Tag: Mon Power

Lawmakers Enable Bigger Solar Projects, Eliminate Sunset Provision

House Bill 5528 updates that law to allow for 100 megawatt projects and eliminates the sunset clause.

A prior state law capped the size of renewable power projects at 50 megawatts and included a provision to sunset the program next year.

House Bill 5528 updates that law to allow for 100 megawatt projects and eliminates the sunset clause.

Sen. Glenn Jeffries, R-Putnam, explained that the bill helps attract more businesses that want to come to the state if they can receive solar power.

“And there’s a number of companies here in West Virginia and other companies that have interest in West Virginia that would like to have solar as part of their business model,” Jeffries said.

Nucor, the steelmaker that’s building a new plant in Mason County, is one such example. By the time it begins production, it will receive at least 20 percent of its power from solar.

The House of Delegates approved the bill last month, 61 to 36. The Senate approved it Thursday, 32 to 1. It now goes to the governor.

The largest solar installation in the state was activated in January in Monongalia County. Mon Power’s Fort Martin solar generates 19 megawatts.

Mon Power expects to complete two more solar sites this year and seek approval from state regulators for two more to be constructed next year.

The West Virginia Public Service Commission has approved a siting certificate for a Kansas company to build a solar farm in Mason County.

State Coal Plants Meet A New EPA Standard, Except For One

The EPA proposes a revision to its Mercury and Air Toxics Standards to lower emissions of nickel, arsenic and lead from coal-burning power plants.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed stricter standards on non-mercury metal pollution, and one West Virginia power plant may not meet the new requirements.

The EPA proposes a revision to its Mercury and Air Toxics Standards to lower emissions of nickel, arsenic and lead from coal-burning power plants.

According to the agency, most West Virginia power plants can meet the new standard. However, the Mon Power Harrison Power Station in Harrison County may have to be upgraded.

The updated rule is under interagency review, according to the EPA. When implemented, power plant operators will have three to four years to comply.

Hannah Catlett, a spokeswoman for Mon Power, said the company reviews all new and proposed rules for operational impacts.

“As proposed, we do not currently believe that this rule change will have a material impact to the operations of the Harrison Station,” she said.

The original Mercury and Air Toxics rule, issued in 2012, resulted in the retirement of numerous older coal-burning power plants in Appalachia.

Those included Appalachian Power’s Philip Sporn plant in Mason County, the Kanawha River plant in Kanawha County and the Kammer plant in Marshall County.

The EPA estimates the original rule led to a 90 percent reduction in mercury emissions from coal plants by 2021. 

The revised rule would reduce filterable particulate matter, including non-mercury metals, by 67 percent.

According to the agency, emissions of mercury and non-mercury metals can cause fatal heart attacks, cancer and developmental delays in children.

U.S. Supreme Court Hears Challenge To EPA’s ‘Good Neighbor’ Rule

Among other things, it could force power plants that don’t have the best NOx controls to invest in expensive new equipment.

West Virginia is part of a U.S. Supreme Court challenge to a federal rule on pollution that crosses state lines.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in a challenge by West Virginia, Ohio and Indiana to the Cross-State Air Pollution, or Good Neighbor Rule.

The rule requires a reduction in nitrogen oxide, which causes smog, from power plants.

Among other things, it could force power plants that don’t have the best NOx controls to invest in expensive new equipment.

It’s estimated that Mon Power would have to spend around $500 million to equip its Fort Martin Power Station in Monongalia County with a new system that eliminates NOx.

The three states are asking the justices to stay the rule. They say the EPA lacks the authority to enforce it under the Clean Air Act.

Mon Power, Consumer Groups Settle Solar Net Metering Case

The sides settled on a compromise of roughly 9 cents a kilowatt hour. The new credit takes effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

Mon Power has settled a case with consumer groups that will affect households that have rooftop solar panels.

Existing customers receive a retail rate of 11 to 13 cents per kilowatt hour for the power their solar panels send back to the grid, a process known as net energy metering.

Mon Power and Potomac Edison proposed to cut that credit in half to 6.6 cents per kilowatt hour, the wholesale price.

The sides settled on a compromise of roughly 9 cents a kilowatt hour. The new credit takes effect on Jan. 1, 2025. Existing customers will still receive the higher credit for 25 years.

The West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) must still approve the settlement.

A bill moving through the House of Delegates would protect the higher net metering credit.

The parties to the settlement include the PSC, the West Virginia Consumer Advocate Division, Citizen Action Group, Solar United Neighbors, Energy Efficient West Virginia and Solar Holler.

“While we continue to believe that the retail rate is fairest for residential solar customers to receive as a credit, we think that this is a fair settlement in the context of this case,” said Leah Barbour, state director for Solar United Neighbors. “There are some important protections for current customers and clear guidelines to ensure solar will continue to work going forward.”

Mon Power serves 395,000 customers in 34 West Virginia counties. Potomac Edison serves 155,000 customers in the Eastern Panhandle.

Settlement: Mon Power Rates Would Go Up By About $10 A Month

Under a proposed agreement submitted to the West Virginia Public Service Commission, average Mon Power residential electricity customers would see their bills go up $9.94 a month.

Mon Power customers would see their rates increase in March, but not by as much as proposed, if a settlement agreement is approved.

Under a proposed agreement submitted to the West Virginia Public Service Commission, average Mon Power residential electricity customers would see their bills go up $9.94 a month.

In total, that would give the company about $105 million in revenue – about half the $207 million it sought. Electric utilities recover their costs, in part, through rate increases.

The PSC held a public comment hearing on the base rate case on Monday, and will have an evidentiary hearing on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at the agency’s headquarters in Charleston.

One issue not settled by the agreement: How much customers with solar panels are credited for the electricity they produce. The parties to the case asked the PSC to rule on the matter.

State’s Largest Solar Facility Powers Up In Monongalia County

Mon Power’s Fort Martin solar plant spreads out on about 80 rolling acres just south of the Pennsylvania border.

The state’s largest solar generation facility came online Thursday in Monongalia County.

Mon Power’s Fort Martin solar plant spreads out on about 94 rolling acres just south of the Pennsylvania border. It generates about 19 megawatts of electricity. That’s not as much as two nearby coal-burning power plants. But for now, it is the largest solar plant in the state.

Del. Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, is one of the legislature’s biggest supporters of renewable energy.

“We need a lot of solar electricity because there’s a lot of businesses that require it,” he said. “And they won’t come to West Virginia unless they can get it.”

Mon Power expects to complete two more solar sites this year and seek approval from state regulators for two more to be constructed next year.

The National Energy Technology Laboratory in Morgantown said Friday it has an agreement to purchase power from the Fort Martin facility.

Want to sign up to receive solar credits? Find out how.

Exit mobile version