MOORE STATION, Texas (KLTV) – Residents in the Henderson County town of Moore Station say their quiet community is being transformed almost overnight as plans move forward for a large solar panel farm they believe will sit right outside their homes.
The project is planned along County Roads 4304 and 4305. During a community meeting Monday night, residents were told the company plans to place about 420,000 solar panels across more than 1,000 acres.
Concerns about water, noise, and transparency from officials and developers sparked questions about what the project could mean for the town’s future.
More than 100 people gathered at Union Station Church to hear updates and voice frustrations. Several speakers said they feel caught off guard by how quickly the project advanced, and some questioned whether the community had been clearly informed before land activity began.
“It’s in our back yard,” said Angie Davis, who challenged developers and officials as neighbors pressed for answers.
Residents described Moore Station as a small, rural community where families have lived for generations, children play outside, and people are used to open land and trees. Montoya Shead said the landscape looked very different before work crews arrived.
“There were trees all through here. There were trees all over there. We had trees everywhere,” Shead said.
Shead said the solar farm would impact her family directly. “There’s four generations that live in this area where they’re trying to put the solar panels in,” she said, adding that relatives live nearby and the project would change their day-to-day life.
“It’s devastating because we’ve lived here our whole lives and then for someone to just come in and disrupt our livelihood…” Shead said.
One of the most common concerns raised during the meeting was water. Several residents said they do not believe the community has enough water for a large facility. Shead claimed the project could require significant daily use.
“We don’t have enough water… 60,000 gallons a day, let alone to keep us having water,” Shead said.
Residents also warned about noise and the overall disruption they fear could come with construction and maintenance, saying sound carries in the community and daily operations could affect their ability to enjoy their homes. Some also raised safety concerns, including the possibility of a fire hazard.
During the meeting, Mark McDaniels with Zelestra and Solex Ridge Solar responded to residents who said they did not want the project using local water. Zelestra said the company heard them.
“The message is clear to us that the community is not interested in selling water, so we’re not going to use it,” Zelestra said. “We are looking at alternate sources, again, most likely a well.”
Still, residents continued to push for clearer information about what the project will require and how it could affect surrounding properties.
Traylon Shead said the issue for many neighbors is trust and transparency.
“At the end of the day, this is all about the people here,” he said. “And right now, you guys are showing it’s more about money than it is about the people.”
Some residents also questioned what the solar farm could support beyond the panels themselves. Several speakers raised concerns about the possibility of future development, including a proposed Henderson County data center, and said they worry the solar project could eventually tie into larger industrial plans in the region.
“They’re trying to keep a data center out of Athens, which would be really convenient if it was close to us,” Davis said, as residents continued asking where the power from the project would ultimately go.
City leaders plan to hold another meeting before the end of the month as residents continue organizing and looking for answers.
Residents also said federal review is involved through Section 106 with the Texas Historical Commission, a process that requires developers to conduct impact studies before certain projects move forward.
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