New solar farm brings major renewable energy to the Lone Star State
One of the largest solar projects in the United States officially opened in Texas on Friday, supported by what Google described as its largest-ever solar electricity purchase. The project, located about two hours south of Dallas, represents a significant milestone in the tech giant’s ongoing push for renewable, carbon-free energy.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Google executive Ben Sloss highlighted the company’s commitment to advancing clean energy. “As we open operations that will rely on this power, we have a responsibility to bring renewable, carbon-free electricity online,” Sloss said.
Google expects to invest $16 billion in clean energy purchases globally through 2040, aiming to expand its renewable energy footprint as part of its sustainability goals.
A major win for U.S. clean energy efforts
The new solar project in Texas, built by SB Energy, consists of three solar farms known collectively as the “Orion Solar Belt.” Together, these farms have a capacity of 875 megawatts, nearly the size of a typical nuclear power plant.
U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, who attended the event, praised the project as emblematic of the Biden administration’s efforts to boost domestic clean energy production. “Sometimes when you are in the middle of history, it’s hard to tell, because you are in the middle of it. But I’m telling you right now that we are in the middle of history being made,” she said.
This new development will help Texas, already a leader in renewable energy, continue its trend toward clean power, particularly as demand for electricity surges.
Meeting the growing demand for clean power
Google is not alone in its efforts to secure clean energy for its operations. The company has already contracted more than 2,800 megawatts of wind and solar power in Texas, surpassing the amount needed for its local data centers. Approximately 85% of the solar power from this project will supply Google’s data centers in Ellis County and cloud computing operations in the Dallas area, with the remainder going to the state’s power grid.
As tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft seek out carbon-free electricity sources to power data centers and support the rise of artificial intelligence, they are also turning to nuclear energy. These companies are under increasing pressure to meet sustainability commitments, even as power consumption continues to climb.
According to the International Energy Agency, global electricity demand from data centers is projected to exceed 1,000 terawatt-hours by 2026—more than doubling since 2022. The growing use of electricity for buildings and vehicles is also straining power grids worldwide.
Texas at the forefront of Google’s clean energy push
Google’s investment in Texas extends beyond solar energy. In August 2024, the company announced plans to invest over $1 billion in the state to support cloud and data center infrastructure. In Ellis County, Google is expanding its data center presence, with existing operations in Midlothian and a new campus under construction in Red Oak.
SB Energy, the builder of the solar farms, emphasized that most of the project’s components were made in the U.S., a feat made possible by incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act. This project is expected to be among the first to qualify for additional tax credits for using domestic content.
Reflecting on the scale of the project, Sloss remarked, “This project was a spreadsheet and a set of emails that I had been exchanging and a bunch of approvals and so on. And then you come over the rise and see it laid out in front of you, and it kind of takes your breath away.”
The solar farms, surrounded by fields where sheep graze to maintain vegetation, are a testament to how large-scale renewable energy projects can coexist with local ecosystems and contribute to a sustainable future.