The first of five planned West Virginia solar farms just came online – here’s why that’s significant for the state.
1 out of 5 new West Virginia solar farms
FirstEnergy subsidiaries Mon Power and Potomac Edison have launched a solar farm on 80 acres at Fort Martin Power Station in Maidsville, West Virginia, north of Morgantown.
The 18.9 megawatt (MW), 50,000-panel solar farm is the first of the companies’ five solar farms that, combined, will generate up to 50 MW of clean energy.
In August, the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) approved the utilities’ request to construct Fort Martin and two other solar farms in Rivesville, Marion County (5.5 MW), and Marlowe, Berkeley County (5.7 MW). Construction of all three is expected to be complete by the end of 2024.
Mon Power and Potomac Edison said they plan to seek final approval from the PSC later this year to build the fourth and fifth solar farms in Davis, Tucker County (11.5 MW), and Weirton, Hancock County (8.4 MW) once customers subscribe to the clean energy they’ll produce. Construction of the final two sites is expected to be finished by the end of 2025.
Electrek’s Take
To state the obvious, West Virginia has historically been – and still is – a coal-producing state, and it’s coal that still powers the vast majority of its electricity.
Coal has also historically been a significant employer in West Virginia, but coal-mining employment has nearly halved in just over a decade. So, the US transition to renewables means a change many in the state view with great trepidation.
That’s why FirstEnergy takes care to point out in this announcement that the Fort Martin site was built by 100 local union workers and that the panels, racking systems, and electrical equipment are all US-made.
As of the third quarter of 2023, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, just 35 MW of solar was installed in West Virginia. So, it’s no surprise that it’s ranked 49th in the US for the amount of solar installed. It gets a measly 0.08% of its electricity from solar power.
To reiterate, these five solar farms will bring 50 MW of solar to the table – and that’s part of a 517 MW growth projection over the next five years, which will bump West Virginia up to 45th.
That still means the state is a solar laggard, but for West Virginia, which has no choice but to embrace change at this point, it’s a start.
Photo: FirstEnergy Corp
If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –ad*
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
The all-new 2025 Q6 e-tron is Audi‘s latest addition to the e-tron model line-up, which currently includes the Q4 e-tron and e-tron GT. The Audi Q6 e-tron is expected to arrive this summer and will include one year of free Electrify America charging with Plug&Charge capabilities.
Audi Q6 e-tron owners have a year from the date of purchase to use the free Electrify America charging. Owners can enroll to activate the charging benefit via the myAudi App. Drivers can use the app or in-vehicle navigation to locate nearby charging stations, verify charger availability, and navigate to the charging stations.
Electrify America is the first open DC fast-charging network to enable Plug&Charge technology at all its charging stations. To activate Plug&Charge, drivers just need to enroll their EV in Electrify America’s charging plan.
To limit power outages and make your home more resilient, consider going solar with a battery storage system. In order to find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check outEnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and you share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get startedhere. –trusted affiliate link*
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
Rivian (RIVN) is off to a strong start in 2025. The company’s sales surged in February, with the R1S breaking into the top five best-selling EVs in the US. The electric SUV is once again a fan favorite.
Rivian R1S was the fifth top-selling EV in February
Rivian is cementing its status as a true luxury EV brand. After delivering over 51,500 vehicles last year, the company is charging into 2025 with strong momentum.
Although Rivian may not share monthly sales figures, new data from Cox Automotive’sFebruary EV Market Monitor reveals a big win.
According to the report, Rivian’s sales jumped 34% from last February, with over 4,000 vehicles sold. The Rivian R1S was the fifth best-selling EV by sales volume, trailing only the Tesla Model Y, Model 3, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and Honda Prologue.
Advertisement – scroll for more content
Tesla’s sales dipped 10%, with the Cybertruck (-32.5%) and Model 3 (-17.5%) seeing the biggest drops from last year. The Model Y held up better, slipping just 3.1%.
In total, 95,692 EVs were sold last month. Although that’s down 5.9% from January, it was the highest volume for the month of February, up 10.5% from last year.
Rank
Model
1
Tesla Model Y
2
Tesla Model 3
3
Ford Mustang Mach-E
4
Honda Prologue
5
Rivian R1S
Top five best-selling EVs in the US February 2025 (Source: Cox Automotive)
Just this week, the Palo Alto Police Department unveiled the first R1S police cruiser, a big milestone as the electric SUV expands into law enforcement.
Rivian expects deliveries to remain about flat this year at around 46,000 to 51,000. However, it’s not because of less demand. The company is shutting down its Normal, IL manufacturing plant in the second half of the year as it prepares to launch the midsize R2.
The company’s CFO, Claire McDonough, confirmed earlier this month that Rivian is “working around the clock” to prepare the facility for R2 production.
We got a sneak peek of it earlier this week as it nears production after CEO RJ Scaringe posted a photo of the R2 body with production dies.
The R2 will open a new market for Rivian, with prices starting at around $45,000, or about half the cost of its current R1S ($77,700) and R1T ( $71,700). Although it will be significantly cheaper, the company promises it won’t be half the vehicle with the “Rivian essence” still included.
After cutting R1S lease prices by over $200 per month in February, the Rivian’s electric SUV may be an even better deal than the Model Y. Will it continue closing the gap this year?
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
Kia is gearing up to launch its smallest, most affordable EV yet. Despite its small size, Kia promises the EV2 has “a big personality” with its latest tech, features, and sleek new design. Here’s our first look at the Kia EV2 after it was spotted in public testing for the first time.
Kia EV2 spotted testing in Korea for the first time
The EV2 is Kia’s upcoming entry-level electric SUV, slated to sit below the EV3. We got our first look at it last month after Kia unveiled the EV2 concept, a preview of the upcoming production model.
It was showcased alongside the EV4 and PV5 as part of Kia’s rapidly expanding EV lineup. Kia wants to offer “EVs for all,” with prices ranging from under $30,000 to upwards of $80,000.
According to Kia, the EV2 is designed to make “electric vehicles truly accessible for everyone.” It features the brand’s updated styling, including its signature vertical daytime running lights (DRLs) and Star Map lightning.
Advertisement – scroll for more content
Although it’s Kia’s smallest electric SUV, the EV2s upright stance, wide wheel arches, and rugged bumpers give it a more premium feel, almost like the three-row EV9.
Kia didn’t stop here. With folding second-row seats, you can slide the front seat back as far as possible, providing a comfortable space when parked. Kia says it’s enough to stretch your legs or even “sit on the vehicle’s flat floor to enjoy a meal.”
The entry-level electric SUV will be loaded with advanced software, connectivity, and other tech, including vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities to power up electronics or home appliances. With OTA updates, the EV2 will only get smarter and more functional over time.
Kia EV2 spotted on the road testing in Korea for the first time (Source: HealerTV)
Ahead of its official launch, the compact electric SUV was spotted in Korea on the road testing for the first time. The video from HealerTV gives us our closest look at the EV2 as it nears production.
Like its other EV concepts, the EV2 will look almost identical to the concept when it arrives in production form. From the side, it almost looks like the Kia Soul with a boxy silhouette. Despite the camouflage, the rear gives the same impression with similar proportions to the concept.
The EV2 will also likely include Kia’s new ccNC infotainment system, which features dual 12.3″ driver display and navigation screens.
Kia plans to launch the EV2 in Europe “and other regions” in 2026. Although prices and specs will be revealed closer to launch, the electric SUV, based on Hyundai’s E-GMP platform, is expected to feature at least 300 miles (605 km) WLTP range.
Kia’s CEO told Autocar it aims to launch the EV2 at around £25,000 ($32,000) in the UK. However, that was in 2023. With battery advancements and more, prices could be even lower now.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.