SPP moves to add 298-MW Texas solar project near Oklahoma line
Southwest Power Pool files interconnection agreement with FERC
The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) has taken formal steps to add a large utility-scale solar project near the Oklahoma–Texas border to its regional transmission grid.
SPP recently filed a Generator Interconnection Agreement (GIA) with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to allow Rabbit’s Foot Solar, LLC to connect to the SPP system, with Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) designated as the transmission owner.
The proposed Rabbit’s Foot Solar project would be built in Bowie County, Texas, immediately adjacent to southeast Oklahoma, placing it near the edge of SPP’s 14-state footprint.
RWE plans 298-MW solar facility in Bowie County
Rabbit’s Foot Solar is a 298-megawatt (MW) project being developed by RWE Clean Energy, one of the largest renewable developers operating in the United States.
According to RWE, the solar farm is designed to generate enough electricity to power more than 55,000 homes annually. Construction is expected to begin soon, with commercial operations targeted for 2027.
RWE described the project as being in advanced stages of development and a key component of its long-term growth strategy in the U.S. renewable market.
Rabbit’s Foot Solar is designed to deliver home-grown, reliable American energy, while supporting economic development in Bowie County and across the region, the company said.
Why SPP is involved in a Texas solar project
While most of Texas operates within the ERCOT grid, SPP maintains a limited but strategic footprint in northeast Texas, including Bowie County. SPP primarily serves states across the central U.S. within the Eastern Interconnection, managing high-voltage transmission and wholesale power markets.
SPP explained in its filing that the Rabbit’s Foot GIA includes provisions that do not fully conform to the organization’s Open Access Transmission Tariff, requiring FERC approval before the project can proceed.
SPP’s request underscores the growing complexity of grid planning as renewable projects expand near interconnection boundaries.
Oklahoma solar pipeline grows rapidly
As SPP awaits a decision from federal regulators, Oklahoma is preparing for a wave of new solar generation scheduled to come online over the next 18 months.
Several utility-scale solar projects across eastern and southern Oklahoma are nearing completion or entering final development phases:
Planned Oklahoma solar projects
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Muskogee County Solar
Planned capacity: 200 MW
Expected online: December 2025
Location: Muskogee County -
Huckleberry Solar
Planned capacity: 125 MW
Expected online: December 2025
Location: Mayes County -
Twelvemile Solar 1 & 2
Planned capacity: 152 MW
Expected online: February 2026
Location: Mayes County -
Mayes County Solar
Planned capacity: 102 MW
Expected online: February 2026
Location: Mayes County -
Choctaw Fields Solar Project
Planned capacity: 85 MW
Expected online: February 2026
Location: Choctaw County -
Saltbranch Solar 1
Planned capacity: 73 MW
Expected online: February 2026
Location: Mayes County -
Saltbranch Solar 2
Planned capacity: 73 MW
Expected online: February 2026
Location: Mayes County -
Johnston County Solar
Planned capacity: 100 MW
Expected online: March 2026
Location: Johnston County -
Choctaw County Solar
Planned capacity: 85 MW
Expected online: March 2026
Location: Choctaw County -
Bryan County Solar
Planned capacity: 52 MW
Expected online: March 2026
Location: Bryan County
Together, the projects reflect one of the largest single-period solar buildouts in Oklahoma history, signaling a major shift in the state’s generation mix.