Lightsource BP presents 150 MW Trinity River solar proposal to Liberty County; court to revisit tax-pilot talks
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Summary
Lightsource BP representatives updated commissioners on a proposed 150 MW solar project in Precinct 1 and asked to resume prior tax-payment negotiations; court indicated staff review and a possible workshop before resuming talks.
Representatives of Lightsource BP returned to the Liberty County Commissioners Court on Sept. 9 to present an updated information package on the Trinity River solar project, a proposed utility-scale solar development in Commissioner Korbowski’s precinct.
Garrett Peters and Tiffin Wong of Lightsource BP described the project as sited on a single landowner’s property near Highway 90 East and FM 1009, initially leasing about 2,000 acres with a planned build area of roughly 1,000 acres adjacent to Calvary Road and FM 1009. The company described the proposal as a 150-megawatt AC solar facility with an anticipated construction start in 2026 and a commercial operations date in mid-2028. Lightsource BP said the project would employ roughly 200 construction workers over about 18 months and said it is pursuing grazing and local vendor agreements during construction and operations.
Peters reviewed prior county negotiations dating to 2022 and 2023, including draft tax-payment (pilot) agreement terms negotiated by outside counsel and county attorneys. He said the last draft included several unusual features the company and counsel negotiated into the agreement: upfront milestone payments to the county before the pilot began and a short five-year pilot term the parties landed on after negotiation. Peters told the court that negotiations had “fizzled” previously after company turnover and counsel health issues and requested the county’s consideration to resume discussions.
County officials and some commissioners flagged several process steps before restarting negotiations. The judge and other court members asked county staff, including the tax assessor and county attorney, to review the project documents and to schedule further discussion, suggesting a workshop and additional review during the next budget cycle. The county attorney noted the court previously declined further negotiations in 2024, and staff recommended giving the tax assessor time to review the updated materials.
No vote was taken. The presentation was listed as information only; court members said they would review the materials and consider scheduling a workshop and additional staff review to evaluate tax-pilot terms and project-specific impacts.
Lightsource BP provided a handout to the court with the most recent draft terms and milestone payments; company representatives asked the court to consider resuming negotiations in October and to consult with county staff on tax and permitting questions.
Because this item was presented as information only, no formal action or contract was approved; court members asked for additional review and possible follow-up workshops.
