A Letter to the People of West Virginia and Appalachia
From Matthew T. McKean,
CEO & Co-Founder, Frontieras North America
To the People of West Virginia,
It is with great respect—and a deep sense of purpose—that I write to you today.
Frontieras North America has chosen West Virginia to be the home of our first commercial-scale facility. But this is far more than a plant. This is the beginning of a new chapter—for coal, for energy, and for the people who’ve powered America for generations.
We Didn’t Come for a Handout. We Came for the Right Reasons.
Frontieras made a deliberate, principled choice in how we entered this state: we did not request or receive a single dollar of government incentives from the State of West Virginia. This project is 100% privately funded—from the ground up.
Why? Because we believed it was necessary to operate on our own terms, with discretion, discipline, and no external constraints—especially during the last federal administration, when traditional energy—including coal, oil, and gas—was openly opposed, politically targeted, and forced into retreat.
We knew the only way to reintroduce coal in a serious, transformative way was to keep our cards close, build our business model privately, and prepare for a moment when policy, capital, and technology would finally align.
That moment is now.
The Most Advanced Coal Technology in the World
Let me be absolutely clear: this is not “coal-to-liquids.” This is not syngas. FASForm™ is not a warmed-over version of technologies that failed in the past.
What we’ve built is the world’s most advanced technology for coal beneficiation and solid hydrocarbon processing—full stop.
Our patented Solid Carbon Fractionation™ process disassembles coal into its molecular components—cleanly, efficiently, and without waste. It produces:
- 2.3 barrels of liquid fuel per ton of coal
- Over 20 million standard cubic feet/day of hydrogen
- FASCarbon™ — a clean, smokeless carbon used in steel, cement, or advanced power
- Fertilizers and industrial chemicals from what would otherwise be considered waste
And we do it with zero emissions to air, water, or soil. This is true closed-loop energy innovation.
We are proud to say that this breakthrough is protected by patents across five continents, nine countries, and reaches over half the global population. It’s a global platform—but it starts in West Virginia.
A Legacy We Honor. A Future We Build.
We didn’t come to West Virginia because it was easy—we came because it matters.
Your land, your coal, your people have kept this country running for centuries. You’ve been the backbone of American energy and industry. And now, you will be the launchpad for a new generation of energy leadership.
Our $850 million facility in Mason County will create over 2,000 construction jobs and 200+ permanent careers. We expect it to boost the state’s GDP by over 3%—with wages that far exceed regional averages.
And this is just the beginning.
Public Officials Who Helped Clear the Way
Although we entered the state on fully private capital, we want to extend our deep thanks to the political and regulatory leadership of West Virginia, whose actions gave us the confidence to invest here—and nowhere else.
We are especially grateful for:
- Current Governor Patrick Morrissey, who, as Attorney General, successfully led a case against the EPA all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court—and won. That victory signaled to innovators like us that West Virginia defends the right to produce energy within a rational regulatory framework.
- Former Governor Jim Justice, now U.S. Senator, whose leadership kept West Virginia on a growth trajectory.
- Senator Shelley Moore Capito, whose support for industrial development—including the transformative work with Nucor Steel—showed that serious investment and energy innovation are welcome here.
- Congresswoman Carol Miller, who serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and strongly advocates for pro-energy policies.
We’ve also experienced a highly cooperative environment within state and federal agencies. In a time when energy entrepreneurs face endless red tape in other states, West Virginia has stood apart—as a place where energy innovation is not only possible, but encouraged.
Stay Connected
We want you—the people of West Virginia and Appalachia—to stay informed about the progress of this facility and our plans in the state.
To receive updates from our team and be invited to the upcoming groundbreaking ceremony, please visit www.frontieras.com and submit your email address.
We’d be honored to have you with us as we begin this journey.
With Respect and Resolve
West Virginia has been underestimated for too long. So has coal.
We’re here to change that. To rebuild American energy independence. To deliver Abundant, Affordable, and Available energy without compromise. And to do it with the people who never stopped believing in what’s possible.
Thank you for welcoming us.
We intend to earn it.
Matthew T. McKean
Chief Executive Officer
Frontieras North America
www.frontieras.com
For downloadable PDF click here.