Commissioners designate Cold Creek Solar reinvestment zone; abatement hearing set for March 11

Tom Green County Commissioners Court on Feb. 11 approved an order designating the Tom Green County portion of the Cold Creek Solar project as "Tom Green County Cold Creek Solar Reinvestment Zone Number 1" and scheduled an abatement hearing for March 11, 2025, in the commissioners courtroom.

County staff described the site as roughly 1,100 acres within Precinct 4 that would host a portion of a larger Cold Creek Solar project with total capacity about 40 megawatts and an estimated project cost near $120 million. Construction was estimated to begin in 2027; staff said construction jobs could range from about 50 up to 300 depending on project phasing, with one permanent job after completion assigned to the Tom Green portion as presented.

Whitney Rubin of Doral Renewables, representing the developer, told the court the project recently shifted to place the substation and construction within Tom Green County and noted the developer may rent space in Tom Green if it does not maintain on-site operations. The court discussed that most of the project lies in neighboring Slicker County and that only a small portion encroaches into Tom Green County.

The court approved the order by voice vote and announced the scheduled abatement hearing under the county's guidelines and criteria pursuant to the Property Redevelopment and Tax Abatement Act, Chapter 312 of the Texas Tax Code. The public hearing portion of the meeting was opened for comment on the reinvestment zone prior to the vote.