Texas stewards call for action on renewable energy infrastructure expansion

AUSTIN, Texas (KAUZ) – Stewards of Texas, an organization dedicated to preserving Texas’ ecological and cultural heritage, has called for action on “uncontrolled expansion of renewable energy infrastructure” that spread across the state.

The organization warns that without immediate oversight and regulation, the state’s environment, rural communities and farmlands are at risk.

Texas stewards argue that the rapid expansion in the wake of the Inflation Reduction Act ignored critical considerations:

Where are these projects located
How they affect the environment
Do local communities have anything to say at all?

Texas stewards shared the main concerns they have about the increase in renewable energy:

Landowner’s rights:
- Wind and solar energy projects are being fast-tracked across rural Texas, threatening the livelihoods of more than 250,000 private landowners who have farmed these lands for generations. These landowners deserve a voice in decisions that could forever change their property and way of life.
Lack of supervision:
- Unlike other large infrastructure projects, there is no government authority regulating where utility-scale renewable energy projects are to be implemented. This has led to uncontrolled development of some of Texas’ most sensitive areas, including farmland and wildlife habitats.
Loss of production land:
- Texas has already lost millions of acres of farmland. The rapid expansion of renewable energy projects threatens to create even greater demand, putting the state’s agricultural future at risk as its population grows to more than 40 million by 2050.
Impact on wildlife:
- Texas’ rich biodiversity, including key bird migration routes and bat habitats, is at risk due to misplaced renewable energy projects. When these habitats are disturbed, the damage is often irreversible.

More information about Texas Stewards can be found here.