FirstEnergy utilities seek approval to build 50 MW of solar in West Virginia

FirstEnergy Corp. subsidiaries Monongahela Power Co. and The Potomac Edison Co. are seeking regulatory approval to build five utility-scale solar projects in West Virginia.

Monongahela Power, or Mon Power, and Potomac Edison on Nov. 22 submitted an application (docket 21-0813-E-P) to the Public Service Commission of West Virginia for authorization to build 50 MW of solar generation and sell the energy to customers.

The companies in a Nov. 22 news release said the application supports a 2020 West Virginia law that allows electric utilities to procure, own and operate up to 200 MW of solar to help the state meet its electricity needs. Senate Bill 583 provides that each facility shall not "have a generating capacity greater than 50 [MW]" until 85% of the solar plant's annual energy output is sold or contracted to be sold to end-users.

The maximum capacity of a single solar plant authorized under the law is 200 MW. The cumulative capacity of all renewable generation facilities among investor-owned utilities and subject to cost recovery would not be allowed to exceed 400 MW, or a cap of 200 MW each for Mon Power and American Electric Power Co. Inc. utility subsidiary Appalachian Power Co.

If the application is approved, Mon Power is expected to build, own and operate all five solar facilities with the energy produced available for purchase by Mon Power and Potomac Edison customers, according to the news release.

"Customers who participate in the program would receive the equivalent of one solar renewable energy credit (SREC) for each megawatt-hour of energy purchased," the utilities said in the news release. "To help ensure the development of clean, renewable energy in the state, the cost of the solar generation would be paid for by Mon Power and Potomac Edison customers in West Virginia through a nominal solar surcharge until all the energy credits are purchased by program participants."

The companies said they would begin the procurement, groundbreaking and permitting process in 2022, with construction on all five projects expected to be complete before the end of 2025. Four of the five project sites have been identified; all are owned by Mon Power or affiliates.