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Orion Renewable Energy outlines 1,500‑MW ‘Yellow Rose’ solar project near Amarillo
Summary
Orion Renewable Energy told the Potter County Commissioners Court it is proposing the Yellow Rose Solar project—up to 1,500 MW across roughly 18,000 leased acres (about 40% in Potter County) with a target commercial‑operations date of Jan. 1, 2028. Company representatives said the full buildout could represent about $1.8 billion in capital investment.
Orion Renewable Energy representatives on Nov. 12 described the proposed Yellow Rose Solar project, a large‑scale solar photovoltaic and battery storage development sited about five miles northeast of Amarillo. Michael Koenig, Orion’s senior director of development, introduced the plan and said the company has executed leases covering about 18,000 acres across Potter and Carson counties.
Project manager Alicia Smith said the proposal “is of a capacity of up to 1,500 megawatts,” with roughly 12,000 leased acres in Carson County and 6,000 in Potter County — a preliminary 60/40 split of the project footprint. Orion estimated about $1.8 billion in total capital investment for a full buildout and projected roughly $200 million in taxes to the Highland Park Independent School District and about $80 million to the Panhandle Independent School District as examples of local tax benefits. Smith also estimated 300–400 construction jobs and five to eight permanent operations positions.
Orion stressed the presentation was introductory: the company is not seeking tax abatements or road‑use agreements at this time. Koenig said the project team will pursue interconnection options with Southwestern Public Service (Xcel Energy/SPS) at the Harrington and Nichols substations and intends to submit bids to SPS’s request for proposals; those RFPs are due around January 2025. ``If we’re successful in that RFP,'' Koenig said, ``construction would begin probably later in 2026'' with a target to be ready by the start of 2028.
Commissioners asked about acreage, local hiring, lease terms and coordination with Carson County; Orion said most leases are fully executed and recorded, and that land returns to owners after project end. The company said it will return to the court if and when it requests incentives, road agreements or other county action.
Potter County officials did not take action at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to continue local coordination and invited Orion to return with additional details if the project progresses through utility procurement.
