Avantus is celebrating the groundbreaking and continued development of the Galloway 2 Solar Project in Concho County, Texas.
Once completed, the project will serve as a dedicated 147 MWdc/110 MWac resource for Texas’ energy grid, generating enough electricity to provide power for approximately 60,000 Texans. In addition, Galloway 2 is creating more than 250 peak construction jobs and will generate more than $18 million in local property taxes, supporting essential local services such as education, the county hospital and public safety. More than half of the funding will directly benefit the Paint Rock School District, located less than five miles from the project.
“Texas leads the nation in energy production, so it’s no surprise the Lone Star State is leading the charge in building out massive amounts of clean energy,” said Dr. Tom Buttgenbach, founder and CEO of Avantus, which was formerly known as 8minute. “Today, solar is not only one of the lowest cost forms of electricity generation, but also one of the fastest growing workforces in America. Here in Texas, we are creating lifelong careers in clean energy that can sustain generations to come.”
At the groundbreaking ceremony, attendees toured the construction site. Initial work began at the site in the summer of 2022 and is currently at peak construction. The project is expected to come online before the end of the year.
“Galloway 2 has been such a great addition to our local economy here in Paint Rock,” said Paint Rock Mayor Francis Maupin. “Our town is busier than ever, and the tax revenue will help create real benefits for our school and community for years to come.”
The majority of the project’s energy is committed to BASF Corp., which is purchasing renewables to offset the energy demand at its Freeport, Texas, facility. The Galloway 2 project is owned by Allianz Capital Partners, with Avantus maintaining a minority stake in the project. RES is providing the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services.
This is Avantus’ second utility-scale project development in the Paint Rock area, with many workers returning to support Galloway 2. Together, these two projects are providing tens of millions of dollars in local tax revenues to the County, spanning the next few decades.
“The Galloway 2 project helps cement Texas’ status as a leader in energy, bringing local jobs and strengthening our area industries,” said State Representative Drew Darby (R-San Angelo).
Driven by Avantus’ growing team in Austin and commitment to Texas, the company has already brought 600 MWdc of solar energy online with more than 4 GW of solar and 12 GWh of energy storage under development across the state. The company’s pipeline of solar and energy storage spans more than 90 utility-scale projects across Texas and the Southwest, representing over $70 billion in investments.
— Solar Builder magazine
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