The Tennessee Valley Authority, Jackson Energy Authority, Silicon Ranch and Facebook parent company Meta have broken ground on a 70 MW solar facility in Madison County, Tennessee.
The McKellar Solar Farm is part of the Green Invest program by TVA that helps clients, like Meta, meet their sustainability goals with utility-scale solar projects. It will help power Meta’s operations in the region.
“The more than 850 MW of new solar energy we are developing with TVA is an important part of our goal to support our global operations with 100% renewable energy,” Meta’s Head of Renewable Energy Urvi Parekh said. “We thank our partners Silicon Ranch and TVA for sharing our commitment to have a positive impact on the communities where we locate.”
Earlier this year, Meta/Facebook announced an expansion of its massive Gallatin, Tenn., data center campus.
Silicon Ranch will fund, own, operate and maintain the facility. It will invest over $90 million in the construction of the facility.
Silicon Ranch named its subsidiary SR EPC as the prime contractor for the McKellar Solar Farm project. SR EPC named PCL Construction as the subcontractor for the PV plant and EPC Services Company as one for the substation.
PCL’s Solar Operations Manager Brad Hise said, “PLC is excited to leverage its experience in building over 50 utility-scale projects, to construct the McKellar solar facility.”
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The project is expected to create over 350 construction jobs with preference given to local workers and the military veteran community. It will also create additional employment for farmers and ranchers to care for the land.
The facility is expected to be complete by the end of 2022. The local Jackson Energy Authority distribution system will connect the facility to the TVA grid.
“This solar farm is the largest project to date in JEA’s service territory, reflecting our commitment to providing sustainable, reliable, and affordable power in the Tennessee Valley,” said Jim Ferrell, President and CEO of Jackson Energy Authority
Nearly 60% of the TVA’s electricity is from carbon-free generation, including hydroelectric, nuclear and renewables. The utility intends to add another 10,000 MW of solar by 2035. This additional capacity is expected to help the TVA achieve a 70% carbon reduction by 2030 and 80% by 2035. The ultimate goal is net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
