HENDERSON COUNTY–Henderson County Commissioners’ Court voted Dec. 13 to enter into a tax abatement agreement with a company that plans to construct a solar electric facility between Athens and Eustace.
The agreement only affects county-related taxes, said County Judge Wade McKinney. The agreement between the county and Forest Grove Solar, LLC, deals with the solar facility that lies within the 7,200-acre Forest Grove Reinvestment Zone, which the court voted to create in August.
Ryan LLC Director of Site Selection and Business Incentives Michael Camden said that a few weeks ago Athens ISD passed a Chapter 313 tax valuation limitation agreement related to the property. Ryan represents Vistra Energy, the owner and operator of the solar farm and the parent company of Luminant and TXU Electric.
Ryan informed the court that the project plans to break ground in 2023 on what’s planned eventually to be a 400-megawatt facility on 5,200 acres. Athens ISD would benefit the most because of its tax rate, Camden told the court.
County Judge Wade McKinney said under the current tax structure, the county gets a little more than $40,000 in property taxes on the 7,200 acres, the majority of which has agricultural tax valuations. Over a five-year period with the solar facility improvements on the property, the county would realize $1.2 million in property taxes, McKinney stated.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Chuck McHam said his main concern was that the project brings “a whole lot of money but not many jobs.” McKinney said that because of the favorable corporate attitude toward renewable energy, other companies could locate in the county because of the solar facility, creating jobs.
The court also approved a proposed federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funded water supply application. McKinney said the application allows local water utilities to apply for $4.8 million of the county’s $16 million in ARPA money to purchase generators. A statement on the county’s Facebook page said the generators would help keep water supplied during electrical outages.
In other business, the court:
• Approved reappointing Shane Renberg as Henderson County fire marshal for a two-year term beginning Jan. 1.
• Approved allowing the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office to purchase firearms from Athens Army and Navy Pawn.
• Approved releasing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for a broadband internet service provider, using $2.75 million of the county’s ARPA funding for a broadband project.
• Approved an order to create Emergency Services District (ESD) 12, which Chandler-area voters approved Nov. 8.
• Approved reappointing Calvin Morris and Rusty Quattlebaum to the ESD 5 Board of Commissioners, located in Precinct 3, for two-year terms ending Dec. 31, 2024.
• Approved reappointing Ernest Smith and Gary Dennis to the ESD 6 Board of Commissioners, located in Precincts 3 and 4, for two-year terms ending Dec. 31, 2024.
• Approved reappointing Mark Kitchens, Pat Clark and Ken Bond to the ESD 11 Board of Commissioners, located in Precincts 1 and 4, for two-year terms ending Dec. 31, 2024.
• Approved the payment of fiscal year 2022 bills in the amount of $563,408.23.
• Approved the payment of fiscal year 2023 bills in the amount $194,151.75.