a $ 250 million infrastructure investment in Mason County. Hope Gas, headquartered in Morgantown, WV, and serving customers in seven states, will invest in and operate the planned $ 250 million, 30-mile pipeline to expand residential, commercial and industrial natural gas infrastructure in Mason County and surrounding communities.
The first phase of the investment will be the construction of a 30-mile, 24-inch natural gas pipeline. The project has a target completion date of the end of 2026. This is a critical piece of the announced American Intelligence & Power Corporation( AIPC) Monarch Compute Campus in Mason County.
The pipeline project is expected to create approximately 600 construction jobs for the West Virginia building trades and provide a long-term boost to the local tax base. Following the completion of the main line in 2026, there will be a phase-in of residential and commercial service expansions.
Hope’ s involvement in this strategic partnership will leverage the company’ s experience and expertise in energy, water and wastewater infrastructure to further benefit communities in Mason County.
“ Hope Gas is proud to create the infrastructure necessary to deliver the critical energy needed to power both innovation and everyday life,” says Morgan O’ Brien, president and CEO of Hope Gas.“ Expanding natural gas infrastructure will not only support economic development across Mason County but also provide lasting value to residents and future businesses across the region.”
Women’ s Energy Network West Virginia Continues Scholarship Program
The Women’ s Energy Network( WEN) West Virginia, an organization of professional women in the energy field working to develop and advance women in energy, recently released its scholarship application for female students.
The scholarship is open to current young women— seniors in high school and college undergraduates and graduates— in West Virginia seeking degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics( STEM) fields of study and careers in energy-related fields. Scholarship amounts will be awarded annually in the amounts of $ 1,000- $ 5,000 and will be based on funding availability and applicant pool.
“ Expanding opportunities for young women in the energy industry starts with investing in their education and potential,” says WEN West Virginia Board President Stephanie Pethtel.“ Through these scholarships, we hope to encourage the next generation of leaders, innovators and problem-solvers to pursue careers that will shape the future of energy.” •
WWW. WVEXECUTIVE. COM SPRING 2026 91