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Brown County citizens speak against solar farm tax abatement
Brownwood Bulletin
Six members of TLOW Texas Landowners Opposing Wind urged Brown County Commissioners Court members Monday to refuse a tax abatement for a proposed solar farm project near Brookesmith.
While there were no agenda items at Monday’s meeting that pertained to the proposed solar project, the six spoke during the citizens comments section of the agenda.
TLOW was initially formed by a group of landowners who opposed tax abatements for wind energy.
On Feb. 8, commissioners approved in a 4-1 vote with Brown County Judge Paul Lilly voting “no” guidelines and criteria for any future tax abatements the court might grant.
Speakers disagree on possible tax abatement for solar farm
Brownwood Bulletin
A standing-room-only audience attended Monday s meeting of the Brown County Commissioners Court as the court voted 4-1 to approve guidelines and criteria for tax abatement.
While a proposed solar power farm near Brookesmith generated the large attendance and numerous comments, commissioner Gary Worley stressed the court was not approving a tax abatement at that time.
The guidelines will apply to any company seeking a tax abatement, Worley said.
The court took the vote after hearing comments from about a dozen speakers during the citizens comment portion of the meeting as well as a public hearing. Brown County Judge Paul Lilly voted against approving the tax abatement guidelines, saying he does not support tax abatement on a county level.
A large solar power plant has been proposed for southwestern Brown County, near Brookesmith. The company that would construct and operate the plant is Intersect Power of San Francisco, California. The project would be constructed on approximately 3,000 acres within the Brookesmith Independent School District and would produce 300-megawatts of power, 830-gigawatts annually, enough to power nearly 60,000 homes, according to Intersect.
Brown County Commissioners thus far have taken no action on a request for a tax abatement for a solar power farm project.
The following two pieces were submitted to BrownwoodNews.com by Intersect Power and TLOW, the Brown County group opposing the construction of a solar farm, stating their respective cases: