Hill County, Texas: solar, wind, and storage projects and permits
Queue data as of ERCOT's September 2026 GIS report · Contacts checked 2026-09-26 · Next update early next month
22 proposed energy projects from ERCOT's September 2026 report, plus who to call in Hill County and in TCEQ Region 9 before signing a solar, wind, or battery storage lease.
Check land in Hill CountyOpens the land report with the map on the county; click a spot for its flood, wetland, habitat, line-distance and parcel check.
Power reliability here: minutes without power per year, outages per year, and outage length for Hill County, 2013–2024, from the serving utilities' EIA filings.
What energy projects are proposed in Hill County?
ERCOT's September 2026 interconnection report lists 22 proposed energy projects in Hill County (8 solar, 2 wind, 9 battery storage and 3 gas), about 7,763 MW in all. 11 of the 22 have a signed interconnection agreement, and 3 have been approved for energization or synchronization.
What stands out in Hill County
By capacity, gas leads in Hill County with 4,053 MW across 3 projects, followed by battery storage (9 projects, 1,930 MW) and solar (8 projects, 1,449 MW); 1 self-limiting project (reported at 0 MW because the resource limits its own output) is listed without a capacity. The largest single project is Bullock Gas, a 1,400 MW gas combined cycle project listed under Bullock Data Center, LLC, still in study, and its target online date is Jul 2032. Of the 22, 11 are still in ERCOT's study process, 1 has a signed interconnection agreement but no security posted yet, 7 have posted security or started construction and 3 are approved for energization or synchronization. Connection points are mostly at 345 kV (14 projects), 138 kV (7 projects) and 69 kV (1 project) (why the voltage matters). Abei Energy Green XI LLC, High Noon Solar Project, LLC and Hillsboro Solar Project LLC are each listed on 2 projects; 18 different companies appear in all. Target online dates for the projects not yet running span Aug 2027 to Jul 2032. All of them fall in ERCOT's North load zone. 1 that was listed in August has since dropped off.
A listing is a request to study a grid connection, not a built project; the stage column says how far each one has gone.
Stage, most advanced first: Approved for synchronization (first power) · Approved for energization (backfeed) · Under construction · Signed; security posted (interconnection agreement signed and financial security posted) · Signed (agreement signed, security not yet posted) · In study (screening or full interconnection study, no agreement). A target date that has already passed is marked; ERCOT keeps the developer's last reported date until the developer changes it.
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Project and connection point | Developer as listed by ERCOT | Type | MW | Target online date iThe commercial operation date the developer reported to ERCOT (ERCOT calls it the projected COD). Developers set and change it, many projects slip, and some are never built. It is not a promise or a construction date. | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compadre Solartap 345kV 68090 Sam Switch - 1907 Venus | Hill Solar I, LLC | Solar | 405.7 | Oct 2026 | Approved for synchronization |
| Aquilla Lake 3 Windtap 345 kV 68040 Kopperl to 68091 Navarro | Aquilla Lake 3 Wind | Wind | 297.4 | Nov 2026 | Approved for synchronization |
| Compadre Solar IITap 345kV 68090 Sam Switch – 3389 Fort Smith | Hill Solar II, LLC | Solar | 201.4 | Dec 2026 | Approved for synchronization |
| Vial BESSChatt(234) - Pecan Street (3352) 138kV | Gransolar Texas Eleven LLC | Battery storage (stand-alone) | 135.2 | Sep 2027 | Signed; security posted |
| OCI Cobb Creek Solartap 345kV 1907 Venus - 68090 Sam Sw · shared with 1 other request | Hillsboro Solar Project LLC | Solar | 203.1 | Dec 2027 | Signed; security posted |
| Blue Skies BESS68090 SAM SW 345kV | ACTX BESS Project LLC | Battery storage (stand-alone) | 306.3 | Apr 2028 | Signed; security posted |
| High Noon SolarTap 138kV 445 Yates - 444 Covington · shared with 1 other request | High Noon Solar Project, LLC | Solar | 182.0 | May 2028 | Signed; security posted |
| High Noon StorageTap 138kV 445 Yates - 444 Covington · shared with 1 other request | High Noon Solar Project, LLC | Battery storage (paired with solar) | 94.0 | May 2028 | Signed; security posted |
| OCI Cobb Creek ESStap 345kV 1907 Venus - 68090 Sam Sw · shared with 1 other request | Hillsboro Solar Project LLC | Battery storage (paired with solar) | 201.6 | Dec 2028 | Signed; security posted |
| Mercury Solar III68092 Liberty Station 345kV · shared with 1 other request | Mercury Solar | Solar | 203.5 | Apr 2029 | Signed; security posted |
| Payne Battlecreektap 138kV 213 Haney - 3515 Hubbard | Gransolar Texas Ten, LLC | Solar | 85.0 | Aug 2027 | Signed Feb 2024 |
| Edens SolarTap 69kV 3532 Itasca - 3523 Hillsboro | Hill PV, LLC | Solar | 70.8 | Apr 2028 | In study |
| HILLBORO BESSTap 138kV Ash Creek Switch (Bus #3473) – Revolution Switch (Bus #3387) · shared with 1 other request | Abei Energy Green XI LLC | Battery storage (paired with wind) | 130.9 | Sep 2028 | In study |
| HILLBORO WINDTap 138kV Ash Creek Switch (Bus #3473) – Revolution Switch (Bus #3387) · shared with 1 other request | Abei Energy Green XI LLC | Wind | 33.2 | Sep 2028 | In study |
| Seven Angels Energy Storage I68090 Sam Switch Bus 345kV · shared with 1 other request | Seven Angels Infrastructure LLC | Battery storage (stand-alone) | 514.0 | Dec 2028 | In study |
| Seven Angels Energy Storage II68090 Sam Switch Bus 345kV · shared with 1 other request | Seven Angels Infrastructure LLC | Battery storage (stand-alone) | 514.0 | Dec 2028 | In study |
| Mercury Storage SLF68092 Liberty Station 345kV · shared with 1 other request | Mercury Storage, LLC | Battery storage (paired with solar) | Self-limiting | Jul 2029 | In study |
| Penelope SolarNew sub in the 234 Chatt - 3473 Ash Creek 138kV line | Ash Creek Project LLC | Solar | 97.8 | Sep 2029 | In study |
| Files BESS SLFFort Smith Switch (#3389) 345 kV | Files BESS | Battery storage (stand-alone) | 34.0 | Nov 2029 | In study |
| NRG Prairie Energy CenterTap #1907 Venus Switch – #3389 Fort Smith Switch 345 kV | NRG Prairie Energy Center LLC | Gas combined cycle | 1,253.0 | Dec 2030 | In study |
| Bullock GasBULLOCK 345 KV STATION (Bus# 68096) | Bullock Data Center, LLC | Gas combined cycle | 1,400.0 | Jul 2032 | In study |
| Liberty Thermal Energy CenterLIBERTY 345 KV STATION (Bus# 68092) | Liberty Data Center I, LLC | Gas combined cycle | 1,400.0 | Jul 2032 | In study |
No longer listed since August
These projects were in ERCOT's August interconnection report but are not in its September 2026 report. ERCOT's reports do not say why a project leaves the list.
- Three W Solar, solar, 111 MW (Three W Solar LLC)
Crowded connection points in Hill County
Substations and switching stations named by two or more of the county's requests, matched on ERCOT's PSS/E bus number rather than the exact wording, so "60404 SOLSTICE", "AEP Solstice Substation #60404" and a tap off the Solstice line count together. Every request statewide that names the bus is listed; a request on a tap line counts toward both ends. Sharing a bus is not the same as sharing a study group, and ERCOT decides the latter.
SAM (68090) 345 kV 9 requests · 2,751 MW · 7 in Hill County, 2 in McLennan5 signed; security posted, 2 approved for synchronization, 2 in study
- Compadre Solar 24INR0023 · Solar · 406 MW · Approved for synchronization
- Compadre Solar II 25INR0166 · Solar · 201 MW · Approved for synchronization
- Blue Skies BESS 25INR0046 · Battery storage · 306 MW · Signed; security posted
- Jaguar Solar 24INR0038 · Solar · 301 MW · Signed; security posted · McLennan
- OCI Cobb Creek Solar 25INR0229 · Solar · 203 MW · Signed; security posted
- OCI Cobb Creek ESS 25INR0233 · Battery storage · 202 MW · Signed; security posted
- Neutron Storage 26INR0252 · Battery storage · 104 MW · Signed; security posted · McLennan
- Seven Angels Energy Storage I 28INR0472 · Battery storage · 514 MW · In study
- Seven Angels Energy Storage II 28INR0473 · Battery storage · 514 MW · In study
Venus (1907) 345 kV 10 requests · 3,998 MW · 4 in Hill County, 6 in Ellis7 in study, 2 signed; security posted, 1 approved for synchronization
- Compadre Solar 24INR0023 · Solar · 406 MW · Approved for synchronization
- OCI Cobb Creek Solar 25INR0229 · Solar · 203 MW · Signed; security posted
- OCI Cobb Creek ESS 25INR0233 · Battery storage · 202 MW · Signed; security posted
- NRG Prairie Energy Center 29INR0158 · Gas combined cycle · 1,253 MW · In study
- Kickstart Energy Storage VI 29INR0218 · Battery storage · 1,026 MW · In study · Ellis
- Two Step Solar 29INR0196 · Solar · 402 MW · In study · Ellis
- Galaxy Solar 2 28INR0385 · Solar · 302 MW · In study · Ellis
- Galaxy Storage 2 28INR0387 · Battery storage · 202 MW · In study · Ellis
- Kickstart Energy Storage I 27INR0469 · Battery storage · 1 MW · In study · Ellis
- Kickstart Energy Storage II 27INR0470 · Battery storage · 1 MW · In study · Ellis
Liberty (68092) 345 kV 4 requests · 1,810 MW · 3 in Hill County, 1 in Limestone2 in study, 2 signed; security posted
- Varadero Solar 28INR0013 · Solar · 206 MW · Signed; security posted · Limestone
- Mercury Solar III 24INR0407 · Solar · 204 MW · Signed; security posted
- Liberty Thermal Energy Center 33INR0006 · Gas combined cycle · 1,400 MW · In study
- Mercury Storage SLF 21INR0258 · Battery storage · 0 MW · In study
Fort Smith (3389) 345 kV 4 requests · 2,487 MW · 3 in Hill County, 1 in Ellis3 in study, 1 approved for synchronization
- Compadre Solar II 25INR0166 · Solar · 201 MW · Approved for synchronization
- NRG Prairie Energy Center 29INR0158 · Gas combined cycle · 1,253 MW · In study
- Kickstart Energy Storage V 29INR0217 · Battery storage · 999 MW · In study · Ellis
- Files BESS SLF 27INR0646 · Battery storage · 34 MW · In study
Ash Creek (3473) 138 kV 3 requests · 262 MW3 in study
- HILLBORO BESS 26INR0402 · Battery storage · 131 MW · In study
- Penelope Solar 28INR0404 · Solar · 98 MW · In study
- HILLBORO WIND 27INR0312 · Wind · 33 MW · In study
Yates (445) 138 kV 2 requests · 276 MW2 signed; security posted
- High Noon Solar 24INR0124 · Solar · 182 MW · Signed; security posted
- High Noon Storage 24INR0126 · Battery storage · 94 MW · Signed; security posted
Covington (444) 138 kV 2 requests · 276 MW2 signed; security posted
- High Noon Solar 24INR0124 · Solar · 182 MW · Signed; security posted
- High Noon Storage 24INR0126 · Battery storage · 94 MW · Signed; security posted
Revolution (3387) 138 kV 5 requests · 566 MW · 2 in Hill County, 3 in Navarro3 in study, 1 approved for energization, 1 signed
- Armadillo Solar 21INR0421 · Solar · 150 MW · Approved for energization · Navarro
- Cape Rich BESS 26INR0180 · Battery storage · 151 MW · Signed Feb 2025 · Navarro
- HILLBORO BESS 26INR0402 · Battery storage · 131 MW · In study
- Main Horn Solar 28INR0467 · Solar · 100 MW · In study · Navarro
- HILLBORO WIND 27INR0312 · Wind · 33 MW · In study
What the stages and dates mean: how to read ERCOT's report. ERCOT's report lists self-limiting facilities (batteries that limit injection below nameplate) at 0 MW; repowers of existing plants show 0 with no capacity change. "Approved for energization" and "approved for synchronization" are ERCOT's own milestones (backfeed, then first power). "Shared with N other requests" counts active requests anywhere in ERCOT naming the same point of interconnection, matched on ERCOT's exact wording, so a bus written two ways counts as two points. Source: ERCOT Generator Interconnection Status (GIS) Report, September 2026, planning data entered by developers and transmission providers that ERCOT says may contain errors. Parcel & Grid is not affiliated with ERCOT.
Who to contact in Hill County
- Hill County appraisal district and tax office: parcel records and agricultural valuation, which a lease can end (directory, Texas Comptroller · rollback taxes).
- TCEQ Region 9, Waco: 6801 Sanger Ave, Ste 2500, Waco TX 76710-7826, 254-751-0335; spills, 24 hours: 800-832-8224. Handles the construction stormwater permit for sites of 1 acre or more (TCEQ).
- Hill County judge and commissioners court: road use agreements, tax agreements, and floodplain development permits where the county takes part in the flood insurance program.
- Flood maps: FEMA map search for Hill County.
Permits and reviews for Hill County
Texas has no state siting permit for solar or wind, and Texas counties generally have no zoning authority, so a project in Hill County is shaped by site control, the county road use agreement, tax agreements, and the grid connection (what still applies · the twelve approvals, stage by stage). Wetland, endangered species, historic, and FAA reviews depend on the site: statewide and federal contacts · decommissioning law.
Recent local action: On May 12, 2026 the Hill County Commissioners Court voted 3–2 for a one-year pause on new large battery storage, power generation and data-center projects in unincorporated Hill County; on June 4, 2026, at a special meeting, the court unanimously rescinded it after RCM Hill, LLC sued in federal court in Waco. (KWTX, June 4, 2026 (moratorium approved May 12, 2026: KWTX); second source; checked October 17, 2026).
How a project in Hill County connects to the grid
Hill County is on the ERCOT grid. The projects listed above are in ERCOT's North load zone. The serving utility handles the connection request. Interconnection by market and utility · what ERCOT is.
How long it takes. ERCOT staff put the connection process at 18 to 30 months for generation of 10 MW or more, before construction or supply delays (ERCOT, Oct. 2024). Across the U.S., the median project built in 2025 took 61 months from interconnection request to commercial operation (Berkeley Lab, Queued Up 2026), so a lease signed today usually means construction years out: timelines by market.
Solar for homes and businesses in Hill County
Texas rules for rooftop and on-site systems are the same in every county; your electric utility sets the application steps: Texas home and business solar rules · your utility's application links.
Get the land report for a spot in Hill County
Get a free land report for any point: flood zone, wetlands, nearest power line, soils, and parcel acreage.
Other counties served by TCEQ Region 9
Bell · Bosque · Brazos · Burleson · Coryell · Falls · Freestone · Grimes · Hamilton · Lampasas · Leon · Limestone · Madison · McLennan · Milam · Mills · Robertson · San Saba · Washington