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Austin County, Texas: solar, wind, and storage permits

Contacts checked 2026-09-26 · From official state and federal directories

Who to call and what to check for a solar, wind, or battery storage project in Austin County. Texas has no statewide siting permit for solar or wind, so the key contacts are the appraisal district, state environmental offices, the grid operator, and the county itself.

Who handles property records and taxes in Austin County?

The Austin County appraisal district keeps parcel records and decides agricultural or wildlife valuation, which a solar or storage lease can end, triggering rollback taxes. The Texas Comptroller lists the district's and the county tax office's phone, email, address, and website, plus local taxing districts such as groundwater conservation districts.

Austin County directory (Texas Comptroller)Lease rates and rollback taxes

Which TCEQ office covers Austin County?

TCEQ Region 12, Houston
5425 Polk St, Ste H, Houston TX 77023-1452
Main line: 713-767-3500 · Spills, 24 hours: 800-832-8224

Construction that disturbs 1 acre or more needs coverage under TCEQ's Construction General Permit (TXR150000) and a stormwater pollution prevention plan.

TCEQ region directoryConstruction stormwater permit

Does Austin County have zoning or a solar permit?

Texas counties generally do not have zoning authority, and the state has no siting permit for solar or wind generation. Projects are usually shaped instead by site control, road use agreements with the county, tax agreements, and utility interconnection. If the county takes part in FEMA's flood insurance program, its floodplain administrator issues development permits in mapped flood zones. Ask the county judge's office or commissioners court about road use and any local requirements.

What energy projects are proposed in Austin County?

ERCOT's August 2026 interconnection report lists 14 proposed energy projects in Austin County (2 solar, 9 battery storage and 3 gas), about 3,729 MW in all. 3 of the 14 have a signed interconnection agreement.

Got an offer? Check whether the company or project appears here. A listing means a developer asked ERCOT to study connecting it to the grid; many listed projects are never built, and projects further along are more likely to proceed.

Scroll the table sideways to see every column.

Stage: In study means ERCOT is still studying the connection; Signed means the interconnection agreement is signed; security posted means the developer has also posted financial security and a notice to proceed; Energized and Approved to connect mean ERCOT has approved the project to energize or synchronize with the grid. "Self-limiting" batteries are reported as 0 MW because they are sized below the site's total capacity. Source: ERCOT Generator Interconnection Status (GIS) Report, August 2026. ERCOT prepares this report for planning purposes from data entered by developers and transmission providers, and notes it may contain errors or be out of date.

Where are the flood maps for Austin County?

FEMA flood maps for Austin County

How does a project here connect to the grid?

Most of Texas is on the ERCOT grid, but parts of the Panhandle and northeast Texas are in SPP, parts of east Texas are in MISO, and El Paso is in the western grid. The serving utility decides which process applies.

Interconnection by market and utilityERCOT resource integration

What state and federal reviews can apply?

Depending on the site: wetland permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, endangered species review through U.S. Fish and Wildlife, historic review through the Texas Historical Commission, wildlife comments from Texas Parks and Wildlife, and FAA notice for tall structures like wind turbines.

Statewide and federal contactsTexas decommissioning law

Other counties served by TCEQ Region 12

Brazoria · Chambers · Colorado · Fort Bend · Galveston · Harris · Liberty · Matagorda · Montgomery · Walker · Waller · Wharton