Apex Clean Energy announced the Virginia-based company has a power purchase agreement (PPA) with technology giant Meta for exclusive rights to energy from the Starling Solar project in Gonzales County, Texas, including all renewable energy credits. The 144-MW project will add to the local grid new generation that would not have been built without Meta’s commitment and reflects Apex’s focus on delivering interconnected, ready-to-build capacity on the accelerated timelines large-load customers require, the company said on September 16.
Starling is the seventh transaction between the two companies, whose combined portfolio spans Texas, Virginia, Illinois, Kansas, and Iowa and totals about 1,200 MW.
“Seven projects over nearly as many years speaks to a partnership built on shared principles of responsible building and disciplined execution,” said Ken Young, CEO of Apex. “Starling brings new capacity to Texas and lasting value to Gonzales County long after construction wraps.”
“The best clean energy projects are the ones the surrounding community feels the benefit of directly—in school funding, in landowner payments, in local hiring,” said Amanda Yang, head of clean and renewable energy at Meta. “Starling brings all of that to Gonzales County, along with new solar generation for a Texas grid.”
Starling Solar will create significant economic benefits for the surrounding area, including approximately $27 million in tax revenue over the project’s lifetime, $15.6 million of which will go to local schools; more than $26.3 million in landowner payments; 400 to 450 jobs during construction; and nearly $400,000 in grant funding for local organizations and conservation initiatives.
Starling Solar is expected to begin commercial operations in 2027.
—This content was contributed by Apex Clean Energy.
