Appalachian Power using federal funding for coal plant upgrades

By Jack Carlson
June 14, 2026 - 2:38 pm

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Mitchell Power Station, the left tower will be replaced under the project. PHOTO: Appalachian Power

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Appalachian Power plans to upgrade three of its power plants with recent federal funding received from the U.S. Department of Energy. ... The White House announced earlier this month that $700 million will be invested in restoring coal as a power source for the nation. Part of that investment included upgrading 13 existing coal-fired power plants in the United States, including in West Virginia.

Appalachian Power President and CEO Brian Abraham was a guest on MetroNews “Talkline” last week. He said the company received a grant for its Mitchell Plant in Marshall County as part of the White House plans — Appalachian Power has gotten three grants recently.

“The most recent one was the Mitchell Plant, (it) was $51 million,” Abraham said. “We’ve previously gotten grants at both our (John) Amos (Power) Plant as well as our Mountaineer (Power) Plant. We’re using those to make necessary upgrades, the one at Mitchell particularly for the $51 million will be matched by about $110 million of our investment, and that’s to rebuild a cooling tower that had a defect in it that had been discovered after 60 years.”

Appalachian Power representatives told MetroNews that the Mitchell Plant’s second generating unit has fallen into significant disrepair and needs to be replaced. This federal investment will make a dent in a pricey project. ... Abraham said the investment from the Department of Energy will be put right to use.

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