Tell the PSC we can't afford a $2.5 billion bill!

FirstEnergy wants Mon Power and Potomac Edison customers to pay for a new gas plant in West Virginia to serve data centers. The price tag is at least $2.48 billion and they want you to pay for it.

This plant isn't being built for everyday West Virginians. It's being proposed to serve a single, speculative data center that hasn't even committed to coming here.

Here's what that means for you:

• You could be forced to start paying for this plant immediately, before it produces any power

• Projected residential bill increases exceed $500 for the next five years, before the plant produces any power.

• You could be stuck paying extra, even if the plant is never built or the data center never shows up

Three Ways to Make Your Voice Heard on the FirstEnergy Gas Plant

NOTE: This hearing only affects Mon Power and Potomac Edison customers. If that's not your electric utility, no action is needed.

The West Virginia Public Service Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, July 15 at 5:30 p.m. on FirstEnergy's proposal to build a $2.48 billion gas plant in Monongalia County. Projected residential bill increases due to the plant exceed $500 for the next five years, before it even produces any power. This calculation is based on usage of 1,000 kwh/month, which is a little below the actual average for Mon Power/Potomac Edison customers.

The PSC is offering two ways to participate: attend the hearing in person in Charleston or join virtually via Microsoft Teams from home.

Because many of the people most impacted by this proposal live hours away from Charleston, our coalition is organizing a third option to make participation easier.

Option 1: Join and Speak with Fellow Community Members in Morgantown or Jefferson County (Sierra Club and West Virginians for Energy Freedom Hosted)

Instead of participating alone from home, join neighbors at our two community virtual hearing sites:

Morgantown Public Safety Building
Training Room
300 Spruce Street
Morgantown, WV 26505

Wednesday, July 15
5:00 PM start time

OR

South Jefferson Public Library
Meeting Room
49 Church Street
Summit Point, WV 25446

Wednesday, July 15
5:00 PM start time

Option 2: Join Virtually from Home (PSC Hosted)

You may participate from anywhere through Microsoft Teams.

If you wish to provide public comment at home virtually, you must register with the PSC by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 10.

Register by:

Microsoft Teams: https://bit.ly/wvpsc20260715

Phone: Alexis Weimer (304) 340-0822 or Andrew Gallagher (304) 340-0820

Email: aweimer@psc.state.wv.us or agallagher@psc.state.wv.us

Option 3: Attend in Person in Charleston (PSC Hosted)

Public Service Commission Hearing Room
201 Brooks Street
Charleston, WV

Wednesday, July 15
5:30 p.m.

Anyone wishing to speak in person should sign up before the hearing begins.

Whether you join us in Morgantown or Summit Point, testify virtually from home, or travel to Charleston, your voice matters. This case could affect electric bills for years to come, and public comments become part of the official record the Public Service Commission considers before making its decision.

West Virginians should have the freedom to invest in and benefit from locally-owned, renewable, and efficient energy technology.

The state government and our utilities should act in the best interest of West Virginians by empowering us to reduce and manage our own energy bills. This will boost the state's economy through good, local energy jobs, and provide greater energy security and safety to our state.