The landmark project will be the first of its kind in the state, aiming to meet rising electricity demand, particularly from the AI and data center industry, while creating an estimated 500 construction jobs.
Blackstone, through its affiliated Blackstone Energy Transition Partners funds, has announced a significant $1.2 billion Final Investment Decision (FID) to build the Wolf Summit Energy power generation facility in Harrison County, West Virginia. This fully contracted, 600-megawatt combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant marks a major milestone, as it will be the first-ever combined-cycle Natural Gas power plant built in West Virginia.
The substantial investment signals a robust commitment to bolstering energy infrastructure in the region. According to Blackstone, the Wolf Summit project is strategically positioned to help meet the growing local energy needs of Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC), which provides power to approximately 1.5 million residents across Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. Crucially, the facility is designed to address the surging demand for reliable and efficient electricity driven by economic growth and the rapid expansion of data centers supporting Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation.
“Helping meet the rising demand for electricity from AI and other areas is among our highest conviction investment themes at Blackstone,” said Bilal Khan, a Senior Managing Director, and Mark Zhu, a Managing Director, at Blackstone. They emphasized their pride in the project’s dual benefits: creating hundreds of local jobs and generating "more affordable, efficient and reliable power supply."
West Virginia's leadership has welcomed the investment, viewing it as a testament to the state's potential as an energy hub. Governor Morrisey stated, “West Virginia's status as a global energy player is only beginning to be realized. Blackstone's $1.2 billion investment not only signifies its commitment to West Virginia, it highlights our emergence as the leading state in the country for energy growth and investment.”
The Wolf Summit facility will utilize GE Vernova’s highly efficient and flexible 7HA.02 gas turbine, a technology specifically chosen for its capability to provide the necessary capacity and energy to support rising AI and industrialization demands within the PJM regional transmission organization. Dave Ross, President & CEO of GE Vernova’s Gas Power business in the Americas, noted their eagerness to work with Blackstone on a project that is "important for the community."
With the Final Investment Decision now complete, construction is set to commence on the Wolf Summit Energy facility, launching a new era of combined-cycle natural gas power generation in West Virginia.
