Clearway Energy Group Closes Financing and Starts Construction on 419 MW Texas Wind Farm

Last week, Clearway Energy Group (“Clearway”) closed financing and commenced construction on Mesquite Star, a 419-megawatt (MW) wind farm in Fischer and Nolan counties in Texas.

Mizuho led the bank group, including KeyBank, MUFG, and Santander, that will provide a loan to finance construction of the wind farm. BHE Renewables is providing a tax equity commitment to invest in the project upon completion.

“A project of this size takes an amazing group of partners at the local level, offtakers committed to purchasing renewable energy, and the financial community,” said Craig Cornelius, CEO of Clearway Energy Group. “We are proud to play a central role in this achievement and thankful for the support of our execution partners, Blattner Energy and Siemens Gamesa, who helped ensure Mesquite Star will deliver affordable clean renewable energy.”

Mesquite Star’s customers and revenue contract counterparties include several preeminent institutions, including Ecolab Inc., Brown University, Cisco Systems, Inc., and others and Clearway is pleased to have the opportunity to support them in meeting their sustainability and clean energy goals. Mesquite Star was developed through a partnership between Clearway and Hill Country Wind Power, L.P., its original developer.

The project will have a total of 118 wind turbines, supplied by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. Simultaneous with financial close, Clearway issued Notice to Proceed with its EPC partner, Blattner Energy, Inc. The project is expected to begin commercial operations in early 2020.