The Angelina County Commissioners have approved a 10-year tax abatement to encourage a new company, Long Leaf Generating LLC, to invest heavily in the area. This tax incentive means the company won’t pay property taxes for the first three years, then gradually start paying more over the following seven years.
What Does This Mean for Angelina County?
Long Leaf Generating LLC plans to invest $690 million in Angelina County, including at least $350 million on building a new facility here. The company is also required to create nine full-time jobs for locals.
Importantly, this tax break won’t mean higher taxes for residents. It’s a temporary deal designed to attract new business, and once the abatement period ends, the company will pay full taxes. In the meantime, Angelina County will gain a new industry focused on delivering fast, reliable power when Texas needs it most.
New Natural Gas Power Plant to Boost Texas Energy
The recent Texas ice storm in 2021 was a harsh reminder of how dangerous power outages can be. Extreme weather—whether heat or cold—affects millions of Texans every year, making reliable electricity vital.
Long Leaf Generating LLC will build a natural gas power plant in the Long Leaf Reinvestment Zone near Lufkin. This plant will generate electricity especially during peak demand times, like hot summers or severe winter storms. The goal is to add instant power to the Texas grid when it’s most needed, helping prevent blackouts.
Timeline and Next Steps
Construction could start as early as 2026, but the project might take over five years to complete. Before moving forward, the City of Lufkin and Lufkin Independent School District (ISD) still need to approve their own tax abatements for the company.
This means the project isn’t finalized yet, but it’s a promising step toward strengthening Texas’s energy infrastructure and creating local jobs.