Clearway Energy Group (“Clearway”) and Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CWEN, CWEN. A) announced that it brought online the Pine Forest Energy Center in Hopkins County, Texas. The project includes 300 megawatts (MW) of solar generation and a 200 MW battery storage facility, representing a $685 million investment in reliable, low-cost clean energy. Together, the facilities generate enough electricity to power more than 100,000 homes and store low-cost electricity to dispatch when it’s needed most.
“The Pine Forest Energy Center underscores Clearway’s commitment to powering Texas with reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy,” said John Woody, Chief Development Officer at Clearway. “Our first battery storage facility in the state will help ensure grid reliability, keep the lights on for Texans, and strengthen the communities we call home. We’re proud to work with our customers and partners to make it happen.”
The construction of Pine Forest created about 480 jobs and was led by Blattner Energy.
Over the next 20 years, the project is expected to generate more than $58 million in property tax revenue for local schools, emergency services, and local infrastructure. Built on privately leased land, it will also offer long-term financial stability and help keep land in families for generations.
“As a long-term community member and a source of new property tax revenue, the Pine Forest Energy Center will fuel opportunities for local students,” said Lydia Walden, Como-Pickton Consolidated Independent School District Superintendent. “Our schools look forward to partnering with Clearway to provide learning experiences, both in and out of the classroom.”
Throughout development and construction, Clearway and Blattner worked closely with the Pine Forest community, contributing to local schools and families in need. The companies supported teacher appreciation events at Como-Pickton Consolidated Independent School District, provided appliances and improvements to the Pine Forest Community Center, and joined community efforts to supply holiday gifts to more than 130 children. Clearway and its partners also donated $3,500 and hundreds of pounds of food to the Pine Forest Food Bank.
As Pine Forest enters long-term operations, Clearway will continue supporting the community through programs such as Adopt-a-School, contributions to the local EMS department, and participation in county events.
Pine Forest is backed by long-term virtual power purchase agreements with Dell Technologies and Universal Corporation.
In 2024, Clearway Energy, Inc., entered into an agreement to invest in the project upon commercial operations.
Clearway Energy Group’s vision is a world powered by clean energy. Along with our public affiliate Clearway Energy, Inc., our portfolio comprises over 13 GW of gross generating capacity in 27 states, including over 2.8 GW of flexible dispatchable power generation, 10.3 GW of battery energy storage, solar, and wind assets providing critical grid reliability services. As we develop a nationwide pipeline of new energy projects for the future, Clearway’s operating fleet generates enough reliable electricity to power more than 2 million homes today. Clearway Energy Group is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Denver, Houston, Phoenix, Princeton, and San Diego. For more information, visit https://www.clearwayenergygroup.com.