Doral Renewables, an Israeli-based energy developer, has broken ground on the Mammoth Solar Project; a truly massive solar farm in Indiana that’s maybe the largest solar farm in the nation. The project will deliver up to $1,5 billion in investment over the next five years.
Firstly, according to local news media, Doral broke ground on the project this Wednesday. The state governor inaugurated the site of works. “It’s an incredibly electrifying day for the state of Indiana as we celebrate Doral Renewables’ significant investment in the future of energy generation and the state of Indiana.” He said.
He further commented. “Knowing Indiana will continue to play a key role in the global energy sector while creating real change in our Hoosier communities is empowering. It’s encouraging to witness the power industry moving toward reliable, affordable, and ever more clean renewable energy sources for generations of Hoosiers to come.”
Moreover, the site the construction works started is a 13,000 acres property across Starke and Pulaski counties in Northern Indiana. Mammoth Solar will have 1,3 gigawatts of capacity on its three phases. However, the first phase of the project will have 400 megawatts of power.
Furthermore, for the project’s first phase, Doral Renewables will invest up to $475 million. The company expects to have it operational by mid-2023. While phases two and three will have 900 MW of clean energy capacity and will become operational by 2022. The investment for phases two and three will be $1 billion.
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Doral Renewables to create 500+ jobs for the project
Overall, the project will remove 40,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions and conserve 1 billion gallons of irrigation well water annually. About the relevance of the project, Nick Cohen, CEO of Doral LLC, the US-based partner of the Doral Group, said. “This project will be a model for solar energy in Indiana and the Midwest as a whole.”
He also remarked. “The 400 megawatts of energy produced here during the first phase of the project is enough to power 75,000 Midwestern households and will infuse millions of much-needed dollars into local Indiana communities.”
On the other hand, as we reported previously, Doral Renewables has signed at least two power purchase agreements for the project. Both of them are with AEP Energy, a subsidiary of American Electric Power. The PPA’s will make a significant contribution to the nation’s renewable energy portfolio.
Finally, Doral Renewables will support the construction of the three phases of the project with 500 jobs during construction; and with 50 new full-time jobs once Mammoth Solar is fully operational.
