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Residents urge Ingleside council to deny Port of Corpus Christi solar farm permit over wetlands, safety and property concerns
Summary
Multiple residents told the council they oppose a proposed Port of Corpus Christi solar project on McCampbell Ranch land, raising environmental, permitting and future industrialization concerns and delivering a 403-signature petition urging denial of the special use permit.
Scores of residents and community advocates addressed the City Council during the citizen-comment period, urging elected officials to oppose a special-use permit request tied to the Port of Corpus Christi for a large solar project on or near the McCampbell ranchlands.
Speakers including Luke Daley, Peyton Campbell of the Coastal Watch Association and Sarah Crumbley said the project threatens wetlands, wildlife habitat and neighborhood property values. Peyton Campbell presented a petition of 403 signers requesting the council deny the Port authority’s permit for a solar array she said would be built over herbaceous wetlands supporting Campbell Slough and Port Bay.
Public speakers cited an Army Corps of Engineers file number (SWG202100163) and said that the Corps had not approved the permit to discharge fill material; they also said Texas Parks and Wildlife had recommended against issuing the permit because of ecological impacts. Commenters warned that approval could set a precedent for future industrial development — specifically mentioning hydrogen and ammonia production — and argued those risks outweigh the limited local economic benefits they expect from the solar array.
Other speakers urged the city to require technical expertise and stronger public disclosure when industrial-scale energy projects are proposed. One resident said the Port and out-of-county interests had not been transparent about long-term plans for the adjoining 3,000 acres and called for clear public notice and press coverage explaining council votes on the matter.
Council members did not take a final vote on the special-use permit at the meeting. The council’s posted closed-session items included “consultation with attorney regarding Port of Corpus Christi pending special use permit,” indicating the council addressed the application in executive session; no public action or outcome was announced after the closed session.
(Ending) Residents left a signed petition and asked the council to put the permit request on a future agenda only with full regulatory documentation from state and federal agencies; council members asked staff to confirm permit status and federal correspondence before future action.
