SOLAR POWER FARM PLANNED IN FAYETTE CO.

  

A solar power developer is making plans to bring a large-scale renewable energy project to Fayette County.

Representatives from Candela Renewables, a utility-scale solar power plant developer, recently met with Fayette County Commissioners to inform them of their plans for a 1,500 acre solar power farm.

The company is working on securing the acreage south of Muldoon to build the “7V Solar Ranch”.  It is working with the Rightmer family of Muldoon, which owns part of the land that the facility could be built on.

Candela officials say the 7V Solar Ranch will be capable of providing 200 megawatts in green energy.  The project could potentially add $180 million to local tax rolls, including the Flatonia school district, where the site would be located.  Payments to the school district would not be subject to recapture by the state.

The company expects to provide 300 temporary jobs and spend around $10 million locally during construction.  It says it intends to bring in local workers for the project, and encourage local contractors to bid on construction contracts.

Candela says it has already applied for an interconnection request through the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), who oversees the state’s electric grid.  It plans to start construction in June 2021, and commercial operations in June 2022.