Local West Virginia distribution company Hope Gas has announced plans for a new natural gas pipeline project in Mason County, which borders the Ohio River northwest of Charleston. Expected to cost $250 million, the privately funded project aims to improve long-term energy supply and economic development as the area looks to capitalize on its natural gas resources.
According to a March 4 announcement by Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R), construction of the initial 30-mile segment of the 24-in-day. The pipeline will start in April, with the goal of completion by the end of 2026.
The new infrastructure will support the development of American Intelligence & Power Corp.’s Monarch Compute Campus, which is expected to provide up to 8 gigawatts of power generation capacity to support hyperscale and enterprise data centers. Earlier this year, the company announced a partnership with Caterpillar Inc., under which the equipment maker will supply 2 gigawatts of fast-response natural gas generator sets. The units will be delivered between September 2026 and August 2027.
State officials say the new pipeline will also support projects planned by power generation specialist Babcock and Wilcox, as well as multiple proposed small business and residential development efforts and infrastructure expansion along U.S. Route 35.
Along with the new pipeline project, Hope Gas and union insurer Ullico announced the opening of a technical training center in Clarksburg, Va., focused on energy workforce development. The 20,000-square-foot center includes heavy equipment simulators and live pipeline infrastructure, as well as hydrogen research collaborations with the National Energy Technology Laboratory and the University of Pittsburgh. The facility is said to be the first in West Virginia designed to prepare workers for hydrogen and hydrogen-blended natural gas operations.
