Long Lake 200-MW solar project secures Meta offtake with DESRI

Meta has executed a long-term power purchase agreement to take energy and capacity from the Long Lake solar project, a roughly 200 MWac photovoltaic facility sited in Phillips County at coordinates 34.4686, -90.6151. D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments, known as DESRI, has said it will be the project’s long-term owner and operator; DESRI announced the PPA in a Nov. 30, 2022 press release.

Initial development and early construction of Long Lake were led by Acadian Renewable Energy, a joint venture formed by SunChase Power and Eolian, L.P., with Eolian CEO Aaron Zubaty explaining the partners “formed Acadian in 2015, anticipating the growing need for affordable solar energy in Arkansas and the wider MISO power market that will directly reduce the passthrough fuel costs from conventional thermal generators while simultaneously producing valuable energy during the highest-demand, hottest summer afternoons.” DESRI’s statements and industry coverage list the project under several names, including Long Lake Project, Long Lake Solar, LLC, and Long Lake Phillips solar farm.

There is a discrepancy in public records about the project’s status. Global Energy Monitor’s Global Solar Power Tracker lists Long Lake as Operating and gives a commissioning year of 2025, while DESRI’s Nov. 30, 2022 press release announced the PPA and DESRI’s ownership without stating a commercial operation date. Confirmation from DESRI, Meta, Phillips County permitting records, or MISO/interconnection filings will be needed to establish whether the facility is online or still in development toward a 2025 commissioning.

DESRI framed the deal as part of a broader corporate buildout, with Chief Development Officer Hy Martin saying, “DESRI is continuing to build out a portfolio of affordable, on-peak renewable energy projects to serve corporate and utility customers around the country. We are pleased to partner with Meta on the Long Lake project and now count more than 850MWac of clean energy nationwide to support their operations.” Meta’s renewable energy lead Urvi Parekh provided two statements in coverage: “We appreciate DESRI's involvement in helping us introduce new renewable energy to the grid in support of our operations. As we expand, this project will be crucial in assisting us in maintaining our commitment to using only renewable energy,” and “We appreciate DESRI’s partnership in helping us bring new renewable energy to the grid in support of our operations,” adding that the project supports Meta’s goal of 100% renewable energy as it grows.

DESRI has said the project “is expected to deliver significant community benefits, including the creation of construction jobs and other local economic development.” If built and commissioned as described at approximately 200 MWac, Long Lake would rank among the larger renewable-energy investments announced for the Arkansas Delta. For context, Solar Magazine noted DESRI’s parent group has an aggregate solar and wind capacity of over 6 GW, DESRI counts more than 850 MWac supporting Meta, and Meta reported contracts exceeding 7,500 MW of solar and wind globally as of 2021, with more than 4,900 MW under operation.

Local officials and landowners in Phillips County can expect project-related activity tied to construction and tax arrangements if DESRI moves forward; however, the public record contains conflicting status notes and will require confirmation of commercial operation date, interconnection point, and concrete job and tax figures before the full local economic impact can be calculated.