We are committed to the communities where we build our projects. Our construction contractor will hold a job fair prior to construction to engage interested companies and workers. We also keep a list of interested vendors and applicants during development to share with the general contractor when it is chosen. You can access the application form here.

Texas is currently ranked sixth among all states with 2,466 MW of solar capacity, including approximately 1,500 MW of utility-scale projects. Due to falling prices of solar energy, increased demand from customers and abundant sunshine in Texas, development interest in solar energy is growing dramatically. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the state’s grid operator, expects an additional 4,300 MW to be operational by the end of 2020.

The project will be visible from certain portions of adjacent roads. We are working on plans to make the project less visible from adjacent properties, including leaving existing vegetation in place and planting new vegetation and hedges.

The solar panels use non-reflecting glass and will be placed on tracking systems designed to follow the sun as it crosses the sky. That means the panels absorb as much light as possible, rather than reflect it.

The project site will be graded as little as possible. The largest impact to the land will be from the installation of the racking for the solar panels. Our construction contractor will use a special technology in which steel posts will be driven into the ground without any concrete foundation and with minimal force or impact — similar to posts used for building a steel fence. After the project ends operations in 35 to 40 years, the posts will be removed and the land restored to its original condition.

No. Solar projects produce no harmful byproducts or runoff. None of the equipment discharges chemicals or toxic materials into the soil, air, or water. If any equipment should become defective, it will be quickly replaced and taken off site.

Field studies by biologists have indicated the site does not include critical habitat for threatened or endangered species, including bald eagles, whooping crane, American or Arctic peregrine falcons, black bear, or wood stork.

Project construction will avoid streams and forested wetlands and therefore avoid impacts to aquatic species. The project will maintain the topsoil of the existing pastures as much as possible. Many species of pasture plants on the site will be allowed to regrow after construction.

No. A great thing about north Texas is the area’s ample rainfall. Rain is a wonderful solar panel cleaner, so the project does not anticipate needing to wash the solar panels often – if ever.

The project is entirely funded with private capital. Like nearly all infrastructure in the U.S. (including oil and gas projects), the project owner will receive a federal tax credit for a portion of the project value. For solar projects, this is called the Investment Tax Credit.

Pro-business tax policies have helped to keep Texas competitive with other states by attracting investment, especially given the state’s high property taxes compared to other states. Tax abatements are an economic development tool available to local jurisdictions to attract new industries through property tax exemptions or reductions. They broaden the taxable base of assets associated with capital intensive industries, including large-scale renewable energy companies, data centers, and manufacturers. Phoenix Solar will receive a partial abatement from local taxes during ten years of project operations.

There is thousands of operating wind and solar projects across the United States and scientific studies have concluded there are no negative effects on property values. Specifically, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has conducted extensive studies on the topic and found no impact to property values from wind projects. Solar project sites are smaller than wind project sites and solar panels have a lower profile than wind turbines.