Taller, More Efficient Wind Turbines Approved For Grant County

Updated on Friday, November 15 at 4:40 p.m.

A wind farm in Grant County can now increase the height of its turbines as part of a broader effort to make the site more efficient.

The Public Service Commission of West Virginia (PSC) approved modification plans for the Mount Storm Wind Farm that would reduce the total number of turbines on site, but increase the size and capacity of existing turbines.

The plant is operated by Nedpower Mount Storm, a subsidiary of Clearway Energy Group, in the unincorporated community of Mount Storm, about 25 miles north of the county seat of Petersburg. Clearway submitted the modified plans to the PSC in June.

If completed, the plant modifications would reduce the number of electric-generating wind turbines on site from 132 to 78, but increase their height by more than 100 feet.

“The modifications would increase efficiency, reduce impacts on the view, cut down on the shadow flicker from the blades and reduce the noise level,” read the June application from Nedpower. The company also said these changes would extend the facility’s life by 35 years.

The plant is limited to producing 300 megawatts, but Clearway says the proposed changes would not cause the plant to cross this threshold. This is enough energy to power 90,000 homes per day, according to the PSC press release.

“As with most technologies, wind farms benefit from refurbishment as newer, more efficient equipment becomes available,” reads the company’s website. “A full repowering of the Mount Storm Wind Farm means that the current turbines will be completely recycled, resold and reused with fewer turbines and more efficient, reliable, state-of-the-art technology.”

The project would cost an estimated $775 million. It would also generate $60 million in property taxes and create 250 jobs in a two-year span, according to the company.

According to the PSC, 187 letters of support were submitted on behalf of the project, which is slated to begin in July 2025.

“We could not be more grateful for the support that we have received from the people of Grant and Mineral counties. We are eager to extend that investment and help keep West Virginia on the forefront of American-made power,” Callie Dayton, a representative for Clearway, wrote in an email to West Virginia Public Broadcasting. “We appreciate the Public Service Commission’s approval of an updated siting certificate and look forward to continuing our longstanding partnership with these communities.”

**Editor’s Note: This story was updated to include a written comment from Clearway Energy Group that was provided to West Virginia Public Broadcasting after publication.