Sulphur River Board Notifies Authorities of Damages from ENGIE Solar Plant in Dike
April 14, 2023 – The Sulphur River Basin Authority issued a resolution on March 28, 2023 as a result of their findings involving the ENGIE Solar Project in Dike, Texas operated by Hopkins Energy, LLC. The board found that the state’s natural resources within the Sulphur River basin were being impacted in a dramatically negative way. Notifications of the resolution including evidence of the damages was then sent to all...
Dike Volunteer Firefighters Receive Donation To Purchase New Engine
April 25, 2023- Dike Volunteer Firefighters received a donation of $50,000 to go toward the purchase of a Fire Engine apparatus. Hopkins County Fire Chief Andy Endsley and members of the Dike Volunteer Firefighters were on hand to receive the check. Engie Solar and Blattner Energy held a press conference at the Dike Community Center to announce their donation to the Dike Volunteer Fire Department. Food was catered for all those...
Blattner Battles State of Texas on Damages From Building Solar Plant
April 21, 2023 – An investigation by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is ongoing in the Dike, Texas area in response to complaints from nearby landowners. TCEQ found during an investigation between February 22, 2023 and March 6, 2023 that the construction of the solar plant by Blattner Energy, LLC is in violation of the provisions laid out in TPDES General Permit No. TXR150000. Stormwater from the site...
2 Citizens Ask SSISD Trustees To Reconsider Stance On 313 Agreement For Dike Solar Farm
Developer, Land Owner Asks School Board to Amend Agreement As Requested Citizens asked Sulphur Springs ISD trustees this week to reconsider the district’s stance on 313 agreements, particularly amending the agreement with Hopkins Energy LLC. The developer and one landowner whose property is within the planned Hopkins Energy LLC area asked the board to approve the amended agreement. Tim Fuller (pink shirt at left) addressed the...
Pine Forest Solar I & Hybrid I Granted Use Of 9 County Roads
Hopkins County Commissioners Court Monday morning approved a resolution granting Pine Forest Solar I LLC, and Pine Forest Hybrid I, LLC, permission to use 9 county roads during development and for improvements to the solar project planned in the area. Two Dike residents also spoke to the Commissioners Court Aug. 23, 2021, regarding the planned solar project in their neighborhood. Pine Forest Roads The Commissioners Court on July 26...
Although A Petition For Temporary Restraining Order, Injunction Denied, Lawsuit To Prevent Construction of Dike Solar Farm Ongoing
Following the announcement of Judge Will Biard’s decision to deny Cynthia Martin’s request that Hopkins Energy LLC and Hopkins County be issued a temporary restraining order and temporary injunction to halt construction of a large scale solar project in Dike, KSST reached out to the parties involved in the lawsuit. Representatives for all three parties – plaintiff Martin and defendants Hopkins Energy, LLC, and Hopkins...
Work On Dike Solar Plant Accelerates Ahead Of Lawsuit
There has been a flurry of activity in the Dike community since a lawsuit was filed against Hopkins Energy, LLC and Hopkins County over the proposed solar plant that has been planned for the Dike community. Contractors for the project have stepped up their efforts and seem to be working at a faster pace to get the project further along before a hearing planned for 9am on Monday, July 19th which could put a stop to all work. Judge Will...
Dike Resident Files Lawsuit To Stop Solar Farm
After months of questions, meetings, and disagreements a lawsuit has been filed against Hopkins Energy LLC and Hopkins County which will bring all of the back and forth between Dike residents, county officials and Engie Energy Company into the courtroom. Cynthia Martin, who has lead “Save Dike From Solar” efforts to prevent a solar facility from being constructed in Dike, has filed a petition in the 62nd Judicial District...
Commissioners Court Approve Road Equipment Purchases, Renew Oil, Gas And Mineral Lease For Rushing Cemetery
Hopkins County County Commissioners Court approved the purchase of three pieces of equipment for Precinct 1 and one for Precinct 3, renewed an oil, gas and mineral lease for Rushing Cemetery, and heard from three individuals during the public forum portion of Monday morning’s regular court session. Equipment Purchases Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley asked the court to consider accepting the purchase of a Case Backhoe from...
Tensions Run High For Dike Residents About French Solar Farm
Tensions continue to run high between the citizens of Dike and the French Solar Company, Engie. The Hopkins County Commissioner’s court, which approved a tax abatement for the solar farm, held a public forum at the civic center on Monday night, in an effort to relieve concerns from the affected neighbors. The residents in Dike are very upset, and contend that they were not properly notified of the solar farm or what effects it...
