BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — People will be hired on the spot during the first hiring fair for the Martin County Solar Project. The jobs fair is set for Sept. 7 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Collier Center in Inez.
Local solar developer Adam Edelen of Eden Renewables announced Thursday in a Martin County Fiscal Court meeting that construction on the solar project at the former Martiki mine site would begin in late September to early October.
“In October, we’ll have a larger jobs fair, again one here, where we will hire a couple of hundred people,” Edelen said. “This is a huge opportunity, and it would break my heart if we didn’t get a position for every Martin Countian that wants it.”
Developers have said as many as 300 workers will be needed to install the solar panels during the construction phase; and the jobs will pay an average of $25 to $30 an hour.
“Our goal is to hire as many folks from Martin County as we can—that’s the priority—those displaced by the decline of the coal industry,” said Edelen. “And then neighboring counties, in that order.
Edelen pointed out that $231 million is the largest private capital investment in the history of Martin County.
“Our goal is to drive a huge economic impact here,” he said. “This is the first large-scale coal-to-solar project in the United States and, when built, will be the largest in the state of Kentucky.”
The plant, 100MW with expansion potential for up to 200MW, is being constructed on 1,200 acres of reclaimed strip mine land in Pilgrim.
Edelen acknowledged that Martin County coal miners and their coal mining community powered the industrial development of America for a hundred years.
“That means there’s uniquely an American debt owed to this community,” he said. “This project is a downpayment on repaying that debt by creating green energy opportunities for the people in this community and beyond… This is extraordinarily important; it’s a historic moment not only in the development of renewable energy but certainly in this community.”
The payroll will be $39 million for the construction of the project.
Edelen said Martin County Solar Project has partnerships with the TEK Center, Big Sandy Community & Technical College, SOAR, One East Kentucky and the Mountain Association to maximize the legacy benefit to Martin County.
“We committed six figures to build a solar array at the high school, and we’re working with the high school to develop a curriculum around that program. Young people coming out of your schools will not just be informed about what is the most dynamic, fastest-growing element of our economy but be trained in such as way that they can seize those opportunities and create opportunity and wealth right here in our hometown.”
Edelen expressed his gratitude toward county officials who have worked with him during the past four years negotiating the project. In a mixture of light-heartedness and seriousness, he said, “It’s definitely taken years off my life, but it’s well worth it when you get the opportunity to make history and do a lot of good. That’s a very big deal.”
People should expect to see more solar developers in the county from now on. Toyota, which agreed to purchase the power from the plant, will also have an expanded presence in Martin County.
“Martin County is a big part of why they chose this project to help them get to their green energy goals,” he said of Toyota. “There will be a lot of national attention.”
Edelen said the developers need everyone’s help in promoting the project.
“That first jobs fair Sept. 7 is incredibly important. We want everyone who even has the slightest interest in these kind of jobs to come.”
Hirees will be paid to learn.
“In two to three years, when they leave the project, they will have a great skill set and be able to work on other projects that we’re planning here in the region,” remarked Eden. “We’ve worked hard to bring in opportunity. We hope you will seize it.”
Martin County Solar Project will run ads in the Mountain Citizen for the next five weeks. Edelen encourages everyone to watch for those ads, visit martincountysolarproject.com to learn more and help spread the word.
Martin County Solar Project is an enterprise of solar developer Savion. In a significant commitment, Savion has pledged to remit up to $300,000 annually to Martin County for the next 30 years as a payment in lieu of taxes.