Apex Clean Energy Hosts Texas Lawmakers and Renewable Industry Leaders for Fort Hood Solar Project Tour and Discussion on Texas Wind and Solar Energy
KILLEEN, TX (February 22, 2019) —Leading wind and solar developer, operator and owner Apex Clean Energy today hosted State Rep. Hugh Shine and industry leaders for a tour of its 15.4 MW solar facility on-site at Fort Hood and a discussion of the benefits of renewable energy in Texas.
“Phantom Solar and Cotton Plains Wind are innovative and cost-efficient solutions that help meet Fort Hood’s electricity needs while providing energy security to the post,” Apex Chief Operating Officer Ken Young said. “The hybrid facility demonstrates how renewable energy reduces operating expenses while contributing income for Texas landowners and new tax revenue to the local communities. As an Army veteran, I am extremely proud of Apex’s role, in partnership with Northleaf Capital, in delivering and operating these projects in support of Fort Hood. I am equally proud of the Army for their leadership and support of a renewable energy present and future.”
The Phantom Solar project is part of a 65 MW hybrid wind and solar project that serves approximately half of the electricity needs of Fort Hood, the largest active-duty armored post in the U.S. Cotton Plains Wind in Floyd County provides the wind energy portion of the project, which is the Army’s first hybrid and largest single renewable energy project to date. The military garrison recently won a Secretary of the Army award for its efforts to improve energy security using the hybrid facility.
Young joined Kaushik Ramki, vice president of Northleaf Capital Partners, the majority owner of Cotton Plains Wind and Phantom Solar, and Charlie Hemmeline, executive director of the Texas Solar Power Association, in a discussion that highlighted the many economic benefits solar and wind energy are delivering for Texans, including:
- $5.7 billion in cost savings for Texas electricity consumers between 2010-2017
- Nearly $1 billion of in-state investment in 2017
- $210 million in tax revenue to local governments in 2017
- 33,000 Texas jobs supported in 2017
“Northleaf is currently invested in over 1,000 MW of renewable projects around the world. Texas, with its abundance of wind and solar resources, is uniquely positioned to benefit from renewable technologies that help reduce power costs for the end consumer while also offering stable long-term investment opportunities,” Ramki said. “Our Cotton Plains project is a prime example of how we can have a meaningful, positive impact on the customers we serve and the communities in which we operate.”
“Texas continues to lead the way in the expansion and implementation of solar energy, providing cost savings to ratepayers, creating high quality jobs and strengthening the resiliency of our power grid,” Hemmeline said. “Texas leadership has made principled decisions over the years that have allowed the solar and wind industries to innovate in the Lone Star State, and this project is proof that those policies are working.”
To view the full report outlining the economic benefits of wind and solar in Texas, visit www.txrenewables.org.
About Apex Clean Energy
Apex Clean Energy develops, constructs, and operates utility-scale wind and solar power facilities across North America. Our mission-driven team of more than 200 renewable energy experts uses a data-focused approach and an unrivaled portfolio of projects to create solutions for the world’s most innovative and forward-thinking customers. For more information on how Apex is leading the transition to a clean energy future, visit www.apexcleanenergy.com.
About Northleaf Capital Partners
Northleaf Capital Partners is an independent global private markets fund manager with more than $12 billion in private equity, private credit and infrastructure commitments under management on behalf of public, corporate and multi-employer pension plans, endowments, foundations, financial institutions and family offices. Northleaf’s 120-person team, located in Toronto, Montreal, London, New York, Chicago, Menlo Park and Melbourne, is focused exclusively on sourcing, evaluating and managing private markets investments globally. Northleaf’s portfolio includes more than 250 active investments in 14 countries, with a focus on mid-market companies and assets. For more information on Northleaf, please visit www.northleafcapital.com.