Wagoner County Commissioners are expected to take a vote Monday on a proposed 4,900-acre solar farm proposed by NextEra Energy and also has its share of opponents around the small town of Porter.
NextEra, in its presentation earlier this year to the county commissioners, maintained the Persica Solar Farm would be an economic boost for the community and the county.
“The project is also expected to generate approximately $31 million in stable, new ad valorem tax revenue over its 30-year lifespan,” stated NextEra in its report.
It claimed the funds would directly support the Porter Consolidated Schools as well as the Indian Capital Technology Center, “helping to improve the school district’s bond rating and enabling critical school improvements—all without adding any cost to county taxpayers.”
County Commissioners scheduled a vote under “Old Business” in the agenda of their 9 a.m. meeting.
“B. Discussion and possible action regarding Resolution 2025-019
Appeal of conditional use request in District 3, LAND-09-2024,
NextEra Solar. Location: Acreage between South Porter and
Arkansas River.”
Wagoner County Commissioners have heard from citizens who oppose the giant farm near Porter, a town that likes to call itself the “Peach Capital of Oklahoma.”
Commissioners were set to vote on the issue earlier in the year but postponed a decision because of the opposition. At a meeting in March, they heard from residents who made their opposition known. Some claimed the farm would have a negative affect on property values and their quality of life.
One resident who claimed it would lead to a drop in the value of her land, vowed to sell “if this gets approved.”
But, some residents supported the project and one man argued at the contentious meeting in March that the project would provide financial benefits to the community and to the schools.
“Families will be able to stay in the school system,” he asserted, suggesting that the project could help revitalize the area.
Still, opponents organized and formed a group called Concerned Citizens of Wagoner County who claimed NextEra Energy had not revealed the true impact of the project and that the firm had not been entirely truthful in what it presented to county officials and community residents.
They also contend the solar project would take nearly 5,000 acres out of full-time agriculture use in Wagoner County. NextEra claimed the solar farm would have a low impact on the land and at the same time, allow it to remain in agricultural use.
The opposition says that’s not true.
“–a statement declaring the land can remain in ag use is misleading if not false, and is a blatant attempt to deceive the public and the County by NextEra Energy’s own writings,” charged the authors of the report they released last week.
NextEra contended the renewable energy industry across the state had “already transformed school districts and their educational outcomes. It pointed to the Oklahoma Power Alliance which said renewable energy, such as wind and solar provided financial benefits to more than 93 school district and was the number one taxpayer in 62 school districts in 26 counties.
It further claimed, “In many cases, this new, sustainable tax revenue has allowed districts to be removed from the State
Funding Formula list, reducing their reliance on state aid and unlocking new local opportunities.”
NextEra explained that construction for the project would result in 300 jobs but once the farm became operational, only three to four full time employees would maintain it.
