jpb1999 said:

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AgLA06 said:

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Doc Hayworth said:

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Both wind and solar devastate the aesthetics of the land.
When I was working in West Texas and the Panhandle, the land and Plateaus were the same as they had been for centuries, now they look like crap with all the Turbines covering the Plateaus and solar panels covering entire sections of land.

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A 1000 pump jacks do the same.

I'm not pro-green energy, but the emotional hysterics on this thread is sad.

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No they don't! Barely can see them.

Hysteria… sad? Really?!? People are just stating facts! It's not a viable long term energy source.

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rme said:

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Yes. Also very easy to hide solar in a flat area like around Houston.

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rme said:

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Yes. Also very easy to hide solar in a flat area like around Houston.

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Stringfellow Hawke said:

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I would say no. Here is why.

*ugly and take a lot of space

*would be on property in perpetuity
Can they be used to vaporize hogs??
*harmful effects to wildlife. Read about the one in California that vaporizes birds and airplanes have to divert around it.

*what happens when you are no longer getting paid and the panels are still on your property?

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Quote:

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if you put a row of brush or trees between you and the solar farm what are the downsides?


I don't think as a separate owner they can do anything. The solar lease I looked at actually had a clause (which I would have objected to) saying that I, the property owner, could not install shade producing vegetation on property I owned immediately adjacent to property that I leased to them.

noise?
i wouldnt really think so but dont know.

SHouldn't be after construction

dust? maybe if they kill most of the grass

Wouldn't be surprised if they don't gravel it

pesticide blow over? maybe

Maybe? depends??

light pollution? no idea

Maybe a light on a control room building, I think that would be it

battery or power line issues? dont know

Probably no different from any wind farm you've driven by

traffic ? i dont think they need much maintenance but i dont know.

Pretty low after construction wraps up

cleanup if a storm breaks them all up and they blow onto your land? that would probably be legally actionable, but a hassle.

The whole thing going fallow is a concern I have as a landowner.

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Gunny456 said:

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I agree with Stringfellow. A couple that goes to our church has their family farm up in northwest MO. They agreed to a large solar farm. They clear cut his acreage of course but annually they spray a total grass and weed killer on the entire area and it kills most of the vegetation. This created silt to go into a 4 acre lake they had on the property. Supposedly they have been arguing with the company but no one will take responsibility. This is 2nd hand info so don't know all of the actual facts.
They just said the money has not offset their worry and grief and in hindsight they wish they never would have done it.

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jpb1999 said:

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AgLA06 said:

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Doc Hayworth said:

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Both wind and solar devastate the aesthetics of the land.
When I was working in West Texas and the Panhandle, the land and Plateaus were the same as they had been for centuries, now they look like crap with all the Turbines covering the Plateaus and solar panels covering entire sections of land.

---

A 1000 pump jacks do the same.

I'm not pro-green energy, but the emotional hysterics on this thread is sad.

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No they don't! Barely can see them.

Hysteria… sad? Really?!? People are just stating facts! It's not a viable long term energy source.

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Trinity Ag said:

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jpb1999 said:

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AgLA06 said:

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Doc Hayworth said:

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Both wind and solar devastate the aesthetics of the land.
When I was working in West Texas and the Panhandle, the land and Plateaus were the same as they had been for centuries, now they look like crap with all the Turbines covering the Plateaus and solar panels covering entire sections of land.

---

A 1000 pump jacks do the same.

I'm not pro-green energy, but the emotional hysterics on this thread is sad.

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No they don't! Barely can see them.

Hysteria… sad? Really?!? People are just stating facts! It's not a viable long term energy source.

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You can not only see them, you can smell them.

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duddleysdraw88 said:

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Yesterday said:

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If the money is right, do it. If it's not, don't.

We'll have turbines on our property in the next few months, a bit different than solar but one thing I've learned is those who hate them, don't have them. Those that do, love them. For the most part at least.

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You will find out over the next few years. I have family with them and they say if they could do it all over again, they (and lots of their neighbors) would not do the turbines.

*and they all joined together to negotiate pretty good lease prices and they still say it is not worth it.

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Ogre09 said:

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How is solar power not a viable long term energy source? The sun will keep shining for longer than any of us care about. Solar panels have a ~25 year lifespan before they need to be replaced. Operating costs are low.

The sun isn't always shining, sure, so they can't be the single source of power. We'll need other options for cold, cloudy days and to carry through the nights. But here in Texas they provide a nice boost through the hot, sunny afternoons we have most of the year.

Or are you concerned about the economics of it? If that's your complaint, show the math.

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Jbob04 said:

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Ogre09 said:

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How is solar power not a viable long term energy source? The sun will keep shining for longer than any of us care about. Solar panels have a ~25 year lifespan before they need to be replaced. Operating costs are low.

The sun isn't always shining, sure, so they can't be the single source of power. We'll need other options for cold, cloudy days and to carry through the nights. But here in Texas they provide a nice boost through the hot, sunny afternoons we have most of the year.

Or are you concerned about the economics of it? If that's your complaint, show the math.

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They are taking up thousands of acres of prime farming and ranching land across the country.

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Mas89 said:

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rme said:

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Lots of fearmongering on this thread. I've done lots of solar leases and would be happy to give OP some background info.


*harmful effects to wildlife. Read about the one in California that vaporizes birds and airplanes have to divert around it.

Ivanpah concentrating solar thermal plant:


You won't see a plant like that in Texas. My favorite line about solar is someone in NC (I think) claimed that a solar farm was sucking up all the sunlight in his town.

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All good questions! Not trying to be smart, but here are some simple answers:


Glad we have an Aggie expert on this thread. I have a couple questions
when you have time to explain.

1. Why are solar companies asking for long term property tax abatements from our counties and school districts when they are already getting a 30 percent federal investment tax credit ? Isn't it a profitable business that can pay property taxes like other businesses do?
Because programs exist to provide property tax abatements, no different than the federal tax code. If it's available, a prudent business will pursue the benefit.

2. Why are some Texas county appraisal districts not collecting the 3 years of roll back taxes when the solar farm is taken out of Ag/ timber use and converted to commercial use? An excellent question for county appraisal districts if they aren't addressing this. Is that why some are bringing in goats to graze? No, sheep (not goats) are just better for everyone than using chemicals or only mowing. Are they still claiming ag use on the solar farms? It's extremely unlikely that any solar farm still has an ag exemption unless it's due to lack of oversight by a county. The primary use of the land as solar will be the most important factor.
I was shocked to learn last week that our local appraisal district has not yet done the 3 year tax rollback on two local solar farms that started construction in 2022. The roll back tax on my example would be about $300,000. Assuming 500 acres at $ 10,000 per acre value and a rural 2 percent tax rate. So 100,000 per year for 3 years. Ask your county or keep an eye on it. It could be based on 1/1 values, so the 1/1/23 assessment would reflect loss of ag exemption and then the county will calculate rollback. Normal property taxes aren't due until later in the year, maybe rollbacks are billed with those. Send me a parcel ID number or a map pin for any or all of the solar farms and I can look into it.


3. Are these roll back taxes required by Tx state law/ tax code? Assuming previously the land was in ag/ pasture use and has been completely made into a solar farm. Yes, it was changed to three years from five years 2018/19ish.

Thanks for any explanation.

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