A utility-scale solar farm planned for Franklin Parish is moving from idea to reality, with the developer saying it now has most of the land it needs in hand. Pattern Energy’s local representative told reporters the project is sized at about 105 megawatts and that the company plans to both own and operate the facility. The venture still needs key permits and a completed interconnection study before any construction crews roll in.
Developer says land is largely secured
According to reporting in the Franklin Sun, Jordan Majors, a representative for Pattern Energy, said the company has already leased roughly 90% of the land it needs and is targeting a roughly 105-megawatt array that Pattern itself will own and operate. The outlet reports Pattern is now focused on closing out the remaining leases and working through permit requirements as it gears up for the construction phase.
Grid hookup and timeline
Interconnection records list a Franklin Parish solar project in the MISO queue under ID J2693, with Entergy Louisiana as the transmission owner and a planned point of interconnection near Wisner, La., according to Interconnection.fyi. That entry currently shows a proposed in-service target of 2027, although final studies, regulatory approvals and any grid upgrades that are required could still shift the schedule.
Pattern Energy's Louisiana footprint and local benefits
Pattern Energy’s materials on its Southern Spirit development highlight the company’s broader investments in Louisiana and note that Pattern often keeps whole or partial ownership of the facilities it brings online. In its brochure, the company outlines projected property-tax revenue and job impacts tied to large transmission and renewable energy projects in the state, providing a sense of the potential benefits developers emphasize when they pitch new projects to parish officials.
Next steps and what to watch
For the Franklin Parish solar farm, the next major steps include wrapping up land leases, securing parish and state permits, and completing the required interconnection studies before construction can begin. Pattern Energy told the Franklin Sun that it is making progress on the remaining leases. Local stakeholders will be watching how the permit process and interconnection study timeline unfold, which will ultimately determine whether the project can hit the 2027 in-service target listed in the queue.
