'We Made a Difference for Generations to Come'

February 12, 2024

'We Made a Difference for Generations to Come'

Appalachian Power representatives were proud to participate in Nucor's world record groundbreaking. Left to right: Scott Mann, national account executive; Alan Bragg, customer services manager; Heather Vanater, economic & business development manager; Randy Short, director regulatory services; Aaron Walker, president & COO; John Scalzo, vice president regulatory & finance; and Alex Vaughan, managing director of renewables fuel strategy for AEP.

John Farris, Nucor vice president and general manager, led the ceremony which included speeches from elected officials applauding Nucor's decision to locate in the Mountain State.

Nucor’s plan to build a state-of-the-art sheet steel mill in Mason County, W.Va., is moving forward. The company celebrated its $3.1 billion investment, the largest in Nucor’s history, with a groundbreaking for the record books.

Ceremony tents rose from the graded land, local high school bands entertained, elected officials lauded Nucor’s investment in West Virginia, and a packed house cheered for the company's arrival.

Members of Appalachian Power’s leadership team, along with other key employees, attended the event. “We are here, like the hundreds of others, to celebrate West Virginia and Nucor. This is a huge win for West Virginia, for Mason County, and for Appalachian Power," said Aaron Walker, president & COO. "When up and running, Nucor will be Appalachian Power's largest single customer.”

AEP Economic and Business Development Manager for West Virginia Heather Vanater is also celebrating the big win. She was among the team of employees who helped attract Nucor to the site. "Knowing that AEP and Appalachian Power were a huge part of this historic project for West Virginia is something we all should be proud of. We made a difference for generations to come."

Appalachian Power will provide service to Nucor by December 2025.

Guests gathered along the half-mile line to participate in a Guinness World Record.

The groundbreaking ended on a high note. Guests were ushered to a half-a-mile line where 545 shovels were waiting to attempt to set a world record for the greatest number of people to participate in a dig for a groundbreaking. Guinness World Records was on-site to confirm the official world record was set on October 20, 2023, in Mason County, West Virginia by Nucor supporters.

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F EATURED S TORY