In partnership with GEUS, solar power developer SunGrid Power plans to build solar farms on four different tracts land within Greenville city limits.
In partnership with GEUS, solar power developer SunGrid Power plans to build solar farms on four different tracts land within Greenville city limits.
The Greenville City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve four conditional use permits tied to Greenville’s municipally owned utility company GEUS and its solar energy partnership with developer SunGrid Power.
The approval followed a public hearing and a town hall presentation that drew pointed questions from some residents and support from others.
The project calls for construction of four solar distribution facilities – or solar farms – within Greenville city limits.
The four sites are located at 405 County Road 3302, adjacent to L3Harris; 400 County Road 3301, off and east of U.S. Highway 69; 720 County Road 4103, near the railroad track; and 6310 Shelby Ave., just east of Industrial Drive. The County Road 3302, County Road 3301 and Shelby Avenue properties are zoned light industrial while the County Road 4103 property is zoned agricultural.
Company representatives said the sites were selected in part because they are primarily rural, with minimal surrounding residential visibility. Each facility would include rack-mounted solar panels, inverters and related equipment, along with access roads.
GEUS has pursued the effort for more than five years and SunGrid officials say the company plans to invest $20 million in the facilities. The projects are projected to generate up to $200,000 in additional annual tax revenue.
GEUS anticipates the solar farms will produce about 10 megawatts of power to help meet higher future energy demand.
In previous discussions with the Hunt County Commissioners Court and the city council, residents raised concerns about floodplains and the potential for contamination of nearby land. SunGrid officials said the panels would maintain existing drainage patterns by being racked high enough to remain above existing vegetation as much as possible, reducing soil erosion and runoff.
SunGrid operates similar solar facilities south of Greenville in partnership with Farmers Electric Cooperative and maintains an operations center in Weiland.
Former GEUS General Manager Alicia Hooks told council members the proposal has been under consideration since 2019 as a way to address rising energy costs. She said the additional generation would help reduce expenses tied to system load and produce new tax revenue from currently undeveloped land.
Council members added several conditions to the permits:
– The projects must comply with state law governing end-of-life cleanup and decommissioning requirements.
– No battery storage systems may be installed without separate city approval.
– Herbicide use will be would affect electric bills and flood limited, and no chemicals may be used in flood plain areas.
– Any future transfer of ownership must carry forward the same conditions.
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