Meta has expanded its renewable energy footprint in the United States through a new long-term agreement tied to a large-scale solar development in Texas, reinforcing the tech company’s broader push to secure clean power for its data center operations.
The latest deal involves a power purchase agreement between Meta and renewable developer Zelestra for the 180 MWdc Palmera Solar Plant planned in Freestone County, Texas. The project adds to a growing portfolio of utility-scale solar assets being developed under the same corporate partnership.
Expanding solar pipeline across Texas and Indiana
The Palmera agreement adds to ongoing construction across other major projects in the Meta–Zelestra collaboration. In Texas, crews are already building the Skull Creek Solar Plant in Anderson County, a 176 MWdc facility that will support regional clean energy supply once operational.
In Indiana, work continues on the Reclamation Solar Project in Gibson County, a 200 MWdc installation built on repurposed former coal mining land. The project reflects a broader shift toward transforming legacy industrial sites into renewable energy hubs, with designs that prioritize land restoration and biodiversity recovery.
Together with the recently completed Jasper County Solar Project in Indiana, these developments form a rapidly scaling pipeline of solar infrastructure tied to Meta’s long-term energy strategy.
Jobs, construction activity, and local economic impact
The three active construction projects are expected to generate around 400 jobs at peak activity across their respective sites. Developers also anticipate significant local economic benefits, particularly in rural counties where large-scale energy infrastructure is becoming an important source of investment.
Skull Creek alone is projected to support roughly 200 construction jobs and generate multimillion-dollar economic activity in Anderson County. The project will deploy hundreds of thousands of bifacial solar modules, with McCarthy Building Companies serving as the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor.
For the Reclamation project in Indiana, solar technology provider Qcells USA Corp. is leading module supply and EPC work. The site is expected to install more than 300,000 U.S.-manufactured bifacial panels. While incorporating environmental restoration measures such as soil rehabilitation and native vegetation recovery.
Scaling clean energy for hyperscale demand
Meta’s renewable energy strategy is closely tied to the rapid expansion of its data infrastructure, which continues to drive large-scale electricity demand. Through its partnership with Zelestra, the company is locking in long-term clean power supply intended to match its operational energy consumption.
According to the companies, the Palmera agreement brings the combined capacity under their partnership to roughly 1.4 GWdc of solar energy across eight projects in the United States. All of the developments are expected to reach commercial operation by 2028.
Zelestra, which is building a growing U.S. development pipeline from its base in Arlington, Virginia, says its portfolio now spans multiple technologies aimed at serving hyperscale and enterprise customers.
A rapidly scaling partnership model
The Meta-Zelestra collaboration has accelerated quickly, moving from completed assets to multiple active construction sites in a short timeframe. The Jasper County Solar Project was the first to come online, while Skull Creek and Reclamation represent the next wave of builds now underway.
Industry observers see the partnership as part of a broader shift in which large technology companies are directly contracting utility-scale renewable energy to support their expanding digital infrastructure footprints.
With Palmera now added to the portfolio, the two companies continue to expand one of the larger coordinated solar buildouts currently underway in the U.S. energy market.
Additionally, Freestone County is emerging as a growing hub for large-scale energy development, attracting both renewable and conventional power investments. The latest solar agreement in the county adds to its expanding energy footprint, alongside projects such as Calpine’s 460 MW natural gas facility, highlighting the region’s evolving role in supporting the U.S. power mix.
Factsheet: Meta–Zelestra Solar Partnership Expansion (U.S.)
Key Announcement
- New PPA signed for the 180 MWdc (140 MWac) Palmera Solar Plant
- Location: Freestone County, Texas
- Purpose: Supply additional renewable electricity to support Meta’s data center operations
Total Partnership Scale
- 1.4 GWdc total solar capacity
- Spread across 8 solar projects in the United States
- All projects expected to be fully operational by 2028
Project Portfolio Overview
Operational
- Jasper County Solar Project (Indiana) – 81 MWdc
- First completed project under the partnership
Under Construction
- Skull Creek Solar Plant (Texas) – 176 MWdc
- Reclamation Solar Project (Indiana) – 200 MWdc
- Built on reclaimed former coal mining land
Newly Added
- Palmera Solar Plant (Texas) – 180 MWdc
Economic & Job Impact
- Approximately 400 peak construction jobs across active projects
- Skull Creek alone:
- ~200 construction jobs
- Estimated $8.2 million local economic impact
- Reclamation project includes land restoration and biodiversity enhancement work
Technology & Development Details
- Hundreds of thousands of bifacial solar modules deployed across sites
- Skull Creek EPC: McCarthy Building Companies
- Reclamation EPC & module supply: Qcells USA Corp.
Strategic Context
- Supports Meta’s goal of operating on 100% clean energy
- Designed to match growing electricity demand from hyperscale data infrastructure
- Reflects increasing corporate investment in utility-scale renewable energy in the U.S.
Project Pipeline Status
- 1 project operational (Jasper County)
- 2 under construction (Skull Creek, Reclamation)
- 1 newly contracted (Palmera)
- Remaining portfolio progressing toward 2028 completion target
About Zelestra
Zelestra is a vertically integrated company specializing in the development, commercialization, construction, and operation of large-scale renewable energy projects. The company was recently ranked by BloombergNEF among the top 10 sellers of clean energy to corporate customers — both globally and in the US. Zelestra is backed by EQT, a leading global investment organization with more than €269 billion in assets under management.
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