When Martin County officials negotiated with Savion LLC for the construction of its first solar project, the community was promised prosperity. Hundreds of temporary local, high-paying jobs were touted—200 to 300 positions paying around $30 an hour. It was the kind of promise that sparked hope in a region yearning for economic revival. Yet, the reality fell disastrously short.
Instead of hundreds of local workers earning a fair wage, Martin County residents saw a mere 47 positions during peak construction of the Martin County Solar Project—out of a total workforce of 420.
Many of the local jobs paid significantly less than touted, with wage offers dipping below $16 an hour. It is a story we learned all too well: big promises, bigger disappointments.
As we prepare for Savion to negotiate industrial revenue bonds with our county for the newly approved Lynn Bark Energy Center, it is time to ask tough questions and demand accountability. The community’s trust has been eroded. The question we must ask is simple: What’s in it for us?
Savion recently admitted shortcomings, blaming their engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) provider. They acknowledge they “could have done a better job of hiring more local folks.”
That’s an understatement.
When a company dangles the prospect of hundreds of high-paying jobs, only to deliver a sliver of that, residents have every right to feel deceived.
Local officials, such as Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty, are justified in their frustration. When workers in our county were eager and willing, why were they left behind?
The promise of job opportunities is about livelihoods and dignity. For decades, Martin County residents have endured the decline of the coal industry, shrinking job markets and an exodus of talent. We want projects that can thrive here and provide stability. But locals got sidelined and it feels like more of the same exploitation.
To compound the frustration, wage transparency was lacking.
The community needs concrete commitments: binding local agreements that prioritize and benefit Martin County residents. We must scrutinize any future industrial revenue bond agreements and ensure we have enforceable provisions benefiting local people.
James Ayers, chairman of the Martin County Economic Development Authority, rightly questioned the economic analyses presented. Using outdated studies to justify the project’s benefits is disingenuous. If this project is truly meant to benefit Eastern Kentucky, then it must reflect the realities and challenges of our current job market, not hollow projections.
Martin County is not a pit stop for out-of-state workers or a convenient location for companies to meet renewable energy quotas. Our people—hardworking, resilient and skilled—deserve to share in the prosperity generated from their own land.
Savion/ Lynn Bark Energy Center officials plainly stated they have no control over who gets hired.
The Martin County Fiscal Court needs to strike a deal for industrial revenue bonds.
A solar farm taking up space and providing no long-term jobs does not look promising for what our county needs.
A $25,000 donation here, a $50,000 donation there, and $100,000 in solar panels donated to the high school is nothing to what we need. It is nothing to what Shell Energies will extract from our county.