Just three months after a solar energy farm opened near Tulia, another group’s plan to power the Panhandle is one step closer to fruition.
The Panhandle Solar Group, established in 2021, has been working toward developing renewable solar energy in Hutchinson County. The group has 14,500 acres under lease, with substantial additional acres available from local landowners around Borger, according to its website.
On Wednesday, July 9, the group announced that the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has approved four of its interconnection applications.
“Securing these interconnection approvals with ERCOT is a critical step forward in our mission to provide clean, reliable and cost-effective energy to Texas and beyond,” said Windham Loopesko, founder of PSG. “Our projects are designed to not only meet rapidly growing energy demands but also to contribute to Texas’ leadership in renewable energy development.”
PSG said the initial project will cover 4,900 acres of land in Hutchinson County. It will aim to deliver 1,000 megawatts of solar photovoltaic power and 350 MW/1,400 MWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems. This is anticipated to generate 2.6 TWh annually, which could power 500,000 to 1 million homes.
The projects, connected to ERCOT’s West Hub, are expected to begin service in the fourth quarter of 2029.
“This project will be a big win for Hutchinson County,” Hutchinson County Commissioner Gary Alexander said. “I’ve had productive conversations with the developers — Windham Loopesko and his team — over the past few years, and I appreciate their commitment to doing things the right way. A solar project of this scale brings new jobs, strengthens our local tax base, and puts our county on the map as a leader in energy innovation. It also creates long-term partnerships with landowners, helping families generate steady income while contributing to something that benefits the entire community.”
One of those families includes Loopesko, a fourth-generation Hutchinson landowner whose family’s local relations date back to 1901. He has leased approximately 2,500 acres of his own land to the project.
“We are proud to support this project and the forward-thinking investment it represents for the Texas Panhandle,” said Amy Fesser, executive director of the Borger Economic Development Corporation. “This project creates energy diversity in a changing economy. With the demand for electricity growing across the country, solar projects like this one are not just good for our region, they are important for providing additional energy sources to meet our nation’s future energy needs.”
PSG said it aims to make a significant contribution to the clean energy goals of Texas and the United States, and to establish the Texas Panhandle as the nation’s renewable energy hub. PSG said it has the potential for much greater expansion in the immediate area, setting the stage for additional developments. For more information, visit https://www.panhandle.solar/ .
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Panhandle Solar Group advances on Hutchinson County project after ERCOT approval
Reporting by Kristina Wood, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
