The picture to the left is what part of 1651 looks like today. This land will be stripped and then filled with solar panels like what you see below. Runoff from this project will flow into the reservoir on CR 2411 and the creeks and stock ponds south of CR 1651 and across Hwy 198.
Solar power plant developers come into an area and promise tax revenue, jobs, and the satisfaction of "saving the environment". They move quickly, flashing dollar signs while hiding all the negatives of the project. The public never sees most of the details of leases and contracts, and the actual developers are shielded from liability behind a shell company. While they "plan" for a solar power plant to last 30 years - the truth is they don't know. So, 10 years of tax breaks to fill their pockets may be all a project lasts, leaving the county and landowners holding the bag if the project fails before the 30 year "estimate". Actual leases and contracts uncovered in other Texas projects show loopholes and outs for these companies. If they were so sure of their technology - they would be more transparent.
Besides destroying active, productive agricultural land, consider these statements:
And who made these statements? A senior Chinese solar official, a 40-year veteran of the U.S. solar industry, and research scientists with the German Stuttgart Institute for Photovoltaics.
Experts in solar technology - admitting the truth. Yet we are being asked to forego our tax dollars so that companies can destroy our land and move on to the next project.
Read here how bad tax subsidy laws are destroying Texas.
This video is from the February 2018 election debate. Watch the video and remember: Van Zandt citizens did not know about the project until October 25th, 2018.
Think twice before leasing your land away to Big Solar. Here is one article.
As an agronomist who works with crops and soils every day and as one who has gone through a life-changing event that changed my future from being a farmer in Kansas to my present position as an extension specialist, I feel it is important to point out a few facts that should be considered before signing that contract to lease your land for solar farming.
Read HERE
A solar plant in Georgetown failed before completion. This could easily happen to us. Article HERE
Video from the Van Zandt County Commissioners Court meeting.
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