DALLAS, TX — McCarthy Building Companies has contracted with Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor for a utility-scale solar farm in Pearsall, Texas, located approximately an hour southwest of San Antonio. McCarthy is responsible for the design, procurement, construction, and commissioning of the 200-megawatt (MWac) facility.

McCarthy’s Renewable Energy & Storage team recently hired approximately 150 more new craft workers to construct the Horizon Solar project. The project will have 300 construction workers on-site at peak construction. The majority of the workers were recruited from the local area and the military veteran community.

McCarthy’s focus on hiring veterans led the company to create a veteran recruitment program with Adaptive Construction Solutions (ACS). Through the ACS program, McCarthy trains each apprentice via a combination of safety, on-the-job instruction, mentorship, and technical education. The program curriculum is designed to help veterans understand and develop the skills and knowledge essential to be successful on construction projects, supporting McCarthy’s national craft workforce training initiative.

“We are grateful to be part of bringing clean energy and jobs to Texas communities,” said Scott Canada, Executive Vice President of McCarthy’s Renewable Energy & Storage team. “With utility-scale solar construction jobs on the rise in Texas and around the country, we are continually working to help local skilled craft workers and veterans join our solar project teams and receive the training needed to develop rewarding careers in the growing renewable energy sector.”

The project will provide reliable, renewable energy and offset the equivalent emissions of more than 40,000 average Texas households. Horizon Solar will include solar components from American-based companies, including solar modules from First Solar and smart solar tracker solutions from NexTracker. The project is expected to reach commercial operation by the fourth quarter of 2023, with LRE continuing to own and operate the facility.