The Conway solar project in White County, Arkansas, has moved from the planning stage to commercial operation, becoming one of the state’s notable utility-scale renewable energy assets. Since our last report in 2022 on the development, the 135MW solar farm has completed construction, entered service, and changed ownership, reflecting the growing maturity of Arkansas’ clean energy market amid rising corporate demand for renewable electricity.
Conway Solar Project: Current Status (2026)
As of 2026, the Conway Solar Project is operating at full capacity after achieving commercial operation in October 2023. Developed by Lightsource bp, the project supplies renewable electricity to Conway Corp under a long-term power purchase agreement that supports the municipal utility’s transition toward lower-carbon energy sources.
A significant milestone followed in 2024 when JERA Nex, the renewable energy platform of Japan’s JERA Group, acquired the project as part of its expanding North American clean energy portfolio. Despite the ownership change, Lightsource bp continues managing the facility under a long-term asset management and operations agreement, ensuring stable electricity generation and plant performance.
The project produces enough renewable electricity to power more than 21,000 Arkansas homes annually, while helping diversify the state’s electricity mix. Its successful delivery also demonstrated continued investor confidence in utility-scale solar projects across the United States despite policy uncertainty surrounding federal renewable energy incentives.
The Conway Solar Project has since become part of a broader wave of renewable energy developments across Arkansas. Developers are increasingly pairing large-scale solar generation with battery energy storage as electricity demand rises from manufacturing, industrial facilities and artificial intelligence data centers.
That momentum continues with the Steel River Solar Project, which represents the next phase of Arkansas’ renewable infrastructure expansion. Unlike Conway, the Steel River development combines multi-gigawatt solar generation with large-scale battery storage under Google’s estimated $1.2 billion long-term power purchase agreement, highlighting the state’s growing role in supporting America’s clean energy transition.
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Conway Solar project to bring 200 construction jobs
The Conway Solar project, owned by Lightsource bp will be located near Happy in Arkansas and this new solar facility, on completion will generate clean energy, under a long-term power purchase agreement, which covers customers residing in the City of Conway. A Subsidiary of Orbital Energy Group, called Gibson Technical Services was contracted by Lightsource bp to serve as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor for the solar plant. This project will provide up to 200 construction jobs, which will be available to mostly local workers. Construction is expected to begin by March 2022, with full operations scheduled to begin in mid 2023.
The Chief Executive Officer of Conway Corp, Bret Carroll stated that the main aim of the Conway Corp solar project is the provision of services which are safe, affordable, reliable, innovative and environmentally sound to customers. He said the project would have a lasting impact on the community and his team was looking forward to working with Lightsource bp, to get the construction process started and to eventually start delivering services to customers.
The CEO of the Americas, Lightsource bp Kevin Smith also spoke on the benefits of the Conway Corp solar project to the community. Smith said the company looks forward to introducing several economic benefits to the region, as well as fostering long-term community partnerships. He pointed out that large-scale solar projects are essential for strengthening local economies and also help in enhancing the health and energy security of communities across America.
Project Fact Sheet
Name: Conway Solar Project
Project type: Utility-scale solar photovoltaic project
Location: Happy, White County, Arkansas, USA
Generating capacity: 135MW (DC)
Current status (2026): Operational
Commercial operation: October 2023
Project developer: Lightsource bp
Current owner: JERA Nex
Electricity purchaser: Conway Corp
Power agreement: Long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
Electricity generated: Enough to supply more than 21,000 homes annually
Technology: Ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system
Grid connection: Conway Corp distribution network
Project significance: Supports Arkansas’ renewable energy transition and strengthens long-term regional electricity supply.
Project Team
Original developer: Lightsource bp
Current owner: JERA Nex
Offtaker: Conway Corp
Asset manager: Lightsource bp
Operations and maintenance: Lightsource bp
Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC): Primoris Services Corporation
Solar module supplier: First Solar
Inverter supplier: Power Electronics
Project financiers: Financing arranged by Lightsource bp and its lending partners during development
Grid utility: Conway Corp
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