Fund News

US middle-market energy and infrastructure private equity firm Kohlberg & Company has acquired a majority stake in North American energy efficiency, transition, sustainability services company CLEAResult from TPG Growth's Rise Fund.

US-based LS Power has reached final close on its fifth power and energy fund at $2.7 billion, above a $2.5 billion target.

Sustainable infrastructure investment manager Generate Capital has closed a $64 million investment from KeyState Renewables for community solar in New York.

Competitive Power Ventures (CPV) Group will sell 33% of its affiliate CPV Renewable Power to real assets-focused investment management firm Harrison Street for $300 million, PFR understands.

Fundraising for infrastructure funds globally was challenging in H1 2024, with data from sister publication IJInvestor revealing that $57.85 billion was raised by 40 funds that hit final close. North America-focused funds too have not been popular among investors over the last 2 half years, representing just 11% of capital raised.

Manulife Investment Management has invested $250 million into Hunt Energy Network to develop and operate dispatchable power resources in ERCOT.

Leonid Capital Partners, a credit investment manager, has provided a $12 million revolving line of credit to nuclear waste-to-energy developer Zeno Power.

Greenbacker Capital Management has invested in newly formed 3V Infrastructure, a US-based EV charging infrastructure owner and operator.

Bernhard Capital Partners (BCP) yesterday (5 August) agreed to acquire New Mexico Gas Company (NMGC) from Emera in a deal worth $1.25 billion.

The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved UK private equity firm Bridgepoint's 19.9% acquisition of New Jersey-based Energy Capital Partners (ECP).

Carlyle has agreed to sell Cogentrix Energy, a US independent power producer, to Quantum Capital for around $3 billion.

The infrastructure arm of Goldman Sachs Alternatives has made a $440 million investment into US renewable energy platform BrightNight.

Nomura Securities’ global co-head of investment banking, Jeff McDermott, has left the bank for Energy Impact Partners.

New Fortress Energy (NFE) has reached an agreement to sell its liquefaction and storage facility in Miami, Florida to a US middle-market infrastructure fund.

Cerberus Capital Management has invested $315.5 million in Eos Energy Enterprises, a manufacturer of zinc-based long duration energy storage systems.

Philadelphia-based Doral Renewables has secured a $400 million minority equity investment from Netherlands pension APG, a subsidiary of ABP.

Intrepid Investment Management and Meritz Securities have teamed up to pursue credit investments in the North American energy sector.

Strategic Value Partners (SVP) and EverGen Power have launched a partnership to invest in North American natural gas generation.

Japanese corporate Itochu has made the first investment from its North America renewables-focused fund Overland Capital Partners.

Energy Renewal Partners (ERP) has received an investment from lower middle market-focused private equity firm Rockwood Equity Partners.

Sol Systems has secured an $85 million investment from Macquarie Asset Management to support of the construction and operation of 5 utility-scale solar projects located in Illinois and Ohio.

BlackRock has closed its $500 million preferred equity investment in Canadian Solar subsidiary, Recurrent Energy, which represents a 20% stake in the solar and energy storage developer.

Real assets investment management firm Versus Capital Advisors has hired Alicia Chen as director of investments.

Homecoming Capital has invested $50 million in Clean Energy Terminals (CET) which is developing offshore wind port infrastructure projects on the east and west coasts in the US.

Energy Capital Partners (ECP) has reached final close on its fifth flagship fund, raising $4.4 billion with $2.3 billion in co-investment capital.

Private equity firm Cresta Fund Management has made a controlling investment in Ocean Pacific, a company that develops compressed natural gas (CNG) and alternative fuel stations.

Brookfield Asset Management has added an extra $150 million to its investment in PosiGen, a clean power provider for underserved communities in the US.

Aiga Capital Partners has raised $208 million for its inaugural climate fund, surpassing the halfway mark towards its $400 million target.

KKR and Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital (HASI) have partnered on a $2 billion investment vehicle for sustainable infrastructure projects.

NextEnergy Capital’s fifth fund has raised $745 million, nearing half of its $1.5 billion target.

The technology venture arm of US-based oil & gas producer Chevron has launched a third fund with $500 million in capital.

US-based manager Galway Sustainable Capital has made 4 hires across its business following investments from Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) and Aware Super.

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has acquired Liberty Renewables and its 1.3GW pipeline of onshore wind projects in New York State.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has committed up to R$250 million ($49.4m) to a Brazilian fund financing the acquisition and installation of distributed solar generation assets.

TortoiseEcoFin has hired Courtney Gengler as the chief executive of Tortoise's closed-end funds effective 1 April, 2024, PFR has learned.

Utility-scale battery storage developer Lightshift has received $100 million in investments from 2 of Greenbacker Capital Management's sustainability and infrastructure-focused investment vehicles.

Renewable energy infrastructure investor Excelsior Energy Capital will sell a 38-asset solar and storage portfolio to BlackRock’s Evergreen Infrastructure Partners Fund.

Private equity firm Bridgepoint's proposed $1.1billion acquisition of energy-focused investment manager Energy Capital Partners (ECP) has been halted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) over competition concerns.

Darby International Capital has landed a more than $100 million commitment from several development banks for its DIC Latin American Fund IV (Darby IV).

Delta Utilities – a portfolio company of Bernhard Capital – has today (20 February) entered an agreement with CenterPoint Energy to acquire natural gas distribution networks.

Macquarie Asset Management has today (20 February) agreed the sale of Lordstown Energy Center to Arclight Capital vehicle ArcLight Fund VII.

A trio of Boston-based energy investors has launched Inyarek Partners to develop energy transition assets, completing its inaugural investment into renewable natural gas (RNG) platform Redtail Renewables.

Barely a month into the new year and infrastructure and energy investment managers have dominated headlines. Global Infrastructure Partners – and all $100 billion of its AUM – got absorbed into fund management behemoth BlackRock. Meanwhile, General Atlantic bolted on $12.5 billion sustainable infrastructure firm Actis onto its beefy $86 billion body of managed assets.

NextEra Energy led a $36 million investment round in Avnos, a startup developing a novel hybrid direct air capture (HDAC) technology for carbon dioxide removal.

Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) has raised $10 billion at first close of its second energy transition fund with a fundraising target of $17 billion.

Infrastructure investment manager Homecoming Capital has hired former AB CarVal investor Shaya Greenberger as vice president.

Standalone energy storage systems developer, owner and operator GlidePath Power Solutions (GlidePath) has hired former NextEra executive Vijay Singh as its chief commercial officer.

Update:

Capricorn Investment Group, the $9 billion investor, has made a minority investment in sustainability-focused private equity firm SER Capital Partners.

Canadian Solar subsidiary and global solar and storage developer, Recurrent Energy, has secured a $500 million preferred equity investment from a fund managed by BlackRock’s climate infrastructure business.

Allianz Capital Partners' former head of renewables, Americas, has been hired by Greenbacker Capital as the fund manager's head of infrastructure.

Former Riverstone Credit Partners founders have launched energy credit investment manager Breakwall Capital.

NextEnergy Capital has finalised the first investment – a 100MW utility-scale solar project in Highlands County, Florida – from its latest fund.

Swiss asset manager SUSI Partners is expanding its partnership with developer SMT energy by doubling its Texas battery energy storage (BESS) portfolio to 200MW from 100MW, adding 10 new projects.

Ares Management has acquired organic waste management and biogas company Burnham RNG (Burnham) from Edge Natural Resources.

UK clean energy investment firm Sustainable Development Capital (SDC) has acquired Volery, a US-based private equity firm focused on energy transition.

Power Sustainable has committed C$200 million to reach a final close on the second vintage of its energy infrastructure strategy at C$800 million.

Excelsior Energy Capital has closed a $1.3 billion financing deal for its 682MW Faraday Solar project in Utah, which has a long-term power contract with technology giant Meta through utility PacifiCorp.

KKR-backed investment firm BlackGold Capital Management has closed a deal for US-based energy infrastructure lender Northbase Finance.

Gridmatic has reached the second closing of its first energy storage fund, increasing committed capital to a total of $50 million.

Two infrastructure-focused private equity professionals have established a clean energy investment firm – Acadia Infrastructure Capital.

Altus Power, an independent developer, owner, and operator of commercial-scale solar facilities, has closed on a $200 million facility from private equity giant Blackstone.

Quantum Capital Group, the energy-focused private equity firm, has hired David Altshuler partner and co-head of client solutions.

Goldman Sachs Asset Management has secured $4 billion after final close of its West Street Infrastructure Partners IV fund and related vehicles.

Private investment giant Ardian has opened an office in Montréal, its first in Canada and third in North America.

Energy transition private equity firm Hull Street Energy has made a strategic investment in distributed generation solar development company Greenskies Clean Focus.

Greenbacker Capital Management has hired Rahul Bhalodia as the managing director of the Greenbacker development opportunity (GDEV) strategy. Bhalodia will lead origination, execution, investment management, and capital raising for his group.

Global infrastructure investment manager Wren House has appointed Anne McEntee as managing director in its New York asset management team.

Climate-focused investment firm Galvanize Climate Solutions has closed its Innovation + Expansion Fund, its first venture and growth equity fund, at $1 billion. The fund will invest in climate and green energy startups.

Energy-focused investment firm Kimmeridge has invested $15 million in US Light Energy, a community solar project developer. The financing derives from Kimmeridge Carbon Solutions, a fund for carbon-neutral and carbon-reducing investments.

Vesper Energy, a developer, owner, and operator of utility-scale renewable energy assets has received a commitment from fund manager GCM Grosvenor for up to $100 million.

Igneo Infrastructure Partners has agreed to take a majority equity interest in renewable power producer Soltage.

Aethon Energy, an onshore energy focused investment firm, has made a string of senior hires.

Blackstone has held a final close on its energy transition credit fund, Blackstone Green Private Credit Fund III (BGREEN III), at a $7.1 billion hard cap.

AI-enabled power marketer Gridmatic has launched its first energy storage fund to oversee the management of up to 500MW of battery capacity in the ERCOT and CAISO markets.

North America-focused fund manager Energy Power Partners’ senior executive, Suresh Vasan, has left the firm to join the Department of Energy’s Loan Program Office (LPO) as senior investment advisor.

Kimmeridge, an energy-focused investment firm, has hired Max Warburton to lead a renewable energy and carbon solutions platform as senior managing director.

Renewables infrastructure firm True Green Capital Management (TGC) has closed on its majority ownership acquisition of CleanChoice.

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and financial advisory firm LarrainVial have closed a COP900 billion ($200 million) Colombia-focused debt fund.

BP's venture arm, BP ventures, invested $10 million into WasteFuel, a Los Angeles-based biofuels company, leading its Series B investment round.

Nexus PMG has received a $50 million growth equity investment led by Greenbacker Capital Management with participation from the Ontario Power Generation Pension Fund and Liberty Mutual Insurance.

Blackstone Infrastructure Partners has added $1 billion to its existing $3bn investment in Invenergy. The funds will be used to grow Invenergy's investments, including large wind and solar farm projects, in the US and globally.

Power-focused investment manager Newave Capital has reached financial close on its first energy infrastructure fund in Brazil.

On.Energy, the Miami-headquartered battery storage firm, has raised $20 million in equity financing in a Series B round led by Philadelphia-based investment firm Ultra Capital. New York-based private equity firm Phalanx Investment Partners also participated in the round.

Energy-focused Private Equity firm NGP has reached final close on its fourth energy transition fund at $700 million. The fund focuses on renewable power sources, electrification, energy efficiency, and carbon management.

Nopetro Energy, the natural gas production specialist, has partnered with middle-market investment fund NOVA Infrastructure to create a renewable natural gas (RNG) platform.

Green Bridge Energy, a Raleigh-based clean energy lender, has launched a $50 million fund that is understood to close on July 1st (2023). The fund has a $550,000 minimum investment.

SUSI Partners, the Swiss sustainable energy infrastructure investment manager, has acquired Encore Renewable Energy.

DIF Capital Partners (DIF) has signed an agreement to acquire a 75% interest in Canadian geothermal energy company Diverso Energy.

US green hydrogen electrolyzer company Ohmium International has closed a $250 million Series C growth equity financing round to expand manufacturing capabilities.

I Squared Capital has completed a $400 million growth capital investment in US distributed energy resource platform RPower.

Clean energy investor S2G Ventures has launched a $300 million fund to back companies carrying out long-term social and environmental initiatives.

Infrastructure investment manager Morrison & Co has hired Brookfield Asset Management’s former head of infrastructure project management, Melissa Richards.

The Pennsylvannia Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PennPSERS) has allocated $218 million to the DIF Core-Plus Infrastructure Fund III.

California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) has made a $198.5 million allocation to an infrastructure co-investment vehicle offered by Global Infrastructure Partners, meeting documents show.

Amber Infrastructure Group and Green Impact Partners (GIP) has formed a strategic partnership targeting at least $585 million of projects.

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners' (CIP) Energy Transition Fund (CI ETF I) has acquired a majority stake in a blue ammonia project in the Gulf Coast alongside Sustainable Fuels Group (SFG).

Infrastructure investor ArcLight Capital Partners has completed the sale of Great River Hydro to Hydro-Québec for approximately $2 billion.

Texas-based North Hudson Resource Partners has launched its inaugural credit fund, North Hudson Energy Credit Partners LP (NH Energy Credit).

Investment fund managers have been rapidly building multi-billion-dollar war chests, and are taking aim at the US power sector.

SUSI Partners has closed on a senior secured funding facility for OBE Power Networks, the Miami-based electric vehicle (EV) charging company.

Lacuna Sustainable Investments has upped its equity investment in renewables developer Bear Peak Power.

Ares Management Corporation has reached final close on its fifth infrastructure fund at around $5 billion.

Andros Capital Partners has closed its second energy fund – Andros Energy Capital II – at its $750 million hard cap.

Alternative asset management firm, Apollo Global Capital, is set to launch an infrastructure credit platform, PFR understands.

EQT is set to acquire Madison Energy Investments (MEI) from infrastructure and real assets fund manager Stonepeak Partners.

Ex-Macquarie Renewables chief executive, Bill Green, has raised more than $1 billion for his investment firm Climate Adaptive Infrastructure (CAI).

Energy Impact Partners' EIP Deep Decarbonization Frontier Fund I LP (Frontier Fund) had closed with oversubscription at $485 million.

BlackRock Alternatives, through a fund managed by its diversified infrastructure business, has agreed to acquire Jupiter Power – a leading operator and developer of stand-alone, utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS).

CastleRock Green Energy, the New-York-based renewable energy and infrastructure fund, is preparing a $400 million investment in a pair of biofuel production facilities in the area of Shelton, Washington.

Private equity giant Carlyle has invested $350 million in Aspen Power Partners as the generation platform embarks on an acquisition spree.

Brookfield’s latest flagship investment vehicle Brookfield Infrastructure Partners V has brought in $20.7 billion in commitments to date.

Nightpeak Energy – a new venture for the development of flexible power generation resources including battery storage facilities across the US – has received $200 million in equity funding from Energy Spectrum Capital.

Infrastructure investor SMC Infrastructure Partners (SMC) has taken over an investment platform that specializes in energy transition, environmental impact, resiliency and digitization.

Harbert has hit a final close on its latest infrastructure fund, securing $905 million - including co-investment commitments - which will focus on North American power and renewable energy assets.

Impax Asset Management and power producer BNRG have partnered on the delivery of more than 1GW of solar energy projects – with an initial focus on the US and Ireland.

Ember Infrastructure has held final closing of its debut Ember Infrastructure Fund I with over $340 million of capital commitments to invest in the energy transition and resource efficiency sectors.

Darby International Capital has requested an equity investment from development finance institution IDB Invest for its new green fund.

True Green Capital, a renewable energy private equity fund manager, has reached final close on its fourth capital fund, raising more than $650 million.

Corporación Interamericana para el Financiamiento de Infraestructura (CIFI) has received a $25 million loan from the OPEC Fund for International Development.

Arkansas Teachers Retrieement Systems has made a top up commitment of $25 million to KKR & Co's Diversified Core Infrastructure Fund (DCIF).

Infrastructure investment manager I Squared Capital has closed its ISQ Global Infrastructure Fund III at the $15 billion legal cap, exceeding an initial target of $12 billion.

Hull Street Energy has closed its second institutional fund, Hull Street Energy Partners II, having met its hard cap of $1.25 billion.

Investment firm KKR & Co has reached final close on its Global Infrastructure Investors IV fund, raising $17 billion for the vehicle.

Greenbacker Capital Management has reached final close on its Greenbacker Development Opportunities Fund I at $142 million, nearly reaching its $150 million hard cap.

New York Stock Exchange-listed Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund has obtained a $200 million unsecured revolving credit facility.

The Latin America-focused Ashmore Andino III Fund has held a first close at COP664.15 million ($168 million).

Pomerlau Capital, the infrastructure financing arm of Canadian construction company Pomerlau, has launched a North American renewables and infrastructure-focused fund.

Oregon Investment Council has committed $100 million in sidecar funds to two investment vehicles.

Stonepeak has reached final close on its Stonepeak Infrastructure Fund IV with $14 billion of capital commitments.

HSBC and BMO Financial Group have invested about $150 million in Breakthrough Energy Catalyst, a private-public fund backed by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

FirstEnergy Corp has announced a $2.5 million investment in Energy Impact Partners' (EIP's) recently launched Frontier Fund, which focuses on early-stage decarbonization technologies.

Blackstone Infrastructure Partners raised $6.75 billion of capital in the fourth quarter of 2021, according to the company's latest earnings report.

Energy Impact Partners (EIP) has launched a fund that will invest in early-stage technologies that help accelerate the energy transition.

The Carlyle Group is preparing to set up a new fund that will focus on long-term infrastructure opportunities.

Brazilian development bank BNDES has announced plans to invest up to R$2.5 billion ($45 million) in infrastructure funds.

Orange County Employees Retirement Systems (OCERS) is planning to commit $250 million to real assets, including infrastructure and energy investments.

Apollo Global Management has closed its second infrastructure fund, Apollo Infrastructure Opportunities Fund II (AIOF II), with roughly $2.54 billion in capital commitments.

Ares Management Corp has raised around $2.2 billion through its inaugural Ares Climate Infrastructure Partners Fund to support energy transition.

Manulife Investment Management has held a final closing on the Manulife Infrastructure Fund II (MIF II), a $4.65 billion private fund that invests in US energy assets, among others.

Energy Impact Partners (EIP) has reached financial close on the firm’s second flagship fund, receiving capital commitments of over $1 billion.

Actis Energy has completed fundraising for its fifth fund with $4.7 billion in commitments, as well as co-investment capital bringing the total figure raised up to $6 billion.

French insurer AXA has purchased a stake in fund manager Blue like an Orange Sustainable Capital, which is focused on sustainable infrastructure investments and recently financed a Brazilian distributed solar developer.

Energy Capital Ventures (ECV), a recently established venture capital firm based in Chicago, has closed its first fund, which will invest in natural gas utility companies aiming to meet their environmental, social and governance objectives.

A Greenbacker Capital Management-affiliated fund has invested in Richmond, Virginia-based solar and energy storage developer Commonwealth Energy Partners (CEP).

The Brookfield Global Transition Fund has held a $7 billion interim closing while setting a $12.5 billion hard cap.

The Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA) has committed $600 million to two infrastructure funds, according to notes from an executive session held earlier this month.

The asset management arm of insurer Aflac has committed over $2 billion to sustainable infrastructure funds managed by US-based private equity firm Denham Capital.

Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners has raised $2.75 billion for its first renewable energy fund.

ArcLight Capital Partners has closed its first continuation fund, namely the ArcLight Renewable Infrastructure Fund.

A BlackRock climate infrastructure fund has secured $250 million in commitments at first close as it seeks to invest in Latin America and other emerging markets.

Houston-based EnCap Investments has raised $1.2 billion for its EnCap Energy Transition Fund I.

German asset manager MPC Capital is raising capital among U.S. investors to build 200 MW of renewable projects in the Caribbean.

New Energy Solar Manager, the manager of US Solar Fund, has claimed in a statement issued on Jan. 30 that it has been the victim of a $6.9 million contracted construction payments fraud.

A banker who recently left Credit Suisse’s power and utilities team has joined an infrastructure venture backed by businessman and former Los Angeles Lakers point guard Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jr.

Allianz Global Investors’ chief investment officer for infrastructure equity is relocating from Frankfurt to New York as the firm prepares to launch its third fund for the asset class.

A Dutch pension fund manager has agreed to acquire a portfolio of distributed solar assets from SolarCity.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch has arranged a $204 million institutional term loan to refinance a 214 MW residential solar portfolio for Vivint Solar.

Allianz Global Investors, the investment management arm of German insurer Allianz, has completed its first project-level debt investment in the U.S. renewables sector—a more than $400 million private placement for a BHE Renewables wind project in Nebraska.

New Jersey-based solar shop Soltage has closed the first part of a $140 million equity investment that it will use to develop a 100 MW portfolio of projects in the U.S.

A renewable developer founded by three former senior executives and a vice president at SunEdison and First Wind has closed a $100 million revolving credit facility.

Altus Power America, a private investor with a 60 MW portfolio of commercial and industrial-scale solar projects in the U.S., has obtained a $200 million equity investment from Goldman Sachs and two other investors.

Macquarie Asset Management’s infrastructure debt platform has expanded to establish a U.S. presence in New York. The group is being led by a hire from Macquarie Group’s investment banking division.

TerraForm Power avoided a technical default on its bonds after bondholders agreed to give the SunEdison yield company until December to file its annual accounts for 2015.

OppenheimerFunds and Macquarie Investment Management have launched a joint mutual fund to invest in infrastructure assets.

A mergers and acquisitions banker has left Barclays’ power and utilities group in New York to take up a new role at a pension asset manager.

Power Finance & Risk announced the winners of its 13th Annual Deals and Firms of the Year Awards at the PFR Awards Dinner at the Metropolitan Club in New York on Wednesday, April 18. Read the full list of winners here.

The Carlyle Group has obtained commitments totaling more than $1.5 billion for Carlyle Power Partners II, the firm's second fund established to target generation assets in North America.

Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners is actively evaluating equity investments in gas-fired and renewable projects in North America having raised $3.5 billion for its second infrastructure fund.

A group of investors including an ArcLight Energy Partners fund are selling their combined 38.8% stakes in Competitive Power Ventures' 725 MW gas-fired Woodbridge Energy Center in Middlesex County, N.J., back to CPV, according to a Nov. 10 filing with the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

SunEdison has financed another large renewables acquisition with private equity backing as it continues to stockpile assets to drop into its yield company, TerraForm Power.

IFM Investors has started a sale process for its 1,080 MW Essential Power portfolio, one of several large holdings that may be sold now that the delayed PJM capacity auction results have been announced.

A subsidiary of Argo Infrastructure Partners is set to acquire the Cross Sound Cable transmission line from an affiliate of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners before the end of August.

A senior executive at JPMorgan Asset Management in New York has departed the bank.

In this exclusive interview with PFR, Mona Dajani, a partner at Baker & McKenzie’s banking and finance group sheds light on how the ongoing transformation of the power industry is driving corporate restructuring in the context of industry consolidation, and a potential uptick in M&A activity.

SunEdison is the latest to join the bandwagon of private players investing in Brazil in spite of concerns over a nationwide economic lull and the declining contribution of the country's development bank to project financing.

Manuel Sanchez Ortega has left his position as ceo of Abengoato join BlackRock as managing director and head of strategic development for the company’s infrastructure investment group.

SunEdison and its yieldco TerraForm Power have scooped a 930 MW wind portfolio for $2 billion from Chicago-based Invenergy, warding off competition from other potential buyers.

Brian O’Connor and Paul Colatrella, managing directors at Ares Management, talk exclusively to PFR's Nischinta Amarnath about strategies within the company’s direct lending group, their approach to borrowers, the Panda deals, the burgeoning market for mezzanine debt, and more.

SunEdison could become the first sponsor to add solar storage assets to one of its yield companies through its partnership with Green Charge Networks, according to sources at the Belmont, Calif.-based company.

A snapshot of lighter moments at the 2015 REFF Wall Street conference in New York replete with snippets of conversation and banter across panels, luncheons and cocktails.

While the renewabels market is seeing high levels of liquidity, yieldcos are capitalizing on declining costs of capital for shovel-ready and operating projects, according to panelists at the 12th Renewable Energy Finance Forum Wall Street conference in New York today.

Allianz is planning to make its maiden tax equity investment in the U.S. wind market, and is talking to sponsors about prospective deals.

Sempra Energy’s SoCalGas. is the fourth issuer to come to market in less than two weeks, ahead of an anticipated interest rate hike, with $600 million in a pair of first mortgage bonds.

Competitive Power Ventures nets close to $1 billion in debt and equity financing for its 720 MW Valley Energy Center combined-cycle gas-fired project in Orange County, N.Y.

Competitive Power Ventures plans to raise financing for its 980 MW Fairview combined-cycle gas-fired facility in Cambria County, Pa., next summer.

In this exclusive, David Giordano, managing director at BlackRock discusses the company’s role in M&A transactions, the benefits of its partnership with EDF Renewable Energy, its burgeoning interest in greenfield renewable project investments, and the risks facing project finance players in parts of Latin America.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch has appointed Brad Hutchinson from Barclays as co-head of the Americas energy investment banking group in Houston.

Manchester, Mass.-based Clean Energy Future is offloading an equity stake in its 800 MW Lordstown combined-cycle gas-fired facility in Ohio.

In the second installment of this PFR exclusive, Michael Allison, senior managing director at Macquarie's renewables group discusses his views on the potential for yieldcos coming to market, challenges involved in securing tax equity investments and more.

SolarCity, partnering with Bank of America Merrill Lynch, is in talks with regional banks for enrollment in a renewable tax equity investment program announced on May 28.

SolarCity has hired former Goldman Sachs executive Radford Small as a member of its executive leadership. .

Michael Allison, senior managing director of Macquarie Capital’s renewables group, sat down with Managing Editor Nischinta Amarnath to discuss the bank’s approach to clients, M&A transactions and capital markets activities. In the first instalment of this exclusive, Allison also offers insights into the bank’s measures to minimize the risks involved in providing development capital for renewable projects.

RET Capital, which is eyeing more wind financing deals, has bolstered its origination team with the hire of a former Wells Fargo director.

Atlantic Power is considering upsizing its seven-year $600 million term loan B to pay down a portion of roughly $316 million in outstanding convertible debentures.

The San Mateo, Calif.-based pioneer of asset-backed rooftop solar securities continues exploring new financial structures under its latest hire, Marco Krapels, senior v.p. of structured finance and strategy. In the first instalment of this PFR exclusive, Krapels spoke to Senior Reporter Olivia Feld about SolarCity’s expansion plans and asset class growth.

Reno, Nev.-based geothermal shop Ormat Technologies has sold a 36.75% stake in its holding co. affiliate, ORPD to Toronto-based Northleaf Capital Partners for $162.3 million.

Greg Leveto, formerly a v.p. of hard asset trading at Goldman Sachs, is joining Deutsche Bank AG as a director in the transportation, infrastructure and energy finance group.

Pattern Energy Group Inc. has acquired a 77% stake in a 150 MW wind farm that features Amazon Web Services as the offtaker in a $127 million deal with its parent company.

A subsidiary of Osaka Gas is making its first investment in a merchant facility through its purchase of a 25% stake in the 725 MW St. Charles CCGT project in Maryland from Marubeni Power International.

Developers and financiers are actively planning securitizations for portfolios of solar installations, according to panelists at the Information Management Network’s 3rd Annual Sunshine Backed Bonds conference in New York on April 30 and May 1.

Toronto-based Goodwood is acquiring a minority stake in Reno, Nev.-based geothermal developer Ram Power Corp. for roughly $3.26 million.

EDP Renewables has sold a 35.9% stake in a portfolio of wind assets totaling 1,100 MW in the U.S. to a consortium led by Fiera Axium Infrastructure.

Credit Suisse has invested $500 million into a $1 billion fund backing SolarCity’s commercial solar projects.

I Squared Capital has clinched a $3 billion fund focused on investments in infrastructure, including power and utilities.

An Argo Infrastructure Partners subsidiary has bought the Cross Sound Cable from an affiliate of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners.

California-based Lightbeam Electric has floated an S-1 with the SEC, aiming to raise $100 million in its initial public offering as a yield company.

Mizuho has tapped three senior debt capital markets executives from Royal Bank of Scotland for its investment banking and capital markets subsidiaries.

Rockland Capital’s fund, Rockland Power Partners II is looking to complete its purchase of Valley Road, an LS Power Development subsidiary, which owns two gas-fired facilities totaling 503 MW.

Pricing talk has emerged on the $275 million term loan package backing Longview Power, launched by Morgan Stanley and KKR Capital Management last week.

Morgan Stanley is launching a $275 million term loan package for Longview Power at a bank meeting in New York tomorrow.

Jim Schaefer, senior managing director and global head of energy, power & renewables, has left Blackstone Advisory Partners in New York.

Solar, particularly distributed generation, continues to hold the market’s attention as investors look to get into the game ahead of the investment tax credit plunge in 2017.

Tenaska's controlling stake in N.J.-based solar developer Soltage is expected to support the latter's deployment of $250M+ into a 125 MW portfolio this year.

Solar Star Funding, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy, has upsized an issuance of senior secured series B notes by $10 million.

Enel Green Power North America has scooped tax equity investment for its 150 MW Osage wind project in Oklahoma.

SunEdison’s yield company TerraForm Power has embarked on a road show for its $800 million offering of senior, unsecured eight-year notes to fund a portion of its $2.4 billion acquisition of First Wind.

Whitehall & Co. has launched a $3 billion program that will provide debt to energy and infrastructure assets.

Autumn is a time for pumpkin-flavored everything, breaking out cozy sweaters and fresh starts for Entegra Power Group and Lincoln Renewable Energy.

A group of lenders aim to wrap a financing backing the 517 MW combined cycle Kelar project in northern Chile this month.

Joint venture partners Greenwood Energy and ILIOSS are talking to banks about financing a $500 million, 250 MW portfolio of distributed generation in Mexico.

The yield company dance card could double its size in 2015 as a variety of shops consider making a run at the public markets.

The global wind and solar joint venture between Acciona and KKR could hit the public markets in the first quarter.

This week’s Industry Current is the transcript of a discussion between a group of seasoned investment bankers that focused on new financing trends, including the term loan B market, green bonds, state green banks, yield companies, financing for merchant plants and other topics.

Developers are preparing to submit bids in the next few weeks for roughly $2 billion of gas pipelines in Texas and Mexico in tenders hosted by the Comisión Federal de Electricidad.

The debt capital markets were flooded with power and utility paper this week, as issuers sent $1.85 billion in notes to bond buyers.

Vivint is teeing up its initial public offering that is targeted to raise up to $370.8 million.

Ares Capital Corp. has back-levered Competitive Power Ventures’ stake in the 725 MW St. Charles project in Waldorf, Md.

Solar panel manufacturers and financial investors may be among the next generation of yield companies, according to analysts.

After years of legal battles, regulatory struggles and a documentary film, the Cape Wind offshore wind project has arrived in the project finance market.

Enel Green Power North America is finalizing a $400 million tax equity investment in 350 MW of wind assets from JPMorgan Capital Corp., MetLife Capital Credit and Bank of New York Mellon

The second installment of this Industry Current is written by Anne Hampson, project manager, and Jessica Rackley, senior associate at ICF International in Washington D.C. For the first installment, click here.

AES Corp. has closed a $775 million floating rate note issuance after upsizing the deal from $500 million.

Clean Power Finance, a financial services and software provider for the residential solar industry, has raised $200 million in a fund to finance residential solar projects.

Belgian shipping and engineering company Exmar NV is looking to lock in $170 million in debt to back the world’s first floating liquefied natural gas export facility in waters off of Tolu, Colombia, in the Gulf of Morrosquillo.

NextEra Energy has confidentially filed an S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, putting it on track to take a portion of its unregulated assets public.

SunPower has teamed up with tech giant Google on a $250 million fund that will buy residential rooftop solar installations across the U.S.

Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital and Sol Systems have created a $100 million fund to develop distributed solar projects.

SolarCity has closed a $250 million financing backing more than 200 MW of solar systems for rooftops and businesses.

Macquarie Group and Altus Power America Management have launched a $100 million Clean Energy Land Program to help finance solar and wind projects in the U.S. by covering real estate costs associated with project development.

Ares Capital Corporation has added Owen D. Hill and Jonathan M. Shepko, formerly managing directors at a Beal Bank affiliate, as managing directors in the company’s Dallas office.

Developers and financiers are keeping an eye on Washington as the expiration of the solar investment tax credits begins to impact financings for projects with longer construction periods.

The much-discussed reforms to the Mexican energy sector will provide opportunities for foreign investment in renewables projects, according to panelists at Euromoney’s 8th Annual Latin American Energy and Infrastructure Finance Forum at the Biltmore Hotel in Miami on March 11.

A maturing project finance market in Latin America is opening up opportunities for structures such as those with with term loan B or mezzanine tranches to play alongside traditional forms of debt, noted panelists at Euromoney’s 8th Annual Latin American Energy & Infrastructure Finance Forum at the Biltmore Hotel in Miami on March 12.

Energy Capital Partners has received commitments from six public retirement plans across the country totaling up to $615 million for its targeted $3.5 billion third fund.

Energy Capital Partners has launched a $480 million debt package to refinance the natural gas-fired, merchant 635 MW Empire generating facility in Rensselaer, N.Y.

Beowulf Energy and Natural Gas Partners, affiliates of Paul Prager’s Bicent Energy, have landed a $200 million refinancing of their Vernon portfolio of projects.

A rush to qualify projects for the production tax credit at the end of 2013 means that thousands of megawatts of projects will be looking for financing this year.

The growth and availability of term loan Bs are set to continue, driven largely by activity in the mergers and acquisitions market, according to panelists at Euromoney’s 9th annual U.S. Power and Renewable Finance conference at the Westin New York at Times Square on Thursday.

Canadian Solar is looking to sell almost three million shares and up to $130 million in 144A convertible senior notes due 2019.

SunPower Corp. has launched a financing program with Bank of America Merrill Lynch to support approximately $220 million of solar residential lease projects.

Atlantic Power Corp. has launched an up to $800 million debt package as it looks to rework its capital structure and avoid a covenant breach.

Atlantic Power Corp. has launched a refinancing package comprised of a $600 million term loan and $200 million in senior secured revolving credit facilities.

Denver-based solar company Conergy Americas has launched a $100 million fund to finance solar projects in the U.S.

Wind developer Globeleq has netted a debt package backing the $69 million, 24 MW expansion to the existing 101 MW Cerro de Hula wind facility in San Buenaventura, Honduras.

Legal issues in PJM and a waning need for generation in ERCOT are impacting investments in new-build projects in those regions, according to panelists at Infocast’s 6th annual Projects & Money conference at Harrah’s New Orleans Jan. 15.

Mezzanine lending and project bonds are tipped for increasing activity by panelists at Infocast’s 6th annual Projects & Money conference at Harrah’s New Orleans Jan. 16.

Biomass pellet company Enviva has brought on Martin Livingston, formerly a managing director at WestLB, as v.p. of infrastructure, finance and development.

Starwood Energy Group has closed a $265 million construction debt including letters of credit and tax equity package backing the 211 MW Stephens Ranch wind project near Lubbock, Texas.

NRG Energy has secured a $97.4 million senior secured credit facility refinancing its 105 MW Saguaro combined cycle cogeneration facility in Henderson, Nev., which it had been trying to sell.

SunEdison has secured a $320 million letter of credit from Deutsche Bank and has issued $1.2 billion in convertible bonds to refinance debt and save $35 million in payments annually.

Globeleq has closed a $105.1 million financing backing the 50 MW Orosi wind project in Liberia, Costa Rica.

Invenergy has closed a refinancing of the 100.5 MW Beech Ridge wind facility in Greenbrier County, W. Va.

Use of the phrase yieldco to describe three recent share flotations by NRG Yield, TransAlta Renewables and Pattern Energy Group masks very different business arrangements.

Pattern Energy, Capital Power and Samsung Renewable Energy have approached banks about securing a C$800 million ($750.89 million) mini-perm deal backing the K2 wind project in the township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, Ontario.

Goldman Sachs will launch a $585 million financing package backing Panda Power Funds and Moxie Energy’s $800 million, merchant, gas-fired Moxie Patriot project this Thursday.

AES Gener and Antofagasta Minerals are close to wrapping the financing backing the $2 billion, 531 MW Alto Maipo run-of-river hydro project in Chile, tapping the multilateral, bank and bond markets.

Sempra Energy has issued $500 million in senior unsecured notes to pay off commercial paper, as Treasury rates settle back down to near record lows following a spike earlier in the year.

Tenaska Solar Ventures has closed the $319.4 million bond refinancing of the 130 MW Tenaska Imperial Solar Energy Center South facility near El Centro, Calif.

Three staffers from Rabobank’s renewable energy team have joined private equity shop Pegasus Capital Advisors in New York.

Pattern Energy is gearing up to launch a financing backing the second phase of its 322 MW Panhandle wind project in Texas.

ArcLight Capital Partners affiliate NET Midstream is looking to launch a syndication of roughly $500 million in debt backing its NET Mexico gas pipeline in Texas.

The Long Island Power Authority has issued a request for proposals for just under 2,000 MW of renewable and peak generation capacity.

Bank of America subsidiary BAL Investment & Advisory is aiming to take tax equity stakes in two NextEra Energy Resources wind farms.

Distributed solar company SunRun will tap Ares Capital Management to provide $70 million in debt to finance new projects.

The $990 million financing of the 614 MW Oakley gas-fired project has been temporarily put on hold as co-developers Radback Energy and Wellhead Electric await a court ruling on the merits of a petition challenging the facility’s power purchase agreement.

Recurrent Energy has approached banks about securing more than $350 million backing a portfolio utility scale solar projects in California.

SolarCity is set to issue the debut solar securitization, with a private placement of $54.425 million of solar asset-backed notes.

Boralex and development partners Gaz Métro Limited Partnership and Valener Inc. have closed a C$166.1 million ($159.05 million) non-recourse financing for the 68 MW phase II of the Seigneurie de Beaupré wind facility in La Jacques-Cartier, Québec.

Lenders and financiers watching the rebirth of merchant and quasi-merchant project financing in the U.S. are still looking to find optimal structures for financing these assets, said panelists at Platts 15th Annual Financing U.S. Power Conference at the Marriott Marquis in New York on Oct. 28-29.

Lenders and financiers watching the rebirth of merchant and quasi-merchant project financing in the U.S. are still looking to find optimal structures for financing these assets, said panelists at Platts 15th Annual Financing U.S. Power Conference at the Marriott Marquis in New York on Oct. 28-29.

Boralex and development partners Gaz Métro Limited Partnership and Valener Inc. have closed a C$166.1 million ($159.05 million) non-recourse financing for the 68 MW phase II of the Seigneurie de Beaupré wind facility in La Jacques-Cartier, Québec.

Industry officials expect to see several developers to pursue yield company structures in the next year following the success of NRG Energy and Pattern Energy’s breakthrough deals.

Mergers and acquisition activity is slated for growth in the next year, as yieldcos look to acquire more assets to fuel growth and private equity companies look to exit investments, said panelists at Platts 15th Annual Financing U.S. Power conference at the Marriott Marquis in New York on Oct. 28-29.

It was a big week for residential and distributed solar.

Etrion Corp., a solar developer with assets in Europe and South America, is looking at ways to fuel growth.

Austin Energy has issued a request for proposals for up to 50 MW of solar generation.

Private equity firm Power Capital Holdings has partnered with Hunt Consolidated subsidiary Hunt Power Capital Partners to launch its maiden power and energy play, Power Capital Partners.

Exelon Corp. subsidiary PECO Energy Co. is taking advantage of the low interest rate environment and a delay in the U.S. Federal Reserve’s plan to taper its bond buying program to issue $500 million in first mortgage bonds.

The universe of tax equity investors in renewable projects is set to grow, with Coca Cola reportedly eyeing investments, according to panelists at the American Wind Energy Association’s wind energy finance and investment seminar at the Conrad Hotel in New York on Sept. 9-10.

Developers are increasingly looking to build wind facilities with merchant exposure and hedge arrangements, noted panelists at the American Wind Energy Association’s wind energy finance and investment seminar at the Conrad Hotel in New York on Sept. 9-10.

American International Group is looking to offer insurance on project finance transactions.

Three private equity firms have committed $67.3 million in debt and equity to back the construction of 150 MW of SunEdison’s utility scale solar facilities in California.

Invenergy has closed a C$410 million ($390.74 million) refinancing of the 584 MW natural gas-fired St. Clair facility near Sarnia, Ontario.

Montreal-based Boralex has closed a $90 million refinancing secured by two of its U.S. generating facilities.

Abengoa Solar has secured tax equity investments from a trio of banks backing its 250 MW Mojave concentrating solar project in San Bernardino County, Calif.

Australian investment manager AMP Capital has completed a $300 million first close on its AMP Capital Infrastructure Debt Fund II from 17 institutional investors.

Cash flows from U.S. merchant power generators are coming under pressure due to lower power and gas prices and expiring hedges, according to a report by Standard & Poor’s.

Southern Co. increased a five-year bond issuance to $500 million from $400 million upon finding a market flush with cash and little deal flow.

First Wind has shelved its $325 million B loan to refinance assets in the Northeast, as it was unable to lock in pricing in the range of LIBOR plus 425-450 basis points.

Tenaska Capital Management has hired Michael Flinn as a senior v.p. in Houston as part of the private equity shop’s strategy to expand its midstream investment business.

This week’s Industry Current is the transcript of a panel of industry officials focused on the market for portfolio sales of generating assets and consolidation in the power industry.

Seminole Financial Services and Round Rock Partners have formed a joint venture known as Seminole Equity Partners to secure tax equity from investors for renewable energy projects in the U.S.

In the second installment of this Q&A, Jonathan Lindenberg, head of project finance in the Americas at Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi-UFJ discusses liquefied natural gas project landscape, prospects for renewables and potential challenges in project finance. Senior Reporter Nicholas Stone sat down with Lindenberg at the bank’s office in New York.

Erik V. Savi, formerly a managing director at WestLB, has joined BlackRock as a managing director and head of U.S. infrastructure debt.

Panda Power Funds is nearing a first close on its up to $1 billion second power investment fund, with the company’s pipeline of shovel-ready projects reportedly drawing interest.

In the post-crisis world, Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi-UFJ has emerged as arguably the top shop for power financing.

Marathon Capital is leading a $120 million bond refinancing of Gradient Resources’ 60 MW Patua geothermal facility near Fernley, Nev.

Ohio Power Co., a subsidiary of American Electric Power, will redeem the entire outstanding $225 million principal amount of its 6.375% senior notes due in 2033 on Aug. 12.

I Squared Capital, a company established by ex-Morgan Stanley executives, is aiming to raise $2 billion for its maiden infrastructure fund.

NRG Energy has raised $430.65 million in its initial public offering of NRG Yield Inc., a yield company that holds 1,324 MW of renewable and gas-fired facilities.

A joint venture between Sempra Energy and Mexican oil and gas monopoly Pemex has tapped Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi to lead a $500 million deal to lever up its Gasoductos de Chihuahua pipelines in the north of Mexico.

Liberty Interactive Corp., the owner of QVC and TripAdvisor, is taking a stake in Abengoa Solar’s 250 MW Solana solar project near Gila Bend, Ariz.

A syndicate of tax equity lenders will provide $260 million to Enel Green Power and GE Energy Financial Services’ 250 MW Buffalo Dunes wind project in Grant, Finney and Haskell Counties, Kan.

Innergex Renewable Energy has closed a C$52.8 million ($50.4 million) non-recourse refinancing for its 109.5 MW Carelton wind facility in Carleton-sur-Mer, Québec.

Private equity-backed Union Energy Group has acquired Peruvian project development company Generación Andina from EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg.

Renewable project financing options beyond the expiration of the production and investment tax credits was the focus at Euromoney Energy Events Renewable Energy Finance Forum Wall Street at the Waldorf Astoria in New York this week.

Price talk on MidAmerican Energy Holdings’ subsidiary Solar Star Funding’s $700 million of 144A senior secured notes has come in to 5.375% from 5.5%.

Duke Energy subsidiary Duke Energy International Geração Paranapanema is on a road show this week in Brazil touting a proposed R$500 million ($233 million) domestic bond issuance to repay short-term debt

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. tapped the senior unsecured note mart for $750 million last week to take out maturing debt nine months early and secure low rates.

Innergex Renewable Energy is extending its C$425 million ($416.37 million) revolving term credit facility with a new five-year tenor ending in 2018 as it looks to finance and develop more than a dozen wind, solar and hydro projects in its pipeline.

While most bankers may be aware of Energy Investors Funds' Pio Pico plant because of the financing opportunity, they’re probably missing its significance, though indirect, in endocrinological history.

The U.S. Department of Energy signaled that it would proceed cautiously before approving any more applications to export U.S.-produced liquefied natural gas after granting only the sec¬ond export license in May.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has issued a request for proposals for 200 MW of utility scale solar to be built at a formerly NextEra-owned site in Kern County in the Mojave Desert, Calif.

Innergex Renewable Energy has closed a C$72 million ($69.63 million) construction and term loan backing the 17.5 MW Northwest Stave River run-of-river hydro facility in Mission, British Columbia.

Xcel Energy subsidiary Northern States Power Co. has issued $400 million, 10-year 2.6% first mortgage bonds, continuing the move by utilities looking to tap low rates.

Early pricing talk on the B loan backing Moxie Energy’s 825 MW natural gas-fired Liberty facility in Bradford County, Pa., is coming in at around LIBOR plus 600 basis points.

Deutsche Bank and Key Bank have closed a $110 million debt financing for 37 MW of solar photovoltaic installations in Massachusetts being developed by Rockland Capital and Broadway Electrical Co., including 24 MW in Cape Code and Martha’s Vineyard.

Sempra LNG has sold three 16.6% equity stakes in its Cameron liquefied natural-gas export facility to GDF SUEZ, Mitsui and a joint-venture between Mitsubishi and Nippon Yusen.

Chubu Electric Power Co. and Toyota Tsusho Corp. are looking to refinance the loan on their 880 MW combined-cycle Goreway facility in Brampton, Ontario.

The government of Québec has issued a request for proposals for 800 MW of wind generation.

Loans to power projects in the U.S. are becoming increasingly “covenant-lite” as investors and lenders emphasize yield over risk, according to a report released by Moody’s Investors Service last week.

Kirk Edelman, ceo of the project and structured finance energy business at Siemens Financial Services, leads its power and energy investing activities worldwide.

Michael Canavan, formerly a director of high-yield markets at RBS Securities, has joined SunTrust Robinson Humphrey as a director in New York.

Jon Schintler, director of finance at Chicago-based Invenergy, has joined Alterra Power Corp. as director of project finance and mergers & acquisitions.

Panda Power Funds has taken equity stakes in two merchant gas-fired projects being developed by Moxie Energy in PJM and will launch a B loan via Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse to finance the 825 MW gas-fired Liberty facility in Bradford County, Pa.

Calpine Corp. is pursuing a potential $1.055 billion debt refinancing in the term loan B market via subsidiary Calpine Construction Finance Company.

A thirst for yield is pushing more institutional investors into private equity funds backing power and energy projects in the U.S.

Essential Power has tightened the pricing of a $550.7 million senior secured term loan B to LIBOR plus 325 basis points from LIBOR plus 350 bps.

Federal subsidies are reshaping deals this year, as the power industry copes with the expiration of the U.S. Department of Treasury’s cash grant program and a decreasing confidence in the long-term viability of the production tax credit, Mike Lorusso, managing director and group head of CIT Energy in New York, told PI in an exclusive interview.

Ian Connor has been made head of power and utilities at JPMorgan in New York.

Marathon Capital has tapped Bryan Fennell, former v.p. of NextEra Energy Resources, and David Kirkpatrick, former v.p. of new business development at NRG Energy, as directors.

Panda Power Funds is looking to raise a new investment fund with a target of $800 million and a hard cap of $1 billion.

Industry Funds Management subsidiary Essential Power is looking to refinance debt on a 1,721 MW portfolio with a $550.7 million senior secured term loan B.

Cheniere Energy has upsized its 144a offering to $1.5 billion from $1 billion after an investor roadshow in New York, Boston and Chicago.

Liberty Clean Power, a boutique power and energy investment shop founded by former American Wind Capital staffers, has teamed up with the investment arm of the Secaucus, N.J.-based privately-held Hartz Capital, to begin investing in renewable generation projects.

Jamie Manson, former head of project origination, execution and general marketing for power in North America at Investec in Toronto, joined Brookfield Financial Corp. as a managing partner in Toronto last week.

Athens, Greece-based renewables developer Terna Energy is looking to refinance a 138 MW portfolio of wind farms in Elmore County, Idaho via institutional investors.

Invenergy and Marubeni Corp. have refinanced their jointly-owned 370 MW natural gas-fired Hardee Power Plant in Bowling Green, Fla.

Starwood Energy Group has begun raising its second private equity fund.

Idaho regulators will continue deliberations over a policy that could curtail wind generation in the state (PI, 7/17) despite a federal ruling that found the policy at odds with the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act.

Traditional private placements and 144a deals are being targeted by sponsors as the bank loan market continues to strain under financial troubles in Europe.

Bondholders in Edison Mission Energy affiliate Midwest Generation are in the early stages of retaining an advisor.

This week’s Industry Current is written by David Burton, partner focusing on tax and global project finance at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld in New York.

Duke Energy Renewables is looking for pricing below 250 basis points over LIBOR for its 402 MW Los Vientos wind project in Willacy County, Texas.

Credit Suisse Group plans on investing $200 million in residential solar instillations developed by Sunrun and $100 million in residential and commercial solar developed by SolarCity.

Thomas Pritchard, founding partner and chairman, and Kenneth Morris, partner and board member, of boutique energy investor Pritchard Capital Management, have joined the investment banking arm of Imperial Capital as co-heads of energy investing.

Dynegy is looking to put one of its non-generation subsidiaries into bankruptcy protection that will restructure $4 billion in debt.

Access Capital Advisers, an Australian infrastructure investment manager, is looking to invest $1 billion in the U.S. and globally on behalf of Australian pension funds.

AES is considering restructuring the debt on its coal-fired subsidiary Eastern Energy in parallel with the ongoing sale process to divest the unit.

Hudson Clean Energy Partners is aiming to establish a fund with the municipal government of the city of Yangzhou in China that will focus on clean energy investment. Potential investment targets range from component manufacturing to generation developers.

Business development company Tortoise Capital Resources Corp. is looking to make $100-150 million investments in U.S. power and energy assets from a fund that it is looking to turn into a real estate investment trust.

The newly established power desk at Ares Management is looking invest several hundred million a year across the debt spectrum in power assets, officials told PFR in an exclusive interview.

Paul Colatrella, senior v.p. at EIG Global Energy Partners, has joined Ares Management in New York as a managing director to look for investments in conventional and renewable debt.