Lightsource bp completes 135MW Arkansas PV project, co-located with pollinator habitat

October 20, 2023
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
The Conway Solar at Happy project, featuring US-made First Solar modules. Image: Conway Corp.

Solar developer Lightsource bp has completed construction of the 135MW Conway Solar at Happy project in White County, Arkansas alongside state utility Conway Corp.

It represents a US$125 million investment, financing for which was signed earlier this year as part of a larger portfolio deal with Wells Fargo.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

A power purchase agreement (PPA) is already in place between the two companies, seeing Conway offtake the entirety of the plant’s generation capacity to power its operations in Arkansas. Having developed, constructed and financed the project, Lightsource will continue to own and operate it.

295,000 of Arizona-based First Solar’s thin film cadmium telluride modules are in place at the site, along with trackers from Array technologies and steel from Attala steel, all US-based manufacturers. Earlier this year Lightsource signed a 4GW supply deal with First Solar for its Series 7 modules, deliverable between 2026-28.

The site is co-located with a 5 acre native pollinator garden that will support local fauna, including the endangered Monarch butterfly, with over 46 varieties of native plant.

“Work on this project began in 2019 and it is one of the most significant projects for Conway Corp since our incorporation in 1929, “ said Bret Carroll, chief executive officer at Conway Corp. “I’m proud of the team that worked on this project and the way it fulfills key parts of our mission by providing reliable and environmentally sound electricity to our community. I also appreciate our partnership with Lightsource bp, they have been great partners from the very beginning.”

Lightsource bp, the solar generation arm of fossil fuels major bp, signed a PPA earlier this week with a fashion and textiles conglomerate to support a number of clothing companies’ decarbonisation efforts across Europe. The deal was a collective virtual PPA (CVPPA), whereby the companies – most of which were not specified by the deal’s overall offtaker – will pay Lightsource remotely for the power in lieu of direct transmission.

The company also signed a milestone PPA in Poland with technology giant Microsoft this summer.

21 October 2025
New York, USA
Returning for its 12th edition, Solar and Storage Finance USA Summit remains the annual event where decision-makers at the forefront of solar and storage projects across the United States and capital converge. Featuring the most active solar and storage transactors, join us for a packed two-days of deal-making, learning and networking.
16 June 2026
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 16-17 June 2026, will be our fifth PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2027 and beyond.

Read Next

October 16, 2025
Masdar and Turkey have entered the final stage of US$1 billion agreement to develop the 1.1GW plant in Bor, Niğde Province, central Turkey.
October 16, 2025
T1 Energy and Nextracker have agreed to use the latter’s steel module frames at the former’s new 5GW module manufacturing facility in Dallas.
October 16, 2025
US utility-scale solar additions grew by 56% in 2024, reaching 30GW from 2023’s 19GW and representing over 54% of all new electricity generation capacity added in the country last year.
October 16, 2025
Jakson Green and Blueleaf Energy have reached financial close for the 840MWp Bikaner solar projects in Rajasthan, western India. 
October 16, 2025
Off-grid solar company Sun King has revealed plans to set up manufacturing operations in Kenya and Nigeria.
October 15, 2025
The average price of a solar PPA signed in North America increased 4% between the second and third quarters of 2025, according to LevelTen.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK