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    1. Microgrids

    BHE Renewables to develop land in West Virginia into microgrid-powered industrial estate

    Sept. 15, 2022
    Precision Castparts Corp will set up a titanium melt facility at the site that will use 100% renewable energy
    Photo by BHE Renewables.
    Bhe Renewables 9 15 22 Article 3 6323563320f4a

    BHE Renewables, a Berkshire Hathaway Energy business, announced on September 13 that it has signed an agreement with the State of West Virginia to buy over 2,000 acres of land in Ravenswood that will be developed into a first-of-its-kind renewable energy microgrid-powered industrial site.

    “Today’s announcement that Berkshire Hathaway Energy Renewables and West Virginia have reached an agreement to invest in Ravenswood is welcome news,” United States Senator Shelley Moore Capito said. “This unprecedented project has the potential to rapidly transform the Ravenswood area, and spark the economic development our communities need to grow and thrive. My staff and I have been involved in this process from the very beginning because we recognize the importance of smart economic and environmental growth to our state. I am thankful for the work of Governor Justice, Mike Graney, Mitch Carmichael, and especially Senator Glenn Jefferies and the West Virginia Legislature for helping make this possible. There is strong momentum growing behind business in West Virginia right now, and we must continue to build off of this economic success into the future.”

    Precision Castparts Corp., a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. business, will be the first company at the site. It will establish a titanium melt facility here that will use 100% renewable energy to make titanium products for industries, including the aerospace industry.

    “This is a monumental announcement that will pay dividends for generations to come,” Governor Jim Justice said. “The partnership we are forging with BHE Renewables and PCC is testament to West Virginia’s ability to compete on the world stage and recruit world-class companies like these to our state. I couldn’t be more proud of the fact that West Virginia will help lead the way into a new era of renewable energy microgrid-powered manufacturing. I can never thank BHE Renewables and PCC enough for their commitment to West Virginia and for the jobs and economic ripple effects this partnership will bring.”

    “We are thrilled to partner with PCC and West Virginia to deliver this landmark renewable energy solution, hundreds of jobs and significant economic development,” PCC Metals President Steve Wright said. “Our future facility is an outstanding opportunity to use clean energy as we invest in further strengthening our position as a world leader in titanium metals. Manufacturing our products with 100% renewable energy benefits PCC and our customers as we strive to minimize the impact of our operations and wisely use natural resources.”

    The project will serve as the foundation for additional investments in the state. The West Virginia Economic Development Authority will work with BHE Renewables to bring this additional business to the site. 

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.