Markum Solar Groundbreaking. Photo Courtesy: Scout Clean Energy
Scout Clean Energy and project stakeholders gathered at the company’s first ever completed solar energy project, the 209-MWDC Markum Solar Farm located in Bosque and McLennan Counties in Texas, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony honoring the six years of hard work and collaboration that contributed to the project’s achievement of commercial operation last week. Markum is currently generating enough electricity for the ERCOT grid to power approximately 32,000 homes annually.
“We couldn’t be prouder to celebrate achieving commercial operations of our first ever solar project with everyone who made it possible,” said Michael Rucker, founder and CEO of Scout Clean Energy. “Every grid-scale energy project is a massive, years-long undertaking, and we’re grateful to everyone who helped bring Markum to the finish line here in Texas.”
Scout acquired the project in 2021 from L-Bar-L Ranch, owned by the Linn family, who initially self-developed the project and spoke at the event. In addition to successfully laying the groundwork for the project’s future success, the Linn family used Markum as an opportunity to convert the ranch from an award-winning grassfed beef operation into a high-performing solar energy asset where they could utilize their sheep for vegetative management. The Linn family gave attendees of the ribbon cutting an opportunity to meet some of the sheep that will be grazing the site.
“The Linn family has been in agriculture for over 120 years and looks forward to merging agriculture and green energy to continue legacy ranching for generations to come,” said the Linn family in a joint statement. “Lonestar Lambscaping, owned by the Linn family, is proud to bring our award-winning conservation ranching traditions to the emerging market of Agrivoltaics.”
Scout partnered with Mortenson in the construction of Markum, a 13-month effort that started last year.
Also attending and speaking at the event were members of the team at Colgate-Palmolive, who last year signed an agreement to purchase all power generated from Markum.
News item from Scout Clean Energy
