Wedoany.com Report-May 7, DE Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI), a renewable energy assets operator, and Ranger Power, a utility-scale clean power developer, have achieved financial closure and begun construction on two solar projects in Michigan, USA. The 150MW Heartwood solar facility in Hillsdale County and the 140MW White Tail solar project in Washtenaw County, both with 290 megawatts of alternating current capacity, mark significant steps in expanding clean energy in the region.
The 140MW White Tail solar project has secured PPAs with the Lansing Board of Water and Light and MPPA.
A group of lenders, led by Fifth Third Bank and Zions Bancorporation as coordinating lead arrangers, provided construction financing. Bank of America, Commerzbank, and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank New York served as joint lead arrangers. The Heartwood project, set to employ over 300 workers during peak construction, is expected to begin commercial operations in 2026 and has secured a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Consumers Energy. The White Tail project, anticipated to be operational by late 2025, has PPAs with the Lansing Board of Water and Light and the Michigan Public Power Agency (MPPA).
DESRI’s chief commercial officer, Thomas de Swardt, highlighted the projects’ significance: “Heartwood and White Tail mark DESRI’s 11th and 12th projects in Michigan, where we have been building since 2019 through our partnership with Ranger Power. We deeply appreciate the support of our customers at Consumers Energy, Lansing Board of Water and Light, and Michigan Public Power Agency, who continue to prioritise cost-effective, in-state generation that can deliver to the grid quickly, enabling new load and economic growth within the state.”
Primoris Services Corporation’s renewable energy division is handling engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) for the solar arrays, while the Consulting Engineers Group (CEG) is responsible for high-voltage components. Ranger Power’s co-founder and president, Paul Harris, emphasized the projects’ local benefits: “These projects, which will provide in excess of $62m in property tax payments throughout their lives, will generate low-cost, reliable and domestic energy supporting farming and economic development throughout the region. As neighbours, we will continue to look for ways to support the communities our projects call home. We have and will continue to invest in local causes like our contributions to the Hillsdale Community Foundation and partnership to secure an additional $732,950 for Augusta and York townships through Michigan’s Renewable Ready Communities Fund.”
These initiatives follow DESRI’s recent collaboration with El Paso Electric on the 130MW Carne solar and storage project in Deming, New Mexico, which began construction in August 2024. The Michigan projects underscore a commitment to sustainable energy and economic growth.
