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Mon Power and Potomac Edison, subsidiaries of FirstEnergy Corp. have energized their third utility-scale solar project in West Virginia, marking continued progress in supporting the state’s clean energy goals. The new facility, located in Berkeley County, features more than 17,000 solar panels generating up to 5.75 megawatts (MW) of renewable electricity—enough to power approximately 1,000 homes, based on national averages. Built on a 36-acre site along Interstate 81 and the Potomac River, the Marlowe solar facility occupies land formerly used as an ash landfill for the retired R. Paul Smith Power Station. FirstEnergy closed the site in 2022 after recovering over three million tons of ash for cement manufacturing, transforming the property into a productive clean energy asset. This project is part of the companies’ West Virginia solar program, launched in response to a 2020 state law authorizing up to 200 MW of utility-owned solar to meet growing electricity needs and attract businesses requiring renewable energy sources. The initiative prioritizes development on brownfields and previously impacted industrial lands to support sustainable growth. Including the Marlowe site, Mon Power and Potomac Edison have now completed three solar projects totaling 30 MW. The Fort Martin solar project (18.9 MW) came online in early 2024, while the Rivesville site (5.5 MW) began operations in late 2023. Two additional sites are planned to reach the program’s 50 MW target. Together, the five projects will produce over 87,000 Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) annually. These certificates allow customers to support renewable energy generation by verifying that solar power was produced on their behalf. Dan Rossero, Vice President of FirstEnergy’s West Virginia Generation said, “Our solar projects create construction jobs, support U.S. manufacturing and help us accommodate increased demand for electricity. We are committed to ensuring that our customers have the right mix and amount of generation to support their everyday needs, and our solar facilities are a growing part of that.” Construction at the Marlowe site employed 54 local union workers. Solar panels, steel racking systems, and electrical components were sourced from U.S. manufacturers, supporting domestic industry and job creation. |
