How Hydropower is Fueling West Virginia
MEGAN BEVINS TRACY A . TOLER PHOTOGRAPHY
West Virginia is abundant in important resources like coal and natural gas , but it ’ s the Mountain State ’ s flowing water supply that is currently producing massive amounts of revenue and great benefits for its communities . With West Virginia ’ s large , intricate river system and considerable number of streams , a significant amount of water flows through the state each day . In fact , it has more running water than most other states in the country .
Through hydroelectricity , the state can use that water to fuel a portion of its energy , not only promoting sustainability but providing funds through taxes , lease payments and royalties .
For cities like Summersville and New Martinsville , hydropower generation has had a largely positive impact , providing long-term employment for a wide range of fields — from engineers to construction workers — in areas that previously struggled . It also helps improve the communities through investments in areas such as education , infrastructure and health care . Summersville ’ s hydroelectric project began in 1992 when the city was issued a license by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ( FERC ) to harvest energy from its large , rockfilled dam . Commissioned in 2001 , the project eventually grew into a $ 53 million development by the Gauley River Power Partners , which resulted in a two-unit hydropower facility built at the bank of the dam .
Robert Shafer , mayor of Summersville , says the revenue from the hydropower facility has allowed the small community to stay well equipped technologically and keep pace with an ever-evolving , modern-day society .
The facility has allowed the community to implement both its short-term and long-term goals , something that might not have been possible without its monetary value . Summersville will be able to achieve even more when the plant ’ s contractual debt retires in 2027 and its revenue triples .
While the benefits of Summersville ’ s hydropower facility have been significant , Shafer says it was not without its trials as keeping up with licensing and permission requirements can prove to be a challenge .
The city has recently been trying to find new ways to utilize hydropower .
Currently , the winter pool level for Summersville Lake sits at an elevation of 1,575 feet . At the end of 2023 , the city began a study to determine if it could slow storm water release and raise its winter pool levels . Doing this would allow for more water to be put into energy production , increasing the amount of hydroelectricity the city can use .
As the lake and dam have intended uses such as recreation and flood control , the city ’ s request includes making sure those things aren ’ t tampered with .
“ We are currently under a study authorized by Congress in 2020 to evaluate operations of Summersville Dam ,” Shafer says . “ Our hope is to find ways to increase generation of clean , green energy without affecting any of the other authorized uses of Summersville Lake and Dam .”
The city also has a plan to implement low flow , which would include five small units moving water out of the lake and through the dam , generating power at a trickle .
“ Thirty-five percent of the time flow is too low — 800 cubic feet per second ( CFS )— to generate power using the two existing turbines ,” explains Shafer . “ Therefore , we currently have an application before the Department of Energy with hopes to partner in funding a low-flow , five-unit system that will give us the ability to generate energy on all releases from the Summersville Dam .”
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