Energea begins construction on 140 MW utility-scale site in Texas | Projects Weekly
This week on Projects Weekly, Canadian solar powerhouse PowerBank Corp. has offered a new update on its community solar project in Nova Scotia. Just south of the Great White North, Distributed Energy Infrastructure has completed two solar projects in upstate New York, near Syracuse. In Maryland, Ameresco and Montgomery County Public Schools cut the ribbon on two new rooftop installations that represent part of a larger energy modernization for the district. After a successful VPPA deal in Spain, Graphic Packaging Holding Co.’s solar strategy has come across the Atlantic for a new deal in Texas, partnering with NextEra Energy Resources. Also in Texas, Energea has begun construction on its first industrial-scale solar project in the U.S., which is set to come online in early 2029. Keep reading for all the details!
Energea finances start of construction for utility-scale Texan project
Energea is gearing up for its first industrial-scale solar project in the United States. The global renewable energy developer has begun construction on the Iron Spur Solar project, located in the western Texas town of Snyder. Construction on the utility-scale project, which is expected to provide about 140 MWdc of solar power, is set to finish by early 2029.
As for financing, Energea will provide up to $5 million in secured convertible financing for the project. Additionally, the company provided an initial $762,000 investment through its Solar in the USA portfolio.
Bright spot: The project’s strategic location allows it to slot into one of the most established utility-scale solar markets in the United States. The facility is expected to generate about 317 GWh of electricity every year once operational, and is supported by a 35-year land lease.
Mike Silvestrini, co-founder and managing partner at Energea, calls the project a “significant evolution” for the company’s U.S. solar portfolio.
“We see excellent investment opportunities in industrial-scale solar and anticipate expanding further beyond distributed generation projects for which we are known, while maintaining Energea’s focus on immediate cash yield and strong contractual protection,” he says. “The Iron Spur Project speaks to our focus on risk-adjusted returns, providing secured debt protection today while preserving the optionality to convert to majority equity ownership as the project reaches key milestones.”
DEI completes two New York community solar projects
Solar and battery EPC firm Distributed Energy Infrastructure (DEI) has completed two solar projects near Lysander, New York. Located about 15 miles north of Syracuse, the projects total 7.9 MW of community solar and are expected to add both renewable energy and operation jobs to the landscape of upstate New York. Developed for energy investment platform Generate Capital, the two sites are DEI’s first installations in the central New York area, and will aim to come online to the state’s wider grid sometime in Q2 2026.
“Completing these projects through one of Central New York’s harshest winters is a testament to what our team is capable of,” says Mike Wilkinson of Distributed Energy Infrastructure. “Our crews pushed through snowy, muddy, and freezing conditions to stay on schedule and build safely.”
Bright spot: The two projects generated “significant local economic activity” during their construction period in late 2025. The installation was performed by the local IBEW union, and used featured technology to maximize energy yield.
Technological improvements for the projects included ATI single-axis tracking systems and bifacial solar modules, the company says. The new modules will deliver 30-40% higher electrification efficiency numbers than standard panels, feeding more energy into the Empire State’s currently straining grid.
“West Genesee and Cold Springs are a great example of what’s possible when the right team, financing, and community come together,” says Peggy Flannery, managing director of Generate Capital’s investment team. “We’re proud to bring clean energy and local jobs to Lysander, and to support central New York’s growing role in the clean energy transition.”
Ameresco hosts ribbon cutting for school district project
Ameresco Inc. and Rockville, Maryland’s Montgomery County Public Schools hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the district’s two new rooftop solar installations.
Totaling 802.4 kWdc, the two installations at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School and Germantown Elementary School are expected to deliver nearly 1 million kWh of solar power annually. The district says this will not only save money on utility costs, but will further Montgomery County’s further energy goals.
“We often talk about the future as something that happens to us, a distant destination we are simply waiting to reach. By looking at our rooftops, we can see that we are not just waiting for the future; we are building it,” says Brandi K. Overton, principal at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School. “The installation of solar panels at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School is more than just an upgrade to our infrastructure; it is a commitment to a smarter, cleaner way of living.”
Bright spot: The installations are a small part of a broader energy savings performance contract between Ameresco and the school district. The $23 million contract encompasses 25 schools across the district and aims to modernize the district’s buildings while improving their energy efficiency and resilience.
“Beyond the energy and cost savings, projects of this scale create environments where students can connect with real-world energy solutions and become active participants in shaping a more resilient energy future,” says Peter Christakis, Ameresco’s COO.
The comprehensive energy initiative is set to save more than 5.9 million kWh of electricity each year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 2,000 metric tons per year.
PowerBank achieves grid interconnection for Nova Scotia project
Canadian solar infrastructure developer PowerBank Corp. has announced its execution of the Standard Small Generator Interconnection and Operating Agreement (SSGIA) for its Sydney ground-mounted community solar project in Nova Scotia.
Coming in at about 2.43 MW, the project is set to power about 222 Nova Scotian homes annually. The PowerBank project also aims to enable local residents and businesses to access solar power without the need for rooftop installations, and will advance the province’s renewable energy goals.
Bright spot: PowerBank also says the company has received necessary permits for construction and completion from the local authorities. The company plans to break ground on the project in fall 2026, but the project is still permitting and financing.
Over the lifetime of the project, PowerBank estimates that it will generate about $1.79 million in electricity savings for the community in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. A town of just 110,000 people, the area will be key to achieving the province’s wider goals of net-zero emissions by 2035.
Graphic Packaging Holding scores North American solar deal
Following its successful support of a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) in Spain, Graphic Packaging Holding Co. (GPK) has announced a new agreement with NextEra Energy Resources.
Under the terms of the new agreement, NextEra will build a 250 MW solar energy facility in western Texas, the company says. The project will advance GPK’s company-wide sustainability program, which it says aims to reduce emissions to the point of net-zero by 2050 or earlier.
Bright spot: The project marks a milestone as GPK’s largest VPPA deal to date, the company says. Dubbed the Selenite Springs Energy Center, the project is expected to begin commercial operation by the end of 2027 and will cover approximately 43% of GPK’s 2025 electricity usage in the U.S. and Canada.
“Our partnership with NextEra Energy Resources will advance our path toward net zero greenhouse gas emissions and a renewable future,” says Michelle Fitzpatrick, chief sustainability officer at Graphic Packaging. “By sourcing renewable electricity for nearly half of our global electricity needs, we are better positioned to support our customers, the world’s leading consumer brands, in making progress toward their sustainability goals.”
