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OCI Energy pitches 100-megawatt 'Triune Solar' near Groveton; company outlines tax-abatement steps
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Summary
Developers from OCI Energy presented a proposal for a 100‑megawatt Triune Solar project about 4 miles south of Groveton, estimating a $100 million investment, 800–950 leased acres, and a possible 2029 construction start; consultants outlined reinvestment-zone and pilot-payment abatement options and public-notice requirements.
Representatives from OCI Energy and consultant Cummings Westlake LLC briefed the Trinity County Commissioners Court on Dec. 9 about a proposed 100‑megawatt solar project called Triune Solar located roughly 4 miles south of Groveton.
"It's going to be a 100 megawatt solar project," Joshua Richardson of OCI Energy said, and estimated the investment at "a 100,000,000 or more." He said the company expects to use roughly 800 acres for construction and has a lease area of about 950 acres, though not all leased land will be developed.
Steven Beidak, the consultant who introduced the tax‑abatement discussion, described how a county tax abatement or a pilot‑payment structure could be structured to make projects competitive. He explained that a pilot payment calculates expected taxes over a period (for example, 10 years) and spreads a set payment annually, saying this approach "streamlin[es] for you guys as a contractual payment" and avoids year‑to‑year appraisal timing uncertainty.
Richardson said the project's expected production life is 30 years with options to extend two times for 10 years each, for a 50‑year maximum. He said the company plans environmental and endangered‑species testing and soil testing now and anticipates starting interconnection work in advance of construction; he estimated construction in 2029 depending on interconnection cluster timing. He also said after project end the company would remove infrastructure and restore the land to its prior condition.
Neither the court nor the presenters recorded a formal vote on an abatement request at the meeting. Beidak outlined next steps if the county wants to proceed: create a reinvestment zone (earmarking the land to be included), hold public hearings for the reinvestment zone (published seven days in advance as described), and post any abatement notice in the courthouse at least 30 days before a vote. The presenters said they would return for a follow‑up presentation if the county chooses to move forward and would connect the court with attorneys to draft required documents.
Commissioners asked several operational questions — acres to be used, panel lifespan and decommissioning, interconnection timing — and the presenters addressed them in turn. No formal abatement application or vote occurred at the Dec. 9 meeting; presenters requested that the county consider beginning the procedural steps that would allow an abatement application to be filed and publicly noticed.
