Vistra Corp. announced its Emerald Grove Solar Facility in Crane County, Texas, is online and generating electricity for summer. The 108-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) project is the third of seven new renewable and energy storage projects Vistra is bringing online across Texas over the next few years and the latest addition to the company's portfolio of zero-carbon power generation assets, known as Vistra Zero.

Vistra Zero projects completed and online in spring 2022 include: Brightside Solar Facility, Live Oak County, TX – 50 MW DeCordova Energy Storage Facility, Hood County, TX – 260 MW/260 MWh Emerald Grove Solar Facility, Crane County, TX – 108 MW. Together with its existing emission-free generation assets, including the most efficient nuclear plant in the country – Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, these projects bring the company's zero-carbon Vistra Zero portfolio to nearly 3,300 MW online, with plans to grow to more than 7,300 MW by 2026. Situated on 1,100 acres in Crane County, Emerald Grove is comprised of 316,416 photovoltaic solar panels that can generate enough electricity to power approximately 54,000 average residences in the ERCOT market during normal grid conditions.

The facility's west Texas location allows the panels to take advantage of higher solar irradiance levels, increasing output just as demand climbs across the state. Emerald Grove Solar Facility utilizes solar panel technology from First Solar; Mortenson provided engineering and construction expertise.