PSC approves solar project in Mineral County

Apr. 16—KEYSER, W.Va. — The West Virginia Public Service Commission has approved a solar power project in Mineral County.

The 100-megawatt facility will be built by Potomac Hills Energy and include a 200-megawatt battery storage system. A substation to be constructed will deliver power to FirstEnergy Corp.

The facility will be located about 3 miles west of Keyser and 1.25 miles south of Piedmont, according to PSC documents.

Potomac Hills Energy, which is owned by Energix US, LLC, of Arlington, Virginia, applied for the site certification on Dec. 20, 2023. Energix said it is "one of the leading solar energy entities" in the mid-Atlantic.

Commission staff said the plant has a useful projected life of 35 years. The order said the company estimates construction will have a $64.7 million economic impact for the county. In its application, the company estimated the facility represents an investment of $243 million.

A 100-megawatt solar power plant can generate enough electricity to power approximately 60,000 homes for a day, according to the energy site OGM.com.