Governor Patrick Morrisey announced on Apr. 22 the groundbreaking of Wolf Summit Energy, a new 600-megawatt combined-cycle gas turbine facility in Harrison County, West Virginia. The event was attended by leaders from Kindle Energy and Blackstone, marking what officials described as the first power plant of its kind built in the state.
The project is considered a major step for West Virginia’s energy sector and ties into Governor Morrisey’s “50 by 50” initiative to triple the state’s energy capacity to 50 gigawatts by 2050. Officials said this expansion aims to meet growing energy demands and prevent potential regional blackouts.
“For more than a century, West Virginia has been the engine of American prosperity, and today we are entering the next frontier,” said Governor Morrisey. “By building the first-ever combined-cycle natural gas plant in the history of our state, we are beginning another era of energy ascension. Wolf Summit is proof that the world’s biggest investors see their future here in the Mountain State.”
The announcement follows what officials called a record-breaking year for economic development in West Virginia, with over $12.8 billion secured in private investment since October and nearly 12,000 projected jobs created or retained during that period. When including public sector initiatives such as Rural Health Transformation and BEAD broadband funding, totals rise to $14.3 billion and about 12,000 jobs statewide.
Morrisey said that construction of Wolf Summit Energy will create approximately 500 jobs locally while utilizing advanced technology from GE for efficient power generation. The governor outlined four main policies supporting his plan: prioritizing baseload power from coal, gas, and nuclear; addressing transmission equipment shortages; improving energy security against cyber threats; and developing long-term partnerships with industry.
While current U.S. Senator Jim Justice champions youth programs and constituent engagement through his office according to the official website, he also previously served as governor focusing on economic growth according to official records. Justice was elected as a U.S. senator from West Virginia according to his biography after earning undergraduate and MBA degrees at Marshall University as noted by his office. A lifelong resident who drew on local experience for his senatorial role according to official information, Justice also captained Marshall University’s golf team as reported by Senate records.
State leaders say projects like Wolf Summit Energy reflect ongoing efforts toward economic diversification while responding to changing national energy needs.