A $140 million solar farm is headed to s spot near Millington that will power, among other things, an $800 million data center for Facebook in Gallatin, Tennessee.
The solar farm is a project from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Facebook, and RWE Renewables. The solar facility will cover about 1,200-1,400 acres and generate 150 megawatts, equivalent to 399,600 solar panels. Facebook will use 110 megawatts of the plant’s power.
Facebook announced it would build the new, 1-million-square-foot data center in August. State and local officials said last year the deal was years in the making and had worked on it under the name “Project Woolhawk.” The data center will be Facebook’s 13th in the country and 17th in the world.
In April, Facebook announced that its operations are now supported by 100 percent renewable energy. For that, it signed investments for 475 megawatts of new solar infrastructure to be built in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky. Since 2018, Facebook has agreed to purchase a total of 852 megawatts of power generated by solar farms linked to the TVA system.
“Facebook’s mission is to connect the world, and the connections we made with TVA and RWE will ensure our operations in the Tennessee Valley are supported with new solar energy,” said Urvi Parekh, head of renewable energy at Facebook. “This solar project, which is our third in Tennessee, will help us continue our commitment of 100 percent renewable energy for our global operations, while also bringing new investment and jobs to the local community.”
The project will generate more than $12 million in property tax revenue, create more than 150 construction jobs, and employ two to four full-time staffer for operations and maintenance. The facility is expected to come online in late 2023, pending environmental reviews.
“Bringing clean energy to Shelby County is part of our long-term community plan, and is critical to support our region’s sustainability strategy,” said Doug Perry, TVA senior vice president of commercial energy solutions. “This project is more than a solar farm, it puts people to work, revitalizes communities and makes our region an environmental leader.”
RWE will own and operate the solar power plant through a long-term power purchase agreement with TVA. The global company has around 3,500 employees, onshore and offshore wind farms, photovoltaic plants, and battery storage facilities with a combined capacity of approximately 9 gigawatts.
Millington Mayor Terry Jones said the project will create opportunities for local residents and businesses.
“I’m excited because TVA and Facebook are going to be great neighbors, and their trusted brands will benefit everyone in Shelby County,” he said. “Businesses want renewable energy, and this solar farm makes it easier for us to compete for good jobs.”