More Evidence That The War On Solar Energy Is A #FAIL

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As a successful stakeholder in the real estate industry, US President Donald Trump knows, or ought to know, that the solar energy movement is unstoppable. If he doesn’t know that, the world of real estate has just provided him with three more pieces of evidence that underscore the staying power of the US solar industry, despite the abrupt shift in federal policy this year.

CBRE Grows Its Solar Energy Portfolio

First up is the leading real estate management firm CBRE, which has continued to push the solar energy, energy storage, and EV charging envelopes after President Trump took office on January 20.

On August 21, CBRE’s Investment Management branch added to the activity by acquiring the firm ClearGen Holdings LLC, which owns and operates onsite renewable energy projects across the US.

ClearGen did not let the grass grow under its feet. On September 4, ClearGen hooked up with the community and commercial solar energy firm Davis Hill Development in a $150 million partnership to support DHD’s 245-megawatt pipeline of distributed solar projects.

“This multi-year agreement reflects the accelerating demand for distributed solar as businesses and communities seek cost savings, energy resilience, and meaningful contributions to decarbonization,” DHD explained in a press statement, adding that “the partnership will unlock new opportunities for community solar access while delivering long-term economic and environmental value.”

DHD CEO Matt Coleman also noted that the new partnership with ClearGen represents a solid platform for future scaleup, in addition to supporting the current project pipeline.

Solar Energy To Squeeze More Revenue From Underused Assets

The new partnership reflects the growing appeal of small-scale, on-site (aka distributed) solar energy projects to property managers.

DHD notes that work on its first joint project with ClearGen is on track to commence operations by the end of the year. The new solar array is situated on the roof of a warehouse in Washington, DC. Its generating capacity barely tops 290 kilowatts (that’s kilowatts, not megawatts), but it does enable the property owner to earn new revenue from existing infrastructure that would otherwise go unused.

Another example of add-on uses for existing infrastructure is a new 1,038 kilowatt solar carport, installed by DHD at Ridgefield High School Connecticut. DHD estimates that the system will deliver $1.5 million in savings to the school district over the 25-year lifespan of the project.

DHD also develops ground-mounted solar arrays with a focus on brownfields, retired industrial sites, and low-yield farmland among other underused sites. DHD cites its St. Croix Farm agrivoltaic project in New York State as a good example. It combines ground-mounted solar panels with pollinator habitats, a beekeeping operation, and sheep grazing (see lots more agrivoltaic background here).

Accelerating The Solar Energy Movement

One factor behind the rapid acceleration of solar activity in the US is the credit facility, a financing tool that provides solar energy developers with streamlined access to funds for a series of projects, without making them churn their way through a cumbersome application process each time.

The Texas-based IPP (Independent Power Producer) Catalyze is among the solar developers to take advantage of the credit facilities to step up their game. Catalyze is also among those plumbing the rich depths of the commercial real estate market for new distributed solar energy opportunities.

In May, Catalyze secured a $400 million facility to support its solar development plans, and it followed up in April with another $85 specially earmarked for a pipeline of 75 megawatts worth of community solar projects on commercial and industrial properties this year.

That news was significant because the community solar movement traditionally focuses on underused properties under public or non-profit ownership. Now the real estate field has recognized that commercial property owners can benefit by hosting community solar projects, too.

On September 4, Catalyst announced yet another move in that direction. The company secured a $200 million, three-year “HoldCo” revolving and term debt and letter of credit facility from Deutsche Bank (HoldCo refers to transactions between holding companies).

“The facility enables Catalyze to scale its platform by supporting acquisitions, financing pre-Notice to Proceed (NTP) development, and accelerating project deployments across its national footprint,” Catalyze explained in a press statement.

“This HoldCo facility represents a pivotal step, enabling us to invest across our enterprise, accelerate growth, and deepen our capacity to deliver clean energy at speed and scale,” added Catalyze CEO Jared Haines.

The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow, And Tomorrow …

In yet another sign that solar energy is here to stay, the land conservation organization American Farmland Trust has just partnered with the Reactivate branch of Invenergy and the Community Solar branch of the Kentucky firm Edelen Renewables to launch the new Farmers Powering Communities initiative. The joint effort is aimed at encouraging farmers to host community-scale solar projects that benefit local ratepayers.

Farmland Trust has already adopted agrivoltaics and other land-friendly solar tactics into its land conservation portfolio, as a means of preserving farmland from conversion to housing developments and other permanent infrastructure. Building on the responsible solar energy principles articulated by AFT’s Smart Solar program, Farmers Powering Communities will prioritize projects that meet an urgent need for both energy and farmland preservation.

“This is a game-changing new partnership that centers the needs of agricultural communities in the development of renewable energy projects,” explained AFT’s National Farm Viability Managing Director, Nathan L’Etoile, in a press statement.

“Through the use of custom data and mapping tools developed by AFT, we’re going to ensure that all projects are aligned with our Smart Solar principles and deliver real, positive benefits for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities,” L’Etoile emphasized.

These are just three new developments in an increasingly crowded field. However, there is only so much the private sector can do on its own. Without a supportive environment of state and federal policies in hand, the US will continue to fall behind as other nations realize the both the economic and human health advantages of clean power.

That includes top US rivals like China, which is crushing the solar energy movement from all angles including agrivoltaics as well as solar conversion efficiency and green hydrogen, over and above the hot pace of its solar manufacturing industry.

Photo (cropped): US solar energy developers continue to keep the clean power movement alive in the US, despite the sudden shift in federal energy policy (courtesy of DHD).