Gaspijplidingbedrijf Enbridge marked the completion of the 130 MW Orange Grove Solar Project, the first solar facility in the Lone Star State, with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Telecom giant AT&T has signed a long -term virtual electricity purchase agreement for the export of the project. The Array consists of 300,000 solar panels that are on 920 hectares.
Orange Grove Solar Project in Jim Wells County, Texas.
“We are happy to deliver extra zero emission electricity in the network to support local and Texas state-wide economic growth and the demand for energy,” said Matthew Akman, Executive VP of Corporate Strategy and President of Enbridge’s Power Business. “Enbridge is proud of a wide range of critical energy infrastructure in the Gulf Coast area, including liquid pipelines and export facilities, natural gas piping and storage, as well as wind and now solar energy.”
In addition to Orange Grove, Enbridge has a second solar facility under construction southeast of Abilene, in Callahan County, Texas, which is more than six times the size of this facility. The 815-MW Sequoia Solar Project will be one of the largest solar installations in North America.
These facilities are being built to meet the growing demand for power in the Ercot market.
“Orange Grove Solar would not be possible without the support of the people who helped make the reality,” said Maja Nisbet, manager of power projects, Enbridge. “At Enbridge, although we are proud of the project to reach this incredible milestone and supply the power to the Texas Grid, this party event really goes over the community behind it. From residents of Orange Grove and nearby landowners and near our dedicated project team – and the local, federal officials who were us at every step.
News item from Orange Grove Solar
