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Greenbacker Invests in Utah Solar Plant

Central Texas Solar Energy Farm Aerial over thousands of Solar Collectors near webberville , Texas a massive solar energy plant produces clean renewable energy for a sustainable energy future right outside Austin , TX in June 2016 on a partly cloudy day with plenty of sunshine. The Modern Futuristic Power Plants of the future right now right here in central texas , USA .

The Appaloosa Solar 1 project is now the second largest renewable energy project for the company.

Greenbacker Capital Management, an asset manager and sponsor of investment vehicles focused on renewable energy, has partnered via an affiliated investment vehicle, on a to-be-constructed 200 megawatts (AC) / 240 megawatts (DC) solar plant in Iron County, Utah with rPlus Energies LLC, a utility-scale renewable energy developer.

The Appaloosa Solar 1 project is now the second largest renewable energy project in the Greenbacker portfolio in terms of clean power–generation capacity. The asset that previously held that place recently entered commercial operation in neighboring Carbon County, the 80 megawatt (AC) / 104 megawatt (DC) Graphite Solar is Greenbacker’s largest operational solar energy project to date.

Appaloosa will utilize many of Greenbacker’s project partners involved with Graphite, which was developed, built and commissioned by rPlus. Sundt Renewables will provide engineering, procurement and construction services. Like Graphite, Appaloosa has a long-term power purchase agreement in place with utility PacifiCorp on behalf of Meta. The contract was developed under Rocky Mountain Power’s Schedule 34 green energy tariff, which allows large customers to purchase renewable energy generated on their behalf.

“Building durable partnerships is critical to building the future of energy,” said Ben Tillar, vice president of Investments at Greenbacker. “We’re excited to continue collaborating with these industry experts on utility-scale solar plants like Appaloosa, which will support green jobs, diversify the region’s energy infrastructure, and help Utah run on cost-effective renewable power.”

rPlus, Sundt, and Greenbacker hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the beginning of the project’s construction. At the September 12 event, project partners spoke on the environmental and economic benefits that investing in renewable energy projects like Appaloosa can provide, including in the communities that host them.

“We are thrilled to be working with Greenbacker again,” said Luigi Resta, president and chief executive officer of rPlus Energies. “They have proven to be great partners that share similar feelings of responsibility and deep respect to the communities we are developing in.”

The company says Appaloosa’s construction is expected to rely on many local vendors, bringing patrons to local businesses, delivering revenue to the area, and supporting approximately 250 construction-related green energy jobs. When complete, Appaloosa is expected to generate enough annual clean power to abate over 260,000 metric tons of carbon.

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