FERC Approves Transfer Of Pleasants Power Station To Omnis Technologies

Federal regulators have signed off on the transfer of the Pleasants Power Station to a new operator.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved the transfer of control of the Pleasants plant to Quantum Pleasants, which is owned by Omnis Technologies.

Omnis emerged as a potential buyer of the 1,300-megawatt coal-burning facility in Pleasants County when Mon Power was in active talks to acquire the plant from ETEM.

ETEM had intended to demolish the plant and remediate the site. Pleasants ceased producing power on June 1.

Omnis proposes to convert the plant to hydrogen fuel that’s a byproduct of manufacturing graphene, a carbon-based material used in the aerospace industry.

The Omnis proposal does not require a surcharge on Mon Power customers. Still, it isn’t clear when Omnis would begin producing power at Pleasants, nor how many workers it would retain.

The plant employs about 165 workers and contributes $2 million a year in property taxes to Pleasants County. State lawmakers pushed hard to save it, passing a resolution encouraging Mon Power to purchase it with overwhelming majorities in both chambers.

Pleasants would have closed sooner if not for a $12 million annual tax break lawmakers approved.