TVA, Meta, JEA, Silicon Ranch Break Ground on 70 MW Solar Farm in Tennessee

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Meta, Jackson Energy Authority (JEA), and Silicon Ranch broke ground on a 70 MW McKellar Solar Farm in Tennessee. The solar facility will aid Meta’s regional operations with its 100 per cent renewable energy.
 
The McKellar facility is part of the Green Invest program of TVA, which helps customers like Meta to fulfill their long-term sustainability goals with new utility-scale solar projects located within the Valley.
 
“TVA is the nexus for reliable, economical renewable energy solutions, and we have already committed $3 billion to bring more than 2,000 MW of new solar to the Valley since 2018,” said Doug Perry, Senior Vice President, Commercial Energy Solutions, TVA.
 
Silicon Ranch will fund, own, maintain, and operate the McKellar Solar Farm. The company has been expecting to invest north of $90 million for the facility’s construction. However, SR EPC, Silicon Ranch’s wholly-owned subsidiary, is the prime contractor for the project.
 
The construction of the solar facility will lead to the creation of 350 construction jobs, with preference given to the local labor pool and the military veteran community.
 
Urvi Parekh, Head of Renewable Energy, Meta, said, “The more than 850 megawatts 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.”
 
The construction of the facility is expected to be completed before the end of 2022.
 
“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, Jackson Energy Authority. “We are proud to partner with Meta, TVA, and Silicon Ranch to supply carbon-free solar power for many years to come.”