Four indicted in Sweetwater wind turbine blade dumping probe; cleanup not yet started

SWEETWATER, Texas — Massive piles of decommissioned wind turbine blades that have sat for years in and around Sweetwater are now at the center of a criminal case, with local officials saying indictments have been issued and more work remains before cleanup can begin.

The City of Sweetwater, the Sweetwater Police Department, Sweetwater Economic Development and the Nolan County District Attorney’s Office held a press conference Thursday, to provide an update on the status of the wind blades at the location, outline actions taken and discuss the indictments.

City Manager Bryan Sheridan said four individuals were indicted earlier in the week on criminal charges related to the wind blades. Sheridan described the situation as “illegal dumping of the wind turbines” and said the Sweetwater Police Department, working with county and state partners, is holding responsible individuals accountable.

Sweetwater Police Chief Cory Stroman called the case “a unique case” and said it has been a long, extensive investigation with parts still ongoing. Stroman credited cooperation from Sweetwater Economic Development, the city’s code enforcement office, the district attorney’s office and the police department’s Criminal Investigations Division, specifically Detective. Danny Heine, whom Stroman described as a go-to investigator for large-scale environmental crimes.

Stroman said cleanup efforts have not been able to begin. He said the state is pursuing the civil route, while the 32nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office is pursuing the criminal route as a result of the investigation.

Nolan County District Attorney Ricky Thompson said cases were presented Tuesday to a Nolan County grand jury based on the Sweetwater Police Department investigation. Thompson said four cases were presented, “actually eight cases total,” and said the indictments involve illegal dumping and theft of property with engaging in organized criminal activity. Thompson said the theft-related charge was a first-degree felony and said the illegal dumping charge in Texas “only carries a state jail felony.”

Thompson also said the individuals responsible do not live in Nolan County and “don't even live here in the state of Texas.”

The issue dates back to at least 2022, when two massive piles of old wind turbine blades were reported being stored in Sweetwater and Nolan County. Global Fiberglass Solutions has two storage locations tied to the matter, one inside the Sweetwater city limits and another south of town.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said it is taking enforcement action involving the Sweetwater branch of Global Fiberglass Solutions. In a statement, the agency said, “As of Aug. 7, 2025, Global Fiber Solutions (GFS) has not obtained a permit to store the waste at the two sites identified in the Agreed Order (Docket No. 2022-0065-IHW-E).

As identified in the agreed order, TCEQ has an active enforcement action with GFS regarding unauthorized disposal of waste at the two sites located in Sweetwater. Therefore, GFS is not in compliance with the referenced Agreed Order and an additional enforcement is in development.”

Sweetwater Economic Development Executive Director Miesha Adames said the prolonged presence of the blades has affected the community’s visual landscape, reputation and perception. She said there are “more than 4000 of them” in Nolan County and that many have been sitting in the area since 2017. She tells us the matter has progressed through legal channels, resulting in indictments issued by the Nolan County grand jury, and emphasized that Sweetwater expects companies operating in the community to follow the law and honor commitments.

Director Adames also shares the clean up is costly, with an unclear understanding of who would foot the bill. "Transportation cost would go into it," she said. "It depends how you would would take care of the, blades afterwards, whether it be landfill or recycle. But we're talking anywhere upwards of 5 million, for transportation cost. If you didn't have someone come on site to do that, that adds about another 10 million to it. So it just depends the route that we're allowed to go with the, to give you or the EPA..."

A statement from Texas House Rep. Stan Lambert of District 71 was read at the briefing. Lambert said, “This is exactly the kind of accountability our communities deserve,” adding that the indictments show a commitment to protecting land, upholding the law and ensuring “that no one cuts corners at the expense of our community.”

Officials said they are still working on a plan to recover from the incident, citing multiple factors including funding and compliance with EPA standards, and said they are in the early stages of putting a plan together to address mitigation concerns.