Massive solar farm to be built on Texas coal mine site
Panamint Capital has begun construction of a $1.7 billion solar and storage project with 1.2 GW capacity at the Calvert coal mine in Texas. The coal mine and its adjacent power plant will continue operating alongside the new renewable energy facility.
The 10,000-acre development incorporates 1.6 gigawatt-hours of battery capacity and roughly 20 miles of new high-voltage transmission infrastructure. Construction on the initial 491-megawatt segment is underway, targeting an August 2028 launch, while the subsequent 658-megawatt portion begins in December and may generate power by August 2029.
Panamint, backed by KKR, acquired the Twin Oaks plant and Calvert mine in 2023 with the explicit goal of expanding generation capacity at the existing location. Unlike comparable initiatives on retired mine lands, such as the 186-megawatt Tilden array in Illinois or the 240-megawatt Dolet Hills project in Louisiana, Big Rooter operates alongside active coal extraction.
This dual-use approach could ease the transition for communities dependent on fossil fuels by maintaining existing coal operations while adding clean energy jobs and tax revenue. For Texas ratepayers and grid operators, the project may help meet surging electricity demand from data centers and extreme heat, potentially stabilizing prices and reducing reliance on coal. It could also serve as a national model for repurposing active energy sites.