Bellflower Solar Farm, a 152.5 MWac/173 MWdc utility-scale solar photovoltaic installation developed, financed, and operated by Lightsource bp, has been in commercial operation since early 2023, delivering clean electricity into the PJM Interconnection grid. It is also supporting corporate sustainability goals through a long-term offtake agreement with Verizon Communications. The project, located approximately 40 miles east of Indianapolis in Indiana’s rural Henry and Rush counties, not only generates renewable power but also features agrivoltaic land use and pollinator habitat conservation. It also brings community economic contributions, reinforcing its role as a multi-benefit energy investment in the Midwest alongside others like Wheatland Solar farm project by Origis Energy that has started operations in 2026.

Bellflower Solar Farm Project Factsheet

Location: Henry & Rush Counties, Indiana

Developer/Owner/Operator: Lightsource bp

Capacity: 152.5 MWac/173 MWdc

Commercial operation date: February 2023

Offtake partner: Verizon

Annual generation: Estimated 259 GWh

Transmission/Interconnection: PJM Interconnection grid

Site area: 1,300 acres

Construction investment: $169 million

EPC contractor: SOLV Energy

Solar panels installed: 377,000 units

Tracker system: Array Technologies

Environmental features: Native pollinator cover, pollinator gardens, sheep grazing under arrays

Expected property tax revenue: $30 million over life of project

Annual operations budget: $2.4 million

Project team behind Bellflower Solar Farm in Indiana

• Lightsource bp – Developer, Owner, Operator
• Verizon Communications – Offtake Partner (VPPA)
• SOLV Energy – Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) Contractor
• First Solar – Solar Module Supplier
• Array Technologies – Solar Tracker Supplier
• University of Illinois Chicago – Ecological Research Partner
• Argonne National Laboratory – Ecological Research Partner
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory – Federal Research Partner
• Local Landowners (Henry & Rush Counties) – Land Lease Partners
• PJM Interconnection – Grid & Transmission Operator
• Henry County Government – Local Host Authority
• Rush County Government – Local Host Authority

Operations begin at Bellflower Solar farm in Indiana

Reported May 28, 2023 – Commercial operations at the 152.5 MW Bellflower solar farm by renewable energy producer Lightsource bp in Indiana’s Henry and Rush counties have started. The development and building of the project cost $169 million, according to Lightsource BP.

A virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with Verizon for the energy produced by the project supports the solar installation. The VPPA was signed in January 2021, opening the path for the development of the solar project.

According to James Gowen, chief sustainability officer at Verizon and senior vice president of global supply chain and sourcing, “Verizon is committed to saving our planet through the development of renewable energy and the move to a greener US energy infrastructure.

Furthermore, by 2035, we’ll have zero operational emissions thanks to the renewable energy produced by the Bellflower solar plant.

Also Read: 150 MW Honeysuckle Solar farm gets final approval, Indiana

The solar farm produces enough electricity to supply 26,800 typical US homes with sustainable energy. The project is expected to earn $30 million in property taxes over its 25-year span. Additionally,  $2.4 million from the annual operations budget will be invested in the area.

More than 350 temporary employees were produced throughout the construction phase. The engineering, procurement, and construction contract for the project was won by California-based SOLV Energy.

More on Lightsource bp’s Indiana development

The company put solar trackers from Array Technologies and 377,000 First Solar solar panels. The solar farm will help Verizon reach carbon neutrality in its operations by 2035 and offset 202,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually while also enhancing air quality.

The Bellflower project, according to Kevin Smith, CEO of Lightsource BP Americas, “is a terrific illustration of our dedication to responsible solar development in action. Lightsource bp is deeply committed to maximizing the sustainability advantages of our solar projects for communities. Furthermore, protecting ecosystems, and supporting biodiversity in addition to providing clean and reliable energy.