Harrison County commissioners forward Summit Park PSD boundary change after heated public hearing on Wolf Summit power plant
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Summary
After more than an hour of opposing and supportive public comment about a proposed Wolf Summit gas-fired power plant, the Harrison County Commission voted to adopt a final boundary-adjustment proposal for the Summit Park Public Service District and forward it to the West Virginia Public Service Commission for final action; commissioners also approved a pilot/lease agreement related to the project subject to changes.
Harrison County commissioners on Oct. 30 adopted a final proposal to change Summit Park Public Service District boundaries and voted to forward that order to the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) after a public hearing in which residents sharply debated the proposed Wolf Summit gas-fired power plant.
Opponents said the project threatens health and safety for nearby neighborhoods. "Gas powered power plants emit significant air pollutants and are extremely harmful to people living near the power plant," said Britney Clutter during the hearing, citing respiratory and other health concerns. Leticia Clutter, speaking as a private citizen, repeatedly warned of risks tied to an abandoned-mine site and said, "It's money over lives, and that's reprehensible." Several speakers asked to see an environmental study; the record shows no feasibility study was presented to the commission at the hearing.
Supporters — including officials from the Clarksburg Water Board, the City of Clarksburg and multiple building trades and union representatives — emphasized jobs, apprenticeships and local economic benefits if the plant is built. Albert Cox, president of the Clarksburg Water Board, said the water board is prepared to provide service and expressed support for the boundary adjustment so the developer can secure water service.
County staff told commissioners the PSC has final authority over PSD boundary changes and that the petition is pending at the PSC. During deliberations one commissioner noted on the record that "no party has brought a feasibility study," signaling a formal concern about the depth of the technical record before the PSC.
Separate but related, commissioners moved briefly into an executive-session process to discuss matters involving lease and commercial-competition considerations and later identified private-sector representatives including Chris Palos of Jackson Kelly, who said he represented Volkswagen Energy. Following that discussion the commission approved a motion "to approve the pilot in lease agreement with Wolfson Energy subject to changes," with the contract and final terms to be refined by staff and legal counsel.
Next steps: commissioners will notify the PSC of their adopted order forwarding the boundary adjustment and will continue contract negotiations on the pilot/lease agreement. The PSC review remains pending and will determine whether the boundary change takes effect.