County commissioner responds to criticism over solar farm project

Pct. 2 Commissioner Greg Grothues, Pct. 1 Commissioner Troy Konvicka, County Judge Richard Evans, Pct. 3 Commissioners Jack Moseley, and Pct. 4 Commissioner Jody Rutherford hold court on Thursday, Feb. 13.

Photo by Jessica Nohealapa’ahi

February 19, 2025

County commissioner responds to criticism over solar farm project

By Jessica Nohealapa’ahiThe Bandera Prophet

“I don’t blame y’all. I don’t want it here. I don’t think any of these commissioners want it here. But we, as a county, cannot stop it,” Pct. 3 Commissioner Jack Moseley said regarding the Rio Lago Solar Farm on FM 3240 in Bandera.Responding to criticism that the county has not done enough stop the $1.8 million project, Moseley last Thursday publicly shared a timeline of collective actions taken by elected officials intended to dissuade the company from moving in. He said Commissioners Court passed a resolution objecting to the solar farm, which identified negative impacts its presence would have on hundreds of individual landowners. Bandera City Council and Bandera ISD passed similar resolutions. The school district also rejected an abatement request from parent company Pine Gate Renewables.Moseley said he requested insight from the State Attorney General’s Office, and on May 10, 2024, an opinion was returned that property owners are guaranteed the ability to do what they choose on their land, including selling or renting for profit.“There is nothing the county can do. Counties do not have the authority from Austin to do what y’all want done,” Moseley said, adding municipalities and homeowners’ associations have more authority over property restrictions than county governments.Moseley said certain accusations that the Bandera County Historical Commission has been “paid under the table” to cover up a sacred Native American burial ground located on the property are unfounded. He said a survey completed by the University of Texas at San Antonio identified the site in question as a hillside with flint and chert, thereby refuting the claim, as very few rocks are typically found in burial grounds.Neighboring homeowners state they have been forced to endure disturbances that include excessively loud noise, reckless driving, bright spot lights, and large rocks and debris in the roadway and on their properties, sharing evidential photos and videos with commissioners.Texas Department of Transportation Area Engineer Andres Gonzalez said he spoke to Pine Gate about traffic control, after observing large trucks making unsafe wide turns.“I’ve been keeping track and addressing issues as they come,” Gonzalez said, adding videos residents shared with him have been helpful. “After construction, traffic will dramatically decrease for the remainder of the project. We will not see a bunch of development and growth on this property in the future.”    Formerly known as the LH7 Ranch, Moseley said a reported potential alternative to the solar farm could include subdividing the land for homesites.“We have asked the legislature to give us some authority over land development. We ask every session. They want to neuter us as far as local authority,” County Judge Richard Evans said. “We’re in a dilemma.”Pine Gate has a 20-year lease agreement with the landowner.