Gillespie Co., TX – Concerned citizens of Gillespie County held an information meeting with senior representatives of federal, state, county, and city elected officials to update them on the environmental concerns of a 1,100 acre solar panel/battery energy storage system (BESS) proposed at Marshall Springs by AMPYR ENERGY USA – an Indonesian energy investment company with no history of a completed project in Texas or the U.S.
Those in attendance at today’s meeting included state legislative aids representing U.S. Senator John Cornyn, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, U.S. Representative Chip Roy, Texas Senator Pete Flores, and Texas Representative Ellen Troxclair. Also in attendance were Gillespie County Judge Daniel Jones, County Commissioner Don Weinheimer, Pct. 4., and Fredericksburg Mayor Pro Tem Emily Kirchner. They met privately with Gillespie County residents, many of whom have homes and ranches near the proposed AMPYR solar/BESS site.
County Judge Jones stated that Gillespie County remains committed to responsible development that does not compromise the safety of its citizens, first responders, or essential water resources. Jones added that the BESS project at Rogers Draw in Harper (a BESS site near a school) will be given priority due to its timetable. “Action on the Marshall Springs project near Fredericksburg states that the county has ordered that no development activity — including even vegetative clearing — can commence until permit issues regarding floodwater and fire codes are cleared,” Jones said. Gillespie County Commissioners passed a resolution Nov. 3 opposing Solar and BESS projects.
Senator Roy’s office issued a letter to AMPYR on December 1 and requested details of its proposed operation including all the potential impacts of it on this fragile agricultural environment. AMPYR’s application indicates it needs no permits and plans to begin work at the site in January 2026.
