CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The Public Service Commission has granted a siting certificate to Wild Hill Solar, LLC for a solar exempt wholesale electric generating facility in Jefferson County, West Virginia.
Wild Hill plans to construct a 92.5 megawatt solar generating facility on approximately 795 acres of agricultural land. The proposed project will consist of rows of photovoltaic modules in arrays dispersed throughout the project area.
The power generated from this facility will be sold into the PJM wholesale market, and will benefit local and state interests as it will be used in the area. Additionally, West Virginia will benefit by having solar power, an incentive in attracting companies to the state that want to develop in areas having renewable energy sources.
The estimated cost of the project is $125 million and will require approximately 193,000 craft work hours to construct. The Commission noted that in previous electric wholesale generation siting certificate cases these projects typically benefit the local area through taxes collected, payment in lieu of taxes or charitable giving by the company. Areas where these projects are built also typically experience increased retail spending during the construction phase.
Jefferson County Vision, Inc. and the West Virginia Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO were granted intervenor status in the case.
Additional information, including the Final Order, is available on the Commission website: www.psc.state.wv.us by referencing Case No. 20-0845-E-SCS-PW.