Meta-backed solar project on reclaimed Indiana coal mine secures $350 million

A solar developer called Zelestra has lined up $350 million to build a large solar farm on a former coal mine in Gibson County, Indiana. The 203 megawatt project, called Reclamation, will sit on reclaimed mining land and includes plans to restore soil, replant native vegetation, and support local wildlife alongside the power generation.

The electricity will go to Meta, the tech company, under a long-term purchase agreement, helping it meet its climate goals and power its data centers. Construction is already underway and is expected to create around 200 local jobs at its peak, with the project set to start producing power by the end of 2027. The $350 million came from a group of international banks, including CIBC, BBVA, and Société Générale, and this deal pushes Zelestra's total U.S. financing for the year past $1 billion, backing more than 800 megawatts of solar projects now being built around the country.

This is a large-scale commercial project, not something tied to home energy programs or rebates. But it points to a broader trend worth knowing about: a lot of new solar capacity is being built specifically to power data centers and other big corporate users, driven by rising electricity demand from technology companies. That demand is reshaping how power grids and electricity markets work in some regions, which can eventually affect electricity rates and the pace of new clean energy coming online near you.