Students of local history know how Bastrop County values and depends on its wealth of trees. Over-harvesting in its early days and recent wildfires are painful reminders of human encroachment on this treasured resource. Unfortunately, our school system leaders haven’t taken this lesson to heart.Last month, Elgin ISD approved a tax abatement application for a 2,100-acre solar energy factory sited on one of the most densely-forested tracts in the school district. Solar Proponent LLC’s rushed application is one of six other similar solar projects the newly formed Austin company has put before school boards across Texas before the tax-abatement program ...