At ESE Partners, we’ve spoken with countless county officials across Texas while preparing Critical Issues Analyses (CIAs). A familiar sentiment often emerges: “We can’t control what private landowners do on their land, but renewables don’t really benefit us.”
For many counties, wind, solar, and battery storage projects feel like outside intrusions. Developers arrive, negotiate abatements, consume land once valued for agriculture, and leave behind projects that some residents consider eyesores. Understandably, many officials feel their communities shoulder the burdens without seeing proportional rewards.
But in Pecos County, Texas, the story is different—and worth telling.
Why Pecos County Stands Out
Unlike other counties where renewables are tolerated more than welcomed, Pecos County has fully embraced renewable energy development. The reason? They’ve created a system where both the county and developers thrive.
Through carefully structured agreements, Pecos County ensures that renewable energy projects provide tangible, lasting benefits to local residents. Officials there understand that renewables are not just infrastructure—they are opportunities to fund schools, support county services, and invest in long-term community growth. Developers, in turn, gain a smoother permitting path and a county that openly supports their investment.
Scale is another factor. Pecos is the second-largest county in Texas, and the ranches are so large that landowners there only need to lease a fraction of their property for solar or wind projects. Even with large-scale development, renewables occupy only a small portion of their land. This makes projects feel far less disruptive than in smaller counties, where renewables can consume an entire ranch or farm. That dynamic fosters goodwill and makes residents more open to renewables as a secondary land use.
The result is a model where renewables are not only accepted but celebrated. Pecos County has become a pro-development hub for Texas renewables, showing that collaboration—not conflict—unlocks real value.
Lessons for Texas Counties and Developers
The Pecos County example highlights important lessons for other Texas communities navigating renewable development:
-
Partnership Matters: Counties that negotiate contracts with clear local benefits see greater community buy-in.
-
Transparency Builds Trust: Open communication between developers and county officials helps prevent resentment and fosters cooperation.
-
Shared Success Creates Momentum: When residents see schools, infrastructure, and services improving because of renewables, opposition decreases dramatically.
Texas’s Most Trusted Environmental Experts
At ESE Partners, our mission is to responsibly move business forward through environmental problem solving. We believe Pecos County’s story exemplifies how smart partnerships can reshape the way Texas approaches renewable development.
As Texas’s Most Trusted Environmental Experts, we help developers navigate not only environmental permitting and compliance but also the complex stakeholder dynamics that define success. By learning from communities like Pecos County, we can guide renewable energy growth that strengthens both Texas counties and the clean energy economy.
✅ If you’re a renewable energy developer, Pecos County is the place to be. And if you want to bring that same success to your project, ESE Partners is here to help.
