West Virginia officials approve construction of gas-turbine power plant

CHARLESTON -- The siting certificate for a gas-turbine power plant proposed by Competitive Power Ventures in Doddridge County more than a year ago was approved Monday by the West Virginia Public Service Commission.

The wholesale generation plant proposed by CPV Shay would be capable of supplying electricity to 1.8 million homes a year, the commission said. The CPV Shay Energy Center plant would be located about 4.5 miles southeast of West Union in Blandville, an incorporated village, the commission said.

The investment in construction and facilities is estimated at $3 billion and will create 2,000 jobs during peak construction, an average of 1,200 jobs a year during the three-year construction period, and from 50 to 60 permanent jobs, according to the company.

CPV Shay filed a petition with the commission on Dec. 1, 2023, for the development of a wholesale electric generating facility and a high-voltage electric transmission line on 54 acres of a 230 acre parcel, the commission said.

The application proposed a 2,060 megawatt natural gas-fired combined cycle gas turbine power-generating facility. The transmission system is a 9 mile, 500-kilovolt high-voltage line to run northeast to the Flint Run substation owned by the Monongahela Power Co., the commission said.

CPV Shay said it would "deploy three advanced-class gas turbines, each with a high-efficiency secondary cycle steam turbine system." The plant also may incorporate an integrated carbon capture facility to be operated as an affiliate of Shay, the company said.

"The applicant asserts that it is not a public utility providing service to the public in West Virginia and that the construction and operation of the combined facilities will not impact West Virginia ratepayers," the application said. The power will be sent on the regional electricity grid for the wholesale market.

Construction is to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025.

"West Virginia is pleased to welcome yet another business to our state," Charlotte R. Lane, chairman of the Public Service Commission, said.

A public comment hearing for May 6 and evidentiary hearing for May 8-9 were canceled.

More information on the case is available at www.psc.state.wv.us. Click on Case Information and access Case No. 23-0910-E-CS-CN.

Shay in the title is reference to the Shay No. 5 engine at the Cass Scenic Railroad. The board of education and the county commission in Doddridge County have approved a Payment in Lieu of Taxes agreement with CPV.