Image: Lightsource bp
Solar developer Lightsource bp has signed a long-term virtual power purchase agreement (vPPA) with Toyota Motor North America, under which electricity generated from its upcoming 231MW Jones City 2 solar project will be sold to the automaker.
Under the 15-year offtake agreement, power from the Texas-based solar farm will support Toyota Motor North America’s renewable energy strategy. The company aims to match 45% of its purchased electricity with renewable sources by 2026, aligning with Toyota Motor Corporation’s broader target of achieving carbon neutrality across all global manufacturing operations by 2035.
“Toyota has a goal to match or source our electricity needs with renewables,” said Tim Hilgeman, general manager of environmental and sustainability at Toyota Motor North America. “Toyota’s virtual power purchase from Jones City alone has the potential to match more than 20% of our purchased electricity in North America with renewables.”
The Jones City 2 project forms part of the larger Jones City Energy Center, which will ultimately combine 700MW of solar photovoltaic capacity with a battery energy storage system (BESS).
Lightsource bp began construction at the site in spring 2025 and plans to commence commercial construction on the first phase in June this year. The company said the project will prioritize local hiring, with approximately 500 construction jobs expected to be created.
The agreement comes amid a broader strategic shift at bp, which has recently divested from several renewable energy assets. In 2024, bp announced plans to “reset” its operations, including seeking a partner for Lightsource bp while refocusing investment on oil and gas activities. More recently, Brazil’s state-owned oil company Petrobras acquired just under half of Lightsource bp’s subsidiaries operating in the country.
Despite bp’s changing priorities, Lightsource bp has continued to advance renewable energy developments globally. In September last year, the company began construction on a 585MW solar-plus-storage project in Australia. In October, its Glorit Solar Farm project in New Zealand received regulatory approval, further expanding its presence in the Oceania region.
