The two projects are among the largest in each state, consisting of the 346 MW Oxbow solar farm in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, which will supply energy to McDonald’s and eBay, and the 135 MW Conway solar farm near Happy, Arkansas, supplying energy to Conway Corp.
“We are pleased to support Lightsource bp in its efforts to supply low-cost, emission-free solar electricity in Louisiana and Arkansas” said Shane Easter, a director with Wells Fargo’s Renewable Energy & Environmental Finance group. “Providing expertise and capital to important customers like Lightsource bp is part of our commitment to deploy $500 billion in sustainable financing by 2030 to support our customers and communities as they transition to a resilient, equitable and sustainable future.”
The tax equity investment by Wells Fargo is in addition to Lightsource bp’s sponsor equity investment and complements the debt financing package which originally closed in December 2021.
As the tax equity investor, Wells Fargo is now the eighth global financial institution to support this portfolio of projects, joining the portfolio’s project finance lenders including HSBC Bank USA, ING Capital LLC, Societe Generale, NatWest, Intesa Sanpaolo, Standard Chartered Bank, and Allied Irish Banks.
Collectively, the projects will abate more than 63,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year. Both projects are scheduled to come online starting in 2023, creating 600 direct construction jobs.
“This investment is a great example of the positive impact that top tier financial institutions with meaningful commitments to sustainability such as Wells Fargo can make to help accelerate our country’s transition to a low-carbon economy and reduce the impacts of climate change that affect lives and livelihoods” said Kevin Smith, Lightsource bp’s CEO of the Americas. “The new tax credit options and stable policy environment for job growth made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act will further incentivise investment and spur the growth of America’s solar industry.”
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