Zelestra and Meta have expanded their renewable energy collaboration with the signing of a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the 180 MWdc Palmera Solar Plant in Freestone County, Texas.
The agreement strengthens the companies’ growing clean energy partnership and supports Meta’s objective of matching its operations with 100% clean energy while adding new renewable generation capacity to the electricity grid.
The Palmera Solar Plant, which will have a capacity of 180 MWdc (140 MWac), becomes the latest addition to a portfolio of renewable energy projects developed by Zelestra for Meta across the United States. With the new agreement, the two companies now have eight PPAs covering approximately 1.4 GWdc of solar capacity, all expected to be operational by 2028.
The announcement comes as Zelestra advances construction activities on two other Meta-backed solar projects. Construction is currently underway at the 176 MWdc Skull Creek Solar Plant in Anderson County, Texas, and the 200 MWdc Reclamation Solar Project in Gibson County, Indiana. Together, the projects are expected to support approximately 400 jobs during peak construction.
The collaboration has already achieved a key milestone with the successful commissioning of the 81 MWdc Jasper County Solar Project in Indiana, which recently entered full commercial operation as the first completed project under the partnership.
According to the companies, the Skull Creek Solar Plant is expected to generate an estimated US$8.2 million in local economic impact and will utilize approximately 400,000 bifacial solar modules. McCarthy Building Companies has been selected as the lead EPC contractor for the project.
Meanwhile, the Reclamation Solar Project in Indiana is being developed on land previously used for coal mining operations. The project will deploy approximately 325,000 US-manufactured bifacial solar modules and is expected to contribute to soil restoration, native vegetation growth, and biodiversity enhancement. Qcells USA Corp. has been appointed as both the solar module supplier and EPC provider.
Amanda Yang, Head of Clean and Renewable Energy at Meta, stated that the company remains committed to bringing new renewable energy capacity to the grid and highlighted the role of its partnership with Zelestra in achieving clean energy objectives while supporting local economic development.
Phil North, CEO of Zelestra US, said the partnership continues to translate renewable energy ambitions into operational projects, with multiple facilities progressing from development to construction and commercial operation.
Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, Zelestra is continuing to expand its renewable energy platform across the United States, with a development pipeline of approximately 15 GW spanning key energy markets. The company is focused on delivering multi-technology renewable energy solutions to meet the growing power demand of hyperscale data centers and corporate energy customers.
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