Zelestra, a renewable energy company, has commenced construction on its two largest U.S. solar projects to date. Lead EPC McCarthy Building Cos. has started work on both the 253-MWDC Echols Grove in Lamar County, Texas, and the 188-MWDC Cedar Range in Hopkins County.
The Jasper County Solar project in Indiana. Zelestra
“Following our rapid growth in 2025, Zelestra’s expansion in the U.S. energy landscape continues to accelerate in 2026,” said Phil North, Zelestra’s U.S. CEO. “Echols Grove and Cedar Range are two major projects in our partnership with Meta, which will see 1.2 GW of new clean energy capacity online in the U.S. soon. We are pleased to be supporting local jobs and local supply chain companies, and we are delighted to have McCarthy onboard to help ensure the projects are delivered safely, on-time and on budget for our customer.”
Facebook parent company Meta has signed power purchase agreements on both projects. Construction began at both sites in January 2026, with full commercial operation anticipated by the end of 2027. Together, the projects will support more than 400 local jobs. In total, 704,000 bifacial modules will be installed across 2,400 acres.
Meta signed another PPA on Zelestra’s Skull Creek Solar Plant in Texas in early February. Through Zelestra alone, Meta has PPAs for 1.2 GWDC of solar power supporting data center operations.
“Breaking ground on the Echols Grove and Cedar Range solar facilities represents more than new energy infrastructure — it’s a long-term investment in Texas communities,” said Dhruv Patel, president of McCarthy’s Renewable Energy group. “These projects will generate quality jobs and create opportunities for local contractors and suppliers, while prioritizing safety and workforce development. We’re proud to partner with Zelestra to deliver reliable, domestically produced energy in a way that reflects the values of the communities we serve.”
News item from Zelestra
