Global engineering and construction giant Bechtel has partnered with Doral Renewables to design and build a substantial solar power station in Texas, underscoring the state’s commitment to diversifying its energy portfolio. The Cold Creek Solar+Storage project, located in Schleicher and Tom Green counties, will integrate a 430-MW solar array with a 340-MWh battery energy storage system. This collaboration marks Bechtel’s second project with Doral Renewables and its fifth utility-scale solar facility in Texas.
The Cold Creek installation will feature over 850,000 solar modules, with the storage component enabling excess energy to be dispatched during peak demand periods on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid. Scott Austin, Bechtel’s general manager of Renewables & Clean Power, emphasized the project’s role in strengthening the Texas grid. “The Cold Creek project highlights the power of an all-of-the-above energy strategy,” Austin stated. “Texas continues to lead the nation in blending traditional and renewable resources to strengthen its grid. By combining 430 MW of solar generation with 340 MWh of storage, Cold Creek will make the Texas grid stronger and more reliable for years to come.”
Jason Van Deusen, VP of Project Management for Doral Renewables, expressed enthusiasm about the project’s significance. “The Cold Creek project is a major milestone for our company’s growth,” he said. “We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Bechtel. The strong relationship forged between the two organizations through collaboration, transparency, and shared values of community engagement, local workforce participation, safety, quality, and environmental stewardship has set the stage for continued success.”
Bechtel will provide engineering, procurement, and construction services for the solar and storage facilities, with the project expected to create over 500 jobs at peak construction. Commercial operation is anticipated to commence in 2028. This development comes as Texas continues to expand its renewable energy capacity, despite state and federal policies that support fossil fuels and reduce incentives for renewables. Notably, ENGIE and Meta recently announced power purchase agreements for over 1.3 GW of generation from four Texas solar installations, including a new 600-MW project near Lubbock.
The Cold Creek project follows Bechtel’s selection earlier this year by Doral Renewables to deliver key phases of its 1.3-GW Mammoth Solar facility in Indiana, which is poised to increase solar power generation capacity in that state by more than 20%. As the energy sector evolves, projects like Cold Creek exemplify the growing trend of integrating renewable energy with storage solutions to enhance grid reliability and resilience. This development could spur further investment in similar projects, shaping the future of energy infrastructure in Texas and beyond.