MORGANTOWN – Not a single person spoke in support of the Maidsville Energy Center – a proposed new 1,200 megawatt combined cycle gas turbine plant by FirstEnergy sisters Mon Power and Potomac Edison – during a Wednesday public comment hearing at Public Service Commission headquarters.
It’s estimated more than 100 appeared in person, with more attending remotely.
The comments covered the same few themes. Some said the plant is unnecessary, intended to provide power to a new data center that the data center owner hasn’t yet committed to building.
Others said if the data center doesn’t become reality, the utilities’ ratepayers will be on the hook for the costs.
And others – wearing United Mine Workers of America T-shirts – said the plant will further deplete the state’s coal mining jobs.
The hearing was scheduled for an hour but ran about an hour and 20 minutes. Comments were limited to two minutes and most speakers didn’t get to finish their thoughts but were able to file their comments with the PSC.
David Thorpe said he opposes the rate increase associated with the project. The companies estimate that the Energy Center will cost $2.48 billion. And three proposed solar sites – at Valley Point near Albright; Davis, adjacent to the town; and Wylie Ridge near Weirton – will cost $182 million.
The companies are seeking approval of a Generation Projects Surcharge to become effective on the first day of the month following the conclusion of the PSC proceeding, which would remain in effect until each asset is placed in service. They estimate that the initial surcharge will result in a rate increase for residential customers of $1.18 per month or 0.9%.
He said, “The proposed project represents an unprecedented cost burden for customers.” The PSC should require the companies to demonstrate the project is the least-cost option for meeting future demand.
The UMWA’s David Dayton talked about the loss of coal jobs and said, “This is treason to West Virginia.”
Paige Reiring is a Mountain Party candidate for the House of Delegates in Mon County. She said, “Mon Power is not making this proposal to help West Virginians get access to reliable power.” It for data centers, “and to make a very wealthy company even wealthier.”
Molly Martin, of Morgantown, said, the project is based on speculation of potential future data center growth. Requirements may have been overestimated. More extensive studies should be required.
Barbara Evens Fleischauer, also of Morgantown, pointed out that this project is one of three in the area. The other two are the Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link transmission line, and the Valley Link transmission line project, totaling over $4 billion for the three. “West Virginians cannot afford this.”
Coal miner Mike Knight said the plant would push the state into state-mandated fuel switching, abandoning West Virginia coal, wiping out coal jobs, pushing more companies toward bankruptcy and wiping out retirement benefits.
The evidentiary hearing for the project with supporters and detractors giving testimony is now under way.
