MOUNT STORM, WV (SWVO) – TerraSpark announced Friday that the U.S. Department of Energy has selected its proposed TerraSpark Energy Campus in Grant County for up to $18.5 million in federal funding to support development of a large-scale coal-fired power plant paired with carbon capture technology.
According to the company, the funding will be used for front-end engineering and design work, permitting, and early technical studies for the project.
The proposed facility is planned as a 1.6-gigawatt power plant near the existing Mount Storm energy complex.
Developers said the project is designed to provide around-the-clock baseload electricity while incorporating next-generation carbon capture systems intended to significantly reduce emissions.
“We’re honored to receive support from the Department of Energy as we move this project forward,” said Bill Tolpegin, partner at TerraSpark.
“Electricity demand in the United States is growing rapidly, and we need infrastructure that can keep up. This project is about delivering reliable power when it’s needed, creating skilled, good-paying jobs and helping advance carbon management technologies that strengthen America’s energy future.”
The project will use carbon capture technology developed by Mantel Capture. The company said its technology is designed to capture up to 98% of carbon dioxide emissions while reducing energy requirements for carbon capture by more than 97% compared with conventional systems.
Mantel also said the technology could reduce the cost of carbon capture by more than half compared with current systems.
“In an era of energy abundance, the world needs all forms of low-carbon and reliable energy working efficiently together,” said Cameron Halliday.
“Projects like TerraSpark’s Energy Campus are an important step forward, demonstrating how next-generation carbon capture can help ensure the industries powering our world remain strong, competitive and part of a lower-carbon future.”
TerraSpark said the project team includes Sargent & Lundy, Babcock & Wilcox, and Advanced Resources International, which will assist with planning for carbon dioxide transport, storage and utilization.
Developers said the project is expected to create approximately 500 permanent jobs and hundreds of construction jobs during the buildout phase.
Plans also include a 10-acre West Virginia Coal Innovation & Training Center to be managed in coordination with West Virginia University. The center is expected to focus on rare earth extraction, advanced materials and other emerging technologies.
The company said it is also exploring additional waste-to-value initiatives as part of the broader campus development.
U.S. Rep. Riley Moore praised the project in a statement.
“I want to thank President Trump for being the first president in my lifetime to prioritize America’s coal industry and recognize the vital role that beautiful, clean coal plays in our nation’s energy future,” Moore said.
“The TerraSpark Energy Campus, which will bring nearly 1,000 high-quality jobs back to my district, is exactly the kind of energy project that will help unleash our nation’s abundant natural resources and deliver on President Trump’s vision for American energy dominance. TerraSpark will provide affordable, reliable electricity to power America’s industrial resurgence, strengthen our nation’s energy security, drive down energy prices for West Virginians and send a message that America’s future is coal-fired.”
The project will now move into additional engineering, permitting and development phases as developers continue working with the Department of Energy and local stakeholders.
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