Zelestra Secured $350 Million for Indiana Solar Project
The 203 MW Reclamation Solar facility will utilize former coal mining land to supply power to Meta by 2027.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Data Centers
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Developer Zelestra has secured $350 million in green financing to construct the 203 MW Reclamation Solar project in southwest Indiana. The site is expected to come online by the end of 2027.
Why it matters
The project repurposes former coal mining land for utility-scale energy production while supporting soil restoration and regional biodiversity. It reflects a broader trend of data center operators securing long-term power purchase agreements to meet rising energy demands.
The Reclamation Solar project will feature 325,000 bifacial modules, which capture sunlight on both sides of the panel to increase energy yield. The installation serves as a cornerstone of Zelestra's 16 GW U.S. development pipeline.
The players
Zelestra
A Madrid-based renewable energy developer maintaining a 16 GW project pipeline across the U.S.
Meta
A global technology conglomerate and data center operator that signed the long-term power purchase agreement for the facility.
The details
The facility is being financed through green credit facilities provided by a banking syndicate consisting of CIBC, BBVA, and Societe Generale. These bifacial modules—photovoltaic cells designed to absorb light reflected off the ground—will be installed on land previously used for coal extraction. The project uses a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Meta, a mechanism where a buyer contracts for energy delivery over an extended period to ensure grid stability and developer cash flow.
Timeline
2026: Zelestra secured over $1 billion in total project financing.
End of 2027: The Reclamation Solar project is expected to come online.
The Tech Race
The project follows the established trend of repurposing former coal mining sites for renewable energy to satisfy data center power requirements. It represents a significant expansion of Zelestra's 16 GW U.S. footprint as the firm accelerates its domestic infrastructure deployment.
Residents in southwest Indiana will see former coal mining land transitioned into an active energy site by the end of 2027. The project requires no direct user action, instead shifting the region's energy mix to support large-scale digital infrastructure.
The takeaway
The successful financing of this site marks a critical validation of repurposing exhausted industrial land for utility-scale solar. Observers should monitor the end-of-2027 completion target to gauge the project's success in meeting Meta's regional power delivery requirements.
Further reading
For more on how cloud infrastructure is driving regional power infrastructure, visit the Data Centers section.
Live Poll
Do you believe industrial renewable energy projects on reclaimed mining land provide genuine community benefits?
