The commencement of construction for a significant solar farm in Millington marks a pivotal progression towards the realization of the metaverse concept. With a budget of $140 million, this solar initiative is poised to transform the energy landscape. The project is strategically aligned to supply a substantial portion of its generated power to a data center owned by Meta Platforms Inc., located over 200 miles away.
Graceland Solar LLC, operating under the umbrella of its parent company RWE Renewables, will take charge of the construction, ownership, and operation of this impressive 150-megawatt solar facility situated in Shelby County. The undertaking officially entered the construction phase following the filing of a construction permit on July 28. Occupying the address 4769 Pleasant Ridge Road, the solar endeavor is an integral part of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s overarching scheme to integrate 10,000 megawatts of solar capacity into its grid by 2035. This is achieved through a compelling 20-year agreement between Graceland and the federally owned utility. The crux of this agreement entails the sale of the entirety of the generated power to TVA, of which approximately three-quarters is anticipated to be directed to a Meta data center located in Gallatin, Tennessee.
Encompassing approximately 850 acres of land, the Millington solar project will be situated a short distance to the southwest of the U.S. Navy base. According to estimates by TVA, this initiative is forecasted to yield in excess of $12 million in property tax revenue and foster the creation of over 150 construction jobs. Furthermore, a complement of permanent operations and maintenance personnel will be employed once the facility is operational.
During the public consultation phase of the project, Protect Our Aquifer, a nonprofit environmental organization based in Memphis, voiced the recommendation that the solar farm’s placement be reevaluated to be closer to Gallatin, a small town positioned northeast of Nashville. This proposition was driven by the notion of enhanced operational efficiency and the reduction of power loss associated with long-distance energy transmission.
Upon the culmination of the 20-year contract with TVA, Graceland Solar will be granted the opportunity to reevaluate its operations. The company retains the flexibility to either forge another agreement with TVA or an alternative client, or to decide on the decommissioning of the site.
Meta Platforms Inc., previously known as Facebook, initially announced the inception of the data center project in 2020, which has subsequently expanded its investment to an impressive $1 billion. This steadfast commitment underscores the magnitude of the venture and its alignment with the evolving technological landscape.