Renewable Energy News

Algonquin Power & Utilities achieved commercial operation of the 24-MW Phase I St. Damase Wind Project (St. Damase I) in Quebec under the terms of the PPA with Hydro Quebec. The project was completed on time and on budget. St. Damase I consists of 10 Enercon E-92, 2.35 MW wind turbine generators. The total capital cost of the facility was approximately $49 million, net of the Canadian Renewable and Conservation Expense tax incentive that was used to partially fund the project.

Montana-Dakota Utilities, a division of MDU Resources Group, signed an agreement to purchase a North Dakota wind farm to be developed by ALLETE Clean Energy. The wind project, located near Hettinger, N.D., and comprised of 43 turbines producing 107.5 MW of electricity, is anticipated to be completed in December 2015. The project's cost is approximately $200 million and the purchase is subject to regulatory approvals.

Dominion acquired West Antelope Solar Park, a 20-MW solar energy facility, from Canadian Solar with a 20-year PPA in place. With the addition of West Antelope Solar Park, Dominion has 344 MW of solar generating capacity - about 220 MW of which are in California - in development, under construction or in operation across six states. The company's renewable portfolio also includes approximately 850 MW of capacity generated by biomass, water and wind.

SunEdison and Renova Energia S.A. created an exclusive joint venture to develop, own, and operate 1 GW of utility scale solar PV energy to supply the Brazilian Regulated Electricity Market. Renova and SunEdison will each own a 50% stake in the joint venture. The joint venture plans to build and operate four utility scale solar power plants in Bahia State, Brazil, by 2017; installing 106.9 MW of solar as part of contracts awarded by the Brazilian Energy Commercialization Authority, Camara Comercializadora de Energia Electrica (CCEE).

NRG Home Solar opened two new California offices in Merced and San Diego, adding to the NRG footprint in the state. These offices will add to existing presence and further build on the company’s energy operations around the state including the recent expansion of the NRG eVgo electric vehicle charging network. NRG Home Solar is offering solar loans for the first time to homeowners starting in California and expanding to other states.

Emera will sell its 49% interest in Northeast Wind Partners II (Northeast Wind), to its 51% partner, First Wind Holdings (First Wind) for $223.3 million. Northeast Wind owns and operates a 419-MW portfolio of wind generating assets located in the Northeast United States. Emera acquired its interest in Northeast Wind in 2012. Emera's sale is part of a larger deal which will see 100% of First Wind sold to a third party, and is conditional on that transaction closing.

SunEdison and TerraForm Power signed a definitive agreement to acquire First Wind for $2.4 billion. SunEdison will purchase over 1.6 GW of pipeline and backlog projects, which have been added to TerraForm Power's call right project list and are expected to be operational in 2016-2017. Included in the transaction is an additional 6.4 GW of project development opportunities.

NorthWestern Energy closed on the previously announced $900 million purchase of eleven hydroelectric facilities representing 633 MW of capacity and one storage reservoir from PPL Montana. NorthWestern previously announced the issuance of equity and debt securities to finance the acquisition from PPL Montana.

juwi solar (JSI) sold the ownership interests in a 50-MW solar energy facility to Dominion. The project was fully developed by JSI and has a 20-year PPA with PacifiCorp. Currently named “Pavant Solar,” the project will be located in Millard County, Utah on approximately 419 acres of private ranchlands that have been leased to the project. JSI is the EPC contractor for the project and will operate the project for Dominion upon completion.

Pattern Energy Group (Pattern Development) entered into a joint venture partnership with Henvey Inlet First Nation to jointly develop, own and operate the 300-MW Henvey Inlet Wind project to be built in Parry Sound District, Ontario. Pattern Development will own a 50% joint venture interest in the 300-MW project, which has a 20-year PPA with the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) for 100% of its expected production.