Microsoft has partnered with Clearloop to deploy up to 100MW of solar projects over the next three years in historically underinvested communities across the US.
According to the announcement, the new renewable capacity will span 20 socioeconomically diverse American communities, including in Arkansas and Louisiana.
“We applaud Microsoft for using its purchasing power to pilot and scale innovative structures that accelerate grid decarbonization in a way that ensures all American communities can see themselves represented as we transform our economy with clean, innovative technologies,” said Laura Zapata, Clearloop CEO and co-founder.
The first four solar projects in this multi-year agreement will break ground in the coming months and are expected to be operational by the end of the year.
These projects will be among the first large-scale solar installations to interconnect and serve the local distribution grids in Poinsett County, Cross County, and Desha County in Arkansas, and Bienville Parish in Louisiana.
The initiative will match customer electricity usage with new renewable energy generation, with the solar portfolio supporting Microsoft’s goal to become carbon-negative by 2030.
The new solar portfolio will be developed, owned, and operated by Silicon Ranch, Clearloop’s parent company, for the lifetime of each project.
As part of this agreement, Clearloop will establish a Community Benefits Fund, managed by the nonprofit Sustain Our Future Foundation, to drive positive outcomes for local communities.
The collaboration builds on a previous partnership. In 2023, they developed a 6.6MW solar project in the Mississippi Delta, which reached operational status in 2024.
Founded in 2011, Silicon Ranch is a fully integrated provider of customized solar energy, battery storage, and carbon solutions. The company is one of the largest independent power producers in North America, with a portfolio exceeding 7GW of contracted, under-construction, or operational solar and battery storage systems across the US and Canada.
Microsoft has signed numerous renewable energy supply agreements to support its operations. Earlier this month, it signed three virtual Power Purchase Agreements (vPPAs) with EDP Renewables North America for 389MW of power across Illinois and Texas.
The vPPAs are tied to three recently completed utility-scale solar projects with a combined capacity of 400MW and will supply Microsoft with Renewable Energy Credits.
Before this, in October, the company signed a 250MW PPA with National Grid Renewables in Wisconsin.
