en.Wedoany.com Reported - A new $850 million energy project broke ground in Mason County, West Virginia, USA, on April 4, 2026. Developer Frontieras North America is employing its FASForm technology to convert coal into clean fuels, industrial materials, and low-emission energy sources.

The facility utilizes a continuous thermal pyrolysis and distillation process to extract gases, liquid fuels, and solid carbon products from coal, lignite, and oil sands. Process outputs include hydrogen, methane, diesel, jet fuel, and naphtha. The remaining solid carbon product, FASCarbon, can be used as a clean-burning fuel or industrial feedstock.

At full operation, the facility is expected to consume 2.7 million tons of Northern Appalachian coal annually, supporting 458 direct mining jobs and hundreds of other economic positions. The project's total annual payroll exceeds $90 million, with severance taxes reaching $5 million.

Chris Hamilton, President of the West Virginia Coal Association, stated that the process is essentially "a coal version of a traditional gas cracker plant," allowing for the diversification of coal uses. The facility will also generate hydrogen on-site for its operations, minimizing waste.

Governor Patrick Morrisey and Senator Jim Justice attended the groundbreaking ceremony. The project is positioned at the intersection of traditional energy and advanced manufacturing, aiming to combine fossil fuels with emerging technologies to reduce environmental impact. The company plans to use the Mason County plant as a business model to construct similar facilities in other regions with coal resources.

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