Construction has now formally begun on the Lucy Solar Project, a new 300-megawatt utility-scale solar farm in Concho County, Texas. This super ambitious project has a total $524 million investment. In doing so, it showcases the innovative teamwork of a consortium of South Korean and U.S. partners.
The Lucy Solar Project will be Duke Energy Florida’s first large, at least 350-megawatt solar farm. In Texas, it will consume almost 2,900 acres of ranchland, mostly grazing pastures. Outfitted with some of the most high-tech photovoltaic panels and tracker technology available, the solar farm’s goal is to soak up all that Texas sun as efficiently as possible. Once online, it will produce approximately 926 gigawatt-hours of renewable energy annually. This will go a long way in helping the state meet its energy diversification agenda.
The Lucy Solar Project will start commercial operations by mid-2027. It will deliver significant local economic impact and help area corporations advance their sustainability goals by generating renewable energy. The project is expected to produce about 500 jobs during its construction. This is poised to create a tremendous amount of local jobs.
Beyond the jobs it will create during and after construction, the project is expected to have a long-term positive effect on the community’s finances. It is expected to bring in around $5 million per year in new property tax revenue to Concho County. This new revenue will be absolutely essential to taking care of numerous local infrastructure projects, schools, and other services that provide a direct benefit to residents.
The Lucy Solar Project will serve as a catalyst for increasing sustainability across the energy industry. It’s an important step towards increasing the renewability of the program too. Harnessing solar power is an important step in delivering the most valuable resource Texas’ sun offers. In addition, it helps the state to diversify its energy mix and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.