We are hill country neighbors, families, and concerned citizens coming together to protect our community from the harmful impacts of the proposed 1,000 Acre Marshall Springs Solar Farm and Battery Storage Facility (BESS). While renewable energy has its place, this project is the wrong size, in the wrong location, with the wrong consequences for our community.
We must act now to stop this.
The Marshall Springs Solar Farm and Battery Storage Project is a 1,000-acre industrial energy development planned between State Highway 16 North and Lower Crabapple Road (east–west), and Country Creek Lane and Old Willow Road (north–south).
Developed by AMPYR Energy, a company headquartered in Singapore with U.S. offices in Long Beach, California, the project will include approximately 800 acres of solar panels and a 150-megawatt battery storage facility.
The site lies just a short distance from Fredericksburg’s historic Main Street and borders residential neighborhoods, family ranches, and local wineries. If built, the project would clear trees and vegetation across a large portion of the rolling Texas Hill Country landscape—an area already scarred by the recent Crabapple Fire.
Large-scale battery storage facilities can and have caused fires, toxic chemical leaks, and explosions. These hazards would put homes, schools, and first responders at immediate risk, including risk of serious bodily injury and even death.
The clear-cutting of hundreds of acres of land will destroy wildlife habitat, stress, and possibly contaminate local water resources and supplies, and permanently alter the rural character of our area. Clear-cutting also may expedite the spread of oak wilt.
Industrial solar and battery installations drastically reduce surrounding property values, leaving homeowners with financial losses they never agreed to bear. Industrial solar and battery installations have resulted in increases of homeowner insurance premiums and can result in total loss of insurance coverage.
With an 800 acre footprint, this will be one of the largest construction projects in this county in at least 50 years. Changes to the stormwater runoff of this site, which affects four watersheds/streams, will be enormous.
Glare off of these panels, which are in effect black mirrors, is a serious concern. Annoying humming will be heard all day long, every day, as literally tens of thousands of electric motors adjust the panels to follow the sun. Due to the risk of thermal runaway, the lithium-ion battery units require very large heat exchangers to keep them cool, which is essential. Their fans generate a great deal of noise.
Make your voice heard: attend community meetings and contact County and State Officials. Your participation and communication are critical.
We are not against renewable energy. We are against the reckless placement of an industrial solar and battery facility that threatens our land, our health, and our future. Our mission is simple:
Stop the Marshall Springs Solar Farm and Battery Storage Facility — and demand responsible, community-first energy solutions.
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Together, we have the power to stand and protect it.
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