Presidio County
Presidio County officials are weighing whether county-owned land could be made available for a new AEP Texas substation, as the utility continues searching for a roughly four-acre site to increase the infrastructure needed to increase its peak capacity for the Marfa area.
Both county and AEP representatives described the conversations as preliminary. County Commissioner Deirdre Hisler said no specific county property has been identified, but that the county is looking at what land it holds and how it could help. AEP spokesperson Fred Guerrero said the company is discussing county-owned property and still working to identify an exact plot, adding that a county site could keep the substation outside city limits and away from residential customers.
Hisler said AEP first reached out to the county earlier in the process, but at the time, county-owned land was considered too far from the existing Alamito substation in Marfa. Her understanding, she said, was that AEP needed a site within roughly a mile of that substation.
“I did work with them and identified a couple of parcels with a local realtor that might work,” Hisler said. “I have no idea what AEP is doing with those two suggestions, because they did not want to look at those while they were under contract on that failed parcel.”
At last week’s Commissioners Court meeting, Hisler said she learned that AEP was returning to the county to discuss a potential four-acre tract. She said the county is now reviewing what land it owns and whether any parcel could meet the utility’s needs.
“We are very committed to being a part of the solution,” Hisler said, adding that the county understands the need for added electrical capacity in the Marfa area.
Hisler said the county would not consider land in North Park, Vizcaino Park or the golf course area, where other plans are already underway. One area that could be reviewed, she said, is county-owned property east of the roping arena, though she stressed those conversations remain preliminary.
Guerrero also said discussions are still in the early stages. “Right now, we’re trying to get an exact plot of the property,” Guerrero said. “We’re still in preliminary discussions.”
Guerrero said he did not see a concern with using county-owned land. In a follow-up message, he said placing the station on county property could provide funds to the county through the sale of land and keep the substation outside the city, away from residential customers.
The renewed discussion follows months of controversy over AEP’s earlier proposal for a substation on Oak Street in Marfa. That proposal drew pushback from nearby residents and local officials concerned about placing electrical infrastructure near homes. The Marfa City Council ultimately denied a permit to allow an industrial use in land zoned residential, sending AEP back to the search for another viable site.
AEP has said the new substation is needed to address electrical capacity and reliability in the area. Hisler said the county has also begun hearing from people who are struggling to receive electrical connections from AEP because of strain on the existing grid, though she said AEP would need to confirm those details. Guerrero previously told Big Bend Sentinel that electricity connections for remodeled homes and new developments would have to be considered by the utility on a “case-by-case” basis.
Hisler said real estate discussions would ultimately involve commissioners, the county judge and the county attorney. County Judge Joe Portillo said he had raised the possibility of gifting land to AEP, since the public would benefit from the increased electrical capacity and the county would gain tax revenue from a new substation. “Right now, that land is producing zero dollars for us,” he said.
