the state of West Virginia producing 50 gigawatts of electricity by the year 2050.
The proposed plant would be build adjacent to the existing plant at Mount Storm. Slayton said the electricity will be sent to Dominion customers in Virginia, but the excess electricity will flow to the grid to benefit all states in the region, including West Virginia.