Software Firm To Expand Operations In Harrison County

Platinum Solutions has announced it will be expanding its operations in Bridgeport, W.Va. The Reston, Va., software development company and defense contractor plans to hire at least 80 people by July 2009, with additional expansion possible in the next five years, to help it meet the requirements for a recently awarded federal agency contract. Platinum Solutions develops custom software for private businesses and government agencies, with specialization in law enforcement, health care, intelligence, defense and national security. The company’s software helps to decipher and monitor terrorist communications and arrest violent criminals, as well as improve the prescription drug review and approval process.

$3 Billion Coal-To-Liquids Plant Announced

Gov. Joe Manchin and Adam Victor, president of TransGas Development Systems of New York City, have announced the company's plan to build a $3 billion coal-to-liquids plant in Mingo County. Company officials say the plant would consume 8,500 tons of coal a day to produce 18,000 barrels of gasoline. He said it would create 3,000 construction jobs and 200 permanent jobs. The plant is expected to be built in Mingo County's new energy park near Gilbert.

This is the second coal-to-liquids plant announced in the state.

Defense Contractor To Expand In Mineral County

A major aerospace and defense company plans two new manufacturing facilities in Mineral County, with the possibility of 200 new jobs. Alliant Techsystems has announced plans to open a composite rotor tube manufacturing facility in Rocket City, which are used in the nuclear power industry. The second facility will produce composite aircraft parts for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Both facilities will be opened at the Allegany Ballistics Laboratory in Rocket Center. Company officials expect the new facilities to begin production in 2009.

MATRIC To Create 150 High Tech Jobs

The Mid-Atlantic Technology, Research and Innovation Center in South Charleston has announced that it add 150 new high-tech jobs in the next 18 months and is receiving $2 million in federal funds to start a Homeland Security data integration center. MATRIC will partner with Butler International Inc. to form the International Design Center, which will create 150 new engineering and research and development jobs. Butler is a tech outsourcing company headquartered in Florida.

JDI To Locate First U.S. Division In West Virginia

Global corporation J.D. Irving, Limited has chosen West Virginia as the location for its first equipment division in the United States. The new division, scheduled to open in Kanawha County in October of this year, represents a $20 million initial investment. The JDI Equipment Division will create 15 new jobs initially and a total of 50 within 12-24 months. The new positions include crane operators, mechanics and engineers.

Founded in 1882, JDI has operations in Eastern Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador) and the United States. The company’s business units include forest products, transportation, shipbuilding, retail, industrial equipment and construction services and consumer products. JDI has been internationally honored for its environmental research and conservation efforts.

Major Natural Gas Pipeline Project Announced For W.Va.

Dominion Transmission has announced plans for a major pipeline project to move natural gas through West Virginia to Pennsylvania and other Eastern markets. A spokesman for the company said the multi-billion-dollar pipeline, called Appalachian Gateway Project, will connect some existing lines and add new ones, in an effort to meet the increasing demands for natural gas. The exact route of the pipeline has not been determined, but company officials expect the lines to be moving natural gas by late 2010. Dominion Transmission is a part of Dominion Energy, based in Richmond, Virginia.

Allegheny Energy To Build Transmission HQ In Marion County

Allegheny Energy has announced plans for a new headquarters building in Marion County. The company plans to build the $50 million facility in the I-79 technology park. The building will serve as the company's transmission headquarters and will create new 150 jobs.

Nation's First Modern Coal-to-Liquids Plant To Be Built In W.Va.

Gov. Joe Manchin has announced plans for the construction of the nation’s first modern coal-to-liquids plant in the state’s Northern Panhandle. Joining the governor were Sen. Jay Rockefeller, with support from Sen. Robert C. Byrd and West Virginia’s Congressional delegation, and officials from CONSOL Energy, Synthesis Energy Systems (SES) and the Regional Economic Development Partnership (RED).

CONSOL, the nation’s largest producer of bituminous coal, and SES, a global industrial gasification company, intend to develop through a joint venture, their first U. S. coal gasification and liquefaction plant in Benwood. The joint venture, Northern Appalachia Fuel LLC (NAF), will invest $800 million in the plant.

The plant is expected to be a “mine mouth” facility with feedstock supplied directly from CONSOL’s nearby Shoemaker complex. The feedstock will be a blend of run-of-mine coal and coal otherwise not recovered in the normal preparation process. Coal will be converted to synthetic gas using SES proprietary technology. The syngas would be used to produce about 720,000 metric tons per year of methanol that can be used as a feedstock for the chemical industry. Officials expect the project will be capable of converting methanol to about 100 million gallons per year of 87 octane gasoline. NAF is negotiating with ExxonMobil Research and Engineering to license their proprietary methanol-to-gasoline technology. As envisioned, the project will include a river terminal facility, where products will be stored in tanks for off-loading into barges for ultimate delivery.

It is estimated the plant will create 300 to 500 construction jobs and, when the plant begins production, it will have about 60 full-time permanent employees.