Clearloop, the carbon solutions platform for Silicon Ranch, has signed a multi-year agreement with Microsoft to deploy up to 100 MWAC of solar projects over the next three years in historically underinvested communities. This agreement will accelerate decarbonization and drive capital investment in about 20 socioeconomically diverse American communities.
In collaboration with environmental tech nonprofit WattTime, Clearloop pioneered the use of emissions factors to identify strategic grid points where new solar generation can displace the most carbon. With the proposed project locations, Clearloop anticipates that the solar portfolio will prevent over 5 million metric tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere over the next 40 years. The projects are expected to help diversify the energy mix in Arkansas and Louisiana.
In 2023, Clearloop and Microsoft launched their first joint solar project, a 6.6-MWDC facility in the Mississippi Delta. That project, which became operational in the summer of 2024, will displace 200,000 tons of carbon and acted as a catalyst for Silicon Ranch’s investment in Panola County, a region located at the crossroads of the Mississippi Delta and the Appalachian Foothills.
Clearloop’s CEO and co-founder, Laura Zapata, commended Microsoft for using its purchasing power to pilot and scale innovative structures that accelerate grid decarbonization and promote equitable access to clean, innovative technologies. She emphasized that companies like Microsoft, recognizing that not all megawatt hours have the same carbon impact, are helping make carbon-free energy more accessible to Americans.
Clearloop’s approach to reducing carbon emissions allows organizations of all sizes, from global corporations to small businesses and educational institutions, to meet their climate goals while contributing to broader decarbonization efforts. The solar portfolio will help Microsoft achieve its goal of becoming carbon-negative by 2030 and will deliver environmental, health, and economic benefits to communities that stand to gain the most from renewable energy infrastructure investments.
Danielle Decatur, Microsoft’s Director of Environmental Justice, noted that Clearloop helps Microsoft reach its carbon-negative goals by supporting renewable energy projects in communities that would otherwise miss out on the benefits of the energy transition.
The first four projects in the multi-year agreement are set to begin construction in the coming months, with plans to be operational by the end of the year. These projects will be located in communities with rich histories and strong identities across Arkansas and Louisiana, including Poinsett County, Cross County, and Desha County in Arkansas, as well as Bienville Parish in Louisiana. These will be among the first large-scale solar projects to connect to local distribution grids in these areas.
As with all Clearloop projects, the new solar portfolio will be developed, owned, and operated by Silicon Ranch for the duration of each project’s life. Additionally, Clearloop will establish a Community Benefits Fund, managed by the nonprofit Sustain Our Future Foundation, to support positive outcomes for local communities affected by social and environmental challenges.
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