Innovative rooftop solar lease aids YMCA | Projects Weekly
In today’s edition of Projects Weekly, we’re looking at selection of large-scale solar projects, as well as acquisitions impacting market. First off is Titan Energy and Greenskies Clean Focus partnership to bring rooftop solar to the Soundview Family YMCA in Connecticut. Zelestra has closed on a U.S. tax equity transaction for the 81 MW Jasper County Solar project in Indiana. Fullmark Energy has completed the 65 MW San Jacinto Energy Storage project in California. Dispatch Energy has acquires Green Lantern Solar and its distributed generation (DG) footprint across nine states. And finally, RWE completed its first project in Louisiana. Let’s get to it!
Titan Energy, Greenskies partner on innovative solar roof lease project
Titan Energy and Greenskies Clean Focus have completed a unique renewable energy project with the Soundview Family YMCA in Branford, Connecticut, delivering financial and sustainability benefits to the community-focused organization.
“This project demonstrates how nonprofit organizations like the Soundview Family YMCA can achieve meaningful financial savings while advancing sustainability goals,” said Kyle Ramm, managing director at Titan Energy. “By leveraging creative energy strategies, we were able to deliver long-term benefits without upfront cost. We’re proud to partner with Greenskies to complete such an impactful project.”
Cool factor: Unlike a traditional power purchase agreement (PPA), this project was structured as a roof lease. By hosting solar panels on its rooftop, the Soundview Family YMCA will receive approximately $20,000 annually from Greenskies — providing a consistent, long-term revenue stream without requiring any upfront investment or changes to existing energy systems.
The Soundview Family YMCA’s facility already operates a combined heat and power (CHP) system that covers much of its electricity and heating needs. To ensure compatibility and avoid interfering with the CHP system, Titan Energy and Greenskies structured the solar project to deliver power directly to Eversource’s grid under the state’s Non-residential Renewable Energy System (NRES) program. This arrangement allows the Soundview Family YMCA to benefit from annual lease payments while Greenskies generates clean energy for the regional grid.
In addition, the project implemented a series of additional energy-saving measures, reducing its Eversource utility costs at no out-of-pocket expense to the organization. Together, these efforts align with the Soundview Family YMCA’s core motivation: lowering operational costs while advancing its commitment to sustainability.
“This project is a great example of how creative solar structures can deliver tangible value to mission-driven organizations,” said Ryan Linares, VP of Real Estate of Greenskies Clean Focus. “By partnering with Titan Energy and the Soundview Family YMCA, we were able to turn unused roof space into a reliable source of revenue, helping the YMCA strengthen its financial foundation while contributing to a cleaner energy future for the broader community.”
Zelestra closes on tax equity transaction for 81 MW Jasper County Solar Project
Zelestra has secured tax equity funding of approximately $60 million from Stonehenge Capital for the 81 MWdc (60 MWac) Jasper County Solar Project. Located in Jasper County, Indiana, the project has a long-term environmental attributes purchase agreement (EAPA) with Meta, one of six in total that the two companies have in partnership across the United States. The project will be fully operational in Q4 2025.
“This marks another significant milestone in our commitment to deliver projects that meet our clients’ needs,” said Sybil Milo Cioffi, Zelestra’s U.S. CFO. “We look forward to celebrating the completion of Jasper later this year, and to advancing our 1 GW of fully contracted projects now moving toward construction and expected to be operational in the next two years.”
Cool factor: This significant milestone follows the announcement in April 2025 that the company closed a $113 million project financing for the project with Banco Santander. Zelestra is advancing its position in the U.S. energy landscape with innovative, multi-technology solutions tailored to the evolving needs of hyperscalers and corporate partners. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the company is developing a robust portfolio of more than 10 GW of renewable energy projects across key markets.
“The collaboration with Zelestra exemplifies Stonehenge Capital’s focus on supporting energy infrastructure throughout the nation,” said Whitney LaNasa, senior managing director at Stonehenge Capital. “We look forward to working alongside Zelestra, a distinguished name in global energy, to bring this project to operations.”
With a portfolio of approximately 32 GW of carbon-free projects in six key growth markets (U.S., Germany, Spain, Italy, Latam and India), 6.8 GW is contracted with customers and in operations, construction, or pre-construction stage.
Fullmark Energy completes 65 MW San Jacinto Energy Storage Project
Fullmark Energy has announced the commercial operations date (COD) of its 65 MW / 130 MWh San Jacinto storage project in Banning, California. The milestone marks the final project within Fullmark Energy’s Redwood Projects portfolio — a strategic collection of energy storage facilities across Southern California — to achieve commercial operations.
“Reaching commercial operations across the Redwood Projects marks a major milestone for our team and our partners,” said Chris McKissack, Chief Executive Officer of Fullmark Energy. “These projects strengthen grid reliability, accelerate the renewable energy transition, and demonstrate our team’s ability to deliver high-performing assets at scale. San Jacinto is particularly meaningful because it shows how energy storage can simultaneously enhance grid infrastructure while revitalizing communities and creating value for local stakeholders.”
Cool factor: San Jacinto is Fullmark’s third project to reach COD in 2025, joining three other operational facilities in Fullmark Energy’s Redwood Projects portfolio. The 20 MW / 80 MWh Johanna ESS project in Santa Ana reached COD in October 2021, while the 20 MW / 40 MWh Desert-Carris project in Palm Springs and the 20 MW / 40 MWh Ortega Project in Lake Elsinore both reached COD earlier this year. These three 2025 projects deliver 105 MW of new capacity to the Southern California Edison distribution system.
The San Jacinto project exemplifies how energy storage development can drive positive community transformation. The 65 MW facility sits on previously abandoned property that had become an overgrown, nuisance property, creating challenges for surrounding residents and businesses. Working closely with local stakeholders, Fullmark transformed the site into well-maintained infrastructure with proper security fencing and lighting, significantly improving conditions for the neighborhood. The project also generates economic benefits for the city of Banning’s municipal electric utility, which serves approximately 13,500 customers and serves the project’s load.
The Redwood Projects represent 125 MW / 290 MWh of operational capacity across four strategically located facilities in Southern California, making it one of the largest independently owned battery storage portfolios in the region. The projects were developed with diversified offtake agreements to strengthen revenue profiles and reduce risk. In January 2023, Fullmark secured $100 million in financing for the portfolio through a consolidated term loan and letter of credit facility. All four facilities participate in the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) market, providing critical grid services including energy arbitrage, frequency regulation, and resource adequacy.
Dispatch Energy acquires Green Lantern Solar
Dispatch Energy LLC has acquired Green Lantern Solar (GLS), along with more than 64 solar and battery storage projects totaling 208.9 MWdc, at various stages of development and operations. This transaction brings Dispatch’s total portfolio to 489.5 MW, as the company works to aggregate distributed generation resources nationally.
“This acquisition provides an excellent result for GLS shareholders and employees,” said Luke Shullenberger, founder and CEO of Green Lantern Solar. “We appreciate the execution-oriented approach of Dispatch Energy’s team and believe that the business will continue to grow under their leadership into the future.”
This acquisition expands Dispatch’s footprint in the growing distributed generation market across Georgia, Maryland, West Virginia, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
Cool factor: Dispatch will acquire 100% of Green Lantern’s operations, including operating and early-stage development assets as well as Operations and Maintenance (“O&M”) services business.
“Dispatch remains committed to the energy transition and we are excited to welcome Green Lantern’s team, operations, and assets into our portfolio,” said Richard Dovere, CEO of Dispatch Energy. “We are proud to have the opportunity to acquire this excellent founder-led business.”
Founded in 2024, Dispatch Energy raised over $360 MM in 2025 to pursue opportunities in distributed generation.
RWE’s first project in Louisiana completes construction
RWE has completed construction of its first project in Louisiana, the 100 MW Lafitte Solar project located in the Ouachita Parish, outside of Monroe. The project will be fully online and generating energy by the end of the year. Lafitte Solar was enabled through a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Meta, through which Meta also receives all environmental benefits associated with the project, including RECs.
“Lafitte Solar is RWE’s first project in Louisiana, and will provide low-cost, homegrown energy to the Louisiana grid and generate enough electricity to power 17,000 local homes and businesses,” said Andrew Flanagan, CEO of RWE Clean Energy. “By providing affordable and reliable electricity, we are strengthening Monroe’s power supply while supporting the community’s growth and resilience.”
The project was celebrated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis, local officials from the Ouachita Parish Police Jury and Ouachita Parish Industrial Development Board, RWE leadership and employees and construction partner McCarthy Building Companies (McCarthy).
Cool factor: Over its operating lifetime, Lafitte Solar is projected to generate approximately $32 million in regional tax revenue — supporting public schools, law enforcement and emergency services. Construction of Lafitte Solar was completed in collaboration with RWE’s EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) partner McCarthy, supporting more than 150 full-time jobs on the project at its peak. During construction, workers supported local businesses and restaurants, and shopped at area stores, amplifying the project’s economic impact.
RWE remains dedicated to supporting local schools and families. The company partnered with Roy Neal Shelling, Sr. Elementary School, providing donations to support classroom resources, while its construction partner McCarthy supplied toys during the holiday. RWE and McCarthy remain committed to improving the quality of life for children in the local area by funding a new playground being built at Tanglewood Community Park. Additionally, RWE and McCarthy together provided one of the largest holiday food donations the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana has received, supporting families throughout Monroe during the Christmas season.
Lafitte Solar’s site design features natural and native vegetation around the perimeter, promoting biodiversity and habitat conservation to benefit the project’s land and surrounding farmlands. The project will also incorporate agrivoltaics, using a flock of over 600 sheep to maintain healthy vegetation onsite. This practice not only protects local farmland but deepens partnerships with regional farmers, demonstrating how renewable energy coexists with agriculture.
