SB Energy, a renewable energy firm backed by Japan’s SoftBank Group and Ares Climate Infrastructure, has announced the successful launch of three solar power projects in Texas, collectively known as the “Orion Solar Belt.” With a combined generation capacity of approximately 900 megawatts (MW), these installations are set to bolster the state’s power grid while providing clean energy to Google’s data centers and cloud operations in the Dallas area.
The Orion I, Orion II, and Orion III solar farms are located in Milam County and are expected to qualify for the domestic content bonus credit outlined in the Inflation Reduction Act. SB Energy reported that over 1.3 million solar modules, along with domestic steel and other components, were used in the construction of the projects.
U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Orion project on October 18, highlighting the initiative as a demonstration of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to American-made clean energy. “This project showcases how American-made clean energy can power data centers and our future,” Granholm stated.
The Orion Solar Belt project is estimated to have created 3,000 jobs during the manufacturing of components and construction. The solar modules were produced by First Solar at its Ohio facility, while the structural steel was sourced from Gerdau mills in Texas and Georgia. Additionally, the project incorporates Nextracker smart solar trackers, with most components manufactured domestically. SB Energy selected Blattner, a Minnesota-based construction firm, for the project’s engineering, procurement, and construction services.
Rich Hossfeld, co-CEO of SB Energy, emphasized the company’s dedication to job creation and energy provision for major users, stating, “We hope the Orion Solar Belt serves as a catalyst for growing investments in a robust American-made supply chain for solar.”
In 2022, SB Energy entered into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Google, marking the tech giant’s largest solar investment globally. This agreement aligns with Google’s ambitious goal of operating entirely on carbon-free energy by 2030.
Earlier this year, Google announced plans to invest over $1 billion in Texas to enhance its cloud and data center infrastructure, addressing the rising demand for Google Cloud services, artificial intelligence, and digital products such as Search and Maps. Google is currently developing a data center campus in Red Oak and operates another in Midlothian, both located in Ellis County, Texas.
“Google’s data centers are powered by reliable carbon-free energy around-the-clock,” said Ben Sloss, vice president of 24×7 & Capacity for Google. “We’re thrilled SB Energy’s Orion Solar Belt is coming online, helping build a stronger future for communities and Google in Texas.”
Chia Yuan Wang, president of Gerdau’s North American Long Steel Operation, praised the project’s impact on the domestic steel and solar industries, noting that SB Energy’s initiative has led to an expansion of U.S. operations to support solar projects.
Texas continues to lead the nation in installed renewable energy resources, sourcing approximately 30% of its electricity from renewables. According to the American Clean Power group, the state boasts about 70 gigawatts of installed solar, wind, and energy storage generation capacity. Recently, Google also expressed interest in utilizing nuclear power from small modular reactors to support its global data center operations, signing a deal with Kairos Power for energy from a fleet of molten salt nuclear reactors.
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