Breckenridge Texan

Commissioners also voted to advertise an upcoming public hearing regarding amendments to the Nextera windfarm agreement.

By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

The Stephens County Commissioners voted unanimously at their meeting on Monday, Feb. 23, to approve a proposed reinvestment zone in the central portion of the county for the purpose of considering a tax abatement for Crocus Solar LLC. The meeting also included a public hearing to gather input from community members about the proposal.

The company, a project of Samsung Renewable Energy, is planning to build a solar farm on 885 acres located just south of U.S. Highway 180 East and east of FM 207. The creation of the reinvestment zone, which is a geographical area within the county that allows the commissioners court to offer tax abatements in that specific area, is necessary before talks between the county and Crocus Solar can continue about a potential tax abatement.

Stephens County resident Kessa Compton, center, talks to the county commissioners about the proposed reinvestment zone for a solar farm in the central portion of the county. Pictured from right are commissioners Mark McCullough and David Fambro, County Judge Michael Roach, and commissioners Will Warren and Tanner Wade. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

At the beginning of the public hearing, County Judge Michael Roach explained the process. “You can’t have an abatement agreement without a reinvestment zone. So that without a reinvestment zone, any talk about an abatement agreement regulations on these kind of projects is non-existent,” he said. “So what today is really about is saying if we do agree to even have a conversation, you have to set up a reinvestment zone. And if we don’t set up a reinvestment zone, no conversations can be had.”

About 15-20 members of the public showed up at the hearing, and several spoke to the commissioners and the representatives of the Crocus Solar who were present. However, most of the speakers asked questions about the project or requested that the entire process be handled transparently; none of those who addressed the commission directly spoke against the project.

Some of the questions concerned water usage, as well as whether or not the presence of the solar farm will heat up the area in which it’s located. Other questions were about environmental impact studies, potential economic benefit to the county, the expected lifespan of the project and more.

Michael Paris, right, executive director of the Breckenridge Economic Development Corp., talked to Crocus Solar representatives, Kane Lee, left, and Charles Jackson, center, about the economic benefits the solar farm might have on the community. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Michael Paris, executive director of the Breckenridge Economic Development Corp., asked some questions about whether or not Crocus Solar already has a customer or customers for the power the solar farm will generate and if the energy will be sold direct to customers or to Oncor, as well as the capacity of the powerlines from the energy plant. The Crocus Solar representatives said that typically the power is sold directly to customers and that they do not yet have customers set up to buy the power.

“I just want to make sure that we understand the purpose of the project, who the customers are, and what it really means to the community, because we understand that there’s a financial impact to you, and there’s a financial impact to the community if … an abatement is decided upon and such, but at the end of the day, they’re going to be neighbors,” Paris said. “And what are our neighbors producing? And will the community benefit, other than direct financial responsibility? Could we benefit if we were to bring in a project and actually utilize that, that line usage?”

After some continued discussion and input from Jake Lederle, the attorney representing Stephens County in the negotiations with the solar company, the commissioners voted to approve the reinvestment zone. Following future discussions between the county and the solar company about potential tax abatements, the county will schedule another public hearing to listen to input from the community about whether or not they should agree to the abatements.

Neither the reinvestment zone or tax abatements are necessary for the construction of the solar farm. The project is already planned, and Crocus Solar intends to build the power station, regardless of whether or not the abatements are approved, according to the representatives at the meeting.

Nextera Wind Farm

In another agenda item, the commissioners discussed a recent letter of compliance and an as-built map for the Nextera wind farm in the southeast portion of the county. After confirming with Lederle that their accepting of the letter doesn’t mean that they consider the project complete and in compliance with the requirements in the agreement between the county and Nextera, the commissioners voted to officially receive the letter.

Additionally, the commissioners voted to place a legal ad for a public hearing regarding an amendment to the tax abatement agreement with Nextera.

The amendment to the agreement between the county and Nextera concerns changes to the original road use agreement. However, before the county commissioners will consider the amendment, they will hold a public hearing to ensure transparency and to gather public input, Roach said.

The original agreement was for Nextera to maintain and repair any roads they use in the process of installing and maintaining the wind turbine farm located in the southeast quadrant of the county. However, Nextera is proposing to buy out the agreement for an additional $750,000, Precinct 1 Commissioner David Fambro said.

With the amendment, Nextera would pay the county $750,000 and the county would then be responsible for maintaining the roads.

Stephens County resident Steve Dempsey, at podium, had several questions for the Crocus Solar representatives. He also talked to the county commissioners about the Nextera windfarm project. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Cutline, top photo: Stephens County resident Teresa Deason, at podium, had several questions for the Crocus Solar representatives, pictured from right, Troy Reed, Kane Lee and Charles Jackson. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)