Construction is in progress for the second utility-grade solar site in West Virginia, as FirstEnergy Corp. subsidiaries Mon Power and Potomac Edison have initiated the development of the Rivesville solar site in Marion County. The project aims to contribute to the state's energy needs while fostering economic growth.
Jim Myers, President of FirstEnergy's West Virginia Operations, expressed pride in the transformation of a former coal ash disposal site into a clean renewable energy source. Myers highlighted the significance of renewable energy in driving economic development, stating, "We believe the energy generated by our West Virginia solar sites will continue to encourage economic development in the state because a growing number of companies require a portion of the electricity they purchase to be generated by renewable sources."
The Rivesville solar site, spanning approximately 27 acres along Morgan Ridge Road, is set to produce up to 5.5 megawatts of renewable power, equivalent to powering 173 homes per megawatt. The location, a brownfield site dormant since the deactivation of the Rivesville Power Station in 2012, is owned by the companies.
This initiative is part of a larger plan by the companies to establish a total of five solar sites in West Virginia. The first site at the Fort Martin Power Station, covering 80 acres, was connected to the distribution grid in January 2024 and has a capacity to generate up to 18.9 MW of solar energy per hour.
Local union workers are leading the construction at the Rivesville site, following similar practices at the Fort Martin location. Recent activities at the site include tree removal, road construction, and fence installation in preparation for upcoming electrical and mechanical work. All solar panels, racking systems, and supporting electrical equipment are manufactured in the United States.
The collective output of the five planned solar sites is projected to reach 50 megawatts of renewable energy. Construction at the Rivesville site and a third site in Berkeley County (5.7 MW) is on track for completion by the end of 2024. Plans for the additional two solar sites in Davis, Tucker County (11.5 MW), and Weirton, Hancock County (8.4 MW) are contingent on customer subscriptions.
For more information or to subscribe to the solar program, Mon Power and Potomac Edison customers in West Virginia can visit the website at firstenergycorp.com/WVSolar or contact 1-800-505-7283.
Mon Power serves approximately 395,000 customers in 34 West Virginia counties, while Potomac Edison serves about 285,000 customers in Maryland and 155,000 customers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.
FirstEnergy Corp. is committed to integrity, safety, reliability, and operational excellence, with its electric distribution companies catering to over six million customers across several states. The company's transmission subsidiaries manage around 24,000 miles of transmission lines connecting the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions.
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