FirstEnergy subsidiary, Mon Power has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to begin award negotiations for up to $5 million in federal funding for a project to boost electric reliability for customers in parts of rural West Virginia. The funding is part of the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The funding is expected to help rebuild more than 23 miles of power lines in Pocahontas, Braxton and Clay counties and connect a two-mile tie line with a substation in Petersburg, Grant County for an improved reliability for more than 3,000 customers.
The work will help Mon Power and FirstEnergy subsidiary Potomac Edison, which also serves West Virginia, to restore service to customers faster by connecting them to adjacent circuits. It will also provide the customers with a backup power feed during repairs after an outage.
Mon Power's proposal was selected as one of 19 community-led projects across 12 states and 13 tribal nations and communities to receive more than $78 million to develop and deploy sustainable clean energy solutions or expand access to reliable and affordable energy in rural and remote communities across the country.
Mon Power expects to start construction on the project in 2025 if the funding is approved. The company also plans to partner with community-based organizations, labor unions and educational institutions in the affected counties to address workforce disparity gaps for historically under-resourced communities.
