Meta and Apex Team Up for 144MW Texas Solar Farm

Meta and Virginia-based Apex Clean Energy just announced their seventh renewable energy partnership, bringing a massive new solar farm to Gonzales County, Texas. The Starling Solar project will generate 144 megawatts of clean power starting in 2027, enough to light up thousands of homes while keeping the local grid humming.

This isn't just another corporate climate pledge. Meta's commitment means the solar farm will actually get built, adding new generation capacity that wouldn't exist otherwise.

The two companies have been at this together for nearly seven years now. Their combined projects across Texas, Virginia, Illinois, Kansas, and Iowa now total about 1,200 megawatts of clean energy.

"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. The Starling project brings ready-to-build capacity on the fast timelines that large customers need.

The Ripple Effect

Amanda Yang, who heads clean and renewable energy at Meta, hit the nail on the head: "The best clean energy projects are the ones the surrounding community feels the benefit of directly."

Gonzales County is about to feel those benefits in a big way. The project will generate roughly $27 million in tax revenue over its lifetime, with $15.6 million going straight to local schools.

Local landowners will receive more than $26.3 million in payments. Between 400 and 450 people will find work during construction, bringing paychecks and economic activity to the area.

The community wins don't stop there. Apex is setting aside nearly $400,000 in grant funding for local organizations and conservation initiatives, ensuring the project leaves a lasting positive mark beyond the clean energy it generates.

When companies this size commit to renewable energy, they're not just cutting their own carbon footprints. They're creating jobs, funding schools, and proving that fighting climate change and building stronger communities can happen at the same time.