Independent power producer (IPP) Arevon Energy has officially started construction on its 430MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Scott County, Missouri — marking the company’s first utility-scale renewable energy development in the state.

The Kelso Solar project will be built in two phases: Kelso 1, which Arevon expects to commission by the end of 2026, and Kelso 2, which is set to begin commercial operations in the first quarter of 2026. The construction work is being handled by Primoris Services Corporation’s Renewable Energy division, a major contractor specializing in utility-scale renewable projects.

The launch of construction comes less than two months after Arevon successfully secured $509 million in financing to back the development. The financing package includes a $245 million bridge loan, a $172 million construction loan, and $92 million in credit support. Arevon also inked two long-term environmental attributes purchase agreements with tech giant Meta in March 2024, ensuring offtake for part of the renewable energy the site will generate.

“Kelso Solar marks Arevon’s entrance into Missouri and when operational, will boost the state’s installed solar capacity by almost 50%. This major project furthers Arevon’s growing presence in the Midwest region of the United States, which is a priority market for our company’s development activities,” said Kevin Smith, CEO at Arevon.

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Missouri’s solar sector has been lagging behind compared to other states, with just 894MW of installed solar capacity at the end of 2024 — placing it among the lowest in the country. However, the state saw its strongest growth in over a decade last year, adding over 250MW, largely through utility-scale installations. SEIA projects Missouri will add another 3.5GW of solar capacity over the next five years, ranking it 18th among U.S. states in terms of projected growth.

Beyond Missouri, Arevon is ramping up activity across the Midwest, including four solar PV projects currently under construction in Indiana totaling 744MW. Nationally, the company has an operational portfolio of more than 4.5GW spread across 17 states, positioning it as one of the largest renewable energy operators in the country.

Looking ahead, Arevon has a robust development pipeline, with 1.9GW of projects under construction and another 6GW in various stages of development. The company’s strategy focuses on long-term ownership and operation, aiming to deliver reliable, clean energy to meet growing demand across multiple U.S. markets.

Originally reported by Jonathan Tourino Jacobo in PV Tech.