US-based independent power producer MN8 Energy has announced that two utility-scale solar projects, with a combined capacity of 260MW-alternating current (MWac), have begun commercial operations in the US, supplying power under long-term agreements with Microsoft.
The projects, the 120MW Long Point Solar project in Brazoria County, Texas, and the 140MW American Beech facility in Halifax County, North Carolina, have both started supplying electricity to their respective regional power grids.
Long Point Solar feeds into the Houston load zone managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), an area noted for significant growth in electricity demand.
American Beech delivers electricity to PJM Interconnection, a region described as experiencing rapid infrastructure expansion.
According to MN8 Energy, Long Point and American Beech are expected to contribute tax revenue to local governments, supporting schools and public services.
Each project created more than 300 construction roles and established nearly a dozen permanent jobs.
The company has also engaged a local provider for ongoing maintenance and vegetation management services at the Long Point site.
The completion of the two projects highlights MN8’s history of supplying contracted solar power to Microsoft and its capacity to develop, construct and manage large-scale projects to meet the requirements of major energy consumers.
MN8 Energy senior vice-president and head of revenue and commodities Moe Hanifi said: “As digital infrastructure scales across the US, energy solutions must scale with it. These projects deliver new solar capacity into two critical power markets and highlight MN8’s role as a partner to Microsoft in meeting their sustainability goals.”
Headquartered in New York, MN8 Energy operates as an independent producer of solar and energy storage in the US.
The company has around 4GW of solar capacity in operation or development, along with 1.5GW-hours of battery storage and more than 40 high-power electric vehicle charging stations in ten states.
