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CHARLESTON, W. Va.–State Economic Development Secretary Mitch Carmichael said that he has a “healthy degree of skepticism” about plans from SEVA West Virginia to redevelop more than 5,000 acres of the former Hobet mountaintop removal mining site in Boone and Lincoln counties.
SEVA, a unit of Savion Energy said that the project includes a 3,000-acre, $325 million investment, solar energy farm called Sun Park and 2,800-acre industrial park and recreation area.
Carmichael said the state hopes the project is successful but right now it’s putting no state money toward it. He said SEVA’s lease with the state Economic Development Authority requires it to meet certain benchmarks and deadlines that will allow the project to continue.
“There are milestones and if the company hits a particular milestone they can move to the next phase and then if they hit the following milestone they can move to the next stage,” Carmichael said during an appearance on MetroNews “Talkline.”
Among other provisions, the lease says SEVA “shall submit copies of its Construction Contracts to the Landlord by no later than 24 months from the Effective Date of this Lease.”
SEVA President Devanna Corley said that they have to have the industrial park built by Nov. 4, 2024.
“We will meet that deadline,” Corley told MetroNews.
Carmichael said the state “hopes like crazy” that happens