The Public Service Commission of West Virginia has issued a certificate allowing a new solar power project in Kanawha County. The approval permits Mammoth Solar, LLC to construct a 90-megawatt solar generating facility on reclaimed surface mine land.

The project will feature approximately 193,000 solar photovoltaic modules and occupy around 446 acres of a 1,148-acre site. It will connect to the existing Appalachian Power transmission line running from Kanawha River to Carbondale.

According to testimony filed with the Commission, the solar farm is expected to create 159 new jobs during construction and represents an estimated capital investment of $189.5 million. The Commission concluded that the project “is not contrary to the public interest” due to its positive economic impact for Kanawha County and the state of West Virginia.

Mammoth Solar requested a waiver of a hearing on the project, which the Commission approved. Construction and operational plans have not yet been detailed, but the project aligns with ongoing efforts to expand clean energy in the state.

This development adds to West Virginia’s growing portfolio of renewable energy projects, complementing initiatives in solar and wind energy.

Source: lootpress.com