ALEXANDRIA, Va.—McDonald’s Corp. announced an agreement with Lightsource bp to purchase power from a 145 MWac / 180 MWdc solar project located in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. The Prairie Ronde Solar project will generate an expected average of about 327,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of renewable energy annually, equivalent to the average annual electricity consumption of 30,700 U.S. homes once complete. The deal helps advances McDonald’s commitment to climate action and its sustainability goals while expanding Lightsource bp’s footprint of solar assets across the Southeast. 

“Growing our partnership with Lightsource bp reaffirms our commitment to building a more sustainable McDonald’s system at a meaningful scale,” said Elaine Strunk, senior director global sustainability, McDonald’s. “Prairie Ronde Solar will contribute to our climate aspirations while adding a considerable amount of new renewable generation to the grid.” 

Lightsource bp will finance, build, own and operate the facility, which is located about 25 miles north of Lafayette. McDonald’s will purchase all of the solar energy the project generates, equivalent to about 630 restaurants’ worth of renewable electricity annually. Construction is expected to begin in early 2023, with commercial operation starting in late 2024. 

“This deal marks McDonald’s second solar project in Louisiana in partnership with Lightsource bp, bringing our statewide total of solar assets to 525 megawatts, representing a cumulative half billion-dollar private investment,” said Kevin Smith, CEO, Lightsource bp, Americas.

According to the press release, construction of the $170 million+ privately funded solar farm will create approximately 250 construction jobs for 18 months and provide an estimated $20 million boost to St. Landry Parish over the project life.