Big Rooter Power: New 1.2 GW Solar Farm in Bremond
Construction has kicked off for Panamint Capital's massive new solar energy project in Bremond, Texas, which will eventually generate 1.2 GW of power. This installation aims to change how we use industrial land by placing clean energy infrastructure directly alongside active fossil fuel operations.
The project, known as Big Rooter Power, will be built on the site of the Twin Oaks power station. Instead of clearing the land, the developers will install 2,000,000 solar panels around the existing coal mining facilities. This $1.7 billion development is divided into three distinct steps to manage the transition:
🔹 The first phase, Big Rooter West, adds 491 MW of capacity by August 2028.
🔹 The second phase, Big Rooter East, adds 658 MW, with construction starting in December 2026 and finishing by August 2029.
🔹 The entire project will create over 800 construction jobs in the region.
While other energy initiatives like the Gateway Solar & Storage site in Illinois have paved the way for reusing older industrial land, this site is set to become the largest solar array ever built at an active coal mine in North America. It is a practical test of how to squeeze more life and electricity out of land that is already tied to the power grid.
#energy #texas #solar
Canary Media
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Construction has kicked off for Panamint Capital's massive new solar energy project in Bremond, Texas, which will eventually generate 1.2 GW of power. This installation aims to change how we use industrial land by placing clean energy infrastructure directly alongside active fossil fuel operations.
The project, known as Big Rooter Power, will be built on the site of the Twin Oaks power station. Instead of clearing the land, the developers will install 2,000,000 solar panels around the existing coal mining facilities. This $1.7 billion development is divided into three distinct steps to manage the transition:
🔹 The first phase, Big Rooter West, adds 491 MW of capacity by August 2028.
🔹 The second phase, Big Rooter East, adds 658 MW, with construction starting in December 2026 and finishing by August 2029.
🔹 The entire project will create over 800 construction jobs in the region.
While other energy initiatives like the Gateway Solar & Storage site in Illinois have paved the way for reusing older industrial land, this site is set to become the largest solar array ever built at an active coal mine in North America. It is a practical test of how to squeeze more life and electricity out of land that is already tied to the power grid.
Repurposing old industrial sites is the next logical step for grid growth.
#energy #texas #solar
Canary Media
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Tesla Files for $10.1 Billion Solar Factory in Texas
Tesla just filed official plans to build a massive solar cell manufacturing facility in Fort Bend County, Texas, backed by a staggering $10.1 billion investment.
The massive site is known internally by the codename "Project Crystal Sun." Commercial production is scheduled to kick off in the first quarter of 2029, bringing over 9,700 permanent jobs to the region.
The layout and scale of the project involve some impressive figures:
🔹 The facility will stretch across roughly 3,050 acres near Richmond.
🔹 The budget breaks down into $1.5 billion for real estate and $8.6 billion for heavy manufacturing equipment.
🔹 The timeline targets completing construction throughout 2028 before firing up operations.
This dwarfs every previous factory project from the company, standing as the single largest US manufacturing investment Tesla has ever put on paper.
#Tesla #SolarPower #Texas
Electrek
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Tesla just filed official plans to build a massive solar cell manufacturing facility in Fort Bend County, Texas, backed by a staggering $10.1 billion investment.
The massive site is known internally by the codename "Project Crystal Sun." Commercial production is scheduled to kick off in the first quarter of 2029, bringing over 9,700 permanent jobs to the region.
The layout and scale of the project involve some impressive figures:
🔹 The facility will stretch across roughly 3,050 acres near Richmond.
🔹 The budget breaks down into $1.5 billion for real estate and $8.6 billion for heavy manufacturing equipment.
🔹 The timeline targets completing construction throughout 2028 before firing up operations.
This dwarfs every previous factory project from the company, standing as the single largest US manufacturing investment Tesla has ever put on paper.
A massive push for domestic green energy is finally taking shape.
#Tesla #SolarPower #Texas
Electrek
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Ørsted launches 500MWh battery plant in Texas
Denmark-based energy company Ørsted has officially flipped the switch on its new energy storage project in Needville, Texas, which features a massive 500MWh battery capacity. This facility now helps stabilize the local power grid by pairing large-scale battery storage with existing solar power.
The project, named Old 300, uses Tesla battery systems to hold onto electricity produced during the day. Because the facility sits next to a 430 MW solar farm that opened earlier in 2024, it can catch energy when the sun is shining and release it when the demand spikes or the sun goes down.
This storage capacity is a major upgrade for the ERCOT grid, which manages power for most of Texas. Compared to the 430 MW of solar capacity already at the site, this 250 MW battery setup ensures the energy collected isn't wasted when the grid doesn't need it at that exact moment.
#energy #technology #Texas
Energy Storage News
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Denmark-based energy company Ørsted has officially flipped the switch on its new energy storage project in Needville, Texas, which features a massive 500MWh battery capacity. This facility now helps stabilize the local power grid by pairing large-scale battery storage with existing solar power.
The project, named Old 300, uses Tesla battery systems to hold onto electricity produced during the day. Because the facility sits next to a 430 MW solar farm that opened earlier in 2024, it can catch energy when the sun is shining and release it when the demand spikes or the sun goes down.
This storage capacity is a major upgrade for the ERCOT grid, which manages power for most of Texas. Compared to the 430 MW of solar capacity already at the site, this 250 MW battery setup ensures the energy collected isn't wasted when the grid doesn't need it at that exact moment.
The grid is becoming more reliable.
#energy #technology #Texas
Energy Storage News
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Equinor opens Citrus Flatts in Harlingen
Equinor subsidiary East Point Energy has launched operations at the Citrus Flatts energy storage project in Harlingen, Texas. The facility adds 100 MW of flexible capacity to the state's power grid, helping to balance supply and demand. ⚡
Think of this installation as a massive, industrial-grade power bank for the region. It pulls in electricity when it is cheap or abundant and releases it into the system exactly when residents need it most. This site holds 200 MWh of storage, making it the largest project of its kind that Equinor has built in the U.S. to date.
While many household or office storage solutions handle only small amounts of power, this setup is designed to stabilize the infrastructure for an entire region. It marks a clear step up in scale compared to the company's previous, smaller battery pilots in the U.S. market.
#Equinor #EnergyStorage #Texas
Interesting Engineering
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Equinor subsidiary East Point Energy has launched operations at the Citrus Flatts energy storage project in Harlingen, Texas. The facility adds 100 MW of flexible capacity to the state's power grid, helping to balance supply and demand. ⚡
Think of this installation as a massive, industrial-grade power bank for the region. It pulls in electricity when it is cheap or abundant and releases it into the system exactly when residents need it most. This site holds 200 MWh of storage, making it the largest project of its kind that Equinor has built in the U.S. to date.
While many household or office storage solutions handle only small amounts of power, this setup is designed to stabilize the infrastructure for an entire region. It marks a clear step up in scale compared to the company's previous, smaller battery pilots in the U.S. market.
Big batteries keep the lights on when the grid gets tight.
#Equinor #EnergyStorage #Texas
Interesting Engineering
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Electric Air Taxi Tests Begin in Texas
Today in Texas ✈️, a brand new federal program is kicking off to test electric, hybrid, and autonomous aircraft before the official rules are even finished.
The Federal Aviation Administration launched this Advanced Air Mobility project so companies like Joby, Beta, and Wisk can gather real-world data across the region. 🔋
Unlike traditional helicopters that rely on noisy jet fuel engines, these quieter machines are designed to weave through city traffic with zero direct emissions.
Regulators are finally testing the technology in the real world instead of waiting behind a desk.
#aviation #technology #texas
The Verge
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Today in Texas ✈️, a brand new federal program is kicking off to test electric, hybrid, and autonomous aircraft before the official rules are even finished.
The Federal Aviation Administration launched this Advanced Air Mobility project so companies like Joby, Beta, and Wisk can gather real-world data across the region. 🔋
Throughout the week, these electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft will fly real-world routes between busy airports and urban hubs.
Unlike traditional helicopters that rely on noisy jet fuel engines, these quieter machines are designed to weave through city traffic with zero direct emissions.
Regulators are finally testing the technology in the real world instead of waiting behind a desk.
Science fiction is turning into your daily commute.
#aviation #technology #texas
The Verge
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Texas power grid handles record heat with ease
Texas just made it through its hottest summer on record without a single voluntary power saving request. Even with demand hitting a record 91,308 MW on July 22, the lights stayed on and the AC kept running. 🚀
The grid operator ERCOT credits a massive shift in how the state stores power. Back in 2021, Texas had only 857 MW of battery capacity. By July 2026, that number skyrocketed to roughly 21.7 GW. This allows the grid to capture excess solar energy during the day and release it precisely when the sun sets and people return home to turn on their appliances.
This is a sharp contrast to 2023, when ERCOT had to ask residents to cut usage six times in just one week to prevent blackouts. Now, batteries act as a bridge, keeping the network stable even when solar production drops off at dusk. The EIA confirms these batteries are now fundamental to maintaining network stability.
#Texas #Energy #Technology
Xataka
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Texas just made it through its hottest summer on record without a single voluntary power saving request. Even with demand hitting a record 91,308 MW on July 22, the lights stayed on and the AC kept running. 🚀
The grid operator ERCOT credits a massive shift in how the state stores power. Back in 2021, Texas had only 857 MW of battery capacity. By July 2026, that number skyrocketed to roughly 21.7 GW. This allows the grid to capture excess solar energy during the day and release it precisely when the sun sets and people return home to turn on their appliances.
This system effectively flattens the "duck curve," a term used to describe the mismatch between when solar energy is generated during peak sun hours and when electricity is actually needed by the public.
This is a sharp contrast to 2023, when ERCOT had to ask residents to cut usage six times in just one week to prevent blackouts. Now, batteries act as a bridge, keeping the network stable even when solar production drops off at dusk. The EIA confirms these batteries are now fundamental to maintaining network stability.
Reliable power without the stress is a major win for everyone. 🔥
#Texas #Energy #Technology
Xataka
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Electric air taxi networks planned for Texas cities
Archer Aviation revealed plans on 26 October to launch electric air taxi networks across Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston using its Midnight aircraft. 🚁
The proposed flights aim to turn 60 to 90 minute road drives into 10 to 20 minute trips.
#ElectricAircraft ⚡ #AirTaxis ⚡ #Texas
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Archer Aviation revealed plans on 26 October to launch electric air taxi networks across Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston using its Midnight aircraft. 🚁
The proposed flights aim to turn 60 to 90 minute road drives into 10 to 20 minute trips.
#ElectricAircraft ⚡ #AirTaxis ⚡ #Texas
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