Oxbow Solar | 345MW in Louisiana
345MWdc
/300MWac of renewable energy
400
jobs created during construction, the majority local workers
62,400 homes
powered with renewable energy (equivalent)
$394 million
investment of private capital into energy infrastructure for Louisiana, helping increase the state’s energy security
$30 million
dollars to Pointe Coupee Parish government agencies in revenue over the next 35 years
Site Selection & preliminary design
Stakeholder outreach
Permitting & environmental studies
Land management & biodiversity planning
Final engineering, financing & construction
Ownership transfer to JERA Nex
Continued operations & maintenance by Lightsource bp
About the Oxbow solar project
Lightsource bp’s Oxbow solar project is in commercial operations in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana. Oxbow was developed, financed and constructed by Lightsource bp. In mid-2024, JERA Nex assumed ownership of the facility. Lightsource bp continues to provide asset management and O&M services for the project.
Through corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs), the Oxbow Solar project helps power McDonald’s and eBay’s US operations with solar energy.
This project, previously called “Ventress Solar Farm,” was renamed in August 2022. The project site is named for a nearby oxbow lake known as “False River” in Ventress, Louisiana.
In developing the project, Lightsource bp adhered to the ordinance adopted by the Pointe Coupee Parish Council that provides local regulatory control over solar farms. Key elements of the ordinance, which complement our best practices for solar farm development, include:
- Buffer zones of greenspace with trees and shrubs between the solar panels and public
- Addressing maintenance and upkeep of the facility
- Making sure appropriate drainage and traffic mitigation are provided,
- How the site would be decommissioned at its end of life
Supporting Pointe Coupee Parish
By engaging local stakeholders, supporting economic development and aligning with community-driven philanthropic goals, we create projects that not only generate renewable energy but deliver meaningful long-term benefits to the people and places we serve. Since 2023, we have contributed more than $900,000 to local schools and non-profits across the United States.
The Oxbow Solar project created more than 400 well-paying jobs during construction, prioritizing local hires. The project is estimated to contribute more than $30 million in new tax revenue for the local government over its lifetime.
The success of our projects begins with building strong, lasting partnerships with local partners. If you are part of a local organization that would like to learn more about our community giving, please contact our Community Relations Managers at uscommunityrelations@lightsourcebp.com.
Community dialogue – we want to be a good neighbor
Our dedicated Community Relations team works to maximize the positive community impacts of our projects.
To connect with a Community Relations Manager, please email USCommunityRelations@lightsourcebp.com.
If you are a member of the media, please visit our Press Center.
How solar farms work
Solar is a passive form of technology, generating emissions-free electricity that adds security to our country’s energy mix. This, combined with its ability to bring our country’s energy costs down makes it an ideal energy source for the US.
- Solar farms are quiet, clean neighbors. They don’t emit any noise beyond the site boundaries and can be designed with screening to limit project visibility from neighbors’ residences and nearby roads.
- With a long-term land management plan, studies have shown that solar farms can meaningfully increase wildlife populations and biodiversity.
- Solar farms can help strengthen rural economies by creating local jobs, contributing significant annual revenue for local governments, providing dependable revenue to landowners in order to supplement farm income, and bringing multimillion dollar annual operations budgets that are primarily spent in the region.
Best practices for solar development
Farm-style game fencing pictured at Oxbow Solar.
Lightsource bp has a deep commitment to delivering safe and affordable renewable energy, as well as maximizing the environmental and positive social impacts of our projects. We are intentional with every detail, from the fencing we choose to the vegetation we plant. We want our projects to be great additions to the local community
Environment and aesthetics
- Adding buffer zones of greenspace with trees and shrubs between the solar panels and public view.
- Installing game fencing— consistent with the local aesthetic of the area—around the project, as opposed to industry-standard chain link fencing.
- Planting vegetation under and around the solar panels, with a seed mix customized for the local area. These seed mixes help to increase biodiversity and improve soil health.
Planning for lifetime success
- Development of comprehensive drainage and traffic management plans
- Budgeting for consistent maintenance and upkeep of the facility.
- Preparing a decommissioning plan to ensure that the project will be removed at the end of its life.
- Working with local leaders to gather feedback, provide specialized training on energy storage safety and ensure that a response plan is in place for the unlikely case of an emergency.
Making a local impact
A solar farm produces more than just energy. It can boost biodiversity on the land. It can provide new tax revenue to your community. It’s a new, year-round harvest for farmers that helps them keep their land for future generations.
Long-term benefits
In addition to generating renewable energy for Louisiana’s electrical grid, development of land with home-grown solar has long-term benefits, including:
- Rest and regeneration of the land during the project’s life, improving soil health and preserving it for future agricultural use.
- Healthy groundcover under and around the panels that supports local biodiversity, creating a stable, long-term home for plants, pollinators, birds and other wildlife.
- Opportunity for integrated agriculture such as sheep grazing or beekeeping.
- Rural resilience through continued local ownership of the land with long–term lease payments.
Economic growth for the community
The Oxbow solar project represents a $394 million private investment into home-grown, affordable energy for Louisiana.
- Throughout its life, the project will contribute $30 million to the local tax base, benefiting local schools and other public community services.
- Lightsource bp is committed to supporting philanthropic activities and charitable donations to local organizations.
Information and resources
We’ve put together a collection of resources for anyone who’d like to know more about utility-scale solar energy.
Solar farm FAQs
We’ve put together a list of the most commonly asked questions, and their answers.
Solar energy basics
National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL)
Lightsource bp educational materials
Solar panel safety and recycling
Stories
Find out more about our Responsible Solar approach
Habitat creation and preservation in Louisiana
Case study from Prairie Ronde Solar in St. Landry Parish
Helping make solar technology and job training accessible to underserved communities
Our partnership with GRID Alternatives in Colorado.
Community dialogue: Get in touch
Lightsource bp is dedicated to supporting communities that are home to our solar projects across America. We have a Community Relations team that works closely with our neighbors to maximize the positive social impacts of our projects.
If you would like to connect with a Community Relations Manager, please email USCommunityRelations@lightsourcebp.com.
If you are a member of the media, please visit our Press Center.
Complaint Filing Procedure
Complaints can be submitted through the following means:
- US Community Relations email address: uscommunityrelations@lightsourcebp.com
- Lightsource bp office phone number: 1 (415) 523-0200
- US Mail: Oxbow Solar, 400 Montgomery Street, 8th Floor San Francisco, CA 94104
Complaint Review Process
Our designated staff will contact the complainant within five (5) business days of receiving a complaint. During this call or email, we will confirm the issue, identify the relevant site, and establish the best way to stay in touch. We will also provide a specific timeframe for follow-up.
All complaints are logged in our stakeholder management platform to track progress and resolution time. A subject matter expert (SME) will work on finding a resolution and provide updates as needed.
We are committed to resolving complaints as quickly as possible and will provide regular updates. In some cases, unexpected delays may occur, or a complaint may be deemed unresolvable. If this happens, we will inform the complainant and explain the situation.
