Longview Power Plant
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electric power generation |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Near Maidsville , United States |
| Products | Electricity |
| Owner | Private equity firms including KKR, Centerbridge, Ascribe, and Third Avenue |
Longview Power Plant is a coal-based electricity generation facility situated near Maidsville, West Virginia. Its single generating unit produces 700 megawatts (MW) of power by utilizing run-of-mine coal alongside natural gas.
History
The Longview Power initiative involved an investment of approximately $2.2 billion. Operations began in 2011, but due to construction flaws and shifts in the energy market, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2013. The primary reasons cited included failures in design, construction, and equipment. By early 2015, all construction-related disputes were resolved, with key contractors agreeing to address the defects at their own cost. The plant exited bankruptcy proceedings in April 2015 under new ownership led by private equity firms such as KKR, Centerbridge, Ascribe, and Third Avenue.
In 2016, Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito from West Virginia visited the facility, promoting it as a model for cleaner coal energy. Additionally, Energy Secretaries Ernest Moniz and Rick Perry toured the site in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
Originally dependent on coal from the Mepco mine in Greene County, Pennsylvania, Longview encountered supply difficulties after the mine ceased operations in March 2018 due to reduced output and competition from larger mining operations.
In February 2019, Longview revealed plans to develop a 1,200 MW combined-cycle natural gas plant with an estimated cost of $900 million, accompanied by a 50 MW solar installation valued between $75 million and $80 million. This strategic expansion was intended to supplement the existing coal-fired facility, which markets itself as "the cleanest coal plant in America."
The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy once more in 2020, attributing financial challenges to depressed PJM market prices and the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Environmental mitigation
Constructed as a HELE (high efficiency, low emissions) power station, Longview set benchmarks within the industry for producing cleaner and more dependable electricity by generating greater output from less coal. This enhanced efficiency leads to reduced environmental impacts, including diminished emissions of carbon dioxide (), sulfur dioxide (), nitrogen oxide (), and particulate pollutants.
The plant operates under a "zero discharge" policy in West Virginia by channeling all sewage and liquid wastes to the defunct Shannopin Mine in Pennsylvania, where water undergoes treatment before being released into Dunkard Creek.
With state-of-the-art air pollution control technologies installed, Longview ranks among the country’s lowest-emitting coal facilities. Its high fuel efficiency also results in considerably lower emissions compared to most other coal plants.
In April 2016, SNL Financial reported that Longview achieved a continuous operational run of 155 days surpassing performance expectations while maintaining steady environmental compliance and cost efficiency. Utilizing fuel flexibility, the plant co-fired natural gas for up to 20% of its heat input during periods when gas prices were low without requiring additional capital expenditure. Longview documented emissions roughly 15% below comparable plants while adhering to some of the nation’s most stringent permit standards.