BEDINGTON, W.Va. — A project that will turn a former DuPont plant on the Potomac River into a 100-megawatt solar energy facility got the green light from the West Virginia Public Service Commission Wednesday.
Bedington Energy Facility, LLC, applied for the solar siting certificate on Dec. 8, 2023, to locate the plant on the former DuPont Potomac River Works explosives manufacturing facility in Berkeley County.
Bedington is a Delaware subsidiary of Torch Clean Energy of Charlottesville, VA, according to information from the state PSC.
The company plans to buy 1,037 acres of the brownfield site and build the plant on 650 of those acres.
Project costs are estimated at about $135 million.
Bedington Energy estimates the project will create upwards of 200 construction jobs.
The solar plant’s life expectancy is estimated at 35 years.
The Commission received one letter in favor of the plant and none in protest, according to the press release from the PSC.
“The Commission concludes that the project is not contrary to public interest due to its positive economic impact to Berkeley County and the state,” the Commission ruled. As a result, a public hearing that had been planned for March 21st has been canceled.
More information on this case can be found on the PSC website.