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AVANGRID To Support Meta’s Operations in Texas With New 240 MW Solar Farm

businesswire | March 24, 2023 | Read time : 02:43 min

AVANGRID
AVANGRID, a leading sustainable energy company and part of the Iberdrola Group, has announced today the signing of a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Meta to procure renewable energy from True North, a 240 MW solar farm under development in Falls County, Texas, and AVANGRID’s first solar facility in the state.

“We are proud to sign this agreement with a partner like Meta who, like us at AVANGRID, has a strong commitment to accelerating the energy transition in the U.S.,” said Pedro Azagra, AVANGRID’s CEO. “With projects like True North, we continue our mission of helping the country meet its ambitious clean energy goals, while also creating quality jobs and strengthening our local economies.”

“We’re excited to expand our partnership with AVANGRID to help bring new solar energy to support our local operations in Texas,” said Urvi Parekh, head of renewable energy at Meta. “True North will support our commitment to 100% renewable energy and represents additional investment and jobs for the region.”

Since 2020, Meta’s global operations have been supported by 100% renewable energy. The True North project will support Meta’s upcoming data center in neighboring Temple, their second data center facility in Texas.

True North, AVANGRID’s first solar farm in Texas, will deliver 240 MW of clean, renewable energy once it reaches commercial operations, which is expected by early 2025. During its construction and operation, True North will create over 200 local jobs and is expected to pay over $40 million in property taxes over 25 years in this state, in which the company already operates more than 1,250 MW of onshore wind facilities.

With more than 8.6 GW of installed renewable capacity, including 1.1 GW of solar projects operating and under construction, AVANGRID is the third largest renewable energy operator in the U.S. In total, the company has a strong pipeline of more than 25 GW under development, encompassing solar, onshore wind, offshore wind, and battery energy storage.

About AVANGRID

AVANGRID, Inc. aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in the United States. Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $41 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states, AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: networks and renewables. Through its networks business, AVANGRID owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Through its renewables business, AVANGRID owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. AVANGRID employs more than 7,500 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital in 2021, 2022 and 2023 as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America’s best corporate citizens. In 2023, AVANGRID ranked first within the utility sector for its commitment to the environment. The company supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2022 for the fourth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. AVANGRID is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A.

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Braya Renewable Fuels LP | March 13, 2023

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Enviva Welcomes REDIII Agreement and Continued Recognition of Biomass as 100% Renewable

businesswire | April 04, 2023

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businesswire | April 12, 2023

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Braya Renewable Fuels Issues Letter of Support to ABO Wind

Braya Renewable Fuels LP | March 13, 2023

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businesswire | April 04, 2023

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FirstLight Power and H2O Power Announce Completion of Planned Integration

businesswire | April 12, 2023

FirstLight Power, a leading clean power producer, developer, and energy storage company, today announced the company completed the planned integration of H2O Power, the third largest provider of hydroelectric power in Ontario. As the majority owner of over 150 Megawatts (MW) of generating capacity with an annual energy production of nearly 900,000 Megawatt hours (MWh), the addition of H2O Power brings the combined FirstLight portfolio to over 1,650 MW of operating capacity, with a development pipeline of over 2,000 MW. 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Over the last ten years, H2O Power has completed significant upgrades to its fleet of hydroelectric facilities. The more than $100 million upgrade program consisted of turbine refurbishments, runner replacements, generator rewinds, and transformer replacements. The addition of the H2O Power portfolio follows FirstLight Power’s integration of two hydroelectric facilities in Western Pennsylvania last year from H2O Power, which represented an additional 31.5 MW of baseload capacity. “We are pleased to join forces with FirstLight Power to become one of the leading clean energy operators in North America,” said Marc Mantha, who has been appointed Vice President & General Manager, Canadian Operations. “We have made significant investments to upgrade our fleet to enhance operations and increase capacity, bolstering our ability to provide more clean and flexible power to the region and the people of Ontario. Our talented workforce has vast experience operating renewable assets, which will be a tremendous benefit as FirstLight continues its expansion efforts across North America.” FirstLight believes that the H2O Power assets are ideally positioned to help the province of Ontario meet its growing clean energy needs in the decades ahead. By providing high-capacity factor hydroelectric power, along with considerable storage capabilities in the associated river systems, the company anticipates that the assets will assist Ontario in integrating significant planned new additions of wind and solar capacity. Substantial new intermittent renewable generation is being planned to meet Ontario’s goal of decarbonizing the electric sector by 2050, as outlined in the recent Pathways to Decarbonization report issued by the Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). Further, Ontario Power Generation’s recently released Northern Hydro Report identified that 3,000 – 4,000 MW of new hydro development opportunities are available and can make a significantly increased contribution to meeting the province’s emergent electricity needs and help achieve decarbonization objectives. Following the completion of this integration, FirstLight will be exploring potential expansions or upgrades of these facilities as well as considering new hydro development projects to meet the forecasted increased clean electricity needs outlined in the Pathways to Decarbonization report. “Combining FirstLight Power with H2O Power brings together two industry leading teams that have a track record of operational excellence and advancing clean technologies and solutions,” said Stephan Rupert, Managing Director and Head of Americas, Infrastructure Investments at PSP Investments. “This integration represents an important development for the North American clean energy sector, and it comes at an important time in the global response to climate change. It is also particularly exciting for our team at PSP as it advances our climate strategy and our intention to be a leading investor in assets that enable economy-wide decarbonization.” The integration of H2O Power follows a number of strategic partnerships that have solidified FirstLight as a leading owner, operator, and developer of critical energy storage and renewable energy assets. Last year, FirstLight was part of a successful investment consortium that secured a lease in the recent NY Bight Offshore Wind auction. The company also completed the acquisitions of two hydroelectric facilities in Western Pennsylvania that expanded the company’s footprint into the PJM and New York electricity market. In addition, FirstLight announced a new partnership in Connecticut to advance new hybrid renewable energy projects at the company’s existing Connecticut properties. FirstLight also announced a strategic partnership with New Leaf Energy (formerly Borrego) to develop new solar and storage generation at FirstLight’s existing hydropower facilities in Massachusetts and Connecticut. These collaborations will advance the company’s mission to help accelerate the Northeast’s path to a fully decarbonized electric grid. About FirstLight Power FirstLight Poweris a leading clean power producer, developer, and energy storage company serving North America. With a diversified portfolio that includes over 1,650 MW of operating renewable energy and energy storage technologies and a development pipeline with 2,000+ MW of solar, battery, and offshore wind projects, FirstLight specializes in hybrid solutions that pair hydroelectric, pumped-hydro storage, utility-scale solar, large-scale battery, and offshore wind assets. The company’s mission is to accelerate the decarbonization of the electric grid by supporting the development, operation, and integration of renewable energy and storage to meet the world’s growing clean energy needs and deliver an electric system that is clean, reliable, affordable, and equitable. Based in Burlington, MA, with operating offices in Northfield, MA, and New Milford, CT, FirstLight is a steward of more than 14,000 acres and hundreds of miles of shoreline along some of the most beautiful rivers and lakes in North America. FirstLight is wholly owned by PSP Investments since 2016.

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