Indiana’s 1.3 GW solar project set to supply electricity to 200,000 homes

Work has stepped up at the 1.3-gigawatt Mammoth Solar complex in Indiana. Doral Renewables has issued Full Notice to Proceed to engineering and construction partner Bechtel, clearing the way for permanent works on three segments - Mammoth South, Mammoth Central I, and Mammoth Central II. Together, they account for 900 megawatts of the project's capacity and are set to raise Indiana's installed solar base by more than 20 percent.

Bechtel's scope covers design, procurement, and construction across the three phases. About two million photovoltaic modules - half manufactured in the United States - will be mounted over the next two years, supported by new cabling, substations, and site infrastructure. The company plans to apply its digital delivery workflows and autonomous equipment to keep work on schedule and contain costs.

Activity at peak construction is expected to generate more than 1,200 jobs, with at least 15 percent reserved for apprenticeships that give entry-level craftworkers hands-on experience on a utility-scale renewable project. Project leaders from Doral Renewables and Bechtel have emphasized collaboration with local trade unions and suppliers to secure a skilled workforce and broaden the country's economic benefits.

The current phase's commercial operation is targeted for 2027. Once online, the combined 900 megawatts AC should be capable of supplying electricity to roughly 200,000 typical U.S. homes. The wider 1.3 gigawatt construction is scheduled to follow, positioning Mammoth Solar among the largest photovoltaic facilities in the United States.

Beyond power generation, Doral Renewables intends to roll out agrivoltaic practices across the site. Plans call for managed livestock grazing and crop cultivation beneath and around the panel rows, allowing local farmers to maintain agricultural operations while sharing land with the solar array. The dual-use approach aims to maximize land productivity and strengthen community ties long after construction wraps up.

Bechtel's role at Mammoth Solar draws on the company's experience delivering large-scale renewable assets, including the Ivanpah concentrated-solar complex in California. That background, coupled with an emphasis on digital project controls, is expected to support Mammoth Solar's delivery timeline and operational reliability.