RIVESVILLE, West Virginia – The second proposed commercial-grade solar allotment through FirstEnergy Corp. ‘s subsidiaries, Mon Power and Potomac Edison, is being built in Marion County.
The Marion County site is being built on the former operating domain of the Rivesville Power Plant, which was deactivated in 2012. Spokeswoman Hannah Catlett said the site encompasses 27 acres on the Rivesville domain near Morgan Ridge Road.
“It will produce about 5. 5 megawatts of renewable energy,” Catlett said. “One megawatt of solar power an average of 173 homes nationwide, according to the Solar Energy Industry Association. “
The utility’s initial site is near the Fort Martin power plant and spans about 80 acres, produces 18. 9 megawatts and finished late last year and was commissioned in January.
“We’re excited to do this to satisfy the state’s desires for power and inspire economic growth,” Catlett said.
The Rivesville site is similar to the Fort Martin site, which was also built on an 80-acre abandoned lot.
“We’re excited to turn what was the former coal ash disposal site into this clean, renewable energy source,” Catlett said.
Catlett said the company is unionized staff who lately are clearing trees, building roads and erecting fences around the proposed area for the solar panels. In addition, shelving systems and all related electrical appliances are manufactured in the USA. U. S.
“We are local union workers to build this site, so we have those groups up and running right now, and it’s smart for the local economy to use local labor. “
In addition to Fort Martin and Rivesville, the company plans to build two future solar arrays in Tucker County and Hancock, which will add about 20 additional megawatts of renewable energy generation capacity. This decision could generate interest in economic growth on the part of companies that meet the needs for the use of renewable energy.
“This will further stimulate the economy, as an increasing number of corporations require that some of the electrical power they use be generated from local sources,” Catlett said.