288MW Texas solar portfolio powers up

Lightsource bp powers up 288-megawatt solar portfolio in Texas, strengthening grid resilience and supporting American manufacturing

• $348 million investment: Private capital fuels new energy infrastructure, creating jobs and boosting Texas economy
• Enhancing energy independence: Portfolio delivers reliable, homegrown power to diversify Texas grid and strengthen energy security
• Supporting America’s economy: Portfolio includes approximately 400 jobs during construction, panels from Arizona-based First Solar and smart solar trackers from New Mexico-based Array Technologies 

Texas is reaping the benefits of $348 million in new renewable energy generation as a Lightsource bp 288-megawatt (MW) solar portfolio enters commercial operation. The portfolio includes two utility-scale projects:

• 163MW Starr Solar in Starr County, Texas
• 125MW Second Division Solar in Brazoria County, Texas

Combined, the two projects can generate enough homegrown electricity to power more than 50,000 homes annually while offsetting 381,000 metric tons of carbon emissions each year¹—the equivalent of removing 82,000 fuel-burning cars from the road.

Strengthening grid resilience and energy security, while decreasing dependence on foreign imports

With this expansion, Lightsource bp’s operational fleet in Texas grows to 1,051 megawatts, further diversifying and strengthening the state’s electric grid. The company has a well-established track record of performance and reliability, consistently delivering power during critical times. Lightsource bp’s Texas projects have played a vital role during extreme weather events like winter storms Uri and Heather and recent heat waves, helping keep the lights on and mitigating price spikes when Texans need it most.

“Our solar projects are a testament to the power of private investment in strengthening energy security and supporting economic growth,” said Helen Brauner, interim COO for Lightsource bp USA. “By delivering reliable, homegrown energy, we’re helping Texas build a more resilient grid while creating opportunities for American manufacturing and local communities.”

The portfolio is situated within critical energy communities, and supports U.S. domestic manufacturing with solar panels from Arizona-based First Solar and smart solar trackers from New Mexico-based Array Technologies.

Promoting environmental sustainability and responsible land stewardship

Solar panels are mounted on posts that use less than 5% of the land, preserving ample space for vegetation to thrive. With a focus on enhancing biodiversity within the first five years of operation, ongoing land stewardship initiatives across the Starr and Second Division projects include:

• Pollinator-friendly habitats with a custom seed mix planted beneath the panels
• Integrated agriculture through sheep grazing, set to begin in 2025
• Habitat structures designed to support small mammal populations

Wetland enhancement, protecting an adjacent wetland complex with vegetative filter strips and pollinator habitat to improve water quality

Resources

• Starr Solar project website 

• Second Division Solar project website 

• Withstanding extreme weather on solar farms video 
• Image library 

1 Calculation based on EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, which uses the AVoided Emissions and geneRation Tool (AVERT) U.S. national weighted average CO2 marginal emission rate to convert reductions of kilowatt-hours into avoided units of carbon dioxide emissions. See: https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gases-equivalencies-calculator-calculations-and-references.