Investing in Projects That Move the Needle

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.

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 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.