Eastern Kentucky University’s news station produced an interesting summary of the solar project in neighboring Martin County this week. Following is the release…Wonder how Lawrence County could do something similar?
WOLF CREEK, KY. — A massive solar farm on an abandoned coal mine site in Martin County is producing electricity. According to a news release from owner Savion, the project uses more than 214-thousand solar panels across 1,200 acres. Adam Edelen, founder and CEO of Edelen Renewables, said his company brought Toyota into the project.
WEKU reported on the opening of the facility and it’s effect on the area in a story dated January 15 and it is reposted below.
“What Toyota is interested in is what’s called a virtual power purchase agreement, where the automotive manufacturer is buying power at a fixed rate for a number of years, they own these electrons, and they use that against their carbon footprint in order to meet their sustainability goals.”
According to Savion, more than 300 local workers built the solar farm, which will produce enough energy to power about 18,500 Kentucky homes for the next four decades. Edelen said “Despite President-elect Trump’s support for fossil fuels, the future is bright for solar power”.
Edelen did not say how many permanent jobs have been created.
“I cannot imagine, particularly in a place like coal country, where these projects represent the largest private capital investment in the history of most of these communities, I can’t imagine that anybody would try to resist it.”
WEKU | By John McGary
