Longroad Energy, a U.S.-based renewable energy developer, has funded and commenced construction of Umbriel Solar, a 202-MWDC/150MWAC PV project located in Polk County, Texas.
Prospero 1, a 379 MWdc operating solar project in Texas developed, financed and built by Longroad Energy.
Umbriel is Longroad’s sixth greenfield renewable energy project in Texas to reach financial close and its first project in Texas’s MISO footprint. Umbriel development began in 2017, and the project is expected to reach commercial operations by the end of this year.
“Texas continues to be an attractive market for solar development, and we are pleased to achieve financial close and begin construction on Umbriel,” said Adam Horwitz, VP of origination and development operations at Longroad Energy. “Umbriel’s closing marks over 1.7 GW of total wind and solar projects developed, financed, and built in Texas by the Longroad team. Thank you to our many project participants and partners who made reaching this important milestone possible.”
Umbriel’s total output, enough to power more than 30,000 homes, will be purchased by Entergy Texas through a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA).
“Umbriel Solar marks a major milestone, as it will be our first solar resource to come online, further diversifying our portfolio,” said Abigail Weaver, Entergy Texas director of resource planning and market operations. “Our communities are increasingly asking for clean-energy offerings, and this facility will provide affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for years to come.”
The project will be constructed by McCarthy Building Cos., and is projected to employ close to 300 people. Umbriel will be composed of First Solar Series 6/6+ modules, Power Electronics inverters and Nextracker single-axis trackers. NovaSource and Longroad Energy Services will provide operations and maintenance.
During operations, the project is projected to generate over $9 million for the Livingston Independent School District, and over $4 million in tax revenue to Polk County. Longroad extends thanks to the staff and officials at the LISD and Polk County for their support and collaboration throughout development and construction of the Umbriel project.
News item from Longroad Energy Holdings