Proposed FirstEnergy gas-fired power plant draws universal opposition at public hearing

A public comment hearing at the Public Service Commission headquarters in Morgantown, West Virginia, revealed unanimous opposition to FirstEnergy's proposed 1,200-megawatt Maidsville Energy Center. The gas turbine plant, to be built by FirstEnergy subsidiaries Mon Power and Potomac Edison, received no support from the over 100 attendees, many of whom spoke against the project.

Speakers raised several key concerns, primarily focusing on the plant's estimated $2.48 billion cost, which would lead to a proposed rate increase for residential customers of $1.18 per month. David Thorpe, among others, argued that the companies should be required to prove the project is the least-cost option for future demand. Many expressed skepticism about the plant's purpose, noting it is intended to power a new data center whose owner has not yet committed to building, raising fears that ratepayers would shoulder the costs if the data center doesn't materialize.

Environmental and labor concerns were also prominent. United Mine Workers of America members, including David Dayton and Mike Knight, stated the plant would further deplete coal mining jobs and force a shift away from West Virginia coal, which Dayton described as "treason." Paige Reiring, a Mountain Party candidate, asserted the proposal was designed to enrich a wealthy company, not to provide reliable power to West Virginians. Molly Martin and Barbara Evens Fleischauer, both of Morgantown, questioned the project's basis on speculative data center growth and pointed out the cumulative cost of three major energy projects in the area, totaling over $4 billion, which they deemed unaffordable for West Virginians.

The public hearing, initially scheduled for an hour, extended to 80 minutes, with most speakers unable to complete their two-minute comments. An evidentiary hearing, where supporters and detractors will provide testimony, is now in progress.