Salt Lake City, Utah-based rPlus Energies has successfully secured over $1 billion in construction debt financing for its Green River Energy Center project subsidiary.
Located in Utah’s Emery County, an area with a long history of energy production, the project is comprised of 400 megawatts of solar photovoltaic (PV) power and 400 MW/1,600 megawatt-hours of battery storage and includes a power purchase agreement with PacifiCorp.
Five financial institutions are contributing to this debt financing deal as coordinating lead arrangers. They are Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, KeyBanc Capital Markets, MUFG Bank Ltd., Truist Securities Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities LLC, with MUFG acting as administrative agent for the lenders.
“The Green River Energy Center marks rPlus Energies’ debut as an independent power producer,” says Luigi Resta, rPlus Energies president and CEO. “We extend our deep gratitude to the five esteemed lenders, and their affiliates and syndicate members, for supporting one of the largest projects of its kind in the country.”
Norton Rose Fulbright served as lead counsel to rPlus. Dorsey & Whitney served as special Utah counsel to rPlus. The lenders were represented by Winston & Strawn, with support from Snell & Wilmer on Utah law matters.
Green River Energy Center is one of the largest planned solar-plus-storage facilities in Utah and ranks among the most expansive solar energy facilities within PacifiCorp’s system. The project is expected to generate about 500 construction jobs with a significant percentage of the full workforce expected to be hired locally. Once operational, it will significantly boost local tax revenue to Emery County, providing an ongoing benefit to the county’s budget and services, in addition to long-term energy employment opportunities.
Engineering, procurement and construction services will be provided by Sundt Renewables.
