The Freestone County Commissioners Court heard a presentation from Candela Renewables regarding the proposed Bar C Solar farm during its January 19, 2022 meeting.
A presenter from Ernst & Young, who represents Candela Renewables, works with companies to navigate Texas’ property taxes. The company has been developing new locations throughout the state, like Bar C Solar farm in Freestone County.
Bar C Solar is projected to be a 200-megawatt AC solar facility, which could produce enough power for about 40,000 homes annually, according to the representative.
The proposed site is near Oakwood in Precinct 3, around the intersection of Hwy. 84 and 79. He said if the site is selected, it would probably be around 1,500 fenced acres.
Candela is still working on negotiating leases with landowners and researching the area’s transmission infrastructure and environmental studies. Construction is said to take 12 to 16 months, with lease agreements signed for 30 years or longer.
He said if the project is built, the county and Oakwood ISD, which falls within the project’s boundaries, would see a three-year rollback payment of around $200,000.
The operation would also provide a significant bump in the tax rolls, as the land would be taxed as commercial rather than agricultural.
These payments would be made by the company, not the landowners.
Oakwood ISD stands to benefit around $2 million, in addition to tax revenues, according to the presenter.
While solar farms require minimal personnel to operate, the construction process opens up opportunities for local tradesmen. If results are favorable, and the state approves Candela’s application, the project could be fully operational by 2023.
County Clerk Renee Reynolds was granted unanimous approval for a one-year contract for an online vital records request application website. The service would allow the public to request a death, marriage or birth certificate online, which they can pick up in person or have mailed to them.
The service would be available to the county for free and save the County Clerk’s office valuable time.
“We have between 50 and 100 requests for those three items that come into the office in a month’s time,” Reynolds said.
Sheriff Jeremy Shipley received approval to pursue the Texas Department of Transportation’s STEP Grant.
“They advised that Freestone County was one of the highest growing counties in the state of Texas as far as traffic accidents and fatalities,” Shipley said.
He said TxDOT has encouraged the county to take advantage of the $12,000 grant, which would reimburse deputies’ overtime to work two zones on the interstate. The county would be required to pay $3,000 for deputies’ benefits.
If approved, the grant funds would be available around the end of the year.
County Treasurer Jeanie Keeney questioned how the county would be reimbursed since it does not allow for overtime. Judge Linda Grant advised that the court could vote to allow for the payment.
In other business, Commissioners approved budget transfers and amendments, payment of bills, payroll, bonds and education certificates for employees, and accepted reports from county departments, including the 2021 racial profiling report from the Sheriff’s Office.
Freestone County Commissioners meet the first and third Wednesday of each month.
