#solarfarms — Public Fediverse posts

Largest Operational Solar Farm in Each State

Provided below is a list of the largest operational solar farm(s) in each state. As the title implies, the list does not include solar farms that are either proposed or under construction. As always, any additions, suggestions, or corrections are most welcome.

In terms of ranking by size, these are the states with the five largest solar farms*:

1. Indiana = 1.3 gigawatts
2. Texas ~ 1 gigawatts
3. Minnesota = 710 megawatts
4. Nevada = 690 megawatts
5. Illinois = 593 megawatts

*Numbers based on megawatts or megawatts ac, whichever is less.

Anyone who is misinformed that solar farms only work in the south and west will be surprised that three of the top five states are in the Midwest.

Peace!

Alabama: Muscle Shoals Solar Facility (Muscle Shoals: 2021) = 227 megawatts

Alaska: Houston Solar Farm (Houston: 2023) = 8.5 megawatts

Arizona: Sonoran Solar Energy Project (Buckeye: 2023) = 490 megawatts

Arkansas: Big Cypress Solar (Wilson: 2023) = 180 megawatts

California: Solar Star (Rosamond: 2015) = 579 megawatts

Colorado: Bighorn Solar Project (Pueblo: 2021) = 300 megawatts

Connecticut: Gravel Pit Solar Farm (East Windsor) = 120 megawatts

Delaware: ENGIE Solidago Solar Farm (New Castle) = 50 megawatts

District of Columbia: Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (2019) = 5.8 megawatts

Florida: Chipola Solar Energy Center (Calhoun County) = 149 megawatts

Georgia: Snipesville Solar Ranch (Denton) = 300 megawatts

Hawaii: Kuihelani Solar (Maui) = 60 megawatts

Idaho: Pleasant Valley Solar (Ada County: 2025) = 200 megawatts

Illinois: Double Black Diamond Solar Project (Sangamon and Morgan Counties: 2025) = 800 megawatts dc/593 megawatts ac

Indiana: Mammoth Solar (Starke and Pulsaki Counties: 2024) = 1.6 gigawatts dc/1.3 gigawatts ac

Iowa: Pleasant Creek Solar (Linn County: 2024) = 200 megawatts

Kansas: Johnson Corner Solar (Stanton County: 2020) = 20 megawatts

Kentucky: Sebree Solar (Henderson County: 2025) = 250 megawatts

Louisiana: Oxbow Solar Farm (Coupee Parish) = 345 megawatts dc/300 megawatts ac

Maine: Three Corners Solar (Waldo: 2024) = 110 megawatts

Maryland: Backbone Solar (Garrett County: 2025) = 160 megawatts

Massachusetts: St. Joseph’s Abbey Solar (Spencer: 2016) = 20.3 megawatts dc/14.7 megawatts ac

Michigan: Assembly Solar Project (Shiawassee County: 2022) = 346.9 megawatts dc/240 megawatts ac

Minnesota: Sherco Solar (Sherburne County: 2026) = 710 megawatts

Mississippi: Pearl River Solar Park (Scott: 2024) = 175 megawatts

Missouri: Kelso Solar Project (Scott County: 2026) = 430 megawatts dc

Montana: two solar farms tied with 80 megawatts

Nebraska: Platteview Solar Saunders County: 2024) = 81 megawatts

Nevada: Gemini Solar (Las Vegas: 2024) = 690 megawatts

New Hampshire: Dunbarton Landfill Solar (Manchester) = 3.3 megawatts

New Jersey: multiple solar farms tied at 20 megawatts

New Mexico: two solar farms tied (Bernalillo and McKinley Counties: 2024) with 300 megawatts

New York: Morris Ridge Solar (Livingston County) = 177 megawatts

North Carolina: American Beech Solar (Halifax County) = 140 megawatts

North Dakota: Cannonball Community Sale Farm (Standing Rock Reservation: 2019) = 300 megawatts

Ohio: Fox Squirrel Solar Fam (Madison County) = 577 megawatts

Oklahoma: Skeleton Creek Energy Center (Garfield County: 2025) = 250 megawatts

Oregon: Montague Solar (Gilliam County) = 162 megawatts

Pennsylvania: Great Cove Solar (Franklin and Fulton Counties: 2024) = 220 megawatts

Puerto Rico: Ciro One (2025) = 90 megawatts

Rhode Island: Iron Mine Solar (North Smithfield: 2021) = 48.5 megawatts

South Carolina: Palmetto Plains Solar Farm (Orangeburg County: 2019) = 106 megawatts dc

South Dakota: Wild Springs Solar (Pennington County: 2024) = 128 megawatts

Tennessee: NAS Mid-South (Millington: 2019) = 53 megawatts

Texas: Rockhound Solar (Ector County: 2026) ~ 1 gigawatts dc (ac not provided) – Thank you, Dan!

Utah: Green River (Emery County: 2026) = 400 megawatts

Vermont: Coolidge Solar (Windsor: 2018) = 20 megawatts

Virginia: Spotsylvania Soalr (Spotsylvania County: 2021) = 617 megawatts dc/485 megawatts ac

Washington: Lund Hill Solar Farm (Klickitat County: 2023) = 150 megawatts

West Virginia: BHER Ravenswood Solar 1 (Jackson County: 2025 = 192.1 megawatts

Wisconsin: Badger Hollow Solar (Iowa County: 2025) = 300 megawatts

Wyoming: South Cheyenne Solar (Laramie County: 2024) = 150 megawatts

SOURCES: gemini.google.ai and google.com and https://origisenergy.com/insights/origis-energys-rockhound-complex-reaches-1-gw-operational-milestone-advancing-2-gw-multi-phase-energy-hub/

#typewriter #typedPage #typedThoughs #SolarPower #SolarFarms #SodiumBatteries #SolidStateBatteries #future

#typewriter #typedPage #typedThoughs #SolarPower #SolarFarms #SodiumBatteries #SolidStateBatteries #future

Double harvest: #raspberries and #RenewableEnergy - #FruitLogistica

Excerpts: "Based on current findings, strawberries do not thrive under #SolarPanels, so this combination of crops does not have a promising future. This was the conclusion of a Wageningen University study on fruit cultivation beneath #photovoltaic systems.

Strawberries grown beneath solar panels with 25 to 50 per cent light transmission experienced a significant drop in yield – by 25 to 30 per cent.

The situation was quite different for raspberries, however: under solar panels with 40 per cent light transmission, the harvest yield fell by only five per cent, and the quality of the fruit remained unchanged. At the same time, the panels reduced evaporation and water consumption, protecting the berries from burns and heat peaks.

The scientists also expect positive effects on #WaterConsumption and protection against #ExtremeWeather conditions.

[...]

One clear advantage is that raspberries are currently grown under rain protection films that have to be replaced every five to seven years. This equates to a significant amount of plastic that would no longer be required if solar modules were used instead. And they last at least ten years."

Full article:
https://www.fruitlogistica.com/en/blog/double-harvest-raspberries-and-renewable-energy.html

#SolarPunkSunday #SolarFarms #Solar #RenewableEnergy #RenewablesNow #Agrosolar #Agrovoltaics #SolarPanelAgriculture #SolarOnFarms #SolarEnergy

Double harvest: #raspberries and #RenewableEnergy - #FruitLogistica

Excerpts: "Based on current findings, strawberries do not thrive under #SolarPanels, so this combination of crops does not have a promising future. This was the conclusion of a Wageningen University study on fruit cultivation beneath #photovoltaic systems.

Strawberries grown beneath solar panels with 25 to 50 per cent light transmission experienced a significant drop in yield – by 25 to 30 per cent.

The situation was quite different for raspberries, however: under solar panels with 40 per cent light transmission, the harvest yield fell by only five per cent, and the quality of the fruit remained unchanged. At the same time, the panels reduced evaporation and water consumption, protecting the berries from burns and heat peaks.

The scientists also expect positive effects on #WaterConsumption and protection against #ExtremeWeather conditions.

[...]

One clear advantage is that raspberries are currently grown under rain protection films that have to be replaced every five to seven years. This equates to a significant amount of plastic that would no longer be required if solar modules were used instead. And they last at least ten years."

Full article:
https://www.fruitlogistica.com/en/blog/double-harvest-raspberries-and-renewable-energy.html

#SolarPunkSunday #SolarFarms #Solar #RenewableEnergy #RenewablesNow #Agrosolar #Agrovoltaics #SolarPanelAgriculture #SolarOnFarms #SolarEnergy

#Solar and #RenewableEnergy on #Farms - #UMassAmherst

Excerpt: "What Works Under Solar Panels

Sheep and Poultry: #SheepGrazing is well-established at solar sites, they benefit from shade, don't damage equipment, and manage vegetation. #Poultry also do well. Larger animals require reinforced racking; goats and pigs may interfere with wiring.

#Hay and #Pasture: Shading reduces yields, but shade-tolerant species (#orchardgrass, #WhiteClover) maintain reasonable productivity.

#Vegetables: #LeafyGreens, #brassicas, and some #herbs tolerate #PartialShade. Sun-loving crops should be planted between panel rows.

Fruit: Most fruit crops need full sun. Currants and gooseberries are more tolerant. Start small to observe actual impacts." [Raspberries do well in partial sun]."

Read more:
https://www.umass.edu/agriculture-food-environment/clean-energy/solar-renewable-energy-on-farms

#SolarPunkSunday #SolarEnergy #SolarFarms #SolarPanelAgriculture #SolarOnFarms #Agrosolar #Agrovoltaics

#Solar and #RenewableEnergy on #Farms - #UMassAmherst

Excerpt: "What Works Under Solar Panels

Sheep and Poultry: #SheepGrazing is well-established at solar sites, they benefit from shade, don't damage equipment, and manage vegetation. #Poultry also do well. Larger animals require reinforced racking; goats and pigs may interfere with wiring.

#Hay and #Pasture: Shading reduces yields, but shade-tolerant species (#orchardgrass, #WhiteClover) maintain reasonable productivity.

#Vegetables: #LeafyGreens, #brassicas, and some #herbs tolerate #PartialShade. Sun-loving crops should be planted between panel rows.

Fruit: Most fruit crops need full sun. Currants and gooseberries are more tolerant. Start small to observe actual impacts." [Raspberries do well in partial sun]."

Read more:
https://www.umass.edu/agriculture-food-environment/clean-energy/solar-renewable-energy-on-farms

#SolarPunkSunday #SolarEnergy #SolarFarms #SolarPanelAgriculture #SolarOnFarms #Agrosolar #Agrovoltaics

#NativeAmericans are building their own #SolarFarms

By Lucy Sherriff, 4th December 2023,

Excerpt: "Having access to – and control over – their own power sources has birthed the term '#EnergySovereignty'. 'We want to have the primary role in the direction of our life,' says John. 'That sovereignty really embodies the spirit of a lot of Native people, it's our guidance in many ways.' "

Read more:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20231204-native-americans-are-building-their-own-solar-farms

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/cky1C

#SolarPunkSunday #SolarPower #NativeAmericans #NativeAmericanNews #EnergyIndependence #Resilience #Sovereignty

#NativeAmericans are building their own #SolarFarms

By Lucy Sherriff, 4th December 2023,

Excerpt: "Having access to – and control over – their own power sources has birthed the term '#EnergySovereignty'. 'We want to have the primary role in the direction of our life,' says John. 'That sovereignty really embodies the spirit of a lot of Native people, it's our guidance in many ways.' "

Read more:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20231204-native-americans-are-building-their-own-solar-farms

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/cky1C

#SolarPunkSunday #SolarPower #NativeAmericans #NativeAmericanNews #EnergyIndependence #Resilience #Sovereignty

More of this, please...!

Two #Minnesota #SolarFarms seeded #NativeWildflowers under their panels, and 5 years of counting revealed #NativeBees had multiplied twentyfold, then crossed the fence to pollinate the neighbour’s soybeans

by Hugo Rojas, July 14, 2026

Read more:
https://www.ecoportal.net/en/two-minnesota-solar-farms-native-wildflowers/29160/

#SolarPunkSunday #GardeningForPolinators #Wildflowers #NativeGrasses #SolarPunk #Solar

More of this, please...!

Two #Minnesota #SolarFarms seeded #NativeWildflowers under their panels, and 5 years of counting revealed #NativeBees had multiplied twentyfold, then crossed the fence to pollinate the neighbour’s soybeans

by Hugo Rojas, July 14, 2026

Read more:
https://www.ecoportal.net/en/two-minnesota-solar-farms-native-wildflowers/29160/

#SolarPunkSunday #GardeningForPolinators #Wildflowers #NativeGrasses #SolarPunk #Solar

RE: https://social.heise.de/@heiseonlineenglish/116894989220754308

The #FCC has found an elegant way to avoid having to decide on the side effects: it is only responsible for the use of radio frequencies and for ensuring that #SpaceDebris is avoided. Therefore, others must decide on the effects of the mirror – but who, remains unclear. This means the satellite can now launch. 50,000 satellites 🛰️ are intended to reflect light onto Earth at night so that #SolarFarms can produce energy even in the dark

RE: https://social.heise.de/@heiseonlineenglish/116894989220754308

The #FCC has found an elegant way to avoid having to decide on the side effects: it is only responsible for the use of radio frequencies and for ensuring that #SpaceDebris is avoided. Therefore, others must decide on the effects of the mirror – but who, remains unclear. This means the satellite can now launch. 50,000 satellites 🛰️ are intended to reflect light onto Earth at night so that #SolarFarms can produce energy even in the dark

Every objection to a solar farm counts the cost of building it, down to the acre. None of them count the cost of refusing it.

Say no to a 65-megawatt solar farm in New York and the electricity still gets made anyway — by burning gas instead. This article works out what that costs, using EPA's own health methodology: about one statistical death and a documented rise in respiratory illness over the farm's lifetime.

https://mmalc-x-machina.ghost.io/the-cost-of-doing-nothing-new-york/

#SolarFarms
#USPol
#Energy
#RenewableEnergy

Every objection to a solar farm counts the cost of building it, down to the acre. None of them count the cost of refusing it.

Say no to a 65-megawatt solar farm in New York and the electricity still gets made anyway — by burning gas instead. This article works out what that costs, using EPA's own health methodology: about one statistical death and a documented rise in respiratory illness over the farm's lifetime.

https://mmalc-x-machina.ghost.io/the-cost-of-doing-nothing-new-york/

#SolarFarms
#USPol
#Energy
#RenewableEnergy

A Floating #solarfarm In The #netherlands Is Having A Big Effect On Underwater Habitats (Many POSITIVE effects!)

Read More: https://www.bgr.com/2202377/floating-solar-farm-netherlands-effect-underwater-habitats/

#solarfarms #solarpower #solar #solarenergy #environment #economy #ecosystems #wildlife #nature #green #climatechange #renewables #renewableenergy #solarpanels #sustainability #animals #energy #electricity

A Floating #solarfarm In The #netherlands Is Having A Big Effect On Underwater Habitats (Many POSITIVE effects!)

Read More: https://www.bgr.com/2202377/floating-solar-farm-netherlands-effect-underwater-habitats/

#solarfarms #solarpower #solar #solarenergy #environment #economy #ecosystems #wildlife #nature #green #climatechange #renewables #renewableenergy #solarpanels #sustainability #animals #energy #electricity

Every planning objection to a solar farm counts the cost of building it, down to the acre. None of them count the cost of refusing it.

Say no to a 200-acre solar farm and the electricity still gets made — just by burning gas instead. This article works out what that actually costs, using peer-reviewed health figures: several deaths and dozens of serious respiratory illnesses.

https://mmalc-x-machina.ghost.io/the-cost-of-doing-nothing/

#SolarFarms
#UKPol
#Energy
#RenewableEnergy

Every planning objection to a solar farm counts the cost of building it, down to the acre. None of them count the cost of refusing it.

Say no to a 200-acre solar farm and the electricity still gets made — just by burning gas instead. This article works out what that actually costs, using peer-reviewed health figures: several deaths and dozens of serious respiratory illnesses.

https://mmalc-x-machina.ghost.io/the-cost-of-doing-nothing/

#SolarFarms
#UKPol
#Energy
#RenewableEnergy

@GreenFire

I included both in a write-up:

https://mmalc-x-machina.ghost.io/on-closer-inspection-biodiversity-in-solar-farms/

"The biodiversity and land quality standards applied to solar farm proposals are worth applying [ironically] in practice, solar farms more routinely meet them than the farms they'd displace.
The land most urgently cited as needing protection from solar panels is, in many cases, the land most in need of a period of recovery from what it's currently used for.”

#Biodiversity
#SolarFarms
#LandQuality
#Agriculture

@GreenFire

I included both in a write-up:

https://mmalc-x-machina.ghost.io/on-closer-inspection-biodiversity-in-solar-farms/

"The biodiversity and land quality standards applied to solar farm proposals are worth applying [ironically] in practice, solar farms more routinely meet them than the farms they'd displace.
The land most urgently cited as needing protection from solar panels is, in many cases, the land most in need of a period of recovery from what it's currently used for.”

#Biodiversity
#SolarFarms
#LandQuality
#Agriculture

RE: https://floss.social/@danslerush/116731516805245122

Tagging for #SolarPunkSunday! #SolarFarms + #Bees! A winning combination!

RE: https://floss.social/@danslerush/116731516805245122

Tagging for #SolarPunkSunday! #SolarFarms + #Bees! A winning combination!

Democrats are supporting solar farms to power Data Centers  which will destroy our environment under the guise of  "net zero". We need to stop this. #environment #solarfarms #datacenters

Democrats are supporting solar farms to power Data Centers  which will destroy our environment under the guise of  "net zero". We need to stop this. #environment #solarfarms #datacenters

Start up claims it can collect solar energy in space, convert it to near-infrared, and beam it to large earth based solar farms at night to help power data centers.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/27/meta-inks-deal-for-solar-power-at-night-beamed-from-space/ #Electricity #SolarPower #DataCenters #Infrared #OverviewEnergy #SpaceCraft #Satellites #Space #SolarFarms

Start up claims it can collect solar energy in space, convert it to near-infrared, and beam it to large earth based solar farms at night to help power data centers.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/27/meta-inks-deal-for-solar-power-at-night-beamed-from-space/ #Electricity #SolarPower #DataCenters #Infrared #OverviewEnergy #SpaceCraft #Satellites #Space #SolarFarms

A #startup called #ReflectOrbital wants to launch thousands of mirror-bearing #satellites to reflect sunlight onto Earth at night and "power #solarfarms after sunset, provide lighting for rescue workers and illuminate city streets, among other things"
The company is seeking #FCC approval to test an idea to reflect sunlight to Earth at night, possibly powering #solar panels. Critics say it could be bad for people and wildlife.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/09/climate/space-mirror-satellite-solar.html
https://archive.ph/NrtU4

A #startup called #ReflectOrbital wants to launch thousands of mirror-bearing #satellites to reflect sunlight onto Earth at night and "power #solarfarms after sunset, provide lighting for rescue workers and illuminate city streets, among other things"
The company is seeking #FCC approval to test an idea to reflect sunlight to Earth at night, possibly powering #solar panels. Critics say it could be bad for people and wildlife.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/09/climate/space-mirror-satellite-solar.html
https://archive.ph/NrtU4

The original article from Science, published in 2024:

Massive #SolarFarms could provoke rainclouds in the desert

Updrafts from dark solar panels could fuel storms—an alternative to #CloudSeeding

6 Feb 2024

Excerpt: "Branch and his co-authors wanted to see whether solar farms of more realistic sizes could alter the weather. To do so, they turned to a leading weather model, produced by the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research, that can account for land surface changes. They modeled the solar farms as nearly black fields that absorbed 95% of the incoming sunlight. When the solar farms exceeded 15 square kilometers, they found, the increased heat absorbed at the surface, contrasted with the relatively reflective sand surrounding them, appreciably increased the updrafts, or convection, that drive cloud formation.

"Just hacking convection wasn’t enough, however: A source of atmospheric moisture is also needed. The model showed that moist, high-altitude winds from the Persian Gulf would suffice. When conditions were ripe, the model found, a 20-square-kilometer solar field would increase rainfall by nearly 600,000 cubic meters—equivalent to 1 centimeter of rain falling across an area the size of Manhattan. If such rainstorms occurred 10 times in one summer, they would provide enough water to support more than 30,000 people for a year.

"The new work makes sense, and it’s 'very stimulating,' Lu says. 'They are targeting a real solution.” One concern, however, is that the simulated solar panels were darker than most manufacturers make them. Some current solar panels are even reflective, designed to cool their surroundings, Lu says.

"Still, Branch is hopeful that the idea could at some point be tested in the real world. Solar farms coming online in China and elsewhere are nearly big enough, he says. If they were built in the right spots, it wouldn’t take much to darken the panels as much as possible, and to plant drought-tolerant darkening #crops, such as jojoba shrubs, between panel rows."

Read more:
https://www.science.org/content/article/massive-solar-farms-could-provoke-rainclouds-desert

#SolarPunkSunday #SolarFarms

The original article from Science, published in 2024:

Massive #SolarFarms could provoke rainclouds in the desert

Updrafts from dark solar panels could fuel storms—an alternative to #CloudSeeding

6 Feb 2024

Excerpt: "Branch and his co-authors wanted to see whether solar farms of more realistic sizes could alter the weather. To do so, they turned to a leading weather model, produced by the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research, that can account for land surface changes. They modeled the solar farms as nearly black fields that absorbed 95% of the incoming sunlight. When the solar farms exceeded 15 square kilometers, they found, the increased heat absorbed at the surface, contrasted with the relatively reflective sand surrounding them, appreciably increased the updrafts, or convection, that drive cloud formation.

"Just hacking convection wasn’t enough, however: A source of atmospheric moisture is also needed. The model showed that moist, high-altitude winds from the Persian Gulf would suffice. When conditions were ripe, the model found, a 20-square-kilometer solar field would increase rainfall by nearly 600,000 cubic meters—equivalent to 1 centimeter of rain falling across an area the size of Manhattan. If such rainstorms occurred 10 times in one summer, they would provide enough water to support more than 30,000 people for a year.

"The new work makes sense, and it’s 'very stimulating,' Lu says. 'They are targeting a real solution.” One concern, however, is that the simulated solar panels were darker than most manufacturers make them. Some current solar panels are even reflective, designed to cool their surroundings, Lu says.

"Still, Branch is hopeful that the idea could at some point be tested in the real world. Solar farms coming online in China and elsewhere are nearly big enough, he says. If they were built in the right spots, it wouldn’t take much to darken the panels as much as possible, and to plant drought-tolerant darkening #crops, such as jojoba shrubs, between panel rows."

Read more:
https://www.science.org/content/article/massive-solar-farms-could-provoke-rainclouds-desert

#SolarPunkSunday #SolarFarms

Fury as Net-Zero tsar Ed Miliband approves huge solar farm | Politics | News

Ed Miliband has given the green light to plans to build huge new renewable energy projects on agricultural…
#NewsBeep #News #Environment #EdMiliband #Energy #environment #LabourParty #netzero #offshorewind #renewableenergy #Science #solarfarms #UK #UnitedKingdom
https://www.newsbeep.com/uk/427268/

(1/?)

@TechConnectify a few points about the corn ethanol vs. solar farm comparison;

According to permaculturist David Blume, author of Alcohol Can Be a Gas, corn is one of the lowest yield/acre ethanol feedstocks. The only reason it's used for fuel is that it's massively overproduced. Because of corn farming subsidies that started in the 1930s, and were increased in the 1980s.

#corn #ethanol #SolarFarms

@steel_virgin

(1/?)

@TechConnectify a few points about the corn ethanol vs. solar farm comparison;

According to permaculturist David Blume, author of Alcohol Can Be a Gas, corn is one of the lowest yield/acre ethanol feedstocks. The only reason it's used for fuel is that it's massively overproduced. Because of corn farming subsidies that started in the 1930s, and were increased in the 1980s.

#corn #ethanol #SolarFarms

@steel_virgin

RE: https://mstdn.social/@noelreports/115843801316293775

People wanting to build #Datacenters focus to much on #Energy #generation, and even then ignore #solarFarms. But the lack of infrastructure beyond just transmission lines has made some data centers useless. Transformers such as this are required. Suppliers and supplies are not cheap or abundant.
#transformers #electricity

RE: https://mstdn.social/@noelreports/115843801316293775

People wanting to build #Datacenters focus to much on #Energy #generation, and even then ignore #solarFarms. But the lack of infrastructure beyond just transmission lines has made some data centers useless. Transformers such as this are required. Suppliers and supplies are not cheap or abundant.
#transformers #electricity