Next public meeting regarding proposed solar project set

Another public meeting on the subject of a proposed solar construction project between the Jackson and Whitton communities has been scheduled, according to information released in an e-mail by the Save Van Zandt County citizens organization.

The meeting is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, at the Whitton Community Center as representatives from Pattern Energy will be on hand to show plans and answer questions about their proposed project in the area.

“This meeting is for all of us that are directly affected by this large solar facility,” according to an e-mail released from Save VZC.

Save VZC said that this will be an “orderly” meeting with two goals: 1) Get as much factual information from Pattern Energy as possible; and 2) “Let them know they are not welcome and that we are going to fight them at every turn.”

In the e-mail released by Save VZC, the citizens organization requested that if anyone has any specific questions they want answered at the Jan. 17 meeting to e-mail them at info@savevzcounty.org. Questions will also be taken at the meeting via index cards, according to Save VZC.

Around 150 Van Zandt County Pct. 2 citizens packed the Whitton Community Center Dec. 17 to receive information and ask questions about the project.

The proposed solar construction project was also on the agenda during the Dec. 26 meeting of the VZC Commissioners Court as that meeting was moved to the VZC District Courtroom on the third floor of the VZC Courthouse due to the large crowd in attendance.

Nine citizens signed up to speak and were each given two minutes to discuss the proposed project during the Dec. 26 commissioners’ court meeting.