Clean Capital’s investment process is detail-oriented, professionalized, and institutionalized. By investing strategically, we have acquired a number of early-stage and new construction sites to complement our robust portfolio of operational solar and solar + storage assets. In addition, we’ve forged partnerships with developers in emerging markets. We apply a great deal of rigor to every investment to maximize the value of programs and tax incentives and optimize energy production over the long term.
After first establishing a relationship in 2022, CleanCapital and Renewable IPP (RIPP),an Alaska-based solar developer, partnered to deliver more solar energy to Alaskans. CleanCapital funded the development and construction of the project and will serve as the long-term owner-operator; the project was also supported by a loan from the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA). While oil and natural gas are central to Alaska’s economy and remain Alaska’s primary energy sources, residents and state leaders alike recognize the need to diversify the state’s energy generation.
On August 29, 2023, CleanCapital, RIPP, Matanuska Electric Association (MEA), and Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to welcome the finished 8.5 MW solar farm—the largest ever built in the state. After sourcing a local workforce , the RIPP team designed and developed the solar farm with the surrounding elements and climate in mind. Unique features include raising panels by 3 additional feet to accommodate snowfall; utilizing bifacial panels to harvest reflected light, and a implementing a racking system specially designed for snow clearing. Matanuska Electric Association (MEA) will purchase cost-competitive power from the project to benefit its members. The Houston solar project will help lead the way to a new energy mix within the state while providing lower-cost energy to the local community of Matanuska-Susitna Valley.
“Since its inception, CleanCapital has been driven by a mission to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy. I cannot imagine a better illustration of the importance of that mission than bringing solar to an oil and gas-centric state where the impacts of climate change are so vividly felt,” stated Thomas Byrne, CEO at CleanCapital. “This project demonstrates the viability and economic rationale for adopting solar in Alaska, and we are proud to have played a role in building such a historic project.”
In February 2023, we announced the acquisition of a 34.5 megawatt (MW) portfolio of operating solar assets in New Jersey, comprising projects ranging in size from 1.6 MW to 23.4 MW.
This portfolio exemplifies our focus on middle-market solar and energy storage, which we believe is a critical — but still underinvested — segment of the renewable energy market. An estimated 14% of all installed solar capacity in the United States comes from the C&I sector, and we look forward to continuing to build our portfolio of operating assets such as these as well as install new capacity to further the clean energy transition.
In 2021, we announced that CleanCapital would finance the construction of ten projects totaling 29 MW in Howard County, Maryland, as part of the largest power purchase agreement (PPA) in the state.
The Howard County PPA is part of the municipal government’s larger Live Green Howard initiative. When all the sites are operational, they will provide at least 60 percent of the County government’s electricity usage, with a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions equivalent of taking nearly 7,000 cars off the road. The combined anticipated cost benefit to the County over the 25-year life of the contract is more than $1.5 million.
In 2022, CleanCapital secured $71.4 million of tax equity and debt financing for the Howard County portfolio. The debt financing was arranged with CIT, a division of First Citizens Bank, and the tax equity transaction was with Nelnet, Inc. CleanCapital will generate approximately $250 million in tax credits from these projects, making us the sponsor of choice for tax equity investors focused on the renewables market.
In July 2022 we acquired a 36.6 megawatt (MW) solar facility in Inalåhan, Guam, which includes the operating Dandan solar farm and rights to solar development pipeline on the island.
The Dandan site, operating since 2015, is the largest solar asset on Guam, supplying 6% of the island’s electricity generation capacity and renewable energy to Guam Power Authority (GPA). The site provides a reliable source of fixed-price clean energy to the surrounding community, helping to offset the impact of volatile fossil fuel prices on the island.
Future clean energy development on Guam is promising, incentivized by the island’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), which requires that 50% of the nation’s power come from renewable sources by 2035, increasing to 100% by 2045.
Our first acquisition in Rhode Island is a portfolio of 10 operating projects ranging in size from 250 kW to 5.4 MW. These projects provide energy to local off-takers, including a community school, the YMCA, and a local university. One site is located on the property of WDCHOC, a local affordable housing authority that develops, constructs, and manages housing for low- and moderate-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
This Rhode Island portfolio, comprising both net-metered assets and Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) operating projects, demonstrated our ability to structure an acquisition to meet the seller’s needs. FiTs are an important component to our investment strategy, as they support the development of renewable energy sources by providing a guaranteed, above-market price for producers, and usually involve long-term contracts. This solar portfolio is a part of the latticework of renewable energy projects needed to help Rhode Island meet its 100% Renewable Energy Standard goal by 2033.