As Sugar Land officials seek community feedback on a proposed power plant, some residents have banded together in opposition, citing environmental, health and property value concerns.
What residents need to know
The city of Sugar Land is exploring the possibility of a rapid-start power plant on the 8-acre site of the former Central State Prison Farm to deliver additional power to Texas’ electrical grid. The proposed plant would have an output capacity of at least 135 megawatts, Community Impact reported.
Sugar Land Communications Director Doug Adolph said city officials hope the power plant will help address high power grid demands by adding capacity to the grid.
“We’ve known for a very long time that reliable power is important to our residents, especially during hot summer months and disasters like Winter Storm [Uri] and Hurricane Beryl,” he said. “We share their concerns.”
Zooming in
At a May 21 meeting, Sugar Land City Council approved a ground lease option agreement with Wärtsilä Development and Financial Services, Inc.—a company dedicated to innovative technologies in the marine and energy markets—to grant land access for surveys and analysis. Additionally, Adolph said an interconnection study will determine if the project is feasible with concerns such as air quality and noise.
The power plant would cost approximately $146 million to build, Community Impact reported. Funding for the project is still being determined, although Adolph said no public tax dollars will be used. Financing, ownership and management of the project are still being negotiated.
“The city is considering a revenue-sharing agreement with the developer that would [allow] the city to reinvest in infrastructure, maintenance and economic development opportunities that help maintain one of the state’s lowest tax rates, while also providing the high level of services our residents expect,” he said.
What they’re saying
Since the lease agreement was approved, some Sugar Land residents such as Anna Lykoudis-Zafiris said they are concerned with the potential effects the power plant could cause, citing environmental, health and property value concerns.
“It is just a gross violation of the government’s ethical duty to protect the health, welfare and safety of its citizens by ... leaving us out of the democratic process and failing to engage in any public engagement meetings prior to agreeing to provide this temporary lease,” she said.
Lykoudis-Zafiris is one of the principal organizers for the Stop the Sugar Land Gas Power Plant group, a Facebook group composed of nearly 900 Sugar Land and Fort Bend County residents who oppose the power plant.
She and others in the group said they are concerned about the lack of transparency from the city ahead of approving the ground lease for the proposed power plant.
In their own words
City officials have been working to respond to all community questions and ensure staff members are available to attend community meetings, Adolph said, although the effects of Beryl have delayed the process.
“We are always interested in having civil dialogue and addressing concerns with the community,” he said. “We will continue to update our website project page and be available to address any community concerns. We take community concerns seriously.”
Residents are encouraged to reach out in the city’s online feedback form with questions, comments or concerns, Adolph said.
Looking ahead
Before moving forward with the project, surveys will need to be completed and the city will need to negotiate a long-term ground lease for the power plant, Adolph said.
If the city were to move forward, the proposed power plant is set to be delivered no earlier than 2028, he said.
The city will also continue its community roadshow, where city officials are set to present information as well as answer questions from the public. Opportunities include:
- Sept. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Houston Museum of Natural Science, located at 13016 University Blvd., Sugar Land
- Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. at Landmark Community Center, located at 100 Louisiana St., Missouri City
