Samson Solar: 1,310 MW Mega-Project Powers Up Across Lamar County

The Samson Solar Energy Center, a $1.6 billion portfolio developed by Invenergy across Lamar, Franklin, and Red River Counties, has reached approximately 700 megawatts of operational capacity across three of its five planned phases. The total project, when fully built out, will generate 1,310 MW across approximately 17,000 acres, making it one of the largest solar installations in Texas and the United States.

Phase 1 (250 MW) and Phase 3 (250 MW) were commissioned and began delivering power in 2022. Phase 2 (200 MW) reached operational status in 2025 after Monarch Private Capital and Invenergy closed $170 million in tax equity financing in September 2024. Phases 4 (300 MW) and 5 (310 MW), totaling 610 MW, remain in development with construction timelines to be confirmed.

A major capital commitment to the region

The Samson project is distinct from the other solar developments in the area. Where the Zelestra portfolio (441 MW) is backed by power purchase agreements with Meta and the Sunraycer portfolio (620 MW) has agreements with Google, the Samson project is structured as a merchant facility with partial ownership by WEC Energy Group, a major Wisconsin-based utility. WEC owns 80 percent of Phases 1 and 3, with Invenergy retaining 20 percent ownership. Phase 2 is 100 percent owned by Invenergy.

The scale of the project is difficult to overstate. At full buildout, Samson would generate enough electricity to power approximately 250,000 homes. The project's presence across three counties means its tax revenue impacts are distributed, but given that Lamar County hosts a significant portion of the development, the county stands to benefit from increased property tax receipts and the associated economic activity of a multi-billion-dollar energy asset.

Three solar projects, one county

Samson Solar joins the Zelestra Echols Grove project (253 MW, currently under construction in Lamar County) and the Sunraycer Lupinus I & II portfolio (part of a 620 MW regional build) as major solar developments with a direct footprint in Lamar County. The simultaneous presence of three separate utility-scale solar projects, each backed by different developers and off-takers, signals that Northeast Texas has emerged as a bona fide solar energy hub.

The concentration of solar development is driven by several factors: flat, open agricultural land suitable for large-scale panel arrays; proximity to existing transmission infrastructure serving the ERCOT grid; a state regulatory environment that supports renewable energy development; and a local workforce that has demonstrated the capacity to support construction projects of this scale. The PEDC has actively supported these projects through its economic development efforts, recognizing the construction jobs, tax base expansion, and ancillary service demand they generate.

What it means for commercial property

The solar construction boom in Lamar County has direct implications for commercial real estate. During the construction phase, each project brings hundreds of temporary workers who need housing, food, fuel, and services. The operational phase requires ongoing maintenance staff, creating permanent positions that support local spending. The tax revenue generated by these large-scale energy assets strengthens the county's fiscal position, supporting infrastructure improvements that benefit all property owners.

For a commercial property like 1905 E Price St, the solar boom reinforces the broader economic growth narrative. The same factors that make Lamar County attractive for solar investment, available land, supportive permitting, workforce capacity, and infrastructure access, also underpin the commercial real estate investment thesis. The property's flexible zoning and multifamily-compatible layout position it to serve the demand generated by an expanding employment base.