Did you know? If Texas implements only a third of the wind and solar energy projects that have been proposed to date, it could nearly phase out the use of coal in the state. That’s according to a recent study at Rice University. What’s keeping the Lonestar State from...
Do renewable energy sources require a backup plan for blackouts?
Hurricane Ida took down New Orleans’ electrical grid, at least for a while. Not only did it affect the grid, but it also hit oil and gas pipelines in the area, causing some of them to suspend contracts. Just a few days after the storm, Enbridge energy said its...
Report: We must transform our energy systems to meet climate goals
If you own land in rural Texas, chances are you’ve been contacted by a solar or wind company seeking to use your land for an energy project. If you have, you could be part of a necessary transformation in the energy market from fossil fuels to renewable energy. "We...
Will my property taxes jump if I add a wind farm or solar array?
Wind and solar energy projects are highly lucrative. That’s true for the energy companies, and it’s true for individual property owners who lease their land to these projects. That profitability can increase your land’s value which, in turn, could drive up your...
What if the energy project on my land damages my property?
If an energy company has contacted you about a pipeline or other energy project on your land, you may be wondering what could go wrong. For example, what if there were a major storm that damaged the project infrastructure? What if there were an oil spill or a...
Can I have more than one energy lease on my property?
Is it legal to lease your land to more than one type of energy company? Yes, it is. In order to protect yourself, you will need clearly drafted accommodation agreements. When you sell or lease part of your land to an energy company, you are probably going to use some...
Do you need an accommodation agreement to protect your land?
If you have been contacted by an oil or gas pipeline company, a wind farm developer or a solar array developer, you may wonder if the lease you authorize will allow you to continue using your land. A single parcel of land could conceivably contain a pipeline or well,...
Do I have to allow a survey of my land by a pipeline company?
In Texas, certain pipeline companies have the power of eminent domain. Eminent domain is a sovereign’s power to take land for certain public purposes, but the sovereign (Texas) has delegated that power to pipeline companies that meet threshold requirements. It is this...
