The sun is busy. Real busy. Since April, solar has added 9.5 GW to the U.S. grid. That’s almost 80% of all new power. Wind and gas? They’re trailing. Solar’s sprinting ahead.
And behind the scenes? Big money. Big moves. Let’s walk through it.
Texas: Lucky 7 Finds a New Home
Hopkins County, Texas. Wide skies. Flat land. Perfect for panels.
OCI Energy just sold the Lucky 7 Solar Project. 130 MW. Enough juice to power thousands. The buyer? Sabancı Renewables a Turkish giant that wants 3 GW in the U.S. by 2030.
The deal? Buttoned up by lawyers in big suits. Sidley Austin, Troutman Pepper you know, the usual suspects.
It’s expected to go live in 2027. Which feels far. But these projects, they move slow until suddenly they don’t.
New Mexico: Solar + Storage + Tradition
Now picture Rio Arriba County. Desert air. Jicarilla Apache Nation lands.There sits Shallow Basket Energy. A mix of 140 MW solar plus a 50 MW battery. The batteries? Tesla Megapack 2XLs those sleek white blocks that hum quietly while storing sunlight.
Here’s the twist. This isn’t just another utility project. It’s tribal-led. The Nation partnered with Guzman Energy to source power. That means sovereignty, resilience, and clean energy in one package.
Thirty-eight thousand homes lit up. That’s the kind of number you feel.
East Coast & Midwest: The Money Flows
Meanwhile different story, same energy.
SolAmerica Energy scored $100M from Deutsche Bank. A revolving credit line. Basically, fuel for growth. They’ll buy panels, inverters, racks. All the gear needed to build out 1.5 GW in community solar.
Community solar isn’t flashy. But it’s growing. People want smaller, local power options. And money like this makes it possible.
So What Does It All Mean?
It’s not just about solar panels. It’s about how the pieces connect. Texas shows us ownership shifts. Big companies trading assets like baseball cards. New Mexico shows culture and technology blending tribal sovereignty with solar storage. And the East? It’s where Wall Street money keeps projects alive.
Solar isn’t just growing. It’s shapeshifting. Fast.
What’s Next?
Sabancı may expand Lucky 7 storage, maybe even more land.
Jicarilla Apache’s Shallow Basket might inspire similar tribal projects.
SolAmerica? They’ve got cash. But can they move fast enough?
One thing’s certain. The sun’s not slowing down.