Voices
Real Texans. Real stories. Real power.
Mike Ollinger (Armstrong County, TX): Wind has provided the only revenue seen here since 1900
Brian Zbylot (Lufkin, TX): Let rural landowners decide how to use our land
Tim Teagarden (Water Valley, TX): Wind revenue funded much needed school upgrades
Jessica Bevill (Armstrong County, TX): Renewable energy funds rural schools & counties
Conon Emmons (Eldorado, TX): Wind revenue offers hope to rural communities
Meredith DeBorde (Ennis, TX): Solar helps family farms stay afloat
The Honorable Jerry Patterson (Austin, TX): Texas needs all available energy sources
Partner Voices
Mary Margaret McDonald (San Angelo, TX): Solar helps preserve family legacy
For generations, Mary Margaret McDonald’s family has been part of the San Angelo, Texas, community, dating back to her great-great-grandfather settling in the area in the 1870s. Over more than a century, they’ve weathered the cycles of drought and prosperity that come with agricultural life.
Today, Angelo Solar is helping Mary Margaret diversify her family’s income and preserve their deep connection to the land. The project provides a steady revenue stream for local landowners while benefiting schools, creating jobs, and strengthening the community’s future.
Today, Angelo Solar is helping Mary Margaret diversify her family’s income and preserve their deep connection to the land. The project provides a steady revenue stream for local landowners while benefiting schools, creating jobs, and strengthening the community’s future.
The Armours (Pierce, TX): Wind revenue keeps family ranch intact
Triple Oak Power CEO & Cofounder Jesse Gronner sits down with Laurance Armour and son Andrew to discuss how the seven-generation ranch has harnessed the benefits of sustainable energy plants. Learn about the history of Pierce Ranch in Texas, and hear how the Armours, including grandson Kash, are continuing their family legacy with Prairie Switch Wind.
“We’ve seen the agricultural market around here change dramatically. There’s been no water for irrigating rice, which is our prime crop. It seemed to us that wind and solar were industries that were on the rise and felt they could provide us with revenue for supporting the next generation and keep the ranch intact,” explains Laurance Armour, Pierce Ranch, 5th generation.
“We’ve seen the agricultural market around here change dramatically. There’s been no water for irrigating rice, which is our prime crop. It seemed to us that wind and solar were industries that were on the rise and felt they could provide us with revenue for supporting the next generation and keep the ranch intact,” explains Laurance Armour, Pierce Ranch, 5th generation.
Allen Gully (San Angelo, TX): Solar helps keep farmland in family
“Texas isn’t just an oil state — it’s an energy state.”
Meet Allen, a cotton farmer from San Angelo who’s making 3X the revenue from a solar lease than he would selling his land to developers, keeping his cotton farm in the family for generations to come.
Meet Allen, a cotton farmer from San Angelo who’s making 3X the revenue from a solar lease than he would selling his land to developers, keeping his cotton farm in the family for generations to come.
Texas Solar Shepherds (American Solar Grazing Association): Solar helps ranchers stay in business
Under the Texas sun, sheep ranchers are finding a new way forward through solar grazing. Land access has become a major problem for farming families and young ranchers trying to get started in agriculture. Solar grazing offers a powerful opportunity for ranchers to access the farmable acres they need. Across the state, big solar sites are becoming ranch land for farmers to raise sheep and build a thriving business, all while preserving land stewardship and their farming heritage.
Over 70,000 acres of solar sites in Texas are being grazed by sheep ranchers and their flocks. That opportunity is only growing, with more acres of solar that can be grazed and more sheep ranchers looking to take advantage of this home run opportunity.
Meet the ranchers here.
Over 70,000 acres of solar sites in Texas are being grazed by sheep ranchers and their flocks. That opportunity is only growing, with more acres of solar that can be grazed and more sheep ranchers looking to take advantage of this home run opportunity.
Meet the ranchers here.