FirstEnergy Plans New Natural Gas Power Plant

Updated Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025 at 5 p.m. to reflect that the company has not chosen a site.

FirstEnergy announced Thursday it is planning to invest $7.7 billion to build a new natural gas-fired electric plant along with utility grade solar in West Virginia. 

The construction phase alone of the 1,200-megawatt combined-cycle natural gas plant proposed by FirstEnergy is expected to generate nearly 3,300 jobs and $68 million in state and local tax revenue. 

The company also plans to add 70 megawatts of utility-scale solar at the facility. 

FirstEnergy has not picked out a site yet. The company subsidiaries Mon Power and Potomac Edison will file plans with the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) in early 2026, according to a statement from FirstEnergy Board Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer Brian Tierney.

It was not immediately clear when the new facility would be operational, but the company said in a statement it expects to invest $5.2 billion in West Virginia between now and 2029. Those investments include upgrading power transmission lines and other infrastructure.

“Pending regulatory approval of this generation, we anticipate investing an additional $2.5 billion – further accelerating economic growth and opportunity throughout the region,” Tierney said.

In June, FirstEnergy completed its third utility grade solar project. That project used a remediated coal ash landfill in Berkeley County and now produces 5.75 megawatts — enough to power nearly 1,000 homes. The new, proposed solar installation in Harrison County will more than double the company’s total current solar energy output. 

Regional electric grid PJM reports that natural gas produces roughly 36,000 megawatts of power for about 39% of the regional generation mix. 

The proposed new generation supports Morrisey’s “50 by 50” initiative, which aims to boost West Virginia’s energy capacity to 50 gigawatts by 2050, according to Tierney. 

Mon Power serves about 395,000 customers in 34 West Virginia counties. Potomac Edison serves about 285,000 customers in seven counties in Maryland and 155,000 customers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. 

State Treasurer Larry Pack released the following statement after FirstEnergy’s announcement.

“West Virginia has always been an energy state. From the coal that built our nation to the fossil fuels that power our industries today, our state has provided the reliable energy America needs to prosper. Today, we stand at another pivotal moment as FirstEnergy announces the addition of a natural gas-fired power plant in Harrison County,” Pack said. “This project is about more than electricity — it’s about securing our energy future, creating good jobs, and ensuring West Virginia continues to lead America forward.”

Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia President Charlie Burd also released a statement. 

“Adding new state-of-the-art natural gas plants – like FirstEnergy’s initiative – shows how West Virginia can lead by using its home-grown gas resources to power our future,” Burd said. “Natural gas is the most reliable and affordable fuel to meet Governor Morrisey’s ’50 by 50′ plan for strong, baseload power generation that can feed modern energy needs while keeping energy prices affordable and stable. By further using our own natural gas production, West Virginia can strengthen its energy security, attract new investment, create good-paying, local jobs and build a more resilient economy for decades to come.”