WC Texas News

When Rex Tackett became involved with organizing Texas Landowners Against Wind (TLOW) in 2018, he aimed to prevent the proliferation of wind turbines into Brown County.

“They're ugly,” said Tackett, who owns Wendlee Broadcasting. “They mess up your view. They make noise. They have lights and all the things that people who move to the countryside don't want.”

Tackett is among dozens of TLOW members who oppose tax abatements in Brown and neighboring counties.

“It isn't great economic development,” Tackett told WC Texas News. “When they come in and construct, they bring transient construction workers for a matter of months then they're gone. They don't settle here or live here. So, there's not a long-term benefit except to the landowners that have leased or sold their land to the solar company, and that applies to wind companies as well.”

In the process of landowners leasing or selling land to solar and wind companies, property values decrease some 40% or more in areas within view of wind or solar farms, according to TLOW data.

“We're in a desert here,” Tackett said in an interview. “We don't have much rain. It's really dry and we can run out of water pretty easily. These projects require a lot of water on an ongoing basis. So, we'd like to protect our water, protect where we live, our resources, and our wildlife. What's your soul worth? Because that’s what you’re selling.”

Despite TLOW's opposition, on Feb. 8, the Commissioners Court of Brown County voted in favor of adopting guidelines and criteria for the purpose of potential future tax abatements, according to media reports.

Tackett said County Judge Paul Lilly received 30 public comments in the form of emails, letters, and calls opposing solar abatements for every one public comment in favor.

“Perhaps the commissioners have forgotten what they were elected to do because we had 30-to-1 and more oppose tax abatements in our county for many, many reasons,” Tackett said. “Pay attention to your constituents. They're talking to you. Vote 'no.'”

As previously reported, the approval happened after the commissioner's court listened to a presentation given by representatives of Intersect Power, a California company proposing a solar Brown County project near Brookesmith.  

“They don't need the abatement," Tackett said. "If it's a legitimate business, they can build it. They don't need an abatement from the counties they go into and they should pay true value taxes.”

Tackett said that greed is driving the commissioners.

"People make pretty good money, particularly in solar, but in wind, they can't tell how much they are paid because of a non-disclosure agreement," he said. "Wind companies don't pay everyone the same, which seems odd. Solar is more transparent than wind."

In January 2020, the board of directors for the Brookesmith Independent School District approved tax abatements and voted to create a reinvestment zone, according to media reports. 

“Brookesmith Independent School District has agreed to help them move forward,” he added. “They're going to clear-cut 3,000 to 6,000 acres of land and treat it with chemicals. They're going to take the trees down and disrupt the environment that we have here in the county over a very large area.”