Prairie Ronde Solar construction update
As of July 2024
Construction is underway at the 180MW Prairie Ronde Solar farm in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. The project entered construction in early 2023. The project is expected to finish construction in late 2024.
See below for the latest update on project construction. We understand that construction can be disruptive to the community, and we’re working to minimize disruption. With questions, comments or concerns, please reach out to USCommunityRelations@lightsourcebp.com or fill out the form below.
Equipment and installation
Our construction crew is hard at work installing new infrastructure for Louisiana’s energy security and independence. When complete, the solar arrays, inverters, transformers, substation and other equipment at Prairie Ronde Solar will generate home-grown electricity for Louisiana homes and businesses.
Our latest update:
- Solar panel installation is complete, with more than 350,000 modules from U.S.-based manufacturer First Solar installed.
- Post driving is complete.
- Installation of 38 inverters and two transformers is complete. These help turn DC power generated by the solar panels into usable AC power that can power homes and businesses via the electrical grid.
- Work on the substation is complete.
- Installation of farm-style game fencing is complete.
- Most major deliveries have been completed, with some delivery traffic continuing at this time.
- Remaining work includes installation of an Operations & Maintenance building, equipment testing and preparing the site for energization.
Labor
Solar construction creates career opportunities in your community. Our latest update:
- There are currently about 100 workers on site each day. At the peak of construction, there were about 250 workers on-site.
- Approximately half of the hourly workers on-site are local Louisianans.
- LPL Solar, LLC is the construction contractor for the facility.
- Weekend work is expected on occasion in the near-term.
Responsible Solar
Lightsource bp has a deep commitment to delivering safe, clean and affordable energy, as well as maximizing environmental sustainability and positive social impacts for each of our projects. We call this approach Responsible Solar. We pay attention to every detail, from the fencing we choose to the vegetation we plant. As the project owner and operator, we want our Prairie Ronde Solar farm to be a great project for the local community.
- As part of our commitment to supporting communities that are home to our solar projects, we have dedicated a St. Landry Parish Community Fund. We are working with community members to ensure the fund is used for initiatives that benefit the community to address its needs and what matters most.
- Prior to construction, we pre-seeded array with a mix of primarily native grasses and flowering plants to stabilize the soil. This practice assists with soil and vegetation stabilization, along with weed suppression and stormwater management, both prior to and during construction.
- We worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to select a dozen different seeds to grow across the site, including four native Louisiana grasses and six flowering plants. These will provide soil benefits and habitat for pollinators and other wildlife over the project life.
- We are working with local experts, including the Fish & Wildlife Service Louisiana Ecological Services Field Office, to restore native coastal prairie habitat on 12 acres outside of the solar array. This area could provide a home to hundreds of diverse plant and animal species.
- We will be planting new trees and other vegetation along the project boundary where needed to enhance aesthetics and to provide habitat for local wildlife. We will also install ten special Eastern Bluebird boxes around the site perimeter.
- Lightsource bp is also committed to recycling all solar panels used at our sites, including any damaged during construction. At Prairie Ronde Solar, we are partnering with a local recycler to manage other types of construction waste sustainably, as well. Any damaged solar panels are sent back to their manufacturer to be recycled as well.
Solar construction basics
Check out these additional resources that break down the components of a solar farm, as well as the solar construction process.