COLUMBUS, Ohio (Feb. 19, 2026) — The Ohio Power Siting Board has approved construction of a new 800-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant in Fayette County and a 6.25-mile electric transmission line in Mahoning County.
Bluegrass Power Generation Facility
The board authorized Bluegrass Power Generation, LLC to build and operate the power plant on a 100-acre site in Jefferson Township, south of Jefferson-West Lancaster Road and north of Interstate 71, adjacent to the Midwest Mega Commerce Center.
The facility will operate “behind-the-meter,” exclusively supplying electricity to dedicated nearby third-party facilities — including the L-H Battery Company, a joint venture of Honda and LG Energy Solution — for at least 30 years. The plant will remain disconnected from the main electric grid.
Project officials said the development is expected to create approximately 500 construction jobs and 30 permanent operational positions. The facility is also projected to generate significant local tax revenue and bolster Ohio’s high-tech energy infrastructure to support continued industrial growth. Construction is currently slated to begin in February 2026.
The OPSB attached 34 conditions to the approval, requiring the company to take steps to minimize potential environmental and community impacts during construction and operation.
Youngstown 138-kV Reinforcement Project
In a separate decision, the board approved the Youngstown 138-kilovolt Reinforcement Project proposed by American Transmission Systems, Inc..
The project calls for construction of a new transmission line linking the Lincoln Park Substation and the Riverbend Substation in Mahoning County. The 6.25-mile line will be supported by steel monopole structures and require a 65-foot-wide permanent right-of-way.
Officials said the transmission upgrade is intended to strengthen reliability of the electric system in Youngstown and surrounding communities. The board imposed 26 conditions on the project to reduce potential impacts during construction and long-term operation.
Maps and additional details on both projects are available on the OPSB website under case numbers 25-227-EL-BGN for Bluegrass Power Generation and 24-603-EL-BTX for the Youngstown project. The board also maintains an online mapping tool showing the locations of approved and pending natural gas-fired generation projects across Ohio.
