LOCKNEY – Representatives from Hill County Wind Power and the Underwood Law Firm were in Lockney Wednesday night to meet with the LISD board about a proposed wind project that could positively impact district coffers in the near future.
The 600 megawatt Rock Creek Project is a planned wind farm that would stretch from the Lockney area north to Silverton and on toward Kress and Tulia. Just over 250 megawatts of the project, or 31 percent of the output, would be generated in the Lockney ISD boundary.
During Wednesday’s meeting the board agreed to accept an application fee from Hill Country Wind Power in the amount of $80,000 toward the creation of a ‘tax reinvestment zone’ with the state comptroller’s office. Even if LISD declines to move forward on the plan, the district is able to keep the money. “Our first rule is the district cannot be harmed,” said one of the representatives from the law firm. “It’s good for the district,” echoed Board president Mike Lass.
The proposal was accepted by the board on a 5-0 vote, with two board members abstaining from discussion and voting due to previous land lease agreements with Hill Country.
The next step in the process, according to the law firm, would be for them to return in the fall to present the full project to the school district. Hill Country Wind Power told the board they hoped to have construction begin next year, with a completion deadline of January 1, 2026.
