mammoth solar projects seek better farming and an enhanced way of life
By: Claire Kenney Last Updated: July 10, 2026
By enhancing energy and food production via dual-use farming, the Mammoth Solar project continues to elevate the living environment for communities in Starke and Pulaski counties. Initially starting as a grassroots effort in 2019, the Mammoth Solar project has grown into a significant local movement with national attention. In fact, the project was coined Mammoth Solar not only because mammoth bones were discovered in one of the local fields the project is involved with, but also because the word “mammoth” accurately describes the large size and scope of the project.
Managed by Doral Renewables, a leading energy developer focused on facilitating utility-scale, sustainable energy, the Mammoth Solar complex is slated to generate 2,245 megawatts of energy. This is enough to power approximately 350,000 homes across Starke and Pulaski counties.
“Doral Renewables is absolutely thrilled to be partnering with Starke and Pulaski counties on this project,” said Ran Rabi, manager of public relations for Doral Renewables. “The Mammoth Solar project is one of the largest solar projects in the United States.”
As part of the Mammoth Solar project, over a hundred local families are loaning their land to the project’s effort. While leasing the land, Doral Renewables builds solar panels and generates energy through the project’s lifespan.
“Mammoth Solar has over 110 families who lease their farmland as part of this project,” said Rabi. “In doing so, they are essentially giving their land a break so that it can be replenished and ready to be even more productive once the land is returned to full agriculture production at the end of Mammoth’s operation.”
Given the tight-knit community of both Starke and Pulaski counties, Doral Renewables seeks to do more than bring solar energy to the area. Their work isn’t just transactional.
“Our goal and hope really is to build a relationship with the community,” said Rabi. “We want that relationship to be long-lasting and for our work to continue to pour into the community on many levels and for many years to come.”
Across the project’s life span, the Mammoth Solar complex expects to generate over 3,000 jobs. To date, $1.8 million in charitable and economic development agreement payments have been invested in the Starke and Pulaski communities. The project also has $130 million in scheduled payments across both counties.
Doral is committed to integrating agrivoltaics – the dual use of land for both solar energy production and agriculture – on all projects. Mammoth Solar is the best example of this approach and one of the largest agrivoltaics projects in the country. Farm animals are utilized by the project to manage vegetation. Currently, these animals include 2,000 sheep, guardian and herding dogs, chickens, and even Kunekune pigs. Over the course of the next few years, the number of livestock deployed on the Mammoth project will increase significantly. In addition, row crops (field corn and popcorn), specialty crops (mint and peppers), and forage (hay/alfalfa) are all integrated into the project. Agrivoltaics benefits farmers by providing ground for heritage farming, and wherever possible, Doral works with local farmers to achieve these agrivoltaic goals.
The project’s first phase, Mammoth Solar North is already operational. This phase of the project is made possible in part by a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with American Electric Power’s (AEP) subsidiary, AEP Energy. The Mammoth South and Mammoth Central projects, phases 2 and 3, are scheduled to be completed and generating energy by the end of this year, and the next phase is expected to begin construction before the start of 2027.
To learn more about the Mammoth Solar project visit mammothsolarprojects.com. For detailed information on the current Mammoth Solar North project phase, visit Doral LLC here.
