Powering Communities: How Solar Power is Transforming Rural Texas

Across Texas, solar power is doing more than producing renewable energy—it is revitalizing local economies, lowering energy costs, creating jobs, strengthening schools and giving farmers new tools for financial resilience. The latest stories from the GoodPower Content Studio feature three community leaders and landowners In San Angelo and surrounding Tom Green County, Texas who are experiencing firsthand how solar energy can be harvested not only for electricity, but for opportunity.

For people like Allen Gully, solar offers something agriculture can’t always guarantee: predictability. A third-generation farmer in Wall, Texas, Gully has weathered years of drought that devastated his cotton and grain harvests. But his 620-acre solar project, generating about 160 megawatts, provides a steady income no matter the weather.

“When the crop is not good, that [solar income] is there,” Guly says. “It really helps even out the numbers.” That consistency makes it easier for family farmers to stay on their land, pass it down through generations, and invest in their operations. Beyond income, solar farms generate local tax revenue that supports schools and county services—shifting the financial burden away from rural residents.

Strengthening Schools and Local Budgets

Rick Bacon, Tom Green County Commissioner, has watched solar development bring much-needed stability to his community. With three solar farms already operating—and two located within his own precinct—he’s seen the impact ripple through schools, roads, and county services.

“Solar farms have been a huge benefit,” Bacon explains. Small school districts rely heavily on state funding which has massively increased due to solar farms. “The tax base, of course, went up considerably, and a lot of that came from renewable energy. Solar farms are a big benefit to the landowner. [They] benefit the County because we get additional revenue. It makes a big difference for us.”

Michael Looney, Vice President of Economic Development for the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce, emphasizes the broader civic pride that comes with being part of the clean energy future.

“There is a point of community pride that San Angelo is participating in putting much-needed electrons onto the grid,” Looney notes. “We haven’t been able to find any negatives to the development of these solar power plants.”

Beyond Texas, solar development is gaining traction across the country for its economic and community benefits. Solar energy:

As these testimonies show, solar power isn’t just about electricity. It’s about opportunity, resilience, and healthy communities—turning Texas sunshine into an economy that works for everyone.