The project manager for the Hermon firm that was previously constructing a solar farm at the Knox County Regional Airport has filed a notice of lien against the airport after it canceled the contract, according to the Courier Gazette.
The manager, James Weston of Hermon, filed the notice of lien in the county’s registry of deeds on Friday, claiming he is owed $9,549 in lost wages, plus interest, the Courier Gazette reported. Weston claimed the money is for work he performed on the project from June 1, 2023 through Feb. 22, 2024.
The airport cut its ties with Pine Tree Solar in March, after the company reportedly missed deadlines due to outstanding balances from other projects. The 844-panel project was originally meant to be finished by January.
It was yet another sign of trouble for the solar company, which has faced complaints from customers and suppliers in recent years, according to previous BDN reporting. It’s the subject of two lawsuits and complaints to authorities over delays or refunds, and has also run into trouble with the state’s revenue department.
In Knox County, Weston cited the federal Davis-Bacon Act in filing the lien, which requires contractors and subcontractors to pay laborers no less than local wages and fringe benefits for a project. The county attorney will look into the matter, interim County Administrator Gordon Page told the Courier-Gazette.
The airport had a $1.36 million contract with Pine Tree Solar. The county aimed to pay for the project with some of its $17.9 million in funding from the 2020 CARES Act, which it must use by May 11.
But after Pine Tree Solar didn’t ship out the solar panels in December, combined with several other delays, a lawyer for Knox County said it breached its warranty for the project regardless of its ability to continue as a business.
Pine Tree Solar owner Michael Griggs told the BDN in March that it could still complete the project by April, but the county said it has no intention of working with the company for any future solar projects.
Jules Walkup is a Report for America corps member.Additional support for this reporting is provided by BDN readers.
