Ranching the Solar Frontier

As the morning sun glints off rows of solar panels in San Angelo, Texas, Mary Margaret McDonald sees more than just a power plant—she sees her family’s heritage continuing into a new era. For five generations, the McDonald family has been stewards of this land, a legacy that began with Mary Margaret’s ancestor M.B. Pulliam, who settled in the area in the 1870s.

“My great-great grandfather, Papa Pulliam, was an early settler to San Angelo,” McDonald explained. “He and his wife, Mary Susanna, decided that it was perfect land for cattle.”

San Angelo reflects the same balance as the McDonald ranch—honoring tradition while embracing innovation. Throughout town, decorated sheep statues pay tribute to its agricultural roots, while the historic downtown and nearby Fort Concho whisper stories of a frontier outpost that flourished with cattle ranching and the arrival of the railroad. This resilient spirit and adaptability made it the perfect home for Angelo Solar, a 195 MW solar project on the town’s northwest edge.

The project sits on 1,500 acres of McDonald’s 2,200-acre property—land that was once part of a staggering 50,000-acre ranch purchased by her great-great-grandfather, for whom Pulliam Street in San Angelo is named. Over generations, portions of the land were handed down, sold off, or leased for tenant ranching.

“This has always been cattle country,” McDonald reflected. But maintaining the ranch over the decades proved challenging. “There were years when it was hard for my dad as a rancher to make ends meet. In really tough times, you could just barely make enough to keep your family going until it rained again.”

Weather Prophets

For generations, the McDonalds interpreted nature’s signals on their West Texas ranch, a survival skill as essential as the land itself. McDonald’s grandfather—who called himself a “weather prophet”—prided himself on understanding nature’s cues.

“As a rancher, you have to watch the weather always. And my dad passed that on to me—you watch what’s happening, how the lows and highs shift, when the droughts are coming, and you have to be prepared.”

In many ways, the family’s decision to lease the land for solar follows this same tradition—reading the signs and preparing for whatever may lie ahead.

When McDonald and her cousin, affectionately known as the “Queen Bees” of the family, inherited the ranch, they knew that continuing the family legacy was paramount. Although her dad struggled sometimes to support the ranch, he resisted selling their acreage—and the Queen Bees felt the same strong hesitancy.

Still, the decision to lease their land for solar came after careful consideration. Although they had been approached by other companies previously, something about Apex resonated with them. “We felt in our gut that they were a good company,” McDonald said.

Harvesting the Sun

For McDonald, solar represents “a new crop” for the land that has supported her family for generations. But even beyond providing a reliable income for her family, she recognizes benefits: the project strengthens San Angelo through job creation, tax revenue for schools and infrastructure, and much-needed diversification for the historically agriculture-dependent economy.

“I know that my dad would be so proud to know that the legacy he valued so deeply—his great-great-grandfather’s ranching tradition and community connection—has continued on for the next 30 years at least, giving back and being an important part of the community.”

Angelo Solar, which officially began operating in June 2024, will produce enough energy to power the equivalent of more than 50,000 homes annually and provide millions in tax revenue to Tom Greene County. But to McDonald, its true value lies in preserving connection to the land.

“It’s important that my grandkids have that continuity and rich history and understanding of where they came from,” she reflected. “I would like them to have a place to come back home to and just walk the grounds … this gives you a connection, and I think it’s really important for all of us to stay connected to both our past and our future.”