Mon Power and Potomac Edison, subsidiaries of FirstEnergy Corp., have selected a 35-acre site adjacent to their Fort Martin Power Station for a proposed 1,200-megawatt natural gas power plant. The plant aims to enhance electricity reliability and affordability for West Virginia families and businesses.

According to the companies, the plant will generate enough energy to power roughly half a million homes, strengthening the region’s energy supply as electricity demand continues to grow. FirstEnergy plans to begin site work as early as 2027, with the plant coming online in late 2031, pending approval from the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC). The companies expect a decision within the next year.

Mon Power and Potomac Edison’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP)

The proposed natural gas facility forms a key component of Mon Power and Potomac Edison’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which outlines how the utilities will maintain reliable, affordable power over the next decade. The IRP also calls for the continued operation of the Fort Martin and Harrison power plants and includes new solar resources to diversify the generation mix.

The utilities are also pursuing about 70 megawatts of additional solar generation on reclaimed and former industrial lands, including a 50-MW project on a former strip mine in Preston County, an 8.4-MW project near a substation in Hancock County, and an 11.5-MW project in Tucker County. These projects complement an existing solar portfolio of roughly 30 MW built since 2024 and are designed to support U.S. manufacturing, create construction jobs, and help meet the region’s growing electricity demand.

Economic Impact

The construction of the 1,200-megawatt natural gas plant is expected to generate over 3,260 direct and indirect jobs and produce $68 million in state and local tax revenue during construction. Once operational, the plant could support approximately 2,200 ongoing jobs and contribute $85.9 million annually in tax revenue. That including dozens of permanent, technically advanced positions and hundreds of jobs in West Virginia’s natural gas sector. FirstEnergy subsidiaries Mon Power and Potomac Edison plan to file with the West Virginia Public Service Commission in early 2026, pursuing either an independent build or a partnership with another company to construct the plant.

Jim Myers, FirstEnergy’s president for West Virginia and Maryland, said, “The Fort Martin Power Station is already an important part of our power infrastructure, and therefore this new plant builds on that strength. By adding modern natural gas generation alongside our existing plants, we are making sure families and businesses across West Virginia have the reliable and affordable power they depend on today and for years to come.”

New Plant Enhances Energy Mix

The new generation will complement the existing Fort Martin and Harrison power stations, thereby supporting a balanced and reliable energy mix across West Virginia. Also, the project aligns with Governor Patrick Morrisey’s “50 by 50” initiative, which seeks to expand the state’s energy capacity to 50 gigawatts by 2050. Beyond generation, FirstEnergy is investing in transmission line upgrades, grid modernization, and infrastructure improvements, with a planned $5.2 billion investment from 2025 to 2029, and an additional $2.5 billion contingent on approval of the new plant. Certainly, these efforts aim to strengthen the grid, attract energy-intensive industries, and support long-term economic growth throughout the state.

Additionally, this new natural gas plant complements ongoing efforts to strengthen the regional power grid. The 220-Mile, 765-kV transmission line by NextEra Energy Transmission and Exelon was recently approved by the PJM Board of Directors, establishing a high-capacity route to deliver electricity reliably across the Mid-Atlantic. Altogether, these generation and transmission projects enhance grid reliability, support growing electricity demand, and position the region for long-term energy stability.

Mon Power serves roughly 395,000 customers in 34 West Virginia counties, while Potomac Edison serves about 285,000 customers in seven Maryland counties and 155,000 in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle. FirstEnergy’s transmission subsidiaries operate about 24,000 miles of lines connecting the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Factsheet: Mon Power & Potomac Edison Energy Infrastructure Expansion

Project Overview

Mon Power and Potomac Edison, subsidiaries of FirstEnergy Corp., are developing a comprehensive energy infrastructure plan that includes a major natural gas power plant and also expanded solar generation capacity to meet West Virginia’s growing electricity demand.

1,200-Megawatt Natural Gas Power Plant

Location: 35-acre site adjacent to Fort Martin Power Station, Maidsville, West Virginia

Capacity: 1,200 megawatts

Power Output: Enough energy to power approximately 500,000 homes

Timeline: Site work to begin early 2027 (pending PSC approval); expected to be operational before end of 2031

Approval Status: Pending Public Service Commission of West Virginia approval (while decision expected within one year)

Strategic Importance

The new natural gas plant is a key component of Mon Power and Potomac Edison’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), designed to ensure reliable and affordable power delivery over the next decade. The plan also includes:

• Modern natural gas generation at the Fort Martin site
• Continued operation of Fort Martin and Harrison power plants
• New solar resources for a balanced and resilient energy portfolio

Solar Generation Expansion

Mon Power and Potomac Edison are seeking approval for 70 megawatts of new solar generation on former industrial and reclaimed mine lands:

Valley Point Project (Preston County)

Capacity: 50 megawatts

Site: 188-acre former strip mine at a private airfield

Wylie Ridge Project, Weirton (Hancock County)

Capacity: 8.4 megawatts

Site: 51-acre site surrounding a Mon Power substation

Davis Project (Tucker County)

Capacity: 11.5 megawatts

Site: 44-acre reclaimed strip mine property

Total New Solar Capacity: 70 megawatts across 283 acres

Existing Solar Portfolio

These new sites will complement 30 megawatts of solar generation already constructed since 2024 on brownfield and former industrial sites. The projects support U.S. manufacturing, create construction jobs, and help meet the region’s growing electricity needs.