Microsoft and Clearloop to Deploy 100MW of Solar in Historically Underinvested Communities

The Southeastern United States faces an intensifying risk of wildfires, water shortages, and extreme heat, and climate change is projected to worsen these risks by 2070, according to the research nonprofit Resources for the Future. But due to their geographical position, many Southeastern states also have plenty of opportunity to reduce energy-related greenhouse gas emissions by leveraging solar power. The tech giant Microsoft and solar energy company Clearloop are using that opportunity to increase solar energy production in the region by bringing it to communities that stand to benefit the most. 

Bringing solar to historically underinvested communities 

A new three-year agreement between the companies will deploy up to 100 megawatts of renewable energy projects in historically underinvested communities in Arkansas and Louisiana. The projects are projected to displace 5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the next 40 years by diversifying the energy supply in the two states.

The first four projects are set to break ground over the next few months and will be operational by the end of the year. They are among the first large-scale solar projects connected to and serving the local grids in Poinsett County, Cross County, and Desha County in Arkansas, as well as Bienville Parish in Louisiana.

Since the solar projects will be connected to the county grids, residents will directly experience the environmental, health and economic benefits of renewable energy infrastructure while it powers their homes, Laura Zapata, co-founder and CEO of Clearloop, told TriplePundit.

The companies are working with the clean energy technology nonprofit WattTime to assess the right locations for each project based on the potential to harness solar energy, the estimated impact on carbon emissions and the socioeconomic impact the project will have on the local communityIn this case, Arkansas and Louisiana were the ideal locations because both states have abundant sunlight and are dependent on fossil fuels for their electricity, Zapata said.

The agreement also supports Microsoft's goal of becoming carbon negative by 2030. “Clearloop helps Microsoft achieve its carbon negative goals by supporting renewable energy projects in communities across the country that might otherwise miss out on the economic and environmental benefits of the energy transition,” Danielle Decatur, Microsoft director of environmental justice, said in a statement.

The duo’s first solar project in the Mississippi Delta, which began functioning in 2024, displaced 200,000 tons of carbon emissions, according to Clearloop. It also led to millions of dollars in investment in Panola County, Mississippi, from Clearloop's parent company, Silicon Ranch.

Solar projects benefit environmental health and require raising community awareness

From 2013 to 2023, the U.S. solar industry grew 24 percent each year on average, and the cost of installing solar decreased by more than 40 percent, according to Southern Environmental Law Center’s Solar Initiative. Once projects are installed, communities can experience many benefits, like lower energy bills, increased energy independence and grid resilience, and less air pollution and water usage. 

While statistics like this may make new solar energy projects seem like a straightforward investment for those in the industry, they often present a learning curve and adjustment for the communities impacted by these projects. But that presents is an opportunity to get to know the communities where the projects are being developed, Zapata said. 

When the Clearloop team faces questions and skepticism around its projects and new changes, the opportunity lies in educating the community and ensuring they have the resources to understand the projects and their impact. Clearloop has the "responsibility to connect the dots with the community members and try to do a better job of educating folks — how does it work, what is the solar project doing?” Zapata said. 

The solar company works with school districts to teach students about the project developments in their communities.  Its education program, Energize STEM, was piloted at its first projects in Tennessee and offered clean energy training for teachers, Zapata said.

The most important thing for people to understand about these large-scale projects is that with the growth of the digital economy, more electricity will be needed, Zapata said. And the technology needed to produce clean electricity already exists, and it can be used to reinvest back into communities. 

“This is the time to invest, and there’s a huge opportunity for more people to be a part of this growing industry,” Zapata said. “As we change, as the world changes, we have an opportunity to grow the economy that we haven't seen in my many generations.”