Panamint Breaks Ground on $1.7 Billion Texas Solar Project at Former Coal Site

Panamint Capital has begun construction on the 1.2-gigawatt Big Rooter Power project in Robertson County, Texas, a $1.7 billion solar development that will become the largest solar project built on an existing coal mining site in North America.

Construction begins in Robertson County.

Panamint Capital announced it has officially broken ground on Big Rooter Power, a 1.2-gigawatt direct current (GWdc) solar photovoltaic project at the company's Twin Oaks power station in Robertson County, Texas.

Located roughly halfway between Dallas and Houston, the $1.7 billion project will become the largest solar development constructed on an existing coal mining site in North America.

Two-phase development planned

The project will be built in two phases.

Big Rooter West, the first phase, includes 491 MWdc of solar capacity and is now under construction. Commercial operations are expected to begin in August 2028.

Big Rooter East, the second phase, will add 658 MWdc of capacity. Construction is scheduled to begin in December 2026, with commercial operations targeted for August 2029.

Together, the two phases are expected to create more than 800 construction jobs.

Expanding the Twin Oaks energy hub

Panamint said the project will transform the Twin Oaks site into a large-scale energy and digital infrastructure campus.

When completed, the complex is expected to include:

• 1.5 gigawatts of operating thermal and renewable generation.
• More than 20 miles of new 35-kilovolt transmission lines.
• 1.6 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of battery energy storage.
• 790 megawatts of Batch Zero data center capacity under development.
• A 10,000-acre integrated energy campus.

CEO of Panamint Capital Apolka Totth: "Big Rooter Power represents our vision for getting more out of America's energy infrastructure and ensuring America's energy dominance."

Local economic impact

Panamint said Big Rooter West will continue Twin Oaks' long history of supporting the surrounding community through local hiring and regional suppliers.

The company estimates the first phase will contribute more than $66 million to the local economy over the project's lifetime.

Panamint noted that the electricity generated by Big Rooter will be sold under a long-term power purchase agreement with one of the nation's largest companies, helping support American jobs and economic growth for decades.