Starr County court votes to enter tax‑abatement negotiations with Mandolin Energy for large solar‑battery project

The Starr County Commissioner's Court voted March 23 to enter negotiations on a tax‑abatement agreement with Mandolin Energy Center 1 LLC after a public hearing on the project.

Miss Venidas, who presented the project to the court, said the development is “valued at about $500 million” and described it as a renewable energy project that will include battery storage and solar sited off Loma Blanca on Sanchez Road. A county presenter clarified the planned capacity as “about 300 megawatts of solar energy and about 350 megawatts of battery energy.”

The court’s action was to authorize entering negotiations — subject to final terms, including any payment‑in‑lieu‑of‑tax (PILOT) arrangements and outstanding matters — rather than to adopt a final abatement. The motion carried by voice vote with one commissioner recorded as opposed.

County leaders framed the abatement as a tool to attract investment that will expand the local tax base. The presiding judge emphasized the county’s practice that abatements apply to improvements only, not to land or existing property: the judge said the abatement is on “the cost of the improvements” and described typical abatement terms as not exceeding 10 years, after which full value returns to the tax rolls.

Court members and staff said the broader goal is to bring new valuation into the county so that, over time, the tax rate can be lowered for residents while total revenues increase. The court had earlier moved into executive session under the Texas Government Code to discuss economic development before returning to approve the motion to enter negotiations.

Next steps: county staff will continue negotiating a final agreement and return terms to the Commissioner's Court for formal approval. The motion on March 23 expressly left final PILOT/payment language and remaining details to be resolved before a binding agreement is adopted.