Blackstone, via funds affiliated with Blackstone Energy Transition Partners, has unveiled a $1.2bn commitment to develop the fully contracted 600MW Wolf Summit Energy greenfield combined cycle gas turbine power plant in Harrison County, West Virginia, US.
This project, enabled by last week’s final investment decision, is set be the debut combined cycle natural gas power plant in the state.
Wolf Summit Energy is designed to provide efficient and reliable electricity to address rising local demand, particularly from data centres supporting AI innovation.
The facility will supply power to Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, which serves around 1.5 million residents across Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware.
The project is expected to create 500 construction jobs and also drive additional local economic development.
Blackstone senior managing director Bilal Khan and managing director Mark Zhu said: “Helping meet the rising demand for electricity from AI and other areas is among our highest conviction investment themes at Blackstone.
"We are proud that this project is expected to not only create hundreds of local jobs in West Virginia, but also generate more affordable, efficient and reliable power supply.”
Blackstone has emerged as a key investor in infrastructure supporting AI, with investments in data centres worldwide.
GE Vernova Gas Power Americas president and CEO Dave Ross said: “I am excited that the first-ever combined cycle, natural gas power plant in West Virginia is being built using GE Vernova’s highly efficient and flexible 7HA.02 gas turbine that can provide capacity and energy for the rising AI and industrialisation demands in PJM.
"We look forward to working closely with Blackstone to complete development and start construction of this important project for the community."
Blackstone Energy Transition Partners has recently financed the 620MW Hill Top Energy Center, a natural gas power plant in Western Pennsylvania, and the 774MW Potomac Energy Center in Loudoun County, Virginia.
Over the last three and a half years, the company has invested in approximately 1,600MW of new-build power generation capacity across the US.
