Guess & Co. Plans 1.55-Gigawatt Power Push in West Virginia
The Denver company plans coal and gas generation in West Virginia, backed by its purchase of about 7,300 acres of coal-bearing properties.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Utilities
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Guess & Co. plans to develop a 1.45-gigawatt coal-fired power plant with carbon capture and a separate 100-megawatt natural gas plant in West Virginia. The combined 1.55 gigawatts of planned capacity is tied to properties the company acquired for $3 billion.
Why it matters
The project would add substantial generating capacity in West Virginia while pairing new power plants with mining operations that supply coal. The company says its broader holdings in the state could eventually support up to 5 gigawatts of generation.
The company reports 1.55 gigawatts of combined planned capacity and a $3 billion acquisition of roughly 7,300 acres across Clay, Kanawha and Wetzel counties, which it estimates hold 500 million tons of coal. The source does not address how these figures will be verified or when the plants would be permitted.
The players
Guess & Co.
A Denver-based company that is developing the power and mining projects through its subsidiaries.
The details
Subsidiary Guess & Co. Power will develop and operate the generating facilities, while subsidiary Guess & Co. Bituminous will run mining operations to supply coal. The Laurita Properties also contain about 40 oil and natural gas wells, and the company owns roughly 164 acres of surface land in Clay County designated for the power development.
Timeline
June 24: FERC market-based rate authorization took effect.
2032: Targeted commercial operations for the power project.
Market Landscape
The project's FERC market-based rate authorization, effective June 24, lets the company sell wholesale power at market prices rather than cost-based rates. That positions the company to compete in West Virginia's electricity market alongside existing generators.
For West Virginia residents, the projects could add generating capacity and mining jobs, with roughly 750 direct positions estimated once mining is fully developed. The source does not say how the project would affect electricity rates or service for customers.
The takeaway
Large-scale power projects tied to mining depend on permitting, financing and long development timelines, so the 2032 target should be read as a goal rather than a certainty. Readers should watch for regulatory filings that confirm the plants' scope and schedule.
Further reading
For more on the state's power sector, see Utilities coverage for West Virginia.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ColoradoBiz.
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