Mon Power and Potomac Edison Select Maidsville, West Virginia, Site for New Natural Gas Power Plant

Rhea-AI Summary

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) subsidiaries Mon Power and Potomac Edison selected a 35-acre Maidsville, West Virginia site for a new 1,200-megawatt natural gas power plant expected to supply roughly half a million homes. If approved by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia, site work could begin as early as 2027 with the plant online in late 2031.

The companies also seek approval for 70 megawatts of new solar across three reclaimed/brownfield sites, adding to 30 megawatts already built since 2024, as part of an Integrated Resource Plan to bolster reliability and affordability.

Positive

• 1,200 MW natural gas capacity selected at Maidsville site
• Expected to power ~500,000 homes, strengthening regional supply
• 70 MW proposed solar plus 30 MW existing utility-scale solar

Negative

• Project subject to Public Service Commission approval within the next year
• Long lead time: site work as early as 2027, online in late 2031

Key Figures

Gas plant capacity: 1,200 megawatts Plant site size: 35 acres Homes powered: roughly half a million homes +5 more

8 metrics

Gas plant capacity 1,200 megawatts New natural gas power plant at Maidsville site

Plant site size 35 acres Site next to Fort Martin Power Station

Homes powered roughly half a million homes Expected output of new gas plant

New solar capacity 70 megawatts Proposed new solar generation projects

Existing solar 30 megawatts Solar already constructed since 2024

Site work start 2027 Earliest expected start of site work if PSC approves

Plant online target late 2031 Expected in-service timing if approved

Mon Power customers about 395,000 Customers served in 34 West Virginia counties

Market Reality Check

Price: $50.10 Vol: Volume 6,327,585 is 19% a...

normal vol

$50.10 Last Close

Volume Volume 6,327,585 is 19% above the 20-day average of 5,324,977. normal

Technical Price $50.10 is above the $44 200-day MA and 1.77% above the 52-week high of $49.23.

Peers on Argus

FE gained 1.9% with sector peers also positive: AEE +1.67%, ES +2.75%, EIX +4.64...

FE gained 1.9% with sector peers also positive: AEE +1.67%, ES +2.75%, EIX +4.64%, PPL +3.64%, WEC +2.63%, indicating a supportive utilities backdrop around this capacity-expansion news.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Feb 12 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Feb 12	Grid reliability project	Positive	+1.9%	$95M reliability upgrades in NJ reducing outages for thousands of customers.
Feb 11	Customer safety notice	Positive	+0.6%	Advisory on foil balloons and outages, reinforcing reliability and safety focus.
Feb 09	Infrastructure upgrade	Positive	+0.4%	$30M Monmouth County upgrades with 10 miles of new wire and new poles.
Feb 04	Power procurement plan	Neutral	-1.0%	PA Default Service Plan filings outlining auction structure and TOU changes.
Feb 04	ESG tree initiative	Positive	-1.0%	Report on 30,000+ trees planted in 2025 and 26,000 planned for 2026.

Pattern Detected

Operational and infrastructure-focused news has generally seen modestly positive price alignment, with occasional divergence on ESG-focused updates.

Recent Company History

Over recent months, FE has highlighted grid reliability and infrastructure investments, including a $95 million New Jersey Reliability Improvement Project and broader $28 billion Energize365 plans for 2025–2029. Customer-safety messaging and environmental initiatives, such as planting over 30,000 trees in 2025, have also featured. A Pennsylvania Default Service Plan detailed how power will be procured from 2027–2031. Today’s announcement of a 1,200‑MW gas plant and new solar resources fits this pattern of long-term system planning and reliability-focused investments.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement outlines a long-term buildout that includes a 1,200‑MW natural gas plant plus 70 M...

Analysis

This announcement outlines a long-term buildout that includes a 1,200‑MW natural gas plant plus 70 MW of new solar, complementing 30 MW already in service. It extends FE’s recent theme of reliability and grid investment across its service territories. Key factors to monitor include regulatory decisions by the West Virginia PSC, adherence to the 2027–2031 development timeline, evolving generation mix within the Integrated Resource Plan, and how future filings translate these projects into approved rate structures.

Key Terms

integrated resource plan, public service commission

2 terms

integrated resource plan regulatory

"The natural gas plant is a key part of Mon Power and Potomac Edison's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP)"

An integrated resource plan is a utility’s long-term roadmap showing how it will meet future electricity needs using a mix of power sources, energy efficiency, demand reductions and storage while balancing cost, reliability and regulatory requirements. Like a household budget that plans income, bills and savings, the plan reveals expected investments, operating costs and risks, so investors use it to assess future capital spending, potential rate changes and long-term profitability.

public service commission regulatory

"If approved by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia (PSC), site work would begin"

A public service commission is a government agency that oversees essential services like electricity, water, gas and sometimes transport or telecoms, acting like a referee who sets rules, approves rates and issues operating licenses. Investors watch its decisions because the commission can raise or lower what customers pay, require costly upgrades, or limit a company's ability to expand, directly affecting utility revenues, profits and investment risk.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Approval of new gas and solar generation proposed in Integrated Resource Plan will help keep power reliable and affordable for customers

FAIRMONT, W.Va., Feb. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Mon Power and Potomac Edison, subsidiaries of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), have selected a 35-acre site next to the companies' Fort Martin Power Station in Maidsville, W. Va., as the home of  a new 1,200-megawatt natural gas power plant that will help keep electricity reliable and affordable for West Virginia families and businesses for years to come.

Once complete, the plant is expected to generate enough energy to power roughly half a million homes, strengthening the region's energy supply as demand continues to grow.

If approved by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia (PSC), site work would begin as early as 2027, with the plant coming online in late 2031. The companies expect a decision from the commission within the next year. 

The natural gas plant is a key part of Mon Power and Potomac Edison's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which outlines how the companies will continue delivering reliable, affordable power to customers over the next decade. The plan also calls for continued operation of the Fort Martin and Harrison power plants and adds new solar resources to create a more balanced and resilient energy portfolio.

Jim Myers, FirstEnergy's President of West Virginia and Maryland: "The Fort Martin Power Station is already an important part of our power infrastructure, and this new plant builds on that strength. By adding modern natural gas generation alongside our existing plants, we are making sure families and businesses across West Virginia have the reliable and affordable power they depend on today and for years to come."

Building on growing solar portfolio

Mon Power and Potomac Edison are also seeking approval for 70 megawatts of new solar generation, as described in the IRP. These proposed projects would be built on former industrial and reclaimed mine lands, including:

• A 50-megawatt project on a 188-acre former strip mine at a private airfield in Valley Point (Preston County)
• An 8.4-megawatt project on a 51-acre site surrounding a Mon Power substation in the Wylie Ridge area of Weirton (Hancock County)
• An 11.5-megawatt project on a 44-acre reclaimed strip mine property in Davis (Tucker County)

These new sites would complement the companies' existing solar portfolio of 30 megawatts already constructed since 2024 on brownfield and former industrial sites. Beyond offering clean energy, these projects support U.S. manufacturing, create construction jobs and help meet the region's fast-growing electricity needs.

Mon Power serves about 395,000 customers in 34 West Virginia counties. Follow Mon Power at mon-power.com, on X @MonPowerWV, and on Facebook at facebook.com/MonPowerWV.

Potomac Edison serves about 285,000 customers in seven counties in Maryland and 155,000 customers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Follow Potomac Edison at potomacedison.com, on X @PotomacEdison, and on Facebook at facebook.com/PotomacEdison.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving more than six million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at firstenergycorp.com and on X @FirstEnergyCorp.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mon-power-and-potomac-edison-select-maidsville-west-virginia-site-for-new-natural-gas-power-plant-302688078.html

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What capacity is the new FirstEnergy (FE) natural gas plant in Maidsville, WV?

The planned plant is a 1,200-megawatt natural gas facility. According to the company, it would provide enough generation to power roughly half a million homes, improving regional supply and reliability.

When will the Mon Power and Potomac Edison (FE) Maidsville plant begin construction and operations?

Site work could begin as early as 2027, with commercial operation targeted for late 2031. According to the company, the timeline depends on receiving PSC approval expected within the next year.

How much new solar capacity did Mon Power and Potomac Edison (FE) propose in the IRP?

They proposed 70 megawatts of new solar across three reclaimed and former industrial sites. According to the company, this complements 30 megawatts already built since 2024.

What regulatory approval does the FirstEnergy (FE) Maidsville project require?

The project requires approval from the Public Service Commission of West Virginia. According to the company, it expects a commission decision within the next year before site work begins.

How will the Maidsville gas plant affect electricity reliability for FirstEnergy (FE) customers?

The plant is intended to bolster reliability by adding modern gas generation alongside existing plants. According to the company, it aims to keep power reliable and affordable for West Virginia families and businesses.

Where will the proposed 70 MW of solar for Mon Power and Potomac Edison (FE) be located?

The three proposed projects include sites in Preston, Hancock, and Tucker counties on reclaimed or former industrial land. According to the company, these use brownfields and reclaimed strip mines.