Project Summary 

The Weser Solar project is a proposed 150-MW(ac) solar facility with attached battery storage located on privately-owned land about 2 miles east of Weesatche and 10 miles north of Goliad in Goliad County, Texas. The project will produce energy using ground-mounted photovoltaic solar panels and is estimated to generate enough clean energy to power approximately 33,000 homes.

Known to ERCOT as Eighteenmile Solar, the project will connect to an existing onsite 138kV overhead transmission line owned by South Texas Electric Cooperative (STEC). Power from the project will be delivered into the electrical grid and help diversify the regional energy portfolio.

Weser Solar is developed by Weser Solar, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of RES America Developments Inc. (RES).

Preliminary Project Layout

Preliminary project design was completed in accordance with an exhaustive list of federal, state and local rules and regulations.

Project Components

• Ground-mounted single axis solar system
• PV Modules
• Power stations with an inverter and medium voltage transformer
• Above and below grade DC electrical cable
• Buried medium voltage electrical cable
• Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
• O&M building (TBD)
• Substation and switchyard
• Gravel access roads
• 6-ft tall fence
• Gates and signage

Site Due Diligence

Weser Solar has completed a complex set of due-diligence studies to understand all aspects of the land, including its subsurface. Site studies ranged from environmental due diligence (aquatic resource delineation, habitat assessment for threatened and endangered species, cultural survey) to engineering studies (topographical, hydrology, geotechnical evaluations), and other studies as required by the specific conditions of the site. The primary goal of site studies was to identify potential sensitive areas within the project site and mitigate project impact through avoidance and targeted design/project implementation strategies.

Site Screening

Weser Solar strives to minimize the visual impact of the project to County residents and protect the natural views that are important to the community and character of the area. To the maximum extent possible, the project layout has been set back from existing roads and residences and away from natural land features such as the Eighteenmile Creek and its tributaries. The fragmented project layout allows for the preservation of wide swaths of open land and vegetation along key public viewpoints.

Weser Solar recognizes the location of several existing residences near the project site and proposes to mitigate any visual impacts by enhancing the local vegetative cover and installing a row of trees and/or shrubs as a screening measure in locations directly across from residences along Albrecht Road and FM 1961.

As part of the landscape design, Weser Solar will evaluate the existing vegetative cover and supplement it with native tree and/or shrub species to create an effective visual barrier. A Landscape Plan will be developed at the time of final project design.

Stormwater Management

During the development phase, the project will complete a thorough hydrologic and hydraulic analysis of the site. The project will design effective stormwater management systems to ensure that the post-development scenario matches the pre-development conditions.

Pollutant discharges to surface waters are regulated by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. Prior to the start of construction, the projects will develop a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3) and obtain a TPDES Construction General Permit from TCEQ. The SWP3 outlines best management practices (BMP’s) during and post-construction to meet applicable water quality standards and minimize pollutants in the discharge to receiving surface waters.

Post-construction, the project site will be revegetated with native low-growth seed mix. This allows for proper soil stabilization and effective long-term erosion control and water quality management.

Decommissioning

The project will be decommissioned at the end of its useful life. Decommissioning obligations in the State of Texas are governed by Senate Bill 760 and requirements are incorporated into the provisions of the project lease, including:

• Removal of solar facilities from the project site
• Removal of foundations and cable to a depth of 3 feet
• Site restoration
• Additional removal and restoration requirements as requested by landlord (roads, rocks)

Further, decommissioning obligations are secured by a Removal Bond under the lease. During Operations, the Project will develop a site-specific Decommissioning Plan and individual components will be removed from the site and recycled or repurposed offsite.