Orange Grove solar farm brings 130 MW, AT&T VPPA, construction jobs

Enbridge has developed the Orange Grove Solar project on roughly 920 acres in the Orange Grove area of Jim Wells County, installing about 300,000 solar panels intended to deliver roughly 130 megawatts of capacity to the ERCOT grid when the facility becomes fully operational. The utility-scale array represents Enbridge’s first solar development in Texas and is part of the company’s broader North American renewable power portfolio.

The project secured a long-term virtual power purchase agreement, or VPPA, with AT&T for the facility’s output. That commercial offtake arrangement helped underpin financing for the build-out and links a local generation asset directly to corporate clean energy demand. For the Jim Wells County economy, the most immediate effects were visible during construction: the project created construction jobs during the build-out and brought temporary demand for local contractors, labor, and services.

From a market perspective, the Orange Grove installation is a modest but tangible addition to ERCOT capacity at about 130 MW. Corporate VPPAs like the one with AT&T are increasingly important in catalyzing new renewable projects by providing predictable revenue streams that reduce developer risk. Enbridge’s entry into Texas solar reflects a broader industry trend of large energy companies expanding renewable portfolios across North America to meet corporate and regulatory demand for cleaner power.

Local impacts extend beyond payroll during construction. Large-scale projects sited on county land typically generate lease payments for landowners, and they can contribute to the local tax base and service demand in nearby towns during construction and operations. The presence of a named corporate buyer also raises the profile of Jim Wells County in conversations about future clean energy siting, which could influence permitting and local planning decisions down the road.

For residents, the project means new economic activity and the prospect of longer-term operations roles as the site moves from construction to steady-state operation. It also highlights how national corporate procurement choices can shape development in rural counties. County officials and local businesses will now be monitoring the transition to operations and any follow-on opportunities for maintenance, workforce training, and additional renewable investments.

As the Orange Grove project reaches operational milestones, its practical significance for Jim Wells County will become clearer: whether in steady contract payments to landowners, modest additions to the local tax roll, or new routine jobs tied to plant upkeep. The project illustrates how corporate-backed solar developments are channeling capital and jobs into communities across Texas, with implications for local economies and the wider ERCOT supply mix.