Seventh Transaction Between the Companies Brings New Solar Capacity to ERCOT
Apex Clean Energy announced a power purchase agreement with Meta for exclusive rights to all environmental attributes associated with energy from the Starling Solar project in Gonzales County, Texas, including all renewable energy credits. The 144 MW project will add to the local grid new generation that would not have been built without Meta’s commitment and reflects Apex’s focus on delivering interconnected, ready-to-build capacity on the accelerated timelines large-load customers require.
Starling is the seventh transaction between the two companies, whose combined portfolio spans Texas, Virginia, Illinois, Kansas, and Iowa and totals approximately 1,200 MW.
“Seven projects over nearly as many years speaks to a partnership built on shared principles of responsible building and disciplined execution,” said Ken Young, CEO of Apex. “Starling brings new capacity to Texas and lasting value to Gonzales County long after construction wraps.”
“The best clean energy projects are the ones the surrounding community feels the benefit of directly—in school funding, in landowner payments, in local hiring,” said Amanda Yang, head of clean and renewable energy at Meta. “Starling brings all of that to Gonzales County, along with new solar generation for a Texas grid.”
Starling Solar will create significant economic benefits for the surrounding area, including approximately $27 million in tax revenue over the project’s lifetime, $15.6 million of which will go to local schools; more than $26.3 million in landowner payments; 400 to 450 jobs during construction; and nearly $400,000 in grant funding for local organizations and conservation initiatives.
Starling Solar is expected to begin commercial operations in 2027.