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Greenbacker’s First Solar/Storage Facility Enters Commercial Operation

Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company, a publicly registered, non-traded limited liability company and manager of sustainable infrastructure investments, reported that its Rawhide Prairie Solar began commercial operation late last month.

Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company, a publicly registered, non-traded limited liability company and manager of sustainable infrastructure investments, reported that its Rawhide Prairie Solar, a 22-megawatt project in Colorado, began commercial operation late last month.

The facility marks Greenbacker’s first “solar-plus-storage” project, pairing solar power generation with power storage capabilities.

An onsite Tesla battery pack is capable of storing up to two megawatt hours of energy, and helps deliver less expensive, more reliable power during times of peak consumer demand or less sunshine.

“Rawhide Prairie Solar was our first solar-plus-storage project, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see it up and running,” said Charles Wheeler, chief executive officer. “Energy storage will play a crucial role in the future of renewable energy, bringing many practical benefits to consumers and the community, as well as advantages for producers and off-takers of clean power.”

Located at the Platte River Power Authority’s Rawhide Energy Station, Rawhide Prairie will generate enough annual solar energy to power approximately 6,000 homes in Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont, and Loveland. DEPCOM Power provided the engineering and construction of the plant and will continue to manage the project and deliver output to Platte River under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

Rawhide Prairie encompasses approximately 150 acres adjacent to the 30-megawatt Rawhide Flats Solar installation and brings Platte River’s total solar capacity to 52 megawatts.

Last month, Greenbacker’s Turquoise Solar Project, the largest operating solar project in its portfolio, began supplying renewable energy to Apple’s data center in the Reno Technology Park in Washoe County, Nevada.

Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company acquires and manages renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, as well as other energy-related businesses. The company invests in solar and wind facilities, and then sells power under long-term contract to counterparties such as utilities, municipalities, and corporations.

In March 2019, Greenbacker closed its public offering of Class A, Class C and Class I shares, as well as its privately offered Class P-A shares. Currently the company privately offers Class P-I shares on a continuous basis. As of September 30, 2020, Greenbacker has made solar, wind, biomass, battery storage, and energy efficiency investments in 27 portfolios, 26 in the United States and one in Canada, as well as six secured loans in the United States.

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