Hold on to your wallets!
MonPower proposes to construct a 1,200-MW gas-fired power plant at Fort Martin in
Monongalia County. The plant is projected to cost $2.48 billion, with a goal to be operational by
Dec. 31, 2031.
The total cost of electricity would also depend on the price of natural gas and other
environmental costs, such as future greenhouse gas controls. Adding Carbon Capture and
Sequestration would likely add more billions.
MonPower claims that the plant is needed due to increased demand for electricity, but
their own testimony shows that almost all of their projected increased demand is for unnamed
proposed data centers. MonPower admits that they do not have a contract (Energy Services
Agreement) from the data center, nor do they propose a Large Load Tariff to protect existing
ratepayers.
MonPower requests a “Generation Projects Surcharge” (0.9 % rate increase) to go into
effect before construction starts, and increasing to 2.3 % during construction. A time-honored
policy for utilities is that ratepayers are not charged until infrastructure is “used and useful”, but
MonPower’s plan is to start charging us years before the plant would even operate.
Even worse, MonPower insists on “Abandonment Authority” which puts all the risk on
ratepayers. Together, these plans create a strong incentive to overbuild, as MonPower would be
guaranteed to make a Return on Investment regardless of whether the plant ever operates.
If you pay an electric bill to MonPower, you have a chance to tell our Public
Service Commission to Just Say No!
The PSC is holding a public hearing on MonPower's
greedy proposal on Wednesday evening, July 15, at 5:30 PM. To speak, register with the WV-
PSC by Friday, July 10 via:
Microsoft Teams: https://bit.ly/wvpsc20260715
Phone: Alexis Weimer (304) 340-0822 or Andrew Gallagher (304) 340-0820
Email: aweimer@psc.state.wv.us or agallagher@psc.state.wv.us
We all need electricity, but existing customers should not be gouged just to benefit the
developers of hyperscale data centers. MonPower’s plan will raise costs for local residents,
businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies.
Jim Kotcon
West Virginia Chapter of Sierra Club
304-594-3322