New projects bolster grid reliability across South and Midwest | Projects Weekly
Sponsored by
In-stock inventory. Strategic manufacturer partnerships. Field-ready delivery. Get started with Ampacity.
This week on Projects Weekly, it’s been a banner week for new project energizations. Projects across the U.S. came online, including Origis Energy’s Wheatland Solar Project in southern Indiana, Idemitsu’s Azalea project in California, and rPlus Energies’ Blacks Creek Energy Center in Idaho’s most populous county. Nofar USA closed its solar acquisition from Pine Gate Renewables and PowerBank has announced the advancement of more than 42 MW of solar in New York. Sunraycer also began construction on two large-scale solar and storage projects in Texas to bolster the grid in the Lone Star State, and next door to that, Standard Solar is leading the charge on community solar in New Mexico. EDPR NA Distributed Generation also finished up a rooftop project for Mercedes-Benz. North of the border, Canadian Solar Inc.’s storage business is set to deliver a 2.5-GWh BESS projects for data center demands in the U.S. Keep reading for all the details!
Nofar USA closes acquisition of solar energy assets from Pine Gate Renewables
Nofar Energy subsidiary Nofar USA has completed its acquisition of more than 1 GW of solar energy assets from Pine Gate Renewables.
In total, the company closed on $255 million of acquisition financing through Israel-based Bank Hapoalim, one of the largest in the country.
Officially approved in early January this year, the acquisition includes both operating and in-development projects across multiple states. Many of the projects are located across the American south, in states like Texas, Alabama, and Pine Gate Renewables’ native North Carolina.
“The success of this closing is owed to our top‑quality management team in the US, our excellent access to capital markets, and to the group’s strong balance sheet,” says Allon Raveh, chairman and CEO of Nofar USA. “These were the basis to successfully make the acquisition and financing of 1GW of solar assets possible within two months. This transaction proves how committed and determined we are in becoming a significant participant in the U.S and we are already working on the next opportunities.”
Bright spot: The new assets will contribute to Nofar’s burgeoning renewable energy portfolio in the U.S. In total, the company now sports about 2.3 GWdc of solar assets, and 1.5 GWh of storage assets, the latter of which is entire under development.
Origis Energy energizes 210-MW Wheatland Solar Project in Indiana
Origis Energy has announced that its 210-MW Wheatland Solar Project in Knox County, Indiana, located about 120 miles from Indianapolis, has reached commercial operation.
Bright spot: The company flipped the proverbial switch on the project on Feb. 27, officially beginning its power purchase agreement with CenterPoint Energy and its base of operations in the Hoosier State. In total, the utility-scale project created 360 construction jobs at its peak, serving the job market of southwestern Indiana.
“At Origis Energy, we take pride in delivering high-quality projects safely, on schedule, and in close partnership with our customers,” says David Groleau, SVP of origination at Origis Energy. “Reaching commercial operations at Wheatland reflects the strength of our development and execution platform and our continued commitment to providing reliable, cost-effective energy solutions for utilities and the communities they serve.”
In total, the project will power about 45,000 homes throughout the area, and is set to avoid about 227,000 metric tons of carbon emissions. Wheatland currently serves as just one of two grid power projects in Origis’s Indiana portfolio. In total, the two provide enough energy for about 75,000 homes.
“Our long-term electric generation plan is focused on delivering reliable, affordable and diversified energy for our southwestern Indiana customers,” says Shane Bradford, CenterPoint Energy’s VP of Indiana Electric. “We appreciate working with Origis Energy to bring the Wheatland Solar project to commercial operations in support of that effort.”
Sunraycer starts construction on two large-scale solar and storage projects in Texas
Sunraycer Renewables has announced the groundbreaking of the Lupinus I & II Solar and BESS projects in Hagansport, Texas, as well as the Eagle Springs Solar & BESS project in Lake Creek, Texas.
With construction underway, the projects are expected to deliver more than 620 MWdc of solar generation, as well as over 475 MWh of battery storage in northeastern Texas. As grid reliability becomes a top priority for the Lone Star State, these projects are set to support both electrical generation and regionwide economic growth, officials say.
“Breaking ground on Lupinus I & II and Eagle Springs marks an important milestone for Sunraycer as we continue to expand our renewable energy footprint in Texas,” says Sunraycer CEO David Lillefloren. “These projects reflect our commitment to delivering reliable energy while investing in the communities where we operate. We are proud to partner with McCarthy to bring these facilities to life and help support Texas’ growing energy needs.”
Construction is already underway at Eagle Springs, representatives say, and the groundbreaking for Lupinus I & II is set for sometime this month. Completion of construction is anticipated for early 2028.
McCarthy Building Companies will serve as the EPC contractor for all of these projects. According to Dhruv Patel, the president of McCarthy’s Renewable Energy group, the company aims to help people build lasting careers in the renewable energy industry.
“With Lupinus I & II and Eagle Springs, we’re deepening our long-term investment in Texas communities,” he says.
PowerBank announces advancement of 42 MW across nine projects in New York
PowerBank Corporation has announced the spring mobilization of nine different solar projects in the state of New York, including the Jordan Rd 1 and 2 project, as well as the Elmira, Newark, and Camp Smith projects, among others.
The group of projects include rooftop, carport, and ground-mounted solar, and have a combined generation capacity of about 42.24 MW. Additionally, the projects boast battery storage levels of about 21.76 MWh in capacity.
“Once operational, the Projects are expected to deliver enough energy to power approximately 5,280 homes annually, and several of these Projects will be operated as community solar projects,” PowerBank officials say. “PowerBank’s proven expertise, with over 100 MW of completed projects and a development pipeline exceeding 1 GW, underpins the project’s execution.”
Bright spot: The projects will help to advance the state of New York’s “ambitious” goals outlined under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Under the law, the state had plans for 6 GW of solar capacity by 2025, and now accounts for one third of the U.S.’ 6.2 GW of installed solar capacity.
“By subscribing to a project, a homeowner earns credits on their electric bill every month from their portion of the solar that’s generated by the project, accessing the benefits of solar without installing panels on their home,” PowerBank says of its community solar capabilities. “This allows homeowners to realize a reduced cost per kW/hour from the power they consume versus standard utility rates.”
e-STORAGE set to deliver 2.5 GWh BESS project to support data center demands
Canadian Solar Inc. has announced that its energy storage solutions business, e-STORAGE, has entered into a supply agreement with an unnamed U.S. utility to provide a 500-MW BESS project.
The project will support data center energy demands in the U.S., supporting grid infrastructure and resiliency as a byproduct. Under the new agreement, e-STORAGE will supply about 500 SolBank 3.0 containers to the utility firm. Shipments are set to begin in March of 2027, and will be completed by July 2027.
“We are honored to support the grid as rapid data center growth drives new power needs,” says Colin Parkin, president of both Canadian Solar and e-STORAGE. “With our SolBank platform and proven delivery capabilities, we are well-positioned to provide dependable, on-time solutions that help utilities and developers keep pace with this new phase of power system growth.”
Bright spot: The project highlights Canadian Solar’s “contribution to addressing the sharp increase in electricity demand driven by AI and hyperscale data center development.” The battery is set to have just under 2.5 GWh capacity of direct current.
“By strengthening regional grid capacity, it supports reliable power for these emerging loads,” company officials say. “With vertical integration and utility‑scale experience, e‑STORAGE delivers on‑schedule and provides reliable long‑term operation to meet this growing demand.”
Idemitsu Renewables energizes Azalea Solar and Storage Project in California
Idemitsu Renewables has announced the energization of the Azalea Solar and Storage Project as of Dec. 31, 2025. The project’s energization marks the completion of the company’s latest in a line of projects serving the state of California.
Located in Kern County, California, the project is part of a long-term power purchase agreement with Sonoma Clean Power. The facility will make use of “high-efficiency” solar technology as well as battery storage, hoping to enhance grid stability and optimize energy delivery during the grid’s peak hours.
“Achieving COD at Azalea underscores our team’s ability to deliver complex renewable projects that provide both environmental and economic value,” says Cary Vandenberg, CEO of Idemitsu Renewables. “We are proud to partner with forward‑thinking organizations like U.S. Bank, Mizuho Bank, Commerzbank, and Sonoma Clean Power to advance California’s clean energy goals.”
Geof Syphers, CEO of Sonoma Clean Power, called the project’s energization “an exciting milestone.” As his company hopes to continue delivering renewable energy to the Golden State, the new project will greatly improve grid reliability during peak hours, he adds.
Bright spot: The project will generate enough solar energy and battery storage to power about 20,000 homes across both Sonoma and Mendocino Counties each year. That power will help offset about 50,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually.
rPlus Energies secures financing for 400-MW energy center in Idaho
rPlus Energies has secured over $650 million in debt facilities and tax equity financing commitments for its Blacks Creek Energy Center in southern Idaho’s Ada County.
The energy center will take the form of a 400-MW/520-MWdc solar facility, and will support Idaho Power load needs as well as the public commitments of tech giant Meta. The Mark Zuckerberg-helmed social media and data center conglomerate currently holds commitments with its Kuna, Idaho data center.
“This project represents another major milestone for rPlus as we continue to invest in large‑scale, homegrown energy across the American West,” says Luigi Resta, president and CEO of rPlus Energies. “Santander and KeyBanc are strong partners, and we’re pleased to work with them to deliver a project of this scale and importance.”
Bright spot: Supported by Santander and KeyBanc Capital Markets, the financing will help Blacks Creek build on rPlus’s expanding presence in Ada County. The company has previously developed Pleasant Valley Solar 1, and expects Pleasant Valley Solar 2 to reach commercial operation this spring.
“Together, these projects represent significant investment in Idaho’s energy infrastructure,” the company says. “In total, rPlus‑developed projects in Ada County that are operating, under construction, or contracted represent nearly 1 GW of energy capacity.”
EDPR NA Distributed Generation completes 720-kW rooftop project for Mercedes-Benz
EDPR NA Distributed Generation, a distributed energy subsidiary of EDP Renewables North America, has announced the completion of a 720-kW rooftop solar project for Mercedes-Benz.
Located at the Mercedes-Benz USA Parts Distribution Center in Fontana, California, the rooftop installation will help daily operations at the facility, as well as lowering energy costs for the location.
Bright spot: The system will help to reduce utility rate volatility, officials say, and is expected to generate about $18,200 in electrical cost savings in its first year alone. The project will also support reliable energy supply as utility rates continue to spike across California.
“California businesses are navigating a rapidly evolving energy landscape marked by increasing demand and price fluctuations,” said João Barreto, CEO of EDPR NA Distributed Generation. “Rooftop solar is a smart, scalable solution that allows organizations like Mercedes-Benz USA to control energy costs, improve resilience, and advance their sustainability goals — all while maximizing the value of existing infrastructure.”
During construction, the facility supported about 65 jobs, officials say. Now, the 720-kW project will join EDPR NA’s portfolio of about 1.2 GW of clean energy assets throughout the state, which powers about 485,000 homes.
Doral Renewables receives final funding for Great Bend Solar Project
Doral Renewables has completed final funding for its Great Bend Solar Project in southern Ohio’s Meigs County.
Bright spot: With tax equity investment totaling over $27 million and an additional $35 million in investment tax credits generated by the project, the funding closed late last month. Now, the project will generate renewable energy enough to power more than 9,000 homes, and will contribute about $400,000 annually in new tax revenue for the county.
The project’s funding is not an endpoint for the company, but rather “the foundation for decades of reliable operation and continued growth across Doral’s portfolio,” according to Dario Abramskiehn, director of portfolio finance at Doral Renewables.
“Final funding at Great Bend is an exciting milestone and a testament to the strength of our partnerships,” Abramskiehn says. “We are grateful to our talented financing partners for their collaboration in bringing this project into operation, and we are proud to see Great Bend delivering clean, reliable power and meaningful economic benefits to Meigs County.”
Standard Solar leading group to bring 48.4-MW community solar portfolio to New Mexico
Along with ForeFront Power and New Mexican EPC firm Pluma Construction, Standard Solar has announced an eight-project, 48.4-MW community solar portfolio to be built across the Land of Enchantment.
Developed by Pluma with support from ForeFront, the projects will be owned and operated by Standard Solar once the projects finish construction. Customer subscriptions will be handled by Solstice, and mark some of the first community solar facilities delivered through New Mexico’s Community Solar Program.
“New Mexico’s community solar market is moving fast, and the real milestone is getting projects into operation so they can start generating power and providing savings on subscribers’ monthly electric bills,” says Eric Partyka, director of business development at Standard Solar. “As the long-term owner and operator, we’re grateful to work alongside Pluma and ForeFront to help bring this portfolio to commercial operation.
“We’re here for the duration, operating these sites with the discipline and reliability subscribers expect, so customers see consistent bill savings and communities get durable clean energy as the program scales.”
Bright spot: Across the eight proejcts, the portfolio is expected to generate over 103 GWh of energy in its first year. Combined with projects already operating, the portfolio is expected to deliver bill credits for community solar subscribers across several New Mexico communities.
“We’re proud to already be serving thousands of New Mexicans who have signed up to be part of these solar farms—families who are now seeing savings on their monthly energy bills thanks to clean power generated right here in their own communities,” says Sandhya Murali, chief strategy and marketing officer at Perch Energy and former CEO of Solstice. “With these projects officially online, we’re excited to continue serving even more households in the months ahead. These active projects have enough capacity to enroll approximately 2,500 additional households, with more on the horizon.”
