Avantus and Toyota Tsusho America (TAI) have announced the start of construction on the 159 megawatt (MWdc)/125 MWac Norton Solar Project in Runnels County, Texas. This project marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between Avantus and TAI, following the sale of the project to TAI in November 2023.
The Norton Solar Project is expected to begin operations in late 2025 and will generate clean energy for the Texas market. RES will provide the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services for the project.
“Texas is energy country, and that includes massive opportunities in solar. The Norton Solar Project represents the best of what we do at Avantus — develop high-quality clean energy projects that are good for our customers, for the local economy, and for the planet,” said Avantus Chief Financial Officer Patrick Goff. “This project was six years in the making, and I am proud of our team’s persistence in getting Norton shovel-ready and for securing the project’s successful sale to Toyota Tsusho America, Inc. to help meet their sustainability goals.”
The Norton Solar Project is expected to create 250 jobs at peak construction and will provide significant economic benefits to the local community. The project is also expected to offset more than 230,000 metric tons of CO2 per year, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable future.
“Addressing the pressing issue of climate change is a top priority for our company and we are committed to finding innovative and effective solutions,” said Naoyuki Hata, President and CEO of Toyota Tsusho America, Inc. “By leveraging our expertise and collaborating with our customers — who are making progress toward sustainability goals — this Solar Project is an opportunity to create a positive impact on local communities. As well as pave the way toward a sustainable future on a global scale.”
