BREMOND — A property that has helped produce power in Robertson County for decades is preparing for a major expansion that could bring hundreds of construction workers and new business to the area. Panamint Capital has broken ground on Big Rooter Power, a $1.7 billion solar energy project at the Twin Oaks power station near Bremond. The project will be built in two sections and will eventually cover part of the approximately 10,000-acre property. The company said it will be the largest solar project in North America built at a site that also includes an active coal mine. The first section, called Big Rooter West, is now under construction. It is expected to begin producing electricity in August 2028. Work on the second section, Big Rooter East, is expected to begin in December, with electricity production scheduled to begin in August 2029. Together, the two sections are expected to create more than 800 construction jobs. Panamint Capital said it plans to hire locally when possible and work with businesses and contractors from the surrounding area. The company estimates the first section alone could bring more than $66 million into the local economy during the life of the project through taxes, jobs and spending with area businesses. For Robertson County, the project represents another chapter for a property that has been tied to the energy industry for about 30 years. The existing Twin Oaks power plant will remain in operation. Solar panels, large batteries used to store electricity and new high-voltage power lines will be added around the property. Panamint Capital also plans to develop space for data centers, which are large buildings filled with computer equipment used to store and process digital information. Once everything is completed, the Twin Oaks property will produce electricity from both its existing power plant and the new solar facilities. Approximately 2 million solar panels will be used in the project. First Solar will manufacture the panels at its plants in Ohio, Louisiana and Alabama. More than 34,000 tons of American-made steel are also expected to be used during construction. SOLV Energy will oversee much of the construction, including the solar fields, electrical stations and new power lines. Another company, Nextpower, will provide equipment that allows the solar panels to turn throughout the day and follow the sun. Panamint Capital said the electricity produced by the solar project has already been promised to a major United States company through a long-term agreement. The company purchasing the electricity was not named in the announcement. The agreement is expected to keep electricity from the Robertson County project in use into the 2050s. Panamint Capital CEO Apolka Totth said the project allows the company to make use of land and equipment that are already part of an established energy site. For residents near Bremond, the biggest changes will likely come as construction increases and more workers, trucks and equipment begin arriving at the Twin Oaks property. The full effect on local businesses and employment will not be known until construction is further underway, but the project could become one of the largest private investments ever made in Robertson County.