West Virginia produces more gas than all but four other states, yet has no operational combined-cycle generating capacity — a testament to the durable political influence of the state’s mineworkers and coal companies. But recent announcements reflect the changing market reality for Appalachian coal and gas. Earlier this year, Old Dominion Electric Cooperative broke ground on the 600 MW Wolf Summit Energy Center. Then, on July 28, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey announced the state’s support for two combined-cycle units in Grant County, totaling 2.6 GW, developed by Dominion Energy (no relation).
Morrisey’s announcement completes the puzzle posed by TC Energy’s surprise May sanctioning of the Appalachia Supply Project on its Columbia Gas (TCO) system, backed by a 20-year, ~800 MMcfd contract with an unspecified investment-grade utility. The project had not previously been announced, let alone held an open season.
Now, project details are crystallizing. TCO’s August 3-7 open season included a stylized map illustrating TCO Pool receipts and a delivery point in Grant County. The project targets an in-service date of November 1, 2030. As Appalachian gas-fired generation ramps up, demand at Mt. Storm could push TCO Pool back in line with Midwest hubs rather than Appalachian points.
Why does Mt. Storm need 800 MMcfd of pipeline capacity?
A 2.6 GW power plant only burns ~400 MMcfd at 95% utilization, and Dominion’s Mt. Storm permit application calls for 2033-34 in-service dates for each of the plant’s two units, considerably later than ASP’s 2030 start.