AEP buys Maidsville coal-fired plant, acquires permits for natural gas expansion on the site
American Electric Power (AEP) has announced the purchase of the 710 MW Longview Power Plant in Maidsville, West Virginia. The company also acquired permits for a 1,200-megawatt natural gas expansion at the site to help meet increasing electricity demand driven by data centers and AI. AEP will honor the existing Payment in Lieu of Taxes agreement with Monongalia County.
American Electric Power (AEP) has revealed its intention to acquire the 710 MW Longview Power Plant, a coal-fired facility situated in Maidsville, Monongalia County, West Virginia, for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition, which reportedly outbid a "household name" data center developer, is part of AEP's strategy to address surging electricity demand across the PJM 13-state regional transmission system, largely attributed to the expansion of data centers and artificial intelligence operations.
Monongalia County Commission president Tom Bloom confirmed limited discussions with AEP officials, emphasizing the company's commitment to uphold the existing Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) agreement with Monongalia County and Monongalia County Schools. Furthermore, AEP has also secured permits for a proposed 1,200-megawatt combined cycle natural gas power plant at the same location, signaling a significant expansion of energy generation capacity. AEP currently holds contracts to supply approximately 18 GWs of electricity to data centers within the PJM region. The terms of the transaction remain undisclosed, with local officials anticipating further details and partnership discussions.