West DFW News

Construction is underway for the Lily Solar project, a 146-megawatt solar farm in Kaufman County, that will cost the county and local school district more than $14 million in lost tax revenue over the next decade.

Enel Green Power, a subsidiary of Italy-based Enel, is the company's first hybrid project in North America, combining a renewable energy plant with utility-scale battery storage, according to a July 21 Enel news release.

"This substantial commitment to deploy battery storage capacity underscores Enel's leadership in constructing innovative hybrid projects that will drive the ongoing decarbonization of the power sector in the United States and around the world," Enel CEO Antonio Cammisecra said in the news release. "The Lily solar plus storage project highlights the huge potential of renewable energy growth and represents the future of power generation, which will increasingly be made up by sustainable, flexible plants that provide zero-carbon electricity while boosting grid stability."

The news release does not mention the Lily Solar project cost to Kaufman County and the Scurry-Rosser Independent School District.

In two separate applications, the Lily Solar project received millions in tax abatements from local government bodies, acccording to data obtained by West DFW News via public records. Combined, the Lily Solar project will receive more than $6.2 million in Chapter 312 subsidies each year for 10 years, starting in 2022.

The two Chapter 313 agreements with Scurry-Rosser ISD will reduce the taxable value of the project to $40 million from more than $115 million, according to the two applications.

These agreements will also be valid for 10 years beginning in 2022. The Chapter 313 agreements will cost the school district more than $8.5 million in tax revenue over 10 years.

Scurry-Rosser ISD accepted the losses in February 2018 and last September.

All Lily Solar-related tax abatements will mean a loss to the county and school district of more than $14.7 million in tax revenue.