The Renewables Project Roundup highlights recent construction milestones, acquisitions and financing activity across utility-scale renewable energy and battery storage projects.
RWE completes first Louisiana project
Renewable energy developer RWE said Nov. 13 that it has finished construction of the 100-megawatt (MW) Lafitte Solar project in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana. The project is RWE’s first in the state.
The company expects the facility to be fully online and supplying power to the Louisiana grid by the end of 2025. The project is supported by a long-term power purchase agreement with Meta, which will receive the renewable energy certificates associated with the project.
Local officials and RWE representatives held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 13. McCarthy Building Companies served as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor.
RWE said the project site includes native vegetation and will incorporate agrivoltaics. A flock of more than 600 sheep will help maintain vegetation around the panels. RWE said this approach supports farmland and builds working relationships with area farmers.
More Solar in the Pelican State
D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI), an independent power producer (IPP) and developer, said Nov. 17 that it has started construction on the Dolet Hills Solar Project in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana.
The 240 MW project is being developed in partnership with Cleco Power. The utility plans to buy the project’s output under a 25-year power purchase agreement.
The project will use interconnection rights from a retired generating facility at the site. Hy Martin, chief development officer at DESRI, said this approach will add “cost-effective clean energy” to Cleco Power’s system.
Commercial operations are planned for 2027. Primoris Renewable Energy will serve as the EPC contractor and will also provide operations and maintenance (O&M) services.
DESRI said the construction financing was arranged by KeyBanc Capital Markets. KeyBank National Association, Royal Bank of Canada, The Korea Development Bank and Regions Bank provided lending support.
Appalachian Power acquires Top Hat Wind Facility
Appalachian Power Company (APCo) said Nov. 13 that it has acquired the Top Hat Wind Facility in West Virginia.
The 204-megawatt (MW) wind project entered service on Nov. 7 after receiving approval from the Public Service Commission of West Virginia in 2023. The facility is intended to help support industrial customers that want renewable energy in their supply mix, the utility said.
APCo President and Chief Operating Officer Aaron Walker said some customers planning to locate or expand in West Virginia seek access to renewable resources. He also said adding the Top Hat Wind Facility is expected to lower customer rates over the life of the project.
OUC brings floating solar arrays online in Orlando
The Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) announced earlier this month that it has commissioned one of the largest floating solar installations in the United States.
The 2-megawatt (MW) system consists of two floating arrays with more than 3,400 panels on a site in Orlando. One array faces south, and the other uses an east-west orientation. OUC is using the mixed layout to study the performance of different configurations for future projects.
Energy from the arrays is delivered directly to the grid. OUC said solar resources now make up more than 10 percent of its energy portfolio. Earlier in 2025, the utility opened two large solar energy centers near St. Cloud that more than doubled its solar capacity.
D3Energy, a developer of floating solar systems, handled design and construction. The company also built OUC’s first floating solar installation in 2016.
