Data centers and the energy to run them have been in the news a lot lately.
In April 2025, the West Virginia Legislature passed the Power Generation and Consumption Act (House Bill 2014) and asked the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC)to propose rules for legislative approval outlining how the PSC would carry out new duties and responsibilities assigned to it under the law.
The bill required the commission to evaluate capacity auctions conducted by PJM Interconnection, and review each generating unit’s current economic dispatch to ensure the generating units could meet future needs.
It also required utilities to maintain their generating units and fuel inventories to allow them to achieve at least a 69 percent capacity factor.
PJM is this area’s regional energy grid, which oversees the allocation of electric power in a 13-state area.
In July, the commission initiated a general investigation to receive comments and recommendations regarding the proposed rules and established a comment period, accepting written comments and recommendations until Aug. 10.
In addition to the comment period, the commission will take public comments at the September hearing. Members of the public who wish to participate in the hearing must notify the commission by Sept. 18. Participants may submit additional comments, testimony, or written materials for presentation at the hearing by Sept. 23.
More information on this case can be found on the PSC website: www.psc.state.wv.us. Click on “Case Information” and access Case No. 26-0633-E-GI.
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The PSC Friday denied a request Friday to delay evidentiary hearings in the 107.5-mile-long MidAtlantic Resiliency Link (MARL) line case.
On Aug. 19, PSC legal staff asked for the delay because of certain route revisions, a recent order issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that might affect the case, and questions about the need for the project because of other transmission projects under development.
Staff, later joined by the company, asked for at least a 60-day delay in the proceedings. Hearings are scheduled for the period Oct. 26-Nov. 2.
In denying the request, the commission said, “The circumstances presented do not justify extending the existing procedural schedule.”
The line would go from Pennsylvania near Morgantown to Virginia, and a 58.9-mile section that would cross Monongalia, Preston, Mineral, and Hampshire counties is the issue before the commission.
More information on this case can be found on the PSC website: www.psc.state.wv.us. Click on “Case Information” and access Case No. 26-0075-E-CN.