Marion Energy Monongalia County facility

From Global Energy Monitor

Marion Energy Monongalia County facility is a proposed cryptocurrency mine, located in Monongalia County, West Virginia.

Location

The map below shows the location of the proposed Marion Energy Monongalia County facility cryptocurrency mine.

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Background

In January 2022, Marion Energy Partners LLC applied for an air permit from the Department of Environmental Protection to develop a 10,000-square-foot "science facility" at the Morgantown Industrial Park. [1] The application was approved on March 7, 2022. The site hosts four natural gas-fired engines that are expected to power operations at the facility by drawing natural gas from the Northeast Natural Energy well pad. [2] The facility will also use feature a dehydration unit adjacent to the site that will process the gas prior to sending it to the Dominion pipeline. The environmental permit application notes the emissions (in tons per year) expected from both sites: "Particulate Matter (PM) 3.89, Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) 67.4, Carbon Monoxide (CO) 34.22, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) 40.34, Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) 14.41, and Formaldehyde (HCHO) 6.68. [Some 55,000 tons per year of Carbon Dioxide will also be emitted]." [3]

While little is officially known about the nature of data operations at the proposed "science facility" at this time, it is presumed that the facility will be used for mining cryptocurrency. Nevertheless, Northeast Natural Energy, the parent company of Marion Energy Partners LLC, continues to be avoidant and mum about the topic. When asked about whether the data center will be used for cryptomining in an interview with the Dominican Post, the CEO stated that the company's first priority is an in-development geothermal project, to be located at the well pad site. He added that the outcome of the project will make the data center's purpose clear. [4]

Project Details

  • Power usage (MW):
  • Owner: Marion Energy Partners LLC
  • Parent: Northeast Natural Energy
  • Location: 2050 City View Dr, Morgantown, WV 26505
  • Coordinates: 39.60995, -79.97501 (EXACT)

Articles and Resources

References

  1. "Secretive 'science facility' seems like a major polluter". The Dominican Post. January 13, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  2. "Secretive 'science facility' seems like a major polluter". The Dominican Post. January 13, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  3. "Marion Energy Partners LLC; Science Facility ("data center") ~ Permit No. R13-3533". Frack Check WV. March 7, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  4. "A talk with Northeast Natural Energy and DEP about proposed data center and geothermal well at Morgantown Industrial Park". The Dominican Post. April 9, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.