PSC Approves Construction Of Gas Power Plant In Doddridge County

The West Virginia Public Service Commission has given its approval for the construction of a gas-fueled power plant in Doddridge County.

The PSC granted a siting certificate to Competitive Power Ventures to build a $3 billion combined-cycle natural gas power plant a few miles southeast of West Union.

The plant will generate 2,060 megawatts of electricity, which will be sent to the regional grid on the wholesale market.

The plant’s Massachusetts based owner also plans to incorporate carbon capture and storage into the operation, with a tax credit that was part of the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022.

Construction is to begin in the fourth quarter of next year.

“West Virginia is pleased to welcome yet another business to our state,” PSC Chairman Charlotte Lane said.

Despite being one of the top U.S. gas producers, West Virginia has no other combined-cycle plants, which are more efficient. In contrast, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia have built dozens, largely displacing coal.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules for power plants announced last week require new gas-fired power plants as well as existing coal ones to capture at least 90 percent of their carbon dioxide emissions.

The plant will be called the CPV Shay Energy Center. Shay is a type of geared steam locomotive used on West Virginia’s logging railroads in the early 20th century.