Frequently Asked Questions
The power from Twisted Gun Solar will be delivered into the local West Virginia electric grid, helping to strengthen and diversify the state’s energy portfolio and increase local energy supply. The power generated by the project will be used by electrically proximate sources of demand. This means that it will serve both local demand and may be transmitted elsewhere in the system where power is needed when generation exceed local demand.
Twisted Gun Solar will submit an application with the Public Service Commission (PSC) of West Virginia in September 2025. The permitting process takes approximately 6 months to complete, so we anticipate receiving a decision by the PSC by early 2026. Pending approval by the WV PSC, timely completion of interconnection studies by PJM and additional State permit approvals, construction may begin in early 2027 with commercial operations to begin towards the end of 2028.
The site selected for Twisted Gun Solar is in close proximity to a transmission line, which will transport power to the nearest source of demand. The site is also relatively flat with good solar production, allowing for solar to be an advantageous source of power to incorporate into the local transmission grid.
With as much as $250 million in capital investment, Twisted Gun is expected to generate up to an estimated $4.5 million in new revenue for the county and schools for the first 20 years of operations and support approximately 300 jobs during construction, and several local full-time equivalent jobs during long-term operations—including technicians, vegetation management and module washing crews, pest control, and ancillary staff.
MN8 Energy is committed to being a good partner for the communities in which it operates. To identify impactful opportunities, the Twisted Gun Solar team is actively meeting with leaders in education, government, business, and community organizations in the county.
Twisted Gun Solar will be permitted through the Public Service Commission of West Virginia via the Solar Siting Certificate process. This process incorporates the input of various agencies on the federal, state, and local levels for environmental and economic matters, and allows for public comment periods to gather feedback from the local community. If the Project has demonstrated compliance with applicable permits and agency consultations, the Public Service Commission of West Virginia will issue a Siting Certificate.
The construction process consists of a variety of different stages – site preparations (i.e. civil work), pre-planting (generally native and pollinator-friendly plant species), and installing solar components (i.e. underground cabling, pilings, racking systems, inverters, substation, and fencing). These stages require a variety of different roles, such as site managers, project managers, engineers, heavy machine operators, general laborers, electricians, and more. Once the site is operational, it will require several workers to maintain it and manage vegetation on an ongoing basis.
Project environmental experts have been assessing the project footprint by conducting site-specific studies to understand animal use and design the project to avoid and minimize wildlife impacts. The project will comply with all state and federal regulations associated with wildlife including requirements of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources (WVDNR).
The project will work with the WV Division of Highways and local jurisdictions to map out a travel route for all construction equipment and workers. Proper signage will be posted around the site to minimize any conflicts with local traffic. Furthermore, construction crews will be cognizant of high-traffic hours, such as the beginning and end of the work and school day.
Twisted Gun Solar will file a plan that specifically addresses runoff both during construction and while the project is operating. In addition, the project will plant deep-rooted native vegetation beneath the solar panels and throughout the project footprint. Establishing native vegetation throughout the array will allow the ground to rest and build nutrient-rich soil. The well-rested, nutrient-filled soil will also help with erosion control and water runoff impacts in, near, and around the solar site.
The project must be permitted through the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) to ensure it follows all necessary regulatory laws and regulations. The project is required to apply for and gain the agency's approval of its plans to meet requirements set forth by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) prior to construction. The purpose of this permit is to minimize and/or remove the potential for erosion and sedimentation into nearby water resources, and to protect water quality.
The permit and applicant must be in compliance with the regulatory requirements throughout the construction and completion processes. This requirement makes certain site reclamation is managed properly and in place throughout operations.
Twisted Gun Solar must be permitted through the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) to ensure it follows all necessary regulatory laws and regulations. The project is required to apply for and gain the agency's approval of its plans to meet requirements set forth by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and Storm Water Prevention Plan (SWPPP) prior to construction. The purpose of this permit is to minimize and/or remove the potential for erosion and sedimentation into nearby water resources.
The permit and applicant must be in compliance with regulatory requirements throughout the construction and restoration process.
As part of Twisted Gun Solar Project’s lease agreements with landowners and as required by West Virginia state regulations, the project will be responsible for the removal of all equipment from leased land at the end of the project’s useful life. The removal of equipment and restoration of the host site is referred to as ”decommissioning” and is outlined in a legal, binding agreement.
A Decommissioning Plan will be submitted during permitting and updated every five years. This plan will detail the responsibility of the project to remove equipment and return land to a similar state as was present before the project was constructed. As part of the Decommissioning Plan, the project will agree to post a bond or similar financial surety to ensure the funds necessary to decommission are consistently available throughout the life of the project; this bond provides a financial guarantee that the project will bear the cost to decommission. The financial assurance will remain in place for the life of the project.
Twisted Gun Solar will submit a detailed decommissioning plan and financial assurance to cover all decommissioning costs. At the end of the project's operating life (35 years or more), panels will be removed from the site. Because solar panel production only degrades around 0.5% annually and up to 90% of the materials used in solar panels are recyclable, it's common for solar panels to lead a new life after decommissioning, and to ultimately be recycled.