ROCKWOOL Granted New Air Permit As Minor Emission Site

Updated on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at 8:45 p.m.

A new air monitoring permit for a manufacturing site in Jefferson County upholds its status as a minor contributor to air pollution, down from its initial status as a major emission source when it first applied for a permit in 2018.

ROCKWOOL is a Denmark-based company that produces steel wool and insulation. The company purchased property in Ranson to develop into a manufacturing site, but met an outpouring of pushback from residents concerned about the project’s environmental implications.

At the time of its establishment, ROCKWOOL was designated a major emission site because the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) deemed its emissions posed potential risks for both air quality and public health.

But since then, the company’s status has been reduced to what the state deems a minor source of air emissions. On July 1, the WVDEP granted ROCKWOOL a Title V permit, which ensures that designated minor emission sites comply with state air quality regulations. The terms of the permit take effect July 14.

Paul Espinosa, a public affairs manager for ROCKWOOL, said in an email statement to West Virginia Public Broadcasting that the plant’s status was lowered partly because the company switched from using coal to natural gas there.

“This was the result of ROCKWOOL having proposed and accepted lower emission limits than those contained in its initial air permit,” Espinosa wrote. “ROCKWOOL sees the issuance of its Title V permit, and its status as a minor emission source, as wins for the environment and the local community.”

Meanwhile, ROCKWOOL has recently expanded its presence in Jefferson County. The company purchased 58 new acres of land adjoining its current property in Ranson last year. The move faced pushback from some residents, who expressed renewed concern about the project and growing industrial activity to the Ranson City Council.

**Editor’s Note: This story was updated to more accurately reflect the zoning status of the property ROCKWOOL acquired in 2024.