Centroplex News

A proposed 3,000-acre solar farm project in north Bell County is drawing opposition from residents despite the Troy Independent School District Board of Trustees last week discussing the amount of revenue it could generate for the district.

The Troy ISD discussed the Big Elm Solar project that could generate millions in revenue for the district, reported KDH News. The board unanimously approved an agreement for consulting services to examine the appraised value limitation of the project.

“It’s a little premature for me to speak on behalf of the district ... but it is certainly no secret that there is a considerable amount of revenue that would be potentially made available to the district,” Superintendent Neil Jeter told KDH. “It remains to be seen how the board feels about hosting such an endeavor. [The project] created a challenging situation where the board will make a decision that will make someone happy and someone unhappy.”

The school district could receive approximately $23 million over a 10-year agreement, KDH reported. Bell County Commissioners have been discussing additional tax abatements for the solar farm, according to the Texas Business Coalition.

The Texas Business Coalition also reported on residents who oppose the proposed solar farm.

One such resident, Carla Wolf, told Centroplex News she opposes to the project. 

"We had no clue this was going on; they kept it quiet for months and months…” Wolf said. 

Now that the county has approved it, the ball is in the school board's court, and Wolf said she is not sure what the board will do. 

“I’m afraid so much of the time money talks…," Wolf said.  "It’s going to depend on the money.”

When asked how other residents are reacting, Wolf said, “People are upset, of course, I think most people will hardly believe it will happen."

Wolf said she doesn't agree with the idea of tax abatements, which the county already approved. 

“We pay taxes for many, many years, and it’s kind of bothersome they could come in ask for things and get it," she said. “We are strongly against it because we really do think it’s going to damage our way of life and our community, our little rural area. It will not be rural, it will be industrialized."