{"id":19323,"date":"2021-01-14T15:00:10","date_gmt":"2021-01-14T15:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lightsourcebp.com\/news\/commercial-operation-begins-at-260mw-solar-project-in-texas\/"},"modified":"2026-01-05T23:28:27","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T23:28:27","slug":"commercial-operation-begins-at-260mw-solar-project-in-texas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/news\/commercial-operation-begins-at-260mw-solar-project-in-texas\/","title":{"rendered":"Commercial operation begins at 260MW solar project in Texas"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"block-page-title bg-color-white\">\n  <div class=\"pt-60 pt-lg-100\"><\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"container\">\n    <div class=\"row\">\n      <div class=\"col-12\">\n                <h1 class=\"fg-color-gradient\">Commercial operation begins at 260MW solar project in Texas<\/h1>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"pt-60 pt-lg-100\"><\/div>\n<\/section>\n  \n\n\n<section class=\"banner-single position-relative\">\n  <div class=\"container-fluid\">\n    <div class=\"row\">\n      <div class=\"col-12 px-0\">\n                <div class=\"position-relative w-100 h-100 aspect-ratio-banner object-fit-cover\">\n          <picture>\n                    <source srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2022\/11\/29094013\/Commercial-operation-begins-at-260MW-solar-project-in-Texas-450x188.jpg, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2022\/11\/29094013\/Commercial-operation-begins-at-260MW-solar-project-in-Texas-1000x417.jpg 2x\"\n                          media=\"(max-width: 575px)\">\n                    <source srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2022\/11\/29094013\/Commercial-operation-begins-at-260MW-solar-project-in-Texas-1000x417.jpg, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2022\/11\/29094013\/Commercial-operation-begins-at-260MW-solar-project-in-Texas.jpg 2x\"\n                          media=\"(min-width: 576px) and (max-width: 991px)\">\n                    <source srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2022\/11\/29094013\/Commercial-operation-begins-at-260MW-solar-project-in-Texas.jpg, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2022\/11\/29094013\/Commercial-operation-begins-at-260MW-solar-project-in-Texas.jpg 2x\"\n                          media=\"(min-width: 992px)\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2022\/11\/29094013\/Commercial-operation-begins-at-260MW-solar-project-in-Texas.jpg\" alt=\"\"\n                       srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2022\/11\/29094013\/Commercial-operation-begins-at-260MW-solar-project-in-Texas.jpg 2x\"\n                       sizes=\"auto, 100vw\"\n                       class=\"position-absolute w-100 h-100 left-0 top-0 object-fit-cover\"\n                       width=\"1920\"\n                       height=\"800\">\n                <\/picture>\n        <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"text align block_acf-block-6945919c26c76 block bg-color-white position-relative z-1 overflow-hidden\">\n    <div class=\"pt-60 pt-lg-100\"><\/div>\n\n  \n  <div class=\"container \">\n    <div class=\"row\">\n      <div class=\"col-12\">\n        <span class=\"rich-text standard-text fg-color-navy\">\n          <ul>\n<li>Renewable energy to power the equivalent of 41,000 homes<\/li>\n<li>Project expected to offset 318,000 metric tons of C0<sub>2<\/sub> annually<\/li>\n<li>Sustains generational farmland<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Lightsource bp today announced that its Impact Solar project, located in Lamar County, 120 miles northeast of Dallas, has successfully completed construction and entered full grid-connected commercial operation. Through a long-term agreement, bp will sell the energy generated by the 260-megawatt (MW) project. The project represents an investment of $250 million in the Texas region, with 320 workers on site during construction \u2013 84% of which were local hires.<\/p>\n<p>bp is aiming to be a net-zero company by 2050 or sooner. As part of the strategy, by 2030 bp plans to increase low carbon investments to around $5 billion a year. This includes developing around 50 gigawatts (GW) of net renewable energy generating capacity \u2013 a 20-fold increase on the 2.5GW to date.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Orlando Alvarez, bp\u2019s senior vice president, gas &amp; power trading Americas, said: <\/strong><em>\u201cThe Impact Solar project in Texas is one of the many ways we are turning our net zero ambition into action. This is a great example of how we are increasing our low carbon investment while leveraging bp\u2019s expertise in the energy markets by trading the electricity generated from the project.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Generation from the 260 MW Impact Solar project will deliver clean, cost-effective energy for the equivalent of more than 41,000 homes in the Texas market. By providing this renewable power, lightsource bp is eliminating the carbon equivalent of emissions from over 68,000 fuel-burning cars.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kevin Smith, CEO of the Americas, Lightsource bp:<\/strong> <em>\u201cThis project in Texas is a great example of how our joint venture with bp is furthering our shared mission to accelerate the implementation of solar. Since bp\u2019s initial investment in the company in 2017 and our subsequent expansion into the U.S., the team has developed a pipeline of 8 gigawatts of large-scale solar projects at various stages of development in 20 states across the U.S. \u2013 with more than 2 gigawatts of executed power contracts representing almost $2 billion in near term projects.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<h4>Enhancing resilience of landowners and their land<\/h4>\n<p>Impact Solar is on land that is leased to Lightsource bp from local landowners, providing families with a diversified source of reliable income for 25 or more years, and helping keep the land in the family for generations. For many farmers, the revenue from leasing a portion of their land for solar as a new type of crop can help them continue with their farming business.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gerald Cooper, landowner:<\/strong> <em>\u201cWith ranching or farming, there\u2019s no guarantee of income. You make your own check out of dirt. With solar, you\u2019re guaranteed a check at the end of the year. I still enjoy farming, but solar has allowed me to enjoy it more because I don\u2019t have the dread of the market dropping or of drought, which has been our biggest challenge.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Joy Cooper, landowner:<\/strong> <em>\u201cOur dad was born on the land, which has been in our family for over 100 years. With solar, we\u2019re able to keep the land in the family. The number one thing is that we will still have a connection to the land, and we\u2019re comfortable that Lightsource bp will be good stewards.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Lightsource bp will boost biodiversity around the site by planting wildflowers to support bees and other pollinators, creating bird and bat shelters, and providing habitat for reptiles and amphibians. These initiatives were carefully designed to help improve and maintain the local ecosystem.<\/p>\n<h4>Resources<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/okoo_sYO7EE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Texas energy video<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/7ZUQiAFE_4o\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Landowner video<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/APeV6w3NJXU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Biodiversity video<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n        <\/span>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"pt-60 pt-lg-30\"><\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"multi-column-cards align block_acf-block-6945919c26cd1 block bg-color-orange-3-percent\">\n  <div class=\"pt-60 pt-lg-100\"><\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"container\">\n    <div class=\"row\">\n      <div class=\"col-12\">\n                <h3 class=\"mb-35\">Related news <\/h3>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"row\">\n                        <div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4 mb-30\">\n  <div class=\"multi-column-cards__image-container h-300px h-lg-250px\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/news\/lightsource-bp-and-toyota-enter-into-a-power-contract-in-texas\/\" class=\"d-block w-100 h-100\">\n      <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/01\/13174706\/DJI_20250805160842_0097_D-1-1-scaled-aspect-ratio-315-195-1200x743.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/01\/13174706\/DJI_20250805160842_0097_D-1-1-scaled-aspect-ratio-315-195-300x186.jpg 300w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/01\/13174706\/DJI_20250805160842_0097_D-1-1-scaled-aspect-ratio-315-195-1024x634.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/01\/13174706\/DJI_20250805160842_0097_D-1-1-scaled-aspect-ratio-315-195-80x50.jpg 80w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/01\/13174706\/DJI_20250805160842_0097_D-1-1-scaled-aspect-ratio-315-195-150x93.jpg 150w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/01\/13174706\/DJI_20250805160842_0097_D-1-1-scaled-aspect-ratio-315-195-450x279.jpg 450w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/01\/13174706\/DJI_20250805160842_0097_D-1-1-scaled-aspect-ratio-315-195-767x475.jpg 767w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/01\/13174706\/DJI_20250805160842_0097_D-1-1-scaled-aspect-ratio-315-195-1000x619.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/01\/13174706\/DJI_20250805160842_0097_D-1-1-scaled-aspect-ratio-315-195-1600x991.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/01\/13174706\/DJI_20250805160842_0097_D-1-1-scaled-aspect-ratio-315-195-1920x1189.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/01\/13174706\/DJI_20250805160842_0097_D-1-1-scaled-aspect-ratio-315-195.jpg 1940w\" sizes=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/01\/13174706\/DJI_20250805160842_0097_D-1-1-scaled-aspect-ratio-315-195-1200x743.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"743\" class=\"w-100 h-100 object-fit-cover\"><\/picture>\n    <\/a>\n  <\/div>\n      <p class=\"mt-20 mb-10 font-size-paragraph-small\">13 Jan, 2026<\/p>\n    <a class=\"text-decoration-none text-decoration-sm-underline-hover\" href=\"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/news\/lightsource-bp-and-toyota-enter-into-a-power-contract-in-texas\/\">\n    <h5 class=\"mb-15 fg-color-navy\">Lightsource bp and Toyota enter into a power contract in Texas<\/h5>\n  <\/a>\n      <p class=\"mb-15 line-height-level-6\">Lightsource bp and Toyota Motor North America have finalized a virtual power purchase agreement for energy from the 231MW Jones City 2 solar farm in Texas.<\/p>\n    <p><a href=\"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/news\/lightsource-bp-and-toyota-enter-into-a-power-contract-in-texas\/\">Read Story <span class=\"ml-10\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"8\" height=\"14\" fill=\"none\"><path stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M1 13l6-6-6-6\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n                  <div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4 mb-30\">\n  <div class=\"multi-column-cards__image-container h-300px h-lg-250px\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/news\/lightsource-bp-and-pinnacle-financial-partners-announce-97-9m-tax-equity-deal-for-peacock-solar\/\" class=\"d-block w-100 h-100\">\n      <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/14183109\/BPVC1093-Construction-Underway-At-Peacock-Solar-Farm-Texas_edit_m330646-1-aspect-ratio-315-195.png 703w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/14183109\/BPVC1093-Construction-Underway-At-Peacock-Solar-Farm-Texas_edit_m330646-1-aspect-ratio-315-195-300x186.png 300w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/14183109\/BPVC1093-Construction-Underway-At-Peacock-Solar-Farm-Texas_edit_m330646-1-aspect-ratio-315-195-80x50.png 80w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/14183109\/BPVC1093-Construction-Underway-At-Peacock-Solar-Farm-Texas_edit_m330646-1-aspect-ratio-315-195-150x93.png 150w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/14183109\/BPVC1093-Construction-Underway-At-Peacock-Solar-Farm-Texas_edit_m330646-1-aspect-ratio-315-195-450x279.png 450w\" sizes=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/14183109\/BPVC1093-Construction-Underway-At-Peacock-Solar-Farm-Texas_edit_m330646-1-aspect-ratio-315-195.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"703\" height=\"436\" class=\"w-100 h-100 object-fit-cover\"><\/picture>\n    <\/a>\n  <\/div>\n      <p class=\"mt-20 mb-10 font-size-paragraph-small\">14 Oct, 2025<\/p>\n    <a class=\"text-decoration-none text-decoration-sm-underline-hover\" href=\"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/news\/lightsource-bp-and-pinnacle-financial-partners-announce-97-9m-tax-equity-deal-for-peacock-solar\/\">\n    <h5 class=\"mb-15 fg-color-navy\">Lightsource bp and Pinnacle Financial Partners announce $97.9M tax equity deal for Peacock Solar<\/h5>\n  <\/a>\n      <p class=\"mb-15 line-height-level-6\">\u00a0Lightsource bp and Pinnacle Financial Partners today announced the closing of a $97.9 million tax equity deal to finance the 187 MW Peacock Solar in San Patricio County, TX.<\/p>\n    <p><a href=\"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/news\/lightsource-bp-and-pinnacle-financial-partners-announce-97-9m-tax-equity-deal-for-peacock-solar\/\">Read Story <span class=\"ml-10\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"8\" height=\"14\" fill=\"none\"><path stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M1 13l6-6-6-6\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n                  <div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4 mb-30\">\n  <div class=\"multi-column-cards__image-container h-300px h-lg-250px\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/news\/lightsource-bp-wins-two-north-american-agrivoltaics-awards\/\" class=\"d-block w-100 h-100\">\n      <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/14162028\/Image-19-aspect-ratio-315-195-1200x743.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/14162028\/Image-19-aspect-ratio-315-195-300x186.jpg 300w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/14162028\/Image-19-aspect-ratio-315-195-1024x634.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/14162028\/Image-19-aspect-ratio-315-195-80x50.jpg 80w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/14162028\/Image-19-aspect-ratio-315-195-150x93.jpg 150w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/14162028\/Image-19-aspect-ratio-315-195-450x278.jpg 450w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/14162028\/Image-19-aspect-ratio-315-195-767x475.jpg 767w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/14162028\/Image-19-aspect-ratio-315-195-1000x619.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/14162028\/Image-19-aspect-ratio-315-195-1600x990.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/14162028\/Image-19-aspect-ratio-315-195.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/14162028\/Image-19-aspect-ratio-315-195-1200x743.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"743\" class=\"w-100 h-100 object-fit-cover\"><\/picture>\n    <\/a>\n  <\/div>\n      <p class=\"mt-20 mb-10 font-size-paragraph-small\">15 Aug, 2025<\/p>\n    <a class=\"text-decoration-none text-decoration-sm-underline-hover\" href=\"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/news\/lightsource-bp-wins-two-north-american-agrivoltaics-awards\/\">\n    <h5 class=\"mb-15 fg-color-navy\">Lightsource bp wins two North American Agrivoltaics Awards<\/h5>\n  <\/a>\n      <p class=\"mb-15 line-height-level-6\">Lightsource bp proudly announces receipt of two North American Agrivoltaics Awards: Solar Ranch of the Year and Champion of the Year.<\/p>\n    <p><a href=\"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/news\/lightsource-bp-wins-two-north-american-agrivoltaics-awards\/\">Read Story <span class=\"ml-10\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"8\" height=\"14\" fill=\"none\"><path stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M1 13l6-6-6-6\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n                  <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"pt-60 pt-lg-100\"><\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[92],"tags":[],"filter_by":[553],"filter_tags":[789,795],"class_list":["post-19323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized-us","filter_by-press-releases-us","filter_tags-energy-buyers","filter_tags-construction-milestones"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19323","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19323"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19323\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":479696,"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19323\/revisions\/479696"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19323"},{"taxonomy":"filter_by","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/filter_by?post=19323"},{"taxonomy":"filter_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/filter_tags?post=19323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}