An overflow crowd packed into the Pleasant Valley Methodist Church Tuesday night, leaving no doubt about how Potter County residents feel regarding Xcel Energy’s proposed $600 million solar project. The Oneida 2 Solar Project, planned for more than 1,300 acres north of Amarillo, has triggered widespread opposition from those who live nearby—many of whom fear the industrial-scale solar farm will change their community forever.
“It Will Turn Our Community Into a Solar Farm”
For locals like Taylor Brewster, who lives near the proposed site, the project feels like an encroachment on rural life.
“The proposed project would turn pretty much our community into a solar farm,” Brewster said. “I mean, it will be in a lot of people’s backyards, it’s right by a school, it’s in the middle of a community. It messes with our water, it messes with our property value, it messes with our animals. We love our little country area. There’s a reason we moved out here, we don’t want it.”
Brewster’s frustration resonated with many in the crowd, which filled every pew and spilled out into the parking lot. Attendees cited concerns about property values, proximity to Rolling Hills Elementary School, potential environmental disruptions, and the impact on wildlife.
The proposed site, located between Western Street and Broadway, north of Loop 335 and south of Cherry Avenue, sits near existing neighborhoods. For residents who moved to the area seeking open space and a quiet lifestyle, the scale of the project—spanning more than 1,300 acres—feels like an existential threat to their community’s character.
A Growing Local Uproar
Brewster described the overwhelming turnout as a sign of unity and renewed hope.
“Today, the room was already full and there was a line out the door wrapping around the building, and for the first time in a week and a half, I feel hope and glad that my neighbors are getting a chance to voice how they feel,” she said.
The concerns went beyond aesthetics or inconvenience. Residents questioned how the solar panels might affect groundwater, whether reflective glare could pose risks near the school, and how wildlife habitats might change as native grasses are replaced with rows of photovoltaic panels. Some also voiced fears about potential fire hazards during the region’s notoriously dry and windy months.
“I mean, it’s in my backyard. You can see—it would be my backyard,” Brewster said. “This weekend, I drove an hour out to the middle of nowhere. You can go ten minutes from my home and there is nothing. You can drive for one hour and there is nothing, so there are options.”
Xcel Energy Listens, But Holds Its Ground
Adrian Rodriguez, president of Xcel Energy – New Mexico and Texas, spoke to the packed room and thanked residents for showing up. He acknowledged the intensity of local feedback while emphasizing that the project remains in early planning stages.
“One of the things I want to do is thank the community for being as active and providing feedback,” Rodriguez said. “There are a lot of parts of the country, including in Texas and New Mexico where we serve, where we do not get engagement like this from the community. So that’s the type of feedback that is real early in the process.”
Rodriguez explained that Xcel has filed requests with the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission for this and other projects, a process expected to take six to 13 months.
When pressed about whether the company would commit to moving the solar farm to another location, Rodriguez declined to make any promises. “We have to go and evaluate the impacts to the system of not having this solar facility,” he said, reiterating that no construction or land clearing has been approved. “In order to build a project, we have to receive approval from the Commissions in Texas and New Mexico, and then we can begin the project at that point in time.”
He also reiterated that Xcel employees are part of the same communities they serve. “Our coworkers, our line workers, and the people that work in power plants are part of the communities in which we serve. So we totally understand that there are strong feelings about the work that we do.”
Residents Say Questions Went Unanswered
Despite the company’s assurances, many attendees left the meeting feeling unsatisfied.
“I’m not surprised at all they didn’t have the answers,” Brewster said. “I think it was very convenient they didn’t have the answers in the papers they sent out, so I wasn’t expecting a whole lot tonight from them. But I’m proud of everybody that showed up and still asked the questions and gave their opinions and stood up for themselves.”
To some, the lack of detailed responses reinforced skepticism toward the company. “We don’t care for them and we don’t trust them, and they kind of drove that home tonight,” Brewster added. “They have a great opportunity to show that they do care—if they move this. If they miss this, they’re going to drop the ball.”
Local Officials Join the Opposition
Potter County Commissioner for Precinct Three, John Coffee, also addressed the issue, urging Xcel to reconsider the location rather than the concept.
“I support them doing this project, just not in this location,” Coffee said. “I don’t think it’s a good location. Clearly there was much opposition to it. The citizens came out and spoke, and I support what they are saying tonight. I just don’t think it’s a good location. I hope they make a different decision moving forward and I hope this project doesn’t land where they have it planned right now.”
Coffee’s remarks drew applause, signaling that local government support for the project’s current site is thin. The commissioner’s comments underscore a broader point: opposition isn’t necessarily about solar energy itself—it’s about siting, transparency, and local control.
A Balancing Act: Renewable Energy Meets Rural Identity
The Oneida 2 Solar Project is one of eight renewable energy initiatives Xcel is currently proposing across Texas and New Mexico. The company has positioned these projects as part of a broader shift toward cleaner energy and strengthening grid reliability.
But as renewable energy infrastructure expands, projects like Oneida 2 are increasingly running into the same challenge: finding space that satisfies technical, economic, and community priorities simultaneously.
Solar power is often hailed as a clean and sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, but utility-scale installations require vast amounts of land—often in rural or semi-rural areas where people cherish open landscapes and privacy. For Potter County residents, the proposed location near existing homes and a school represents a tipping point.
There are also practical concerns. Large solar facilities can alter surface drainage, reduce wildlife habitat, and potentially affect local microclimates. Residents want assurances that mitigation measures will be taken seriously—and that they won’t be left with unintended consequences years down the line.
The Regulatory Road Ahead
Rodriguez confirmed that the approval process through the Texas and New Mexico regulatory commissions could take up to a year. During that time, residents have opportunities to submit comments or formally intervene.
Under state rules, landowners and residents have until November 10 to file comments or requests to intervene with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC). Information on how to participate will be posted on Xcel Energy’s website, according to Rodriguez.
Meanwhile, the Rolling Hills Community Association announced plans to hold a separate meeting on October 20 to discuss the project in greater detail and strategize next steps.
Why This Fight Matters Beyond Potter County
The debate unfolding in Potter County mirrors conflicts across the U.S., where renewable energy expansion sometimes clashes with local interests.
Energy companies often select sites based on proximity to existing infrastructure. In this case, Xcel said the proposed location was chosen because it sits near a new generating facility and existing grid connections, making it technically and economically advantageous. But for nearby homeowners, those efficiencies don’t outweigh the social and environmental disruptions.
Projects like Oneida 2 highlight an important issue: progress that overlooks local communities risks alienating the very people whose cooperation is essential. A successful energy transition will require companies to treat communities not as obstacles but as partners.
Looking Forward
As of now, Xcel maintains that construction is years away, with 2027 as the earliest possible start date and 2028 for completion if the project is approved. The company has offered to host additional community meetings and provide more detailed information online in response to resident requests.
Rodriguez emphasized that public participation will help shape the final outcome. “We heard a lot of feedback from the community tonight,” he said. “I totally understand that we were not able to give everyone the answers they wanted to hear tonight, but we will take the feedback seriously, and we are taking that back as we go through this process.”
The coming months will reveal whether that promise translates into changes on the ground—or whether the project proceeds as planned despite the public backlash.
The Takeaway
The Oneida 2 Solar Project has become more than a proposal—it’s a flashpoint for how the Texas Panhandle navigates the balance between new energy development and community preservation. Residents are not opposing renewable energy as a concept; they’re defending their homes, schools, and way of life.
For Xcel Energy, the lesson is clear: trust is as vital a resource as sunlight. Without it, even the brightest ideas can cast long shadows.
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