MORGANTOWN – Public Service Commission staff have recommended that the PSC approve the1,154-acre Brandonville Solar project.
The staff memorandum to the PSC says they recommend granting a solar siting certificate without the necessity of an evidentiary hearing, subject to the certain conditions.
One condition is receiving all the necessary permits and approvals from other governmental agencies. Brandonville Solar must commence continuous construction within five years and complete construction within 10 years – with a provision for PSC extension of the deadlines for good cause.
Staff says it considers the facility reasonable and not contrary to the public interest.
Staff notes that seven letters of protest have been filed. The Dominion Post reported on these letters in November. The writers addressed a few similar themes: preference of using the land for farming; loss of animal habitat, hunting grounds and scenic views; health and environmental concerns. The company addressed most of those concerns in a Nov. 14 letter to one of the writers and filed with the PSC.
Brandonville Solar’s 100 megawatt solar project is planned to sit on 1,154 acres between Glade Run and Big Sandy Creek, about one mile northwest of Brandonville. It would have an initial 35-year lifespan, which could be extended through regular maintenance and replacement of equipment.
Brandonville Solar is a subsidiary of Enel North America, part of Enel Group, a sustainable energy company headquartered in Andover, Mass. It has more than 850 employees and maintains a portfolio of around 12 gigawatts of projects in operation across nine U.S. states and one Canadian province. Its renewables division in the U.S. and Canada operates as Enel Green Power North America.
Brandonville Solar estimates the project will cost more than $174 million. It will connect with an existing FirstEnergy transmission line in the area. There will be no transmission towers; and no battery storage system at this time.
The project footprint consists of three solar energy leases totaling 752 acres and a Purchase Option Agreement describing about 402 acres. The PV solar modules and other project components require about 469 acres of land within the overall 1,154-acre project boundary.
The project is anticipated to be operational by Dec. 31, 2027, with construction starting on Dec. 2, 2026, the company says.
