The first of five planned West Virginia solar farms just came online – here’s why that’s significant for the state.
1 out of 5 new West Virginia solar farms
FirstEnergy subsidiaries Mon Power and Potomac Edison have launched a solar farm on 80 acres at Fort Martin Power Station in Maidsville, West Virginia, north of Morgantown.
The 18.9 megawatt (MW), 50,000-panel solar farm is the first of the companies’ five solar farms that, combined, will generate up to 50 MW of clean energy.
In August, the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) approved the utilities’ request to construct Fort Martin and two other solar farms in Rivesville, Marion County (5.5 MW), and Marlowe, Berkeley County (5.7 MW). Construction of all three is expected to be complete by the end of 2024.
Mon Power and Potomac Edison said they plan to seek final approval from the PSC later this year to build the fourth and fifth solar farms in Davis, Tucker County (11.5 MW), and Weirton, Hancock County (8.4 MW) once customers subscribe to the clean energy they’ll produce. Construction of the final two sites is expected to be finished by the end of 2025.
