Robran loses option in Somerset

The chances of Orange County landing potential green energy manufacturer Robran Incorporated appear to have changed from uncertain to unlikely. Robran Chief Executive Matthew Brandimarte said his contract on the former General Shale brickyard on Weyburn Road in Somerset was not extended, because the company has not yet raised adequate funding for the proposed $400 million, 400,000 square-foot waste-to-energy manufacturing plant. In November Brandimarte indicated that Orange County was the leading candidate for the plant.

“It’s looking like [the plant] is not going to be built [on Weyburn Road],” said Brandimarte. “The owners [General Shale] have someone else interested in buying the property.”

Brandimarte said the company’s contract on the nearly 300-acre industrial property was contingent on Robran raising enough funds through investors to put 10 percent down in cash. The company had the property under contract for 18 months, but was unable to sign sufficient investors.

“We would still be interested in the property if it was available,” said Brandimarte, who said Virginia holds the largest attraction to the company. “The business climate in Virginia is just really good, very business friendly.”

Greg Bowles, director of environmental real estate for General Shale, confirmed that the contract with Robran had expired.

“The potential purchaser allowed the agreement to lapse, it wasn’t really up to us,” he said. “There’s the possibility [Robran] could come around again.”

Bowles also confirmed that the property has another interested party, but declined to specify the name of the business or its industry. He believes though that the Weyburn road site could suit virtually any commercial operation, or could even be farmed.

“There are lots of possibilities for that property, it’s zoned for industrial use and could certainly go to about any industry,” said Bowles. “A good amount of the property was kept undeveloped, so it could also have a lot of potential as a farm property.”

Adriana Cowan of Cowan Realty, who lists the site for General Shale said that no contract currently exists on the Weyburn Road site.

“It’s very  much on the market, unfortunately,” said Cowan. “There was a contract [with Robran] that was contingent on them getting financing, but we didn’t feel like we were making any progress and when they asked for an extension General Shale decided they didn’t really want to do it anymore.”

Robran represents a significant economic development opportunity for Orange County. According to business plans provided by the company to the county, Robran estimates creating more than 400 full-time workers and paying more than $9 million in real estate and personal property taxes to the county. County administrator Julie Jordan said the county had no comment on the topic of Robran at this time.