April 3, 2026 - Ground in Mason County, West Virginia has been broken once again.

Frontieras North America says they’re finally ready to produce energy in West Virginia.

Local and state officials picked up gold shovels on Thursday to mark the official beginning of phase 1 on the 183-acre lot off State Route 62.

The Mason County facility is expected be the first commercial-scale deployment site of Frontieras’ patented FASForm™ process, which converts coal into fuels, fertilizers, and industrial carbon products.

The site location would offer the facility more than a mile of Ohio River frontage for barge transport, Class I rail access via CSX, and proximity to Appalachian coal reserves and a skilled regional workforce.

The project has been in the works since 2022.

Frontieras North America CEO Matt McKean says picking the location for this facility was almost a no-brainer due to the resources West Virginia has to offer.

“When you say West Virginia, you’re almost are saying coal at the same time,” he said. “We had a few options to commercialize. We looked at Texas, Wyoming and West Virginia, and West Virginia won for a few reasons. One, you’ve got a very pro-coal, friendly state. I don’t have to tell you that. West Virginia’s proud of its heritage. There’s a lot of coal production.”

FASForm™ is a solid carbon fractionation process that Frontieras leaders say doesn’t contribute to pollution.

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey says, like any new project, Frontieras will need time to earn trust.

“My only request is people should take the time to learn about these companies, learn about what’s going on,” Morrisey said. “You can have good manufacturing that comes in, and it can make sure that the water is still going to be clean, that the air we breathe is pure.

“We can do this the right way, and I would just ask people, don’t just react quickly, but give us a chance to prove ourselves,” the governor said.

This facility will join the area’s growing economic profile, with Nucor constructing a sheet steel mill at the other end of the county in Apple Grove.

Fidelis, an AI platform for data centers, is also expected to call Mason County home.

United States Senator Shelley Moore Capito says she’s glad to see their potential get discovered.

“The innovation here provides the opportunity,” she said. “Mason County’s worked hard over the years, and they’re now seeing the fruits of their labor. We’ve all worked on projects like this, and it’s great to see it happening today.”

Frontieras also says their project will impact the state’s GDP by 3% once all phases are complete.

The project is an $850 million investment, with the first phase expected to be complete in 2028.

West Virginia Coal Association President Chris Hamilton anticipates a breath of fresh air in the coal industry.

“It’s going to unleash and unlock an entire universe of coal byproducts, advanced carbon products, petroleum fuels that are actually made in a very competitive, cost-effective manner from coal,” Hamilton said.

As for economics, West Virginia State Treasurer Larry Pack told 13 News it’s on the up and up.

“It’s a really exciting time,” Pack said. “It’s transforming Mason County, transforming this part of the state. Lots of jobs, lots of investments; it helps everybody.”

According to their website, the facility is expected to create 300 full-time jobs that will pay in the $70,000-80,000 range.