Enbridge Breaks Ground on $1.2 Billion Cowboy Solar and 1.6 GWh
Key Facts
- Project Name: Cowboy Project
- Investment Amount: $1.2 billion
- Solar Facility Capacity: 365-megawatt
- Battery Energy Storage System Capacity: 200-megawatt / 1,600-megawatt-hour
- Commercial Service Date: close of 2027
The Project
The Cowboy Project is situated near Cheyenne, Wyoming, and will feature a 365-megawatt solar generation capacity alongside a 200-megawatt / 1,600-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system. Enbridge Inc. is developing the project, which is intended to serve Meta Platforms’ data center operations. Tesla is supplying the battery storage component. Construction on the Wyoming site has commenced, with commercial operation anticipated by the end of 2027. This project is described as the first phase of a broader collaboration between Enbridge and Meta.Why It Matters
This development arrives as hyperscale data centers continue to expand their energy demands. The 1,600 megawatt-hour battery storage capacity provides eight hours of energy at the 200-megawatt power rating, a duration longer than typically seen in paired solar-storage installations in the U.S. This extended duration is designed to align midday solar output with Meta’s evening and overnight data center load profiles, reflecting a stated preference for near-24/7 renewable energy supply. The Cowboy Project adds to an existing Enbridge-Meta partnership that totals approximately 1.6 gigawatts of contracted clean energy across North America, including projects like the 600-megawatt Clear Fork Solar in Texas.Critical Perspective
Enbridge has not disclosed the identity of the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor for the Cowboy Project, nor has it named the solar module supplier. Specifics regarding the per-kilowatt-hour cost of the battery system, the contracted price for power delivery to Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power, or confirmation of a secured transmission interconnection upgrade remain undisclosed. Meta Platforms has not provided a breakdown of the carbon accounting treatment for this power purchase or quantified the proportion of its Wyoming data center load this project will address. Furthermore, Enbridge has not detailed the development status of any subsequent phases of the Cowboy Project, beyond framing this initial undertaking as “Phase 1.”Related Coverage
On the Ground
LocationCheyenne, WY
GridWECC
StageUnder Construction
