FirstEnergy’s new substation project in Sherwood is on pace to be completed by December 2014.
SHERWOOD, W.Va. — A new development near a local community is seeking to capitalize on an energy boom, as well as provide better service to nearby energy customers.
FirstEnergy Corp. is constructing a new transmission substation near Sherwood. According to Holly Kauffman, the president of West Virginia’s FirstEnergy Operations, the reason for doing so is primarily to take advantage of the Marcellus shale boom that has hit the region.
“FirstEnergy’s infrastructure enhancements help support the increased Marcellus gas activity in West Virginia,” she said. “With the natural gas industry bringing new employment and business development opportunities to the state, FirstEnergy and Mon Power will keep pace by continuing to upgrade our system to meet this growing demand for safe and reliable electric service.”
The primary purpose of the substation is to help provide energy to a local natural gas processing facility, according to FirstEnergy spokesman Todd Meyers. However, he said it will serve another purpose as well.
“The Marcellus gas energy has been growing in leaps and bounds, and the reason for this substation is to accommodate the growing electrical need in the MarkWest Sherwood natural gas processing facility,” he said. “At the same time, it will also have ancillary benefits (for some Mon Power customers). This project is underway now.”
The project will benefit those who live near U.S. 50 in Doddridge, Harrison and Ritchie counties, officials said. All in all, that adds up to about 6,000 Mon Power customers…
