Clarksburg, W.Va. – Today, Governor Patrick Morrisey joined the team at Hope Gas to announce a $250 million private pipeline investment and celebrate the grand opening of the Edward M. Smith National Career and Life Skills Development Center.
“Companies like Hope Gas are choosing West Virginia because they see a state that is competitive, energy-dominant, and serious about growth,” said Governor Morrisey. "With today’s announcement, we have now secured more than $12 billion in private investment since October. That represents more than 9,000 projected private-sector jobs and we are just getting started.”
Hope Gas is moving forward with a $250 million pipeline project in West Virginia that will enhance energy reliability, expand capacity for manufacturers, and improve service for households and small businesses in Mason County. The project is expected to generate more than 600 construction jobs and is being funded entirely with private dollars.
“Hope Gas is proud to create the infrastructure necessary to deliver the critical energy needed to power both innovation and everyday life,” said 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. Hope Gas is ready to make this investment and start building the infrastructure to serve the future growth of Mason County. I commend Governor Morrisey and the leadership across Mason County for their commitment to the region’s growth. I’m honored to be part of a project that will have long-lasting benefits to West Virginia.”
The pipeline investment builds on significant economic progress across the state. Through Penzance, West Virginia recently secured a $4 billion intelligence center project in the Eastern Panhandle, among the largest economic development announcements in state history. Together with Tuesday’s announcement, the Morrisey Administration has now secured more than $12 billion in combined public and private investment since October.
During Tuesday’s announcement, officials celebrated the grand opening of the Edward M. Smith National Career and Life Skills Development Center, a 20,000-square-foot state-of-the-art energy training facility in Clarksburg. The center features advanced classrooms, heavy equipment simulators, live pipeline infrastructure, and hydrogen research partnerships with the National Energy Technology Laboratory and the University of Pittsburgh. It is the first technical training facility in West Virginia to prepare workers for hydrogen and hydrogen-blended natural gas operations.