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Bee County commissioner: 181,000 solar panels damaged; some sparked grass fires, departments wary
Summary
At the Aug. 11 Bee County Commissioners Court meeting, Commissioner Lenny said a recent hail event damaged 181,000 panels at a large solar facility near Mineral; some damaged panels have sparked grass fires and at least one volunteer fire department has declined to fight them because of electrical hazards.
Bee County Commissioner Lenny told the Commissioner's Court on Aug. 11, 2025, that a recent hailstorm damaged an estimated 181,000 solar panels at a large solar installation near Mineral and that some of the damaged panels have sparked grass fires.
The county judge and commissioners were told the panels have been replaced “as quickly as they can,” but Lenny said response is complicated because fires involving energized solar equipment are hazardous. “We’ve got at least one fire department that says we’re not gonna fight those fires because there’s electricity involved and it’s too dangerous for our people,” Lenny said during the meeting.
Why it matters: concentrated-solar installations combine stored electrical energy and combustible site vegetation; fires that involve energized photovoltaic equipment pose unusual risks for volunteer departments that lack specialized training or equipment. Lenny told the court operators on the site, identified in the meeting as Ørsted, should consider dedicated fire protection or other site-specific safeguards.
Details presented at the meeting: county staff and commissioners said replacement work is underway and many trucks have been moving equipment to restore production. Lenny also described an earlier, preliminary damage estimate that was superseded by a final panel count of 181,000; he said some damaged panels have caused small fires in grassy areas near the array.
No formal county action on the issue was recorded at the Aug. 11 meeting. Commissioners discussed monitoring the site and recommended that the facility operator examine its emergency response arrangements and coordination with local departments.
The court did not adopt an ordinance or regulation at the meeting; commissioners instead received Lenny’s briefing and discussed further outreach to the operator and local fire agencies.
