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(YOUNG COUNTY | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) The parcels of land that will contain the in-progress Tapaderos Solar project from Titus Low Carbon Ventures.
Young County is inviting the public to a town hall meeting next month regarding the Titus Low Carbon Ventures Tapaderos Solar and energy storage project.
The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Nov. 5 at the Eliasville Volunteer Fire Department at 5051 Hwy. 67 in South Bend.
The county is currently in talks with Titus LCV regarding the Tapaderos Solar project, a 300 megawatt solar power facility nine miles west of Eliasville. If a county abatement is approved, the project has the potential to provide additional revenue to the county.
An abatement is the full or partial exemption of taxes of certain property in a reinvestment zone designated by the county for economic development purposes.
A 10-year abatement was requested by the company which would begin after the commercial operation date which is estimated for the fourth quarter of 2028.
Taxing jurisdictions that will receive the benefit from an increase in ad valorem tax base due to the project development will be Young County, Woodson ISD and the Graham Regional Medical Center Hospital District.
The project has an estimated life expectancy of 40-50 years. Construction of the renewable energy solar project is anticipated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027 and take 12 months.
The project will utilize approximately 1,400 of the 2,200 acres leased, with other areas serving as a buffer area for the project.
Young County Judge Win Graham made a post last week stating he was arranging a town hall meeting with both the data center developers in Graham and the solar farm developers in Eliasville.
“Both meetings will feature multiple representatives from their respective development teams who will be available to answer questions from our community,” Graham said. “These events will be widely advertised, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to engage directly with the project developers.”
The county judge gave an update Saturday, Oct. 18 stating that the town hall was being hosted in Eliasville due to the fact that it is close to the solar farm site and making it accessible for those impacted by the project.
“Currently, I expect Jeff Ferguson (Titus’ CEO), Jason McDonald (Titus’ Project Director), and Robert Pena (Titus’ Energy Consultant) to attend,” Graham said. “The goal of this meeting is for Titus to explain their plans for their project and give everyone a chance to have their questions answered.”
The county judge has stated in previous meetings of the commissioners court that he has a conflict of interest with the project which would prevent him from voting on items relating to the solar farm.
“I need to disclose to the court that my family owns a significant portion of the minerals underneath this solar farm and we did sign a surface waiver agreement with them that would result if they build this farm,” he said in January.
