Power Plants in West Virginia

West Virginia's power-generating capacity stands at 16.1 gigawatts across 42 plants, ranking 33rd among the 50 states and DC. Coal dominates the fleet, providing 13,090 megawatts or 81.5% of total capacity spread across ten plants. Natural gas contributes 1,371 megawatts (8.5%), while wind, hydro, solar, and battery storage together account for the remainder. Wind provides 856 megawatts at 5.3%, hydro contributes 371 megawatts (2.3%), and solar accounts for 338 megawatts (2.1%). This is nameplate capacity — what the equipment could produce running flat out — not the generation these sources actually yield over a year, which differs substantially.

The five largest plants are all coal-fired. John E Amos leads at 2,933 megawatts with three units, followed by FirstEnergy Harrison Power Station at 2,052 megawatts and Mt Storm at 1,681 megawatts. Mitchell (WV) holds 1,633 megawatts across two units, and Pleasants Power Station provides 1,368 megawatts. Together these five plants represent a major share of the state's generating capacity. Battery storage contributes 32 megawatts in a single facility, while 41 of the fleet's 42 plants remain in service as of August 2026.

The generating fleet spans over a century. Dam No. 4 Hydro Station, the oldest plant, came online in January 1909, while the newest addition, BHER Ravenswood Solar 1, entered service in November 2025. This range reflects the long lifespan of power infrastructure and ongoing infrastructure changes.