Blackstone has committed $1.2 billion to build a 600‑megawatt, greenfield combined‑cycle gas‑turbine plant in Harrison County, West Virginia, under the project name Wolf Summit Energy. The facility will use GE Vernova’s 7HA.02 turbine, a high‑efficiency unit that delivers 42% net efficiency and emits roughly 30% less CO₂ than a conventional coal plant of similar size.
The plant will be fully contracted to Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC), ensuring a long‑term revenue stream for Blackstone’s investors. Construction is expected to create about 500 jobs, and the project’s greenfield status means it will be built on undeveloped land, avoiding the complexities of brownfield redevelopment. The choice of the 7HA.02 turbine reflects Blackstone’s focus on advanced, low‑emission technology that can meet the stringent reliability and capacity requirements of AI and data‑center operators in the PJM market.
Blackstone’s Energy Transition Partners IV, which closed at $5.6 billion, is the vehicle funding the project. The investment aligns with Blackstone’s broader strategy to capture the growing electricity demand driven by AI workloads and data‑center expansion, sectors that are projected to account for a significant share of U.S. power consumption by 2035. By adding a clean‑gas asset to its infrastructure platform, Blackstone positions itself to benefit from the long‑term shift toward more efficient, lower‑emission generation.
Senior Managing Director Bilal Khan said the project “helps meet the rising demand for electricity from AI and other high‑growth areas, while creating hundreds of local jobs and delivering a reliable, efficient power supply.” GE Vernova’s Dave Ross noted that the 7HA.02 turbine “provides the capacity and energy needed for the AI and industrialization demands in PJM.” West Virginia Governor Jim Morrisey highlighted the investment as evidence of the state’s emergence as a leader in modern energy growth.
The project is expected to boost the local economy, replacing a coal‑heavy energy mix with a cleaner, more efficient natural‑gas plant. The 500 construction jobs and the long‑term power contract will support regional employment and provide a stable revenue base for Blackstone’s investors, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to infrastructure that delivers both financial returns and environmental benefits.
Overall, the Wolf Summit Energy investment strengthens Blackstone’s position in the energy transition, adds a high‑efficiency asset to its portfolio, and signals confidence in the sustained growth of AI‑driven power demand.
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