Renewable energy developer Zelestra has begun construction of two large-scale solar projects in Texas with a combined capacity of more than 440MWdc, the company said.
The projects – the 253MWdc Echols Grove facility in Lamar County and the 188MWdc Cedar Range plant in Hopkins County – are being developed under long-term power purchase agreements with Meta Platforms.
Construction at both sites started in January 2026, with commercial operations expected by the end of 2027.
Zelestra said the projects will deploy around 704,000 bifacial solar modules across approximately 2,400 acres. McCarthy Building Companies has been appointed as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor and will lead delivery of the projects.
“Following our rapid growth in 2025, Zelestra’s expansion in the U.S. energy landscape continues to accelerate in 2026,” said Phil North.
North added that the projects form part of a wider partnership between Zelestra and Meta that will bring significant new renewable capacity to the United States.
“Echols Grove and Cedar Range are two major projects in our partnership with Meta, which will see 1.2GW of new clean energy capacity online in the U.S. soon,” he said.
Together, the developments are expected to support more than 400 local jobs and generate roughly $20 million in regional economic activity.
Zelestra said it has signed power purchase agreements with Meta covering seven projects with a combined capacity of about 1.2GWdc.
Dhruv Patel said the projects would deliver both clean power and economic benefits to local communities.
“Breaking ground on the Echols Grove and Cedar Range solar facilities represents more than new energy infrastructure — it’s a long-term investment in Texas communities,” Patel said.
