Sierra Club submitted Direct Testimony on Friday in the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity case for Mon Power's proposed 1,200 MW combined cycle gas plant. The utility estimates the project will cost $2.48 billion.
The environmental group argues construction costs would directly lift West Virginians' energy bills. It contends the plant is not the most economical path, drawing on expert analysis to question the utility's cost projections and need assessment.
Mon Power maintains the gas plant is necessary to replace retiring coal capacity and meet reliability requirements. The facility would be built at the company's existing Fort Martin Power Station site, leveraging infrastructure and skilled local workforce.
The case unfolds as Appalachian states wrestle with energy transition pressures. West Virginia remains heavily coal-dependent but has seen plant retirements accelerate, driving utilities toward gas as a bridge fuel despite rising construction costs.
A counter_argument notes the utility sees the plant as essential for grid reliability and economic development. With natural gas prices currently low, the project could provide cheaper power than continuing to run aging coal units, offsetting capital costs over time.