Construction has started on the Skyhawk Solar project, according to Origis Energy and Excelsior Energy Capital. This 100-MW solar facility in Obion County, Tenn., will supply energy to Google’s hyperscale data centers in Clarksville, Tennessee, and Jackson County, Ala.
Skyhawk Solar was developed through the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) Green Invest, a utility-scale solar program that matches customer-driven commitments for renewable energy with new utility-scale solar facilities to be constructed in the Tennessee Valley.
Origis Energy and Excelsior Energy Capital selected Wanzek Construction, Inc. to construct the project. Origis Services will manage and maintain the plant. Construction can be tracked here.
Initially announced in November 2020, Skyhawk Solar creates an estimated 300 construction jobs, with additional employment for 8-10 full-time operations and maintenance staff. The solar facility is projected to be operational by the end of 2022. Origis will operate and maintain the facility.
“Skyhawk Solar is generating a waterfall of economic benefits in the Obion County community,” said Johan Vanhee, Origis Energy’s chief commercial and procurement officer. “The net economic benefits include $16.9 million in estimated direct local economic benefits during construction and $30 million estimated over the life of the project. Skyhawk Solar helps power Google’s significant local data center investments with clean energy.”
Google has announced a goal to operate on 24/7 carbon-free energy globally by 2030. Solar projects like Skyhawk will help the company as it works toward meeting this goal.
“Skyhawk Solar is an important step towards achieving Google’s 24/7 carbon-free energy goal in Tennessee and Alabama,” says Amanda Peterson Corio, Global Head of Data Center Energy at Google. “We’re excited to continue working with our partners on projects like this, which will help expand clean energy and decarbonize electricity grids to benefit all.”
Tags: Origis Energy, utility-scale
