Apex Learning Lunch Program Cut Short Without Fielding Questions

September 11, 2024 – The much anticipated Lunch and Learn provided by Apex Energy left attendees with unanswered questions.

After a free lunch of BBQ, Apex presenters took to the podium and promised to be open and honest about Wind Power Plants. They also requested attendees hold any and all questions until the end of the presentation. The presenters intimated that questions would be handled after the slide show.

The presentation was a very basic, as promised by Apex, and contained little to no information about the project slated for Hopkins County. Find out more about project by clicking here.

At the conclusion of the presentation, the presenters appeared to become nervous as they began refusing to field questions. “I hate being a gatekeeper, but we have limited time today for questions.” said one presenter.

Many attendees grumbled about the abrupt change in the promise to answer questions. The few questions they allowed to be asked, only received basic answers. It was clear the answers given did not satisfy the person that voiced them.

Apex is under no obligation to answer questions, or even participate in a Town Hall style meeting. No such event has been announced by Apex.

KSST News asked several questions of the presenters one-on-one after the presentation and did not get many answers as well. KSST did try and ascertain whether or not Apex Clean Energy would go forward with a project in Hopkins County without a tax abatement. The short answer from an Apex representative was that, “Apex considers many aspects of the project, not just the tax abatement.” When pressed for a more definitive answer, Development Manager Callie Chaplain said, “Apex will be applying for a tax abatement from Hopkins County and has already entered into discussions with Jeff Snowden, the consultant representing Hopkins County.” She continued by saying, “But the level of the tax abatement, and what it’s effect on the project are not known at this time.”

One item that is an absolute deal breaker for Apex is a road agreement with Hopkins County for the use, repair, and improvement of roads that will need to be repaired after damage during construction. Some roads may have to be widened or altered to accommodate the enormous trucking requirements during the build process as each blade of the three that make up one windmill can be over 200 feet long. Apex representatives confirmed that they cannot move forward with the project without this cruicial “road agreement” with Hopkins County. The negotiations of the road agreement will not begin until the majority of leases are in place and the layout of the entire project is known so that Apex and Hopkins County can ascertain which roads may be included in the road agreement.

Future Hopkins County work sessions including Apex will be made known through normal public notice by Hopkins County. All work sessions are open to the public.