Orsted has inaugurated the 468MW Mockingbird Solar Center, its largest solar project globally, which will supply clean energy to 80,000 homes and businesses while contributing significantly to the Texas power grid.
The $500 million project not only focuses on renewable energy generation but also prioritizes ecological restoration. Orsted donated 953 acres of the Smiley-Woodfin Native Prairie Grassland, located adjacent to the solar farm, to The Nature Conservancy. Now designated as the Smiley Meadow Preserve, this protected area conserves one of Texas' few remaining tallgrass prairies—less than 1% of which survives today.
Tallgrass prairies play a crucial role in carbon storage, flood prevention, and supporting biodiversity. David Bezanson, land protection strategy director at The Nature Conservancy in Texas, highlighted the significance of this initiative: “Native prairies are the rarest landscapes left in Texas… preserving Smiley Meadow will conserve one of the best prairie remnants and help restore other prairie habitats.”
Beyond environmental benefits, Mockingbird Solar is expected to generate $75 million in local property taxes, benefitting schools and public services. During construction, it created over 550 jobs and supported local businesses like Drake Construction and Pfifer Farms. Orsted also collaborated with US-based First Solar for panels and donated over $50,000 to local fire departments.
This project is part of Orsted's broader $20 billion investment in US renewable energy, encompassing more than 6GW of onshore wind, solar, and battery storage projects in operation or development nationwide.
