LIMESTONE COUNTY, TX — Central Texas already has a few solar farms in the area and more on the way. But, a new project planned for Limestone County could solve a lot of problems for the county.
The wind may come sweeping down the plain in Oklahoma, but Limestone County stands to benefit from a proposed wind farm along the McLennan County line.
It has Rebecca Johnson a little excited.
"I have, I have I've seen them in West Texas. They're kinda cool," she said.
At first, the proposal from a firm called "Engie" surprised county leaders.
"I thought, 'wow, maybe they know something about the amount of wind we get around here,'" said Limestone County Judge Richard Duncan.
However, the commissioner's court got on board for the millions of dollars it could bring to the county.
"We're losing valuation, we're losing money very fast and so this could be a way to offset some of that," said Duncan.
Phase one would start this year in West Central Limestone near the Waco Power Plant. Phase two could go to North Limestone County.
Folks in Limestone County seem to like the project. At a public hearing this week, no one showed up to speak against the proposed wind farm.
Schools could even benefit from the plan with $40 to $60 million.
"As superintendent of Coolidge ISD, the economics it can bring to the table for our kids, I don't see how it couldn't have a benefit for the kids," said Dr. Robert Lowry, Coolidge ISD Superintendent.
He says the wind farm would take pressure off taxpayers.
"Now, if we see that we're getting enough money revenue to lower the tax, of course we can look at that,” said Lowry.
After hearing that, Johnson likes the wind farm idea even better.
"Now, that's awesome," she said.
She believes the wind farm could replace oil wells as a sign of Texas energy independence.
There is only one hitch to the project.
McLennan County must also approve a relative few windmills on it's side of the county line before the idea could move forward.
