DESRI Announces Start of Construction at Catclaw Solar & Storage Facility in Buckeye, AZ

NEW YORK, June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DESRI today announced that the Catclaw Solar and Storage project (Catclaw, or the Project) has achieved financial notice to proceed (FNTP) and commenced construction. Catclaw is a 205 megawatt (MWac) solar facility with a 1,000 megawatt-hour (MWh) storage system, located in Buckeye, Arizona. DESRI purchased the Project from Avantus in 2024 and gathered with stakeholders on April 29, 2025 to celebrate its groundbreaking.

"The DESRI team is thrilled that Catclaw has begun construction and will commence operations in 2026," said Bob Schoenherr, Chief Strategy Officer of DESRI. "DESRI currently owns 131 MWac of operating renewable energy assets and 160 MWac of solar assets under construction in Arizona; Catclaw is our first project with Arizona Public Service (APS). Given skyrocketing demand for new energy and capacity resources across the state, our team is happy to pair reliable and cost-effective resources with this need. We appreciate Avantus's work on the Project's development and look forward to an efficient build."

"Catclaw will help power Arizona's growing energy needs with clean, reliable electricity—especially during times of peak demand," said Cliff Graham, CEO of Avantus. "This milestone is the result of strong collaboration with the City of Buckeye, local partners, DESRI, and APS, and builds on the groundwork Avantus has laid to accelerate clean energy in the region. Together, we're creating local jobs and strengthening the grid with affordable, resilient energy for Arizona communities."

Catclaw has a 20-year power purchase agreement with APS. The facility is expected to generate enough clean energy to power approximately 40,000 Arizona homes each year.

Financing for the construction of the Project was provided by BNP Paribas and Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale (NORD/LB) as Coordinating Lead Arrangers; Korea Development Bank, Bank of China, and Westpac Banking Corporation as Joint Lead Arrangers; Comerica Bank as Mandated Lead Arranger; Flagstar Bank as Senior Managing Agent; and Crédit Industriel et Commercial as Participant. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas acted as the Administrative Agent.

"APS has a track record of providing top tier, reliable service to Arizona homes and businesses, and we thoughtfully invest in and secure diverse resources that can help us continue to deliver the energy our customers count on," said Derek Seaman, APS Director of Resource Acquisition. "The Catclaw Solar and Storage project will provide our customers with the benefits of reliable, cost-competitive electricity sourced directly from clean energy technologies."

"Buckeye's collaboration with the DESRI team was unprecedented," said Buckeye Mayor Eric Orsborn. "We worked together to design this project so it seamlessly integrated with the surrounding environment, while ensuring Buckeye and the entire West Valley remain sustainable."

RES will serve as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor, with EPC Services Company as the high-voltage EPC. Tesla will provide battery storage equipment for the Project. Invenergy Services will provide ongoing operations and maintenance services once the facility is operational.

About DESRI
DESRI and its affiliates develop, acquire, own, and operate long-term contracted renewable energy assets in the U.S. DESRI's portfolio of contracted, operating, and in-construction renewable energy projects currently includes 70 solar and wind projects representing more than nine gigawatts of aggregate capacity.

This press release is provided for the reader's information only and does not constitute investment advice or convey an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities or other financial products.

Please also note that this press release has not been updated since its dateline for any information contained in it that may have changed, including any beliefs and/or opinions. In addition, no assurances can be given that any aims, assumptions, expectations, and/or goals described in this release will be realized or that the activities or any performance described herein did or will continue at all or in the same manner as at the time of the press release.

Contact:
DESRI Media
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SOURCE DESRI