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Port Arthur council approves controversial Diligent Offshore ground lease after closed-door talks
Summary
After months of negotiated changes and closed executive sessions, Port Arthur City Council approved a ground-lease agreement with Diligent Offshore Services LLC for large tracts on Pleasure Island. The vote followed debate about easements, exclusivity and negotiated revenue-sharing; council approved the lease 4–3 by roll call.
Port Arthur City Council voted to approve a ground-lease agreement with Diligent Offshore Services LLC for tracts on Pleasure Island after a lengthy, occasionally contentious discussion and executive session on May 20.
The agreement covers multiple parcels proposed for development of wind and solar generation, a substation and related support facilities. The issue drew sustained public and private negotiation: Diligent’s representative, Harry Crawford, told the council the company had submitted a letter of intent and sought an exclusive lease arrangement and revenue-sharing terms, and described repeated, slow exchanges with the city’s outside counsel.
“We’ve attempted three times to try to settle any issue,” Harry Crawford said during the May 20 meeting. Crawford said…
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