Construction Begins on Largest Solar Farm in the U.S.

PATTONVILLE, TEXAS — Construction has begun on what will become the largest solar energy generation facility in the U.S.

Once it's fully operational, the Samson Solar Energy Center will generate 1,013 megawatts of renewable energy — making it considerably larger than the 690-megawatt Gemini solar project near Las Vegas.

The Samson solar farm is being developed by Invenergy, a Chicago-based developer of electricity generation and storage facilities. The company says in a press release that when complete, the solar farm will produce enough energy to power nearly 300,000 American homes.

The project will span 6,734 acres in Lamar, Red River and Franklin counties. It will be built in five phases, each of which will begin operating upon completion. The full project is scheduled to become operational in 2023.

Invenergy says it has already signed agreements with five major consumer brands and the Texas cities of Bryan, Denton and Garland to use the solar farm's energy.