Brazoria County a hot spot for solar farms
A rapidly growing population, acres of former rice fields and plenty of sunshine have made the area a target for development
A rapidly growing population, open acres of former rice fields and lots of sunshine have made Brazoria County an attractive place for companies looking to develop solar farms, local leaders said.
The county has one completed solar farm, but seven others are in development, said Gary Basinger, president and CEO of the Brazoria County Economic Development Alliance.
Basinger and County Judge Matt Sebesta commented on the burgeoning industry during the recent State of Brazoria County event hosted by the Houston Apartment Association.
“We have become a hot spot for solar development projects,” Sebesta said.
Sebesta said the farms — which convert sunlight to electricity — often sit on land used for farming years ago.
“Brazoria County is a large county with lots of open spaces that is easy to develop into solar farms,” he said.
Some 50 years ago, the county boasted 60,000 acres of rice fields, a number that’s dwindled to between 15,000 and 16,000 acres today.
“This makes us a good target for solar projects,” Sebesta said.
Basinger identified the completed solar farm as Wagyu in Damon by Cubico Sustainable Investments.
The seven in development include Longbow, also by Cubico ; Brazoria West Solar Project and the Brazoria County Solar Project by Savion; the Texas Gulf Solar from Pattern Energy; and Myrtle Solar, which encapsulates three solar projects by Sun Chase Power.
All together, these farms represent a $623 million investment into the county, as well as 12 new jobs, officials said.
Though many solar companies based in Brazoria County provide energy to other companies, including British Petroleum and Starbucks, the county’s growing population is a consumer target, as well. Sebesta said the county’s population stands at about 394,000. That number is expected to swell to 725,000 by 2045, providing an opportunity within the residential solar market.
The judge also reported on the early success of the Brazoria County Expressway, toll lanes built down the center of Texas 288 that opened late last year. The project was developed in conjunction with TxDOT’s continuation of the toll lanes north into Harris County.
Sebesta said early expectations were about 250,000 tolls per month, but the average use has been more than double that.
“We’re averaging almost 600,000 per month,” he said. “So even with less vehicles on the highway (because of people working from home), people are electing to use it because it gets them into downtown and the (Texas Medical Center) much quicker.”
Also, because Brazoria County chose to complete its portion of the tollway itself, the county can control the toll rates and collect the revenue that results, paving the way for future expansions.
“Once we get into a really strong position with that, we can extend it further south to where the Grand Parkway will be coming in,” Sebesta said