Dear Editor:
I’m country, as much as you can get. This is my place, my little piece of heaven. I feel like a pioneer at times, covered in dirt, fighting rocks and weeds; the rain and drought; heat and cold. Never enough of this or that, but hey, that’s the farming life and upon examination that’s what I love and want to do with my life.
My husband and I, moved to Erath county twenty-six years ago and here I buried him and many of our horses, cats and dogs. This is my life. This is my home, where I intend to see out my years as well.
Now that serenity is being threatened. The agricultural way of life is going to be displaced by glaring eyesores. Large solar companies are considering moving to the area. One that we know of has already signed a lease on 2,400 acres.
Take a moment and just try to image that; as far as the eye can see up the hill and over, 2,400 acres, a sea of solar panels sitting on the highway, right beside the largest transmission lines in the county. Who knew then, that these lines would bring the suppliers, in the form of energy companies here to our area. Easy for them to just hop on the gride from here. No power stays here, not much benefit locally, a couple of jobs and maybe a few construction workers.
Solar energy is unreliable at best, no sun, no energy. Development is a cheaper option, here in the country, than closer to the city and federal tax credits give them a massive incentive to build now, before the laws change.
On August 9, 2021, Nextera Energy Resources, LLC, applied to the Erath Commissioners Court for an application for tax abatement for a 2,400 acre solar farm project on CR 914 just north of State Hwy 6.
About 20 landowners turned up to voice their concerns and get a few answers. The commissioners were ask to reject the application, though they appeared to be against the abatement already, I can’t speak to how they would vote but the motion was tabled.
Oh yes, the Nextera presentation sounded so rosie, what an offer for the community, it was fabulous, I was almost thinking about saying yes myself… ha! They are good salesmen, that’s their job and that is why they are hired, so please don’t forget that, should you listen to their story. There are two sides to every story. I don’t think large industrial solar farms should be our story here in Erath county. I think if they decide to do business here they should pay their fair share of tax, including full school taxes.
Stephenville ISD has already approved an application for tax credits with the comptroller, for the Nextera project and it is awaiting approval. When that returns it is up to Stephenville ISD board to give final approval. I want to ask you to consider how much the company might pay in school taxes without the credits and how much the school will get with the credits. I know this money is in hand quickly as opposed to over time, but just think about how much could be planned for in the future and how much more secure the future would be for the school, should the project go ahead.
Of course, then the threat is that the project will not advance, you just have to love those business tactics! Either way Nextera will not lose money, just have less for their shareholders, but this county will lose its country appeal, and many will have to move, if they can even sell.
Let’s keep this county, country! And I can tell you more of the story should you wish to listen, next week.
Joanna Friebele, Erath County Land Owner