WEST VIRGINIA (WCHS) — State leaders in West Virginia celebrated nearly $4.2 billion in recent private sector energy investments that are expected to create thousands of jobs.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced at an energy summit Thursday in Charleston that the state has secured six investments that are expected to create more than 4,200 jobs, according to a news release. Below are the investments:
* A $2.5 billion, 1.2 gigawatt natural gas power plant by First Energy that is expected to power manufacturing and data center growth while creating 3,200 construction jobs.
* $1.44 billion in low-interest funding for refurbishment projects to extend the life of six coal-fired plants by up to 20 years in West Virginia.
* A $1.2 billion joint venture between Kindle Energy, Blackstone and GE Vernova that is expected to deliver 625 megawatts of capacity and more than 800 construction jobs with no state funding required.
* A $70 million privately funded effort to plug more than 1,500 gas wells by Diversified Energy that will support environmental compliance initiatives.
* A $400 million expansion by Ergon in Newell, W.Va., that is expected to create 25 new jobs and retain 240 existing positions.
* A $7 million investment by Bidell Gas Compression in Weirton with support from a $1 million performance-based loan from the state that will expand its facility and add 80 new manufacturing jobs.
“West Virginia is asserting itself as a dominant force in American energy,” Morrisey said in the news release. “We’re not just keeping the lights on – we’re powering the future of manufacturing, data, and innovation across the country.”
The governor said only about $1 million of the announced investments come from state funds and are restructured to be repaid.
The announcements come after the launch of Morrisey’s “50 by 50” initiative, which aims to increase West Virginia’s baseload energy generation to 50 gigawatts by the year 2050.
Morrisey teased more energy sector announcements could come in the future.
