This edition of Projects Weekly highlights Soluna’s plan to launch the first solar-powered data center with a 75 MW project. Meanwhile, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed off on 26 large-scale renewable energy projects in the state, ECA Solar and Luminace have developed a 6 MW community solar project in Delaware, Link Logistics and Reactivate have partnered to install solar panels on Link’s properties across the United States, SOLV Energy has announced more than 6 GW of new project awards across the United States, and ForeFront Power completed a 1 MW solar carport at Fullerton College in California. Keep reading to stay up to date on the latest solar project news.
Data center developer Soluna Holdings Inc. has signed a term sheet for power for Project Annie, a new 75 MW data center co-located with a 114 MW solar farm in northeast Texas.
Cool factor: Project Annie marks Soluna’s first solar-powered deployment, representing a strategic expansion of the company’s modular computing platform into solar-rich markets. Developed in partnership with a leading U.S. renewable energy operator, the project is designed to convert underutilized solar energy to high performance computing. It underscores Soluna’s mission to transform excess renewable power into scalable, cost-effective digital infrastructure.
“Project Annie is a game-changer,” said John Belizaire, CEO of Soluna. “It’s our first project tapping solar energy, and it paves the way for sustainable computing that works in harmony with the sun. We’re proud to honor Annie Easley, a computing and energy pioneer, with a project that merges both worlds.”
N.Y. Gov. announces contracts for 26 large-scale renewable energy projects
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced that contracts have been executed for 26 large-scale, land-based renewable energy projects. These installations, involving solar, wind, hydro and other resources, will provide more than 2.5 GW to power more than 670,000 homes throughout the state.
“New York is creating competitive opportunities for the clean energy industry, and we could not do this without the shared commitment of our private partners,” Hochul said. “The advancement of renewable energy is part of the foundation of New York’s plan to transform to a zero-emission electricity system and continue our green economy’s momentum forward.”
Cool factor: These projects — 18 of which are for solar — are expected to create more than 1,900 near-term, family-supporting jobs and generate more than $6 billion in private investment while reinforcing the State’s commitment to the development of locally produced clean energy, grid resiliency and economic development.
These contracted awards are the result of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) 2024 Tier 1 Renewable Energy Standard solicitation. Once constructed, the projects will produce approximately 5,000 GWh annually and provide more than $300 million in commitments to disadvantaged communities, as defined by the Climate Justice Working Group, from long-term payments to community benefit funds.
ECA Solar and Luminace hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of a new 6 MW community solar project in Hartly, Delaware. The event brought together key stakeholders, local leaders, and public government officials — including Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer, who served as the guest of honor.
“This project in Hartly is exactly the kind of bold, community-focused solution Delaware needs to meet our clean energy goals,” Meyer said. “By delivering affordable solar power to over a thousand households, we can reduce our carbon footprint and build a fairer, more resilient energy future. I’m proud to support Community Solar and public-private partnerships like this one, which reflect our shared commitment to improving sustainability and energy equity for all Delawareans.”
Cool factor: Through ECA Solar and Luminace’s collaboration, the 6 MW solar array spans 22 acres and is expected to deliver renewable, affordable energy to more than 1,000 Delaware households. The project stands as one of the first community solar installations to be built under Meyer’s recently enacted clean energy legislation, reinforcing the state’s commitment to climate progress and energy equity.
Link Logistics, Reactivate partner to install solar panels
Real estate firm Link Logistics and Reactivate entered into a partnership and lease agreement to install solar panels on select properties across Link’s portfolio to help meet the critical need for power across the U.S. and support grid resiliency.
“This collaboration furthers Link’s leadership and uses our millions of square feet of rooftop space for the benefit of the communities where we operate,” said Luke J. Petherbridge, CEO of Link Logistics. “Reactivate brings the right leadership team, trusted community partnerships and extensive expertise to provide solar energy at scale.”
Cool factor: This portfolio will aim to provide energy-saving opportunities for individual households, non-profits, public institutions and businesses across the country. Reactivate intends to provide workforce training opportunities for individuals in communities where projects are located to further skill development and provide a pathway to solar energy careers with family sustaining wages. The solar energy projects will also provide economic opportunities for local contractors and equipment suppliers.
The Reactivate owned-and-operated solar energy projects on Link Logistics assets will help address the growing demand for power by adding power back to the grid, while fostering meaningful economic impacts in local communities.
SOLV Energy announces 6+ GW of new project awards across the U.S.
At the CLEANPOWER 2025 conference in Phoenix, SOLV Energy announced several awards from leading developers to construct more than 6 GW of utility-scale solar and storage projects. The projects are in multiple states, including Arizona, Mississippi, Nevada, Oregon, Texas and California and include assets owned by longstanding customers such as Arevon, Clēnera and Sol Systems, as well as new customers such as NewSun Energy, Enfinity Global and Panamint Capital. Construction mobilizations for the new projects are scheduled to begin in 2025 and beyond.
Cool factor: To support the growing demand for power across the United States, SOLV Energy is making significant investments in hiring and training regional project teams, including recruiting local project managers with insights into regional conditions, permitting processes and regulatory requirements. SOLV Energy is also expanding the scope of its self-perform capabilities to accelerate construction timelines, increase quality and reduce costs for the company’s customers. In January, the company announced the acquisition of SDI Services LLC (fka Sacramento Drilling), a provider of foundation solutions for solar energy and T&D projects. The acquisition brings solar predrill and pile foundation capabilities in-house, enabling SOLV Energy to support complex projects in diverse terrain and environmental conditions.
“Demand for energy is continuing to grow rapidly and we are committed to investing in the capabilities our customers need for larger and increasingly complex power projects,” said George Hershman, CEO of SOLV Energy. “The significant number of projects that we have been awarded so far this year shows that customers recognize the investments we have made to expand our capabilities, and our value as a true lifecycle provider.”
ForeFront Power complete 1 MW solar carport at Fullerton College
Fullerton College in California has installed a new 1 MWdc solar canopy system on the campus. Developed in partnership with ForeFront Power, the solar parking canopy array, located in Student Parking Lot 5 adjacent to Sherbeck Field, is projected to save the college nearly $6 million in energy costs over the next 20 years. The solar carport system will generate 1.8 million kWh of renewable energy. This energy output will offset roughly 19% of the College’s electrical consumption.
“After over a century of being in operation, Fullerton College is moving into the future by implementing clean energy solutions that will allow us to reliably produce clean energy, reduce harmful emissions, and reinvest energy savings into student success,” said Dr. Cynthia Olivo, president of Fullerton College. “What better time than during Earth Week to reaffirm our responsibility to the planet and future generations.”
Cool factor: This is a pilot solar project for North Orange County Community College District to help demonstrate how solar can benefit other campuses in the district. The project is the culmination of an initial Solar Feasibility Study completed in 2021, which helped the College identify the project site, as well as implement the College’s 2023-2026 Campus Sustainability Plan, which approved the development of the project through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with ForeFront Power.
The PPA with ForeFront Power enabled Fullerton College to develop its project at no upfront cost and without using bond funds. Under the terms of the PPA, ForeFront Power develops, owns, and maintains the solar energy portfolio and charges the College a fixed, lower rate than the utility for electricity, locked in for the 20-year duration of the agreement. ForeFront Power will continue to operate and maintain the system at no cost to the college.
Tags: commercial and industrial, Community Solar, utility-scale
