If there’s one thing for certain after last week’s highly anticipated FERC technical conference over PJM’s governance, it’s that change is coming, and soon. By the time that Green Day song reaches full saturation at the end of September, either PJM and its stakeholders will have agreed upon a set of meaningful reforms, or the feds are going to do it for them.
“This conference was not an academic exercise,” cautioned Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Laura Swett. “We’re on the beginning of a path, and the end of it is going to be reform. How we get there is really up to you and the stakeholders in the market.”
PJM, the largest grid operator in the United States and a magnet for data center development, projects more than 30 gigawatts (GW) of new electricity load on its system by 2030. That’s pretty scary for ratepayers across its purview, considering PJM’s notoriously jammed interconnection queue, lack of renewables penetration (including almighty batteries), and slow-moving, often-black-box stakeholder processes.
Electricity prices, as about 70 million people know already, are going up. An independent analysis estimates that since last June, annual customer costs in PJM have increased by $12.5 billion, jumping from $2.2 billion in 2024 to $14.7 billion in 2025. The grid operator’s latest power auction easily reached its federally mandated price collar, underscoring well-established supply and demand constraints in the region, further highlighted by a looming capacity shortfall of more than 6.8 GW.
PJM has got lots of plans in the works to address its myriad shortcomings, but as FERC and the White House made clear last Thursday, those ideas alone aren’t going to cut it. Peter Lake, senior director of power at the National Energy Dominance Council, called PJM a “broken system” that needs to be fixed to protect not only ratepayers but also America’s broader AI pursuits.
“Change is coming to PJM one way or the other,” Lake warned.
So what does that mean, exactly? It could mean The Beatles break up- states or individual utilities could go rogue. It seems likely the PJM Board of Managers will be tinkered with in some form, as will the input process for members. The way the grid operator runs its markets and queues will most certainly change. Will any of it be enough to pull PJM back from the collision course everyone seems convinced it’s on?
Wake me up when September ends.
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In a headline that reads like a spell cast by Harry Potter and pals, utility-scale renewable energy developer Avantus is marking its transition to independent power producer (IPP) with the commercial operations of the Aratina 1 project in Kern County, California.
Avantus plans to maintain a controlling stake in Aratina 1 and will operate the project, which is now delivering 200 megawatts (MW) of solar and 500 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy storage to the grid. It is the first of several assets that Avantus has targeted in its expansion from development to the IPP world.
“Aratina 1 coming online marks a major milestone for Avantus as an independent power producer,” confirmed Cliff Graham, CEO of Avantus. “I’m incredibly proud of what Team Avantus built here. Their expertise across development, construction, financing and operations, and the trust our financing and CCA partners have placed in us, are the foundation we’re building our long-term IPP model on.”
Avantus celebrates the start of commercial operations at Aratina 1, a solar and storage project in Kern County, CA. Courtesy: Avantus
Aratina 1 has long-term power purchase agreements with two community choice aggregators (CCAs) — Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) and Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) — for the full output of the project, enough to power more than 105,000 California homes annually.
More than $500 million in financing for Aratina 1 was provided by a consortium of four lenders led by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Truist Securities, ING Capital, and Mizuho. The project also secured a $300 million tax equity commitment from Truist Bank. It created approximately 500 jobs at peak construction and will create local operations roles throughout its operating life.
Aratina 2, the second phase of the Aratina Solar Center, located adjacent to Aratina 1, is currently under construction. The project recently closed more than $525 million in financing and is targeting commercial operations before the end of the year. Once complete, the Aratina Solar Center will represent a combined 350 MW of solar and 952 MWh of energy storage.
The state of Idaho is significantly increasing its total solar output, much to the delight of Meta and its data center complex in Kuna, part of the Boise metro.
Western US-focused developer, owner, and operator rPlus Energies commissioned its 125 MWac Pleasant Valley Solar 2 in Ada County, ID, last week and broke ground on the nearby 400 MWac Blacks Creek Energy Center. Meta is the primary offtaker for both projects, via local utility Idaho Power.
Aerial views of Pleasant Valley Solar 2, a 125 MW project in Ada County, ID. Courtesy: rPlus Energies
“Pleasant Valley Solar 2 and Blacks Creek Energy Center represent important additions to Idaho’s energy infrastructure as we work to meet the evolving needs of the communities we serve,” assessed Lisa Grow, president and CEO of Idaho Power. “As Idaho’s energy needs continue to increase, we need a balanced portfolio of energy resources. We appreciate our strong partnership with rPlus Energies and the role these projects will play in helping provide reliable, affordable energy for our customers and communities.”
The projects combined represent an investment of more than $750 million in Idaho and will create hundreds of construction jobs and permanent positions once the projects are completed. Through Idaho’s 3.5% solar energy tax on gross earnings, the projects will also provide a long-term source of revenue for the state and local taxing entities while also supporting local businesses and strengthening local communities. Pleasant Valley Solar 2 project partners have provided $375,000 in workforce development scholarships to students at Boise State University and the College of Western Idaho, helping prepare Idaho’s next generation of skilled workers.
Blacks Creek Energy Center
“We’re proud of what we’ve built and continue to build in Idaho and even prouder of the partnerships that made it possible,” said Luigi Resta, President and CEO of rPlus Energies. “Pleasant Valley Solar 2 and Blacks Creek Energy Center are critical for supporting Idaho’s continued economic growth, and we envision this development as the next chapter in our long-term investment and commitment to the state.”
rPlus Energies has now developed more than 1 GW of solar and storage projects across Idaho. As of July 2026, there are 14 utility-scale solar farms in Idaho, according to Cleanview’s project tracker. Their total operating capacity is 827 MW.
Strata Clean Energy wanted a little more pocket money, and they found it, upsizing its revolving loan and letter of credit facility by $150 million. The upsized facility, formerly $300M and now $450M, will continue to support the expansion of Strata’s operational fleet and the ongoing commercialization of its diversified development pipeline.
The original $300 million facility closed in November 2023 with global investment bank Nomura Securities International acting as Sole Bookrunner and Coordinating Lead Arranger. Nomura continues to lead the upsized facility in that same capacity, with First Citizens Bank serving as Coordinating Lead Arranger. Nixon Peabody and Norton Rose Fulbright acted as Borrower’s and Lenders’ counsel, respectively.
“This upsize reflects the continued confidence our financial partners have in Strata’s platform and growth trajectory,” stated Strata Clean Energy’s chief financial officer, Alex Wilhelm. “Increasing our liquidity to $450 million gives us additional flexibility to invest in our development pipeline and support our EPC and O&M businesses as we scale to meet growing demand across the country.”
“This upsize reflects the strength of Strata’s business model, the quality of its development pipeline, and our continued confidence,” added Alain Halimi, managing director of infrastructure and power finance at Nomura.
The proceeds of the upsized facility will continue to support the development, construction, and operation of Strata’s renewable energy and energy storage projects, as well as provide additional working capital for the company’s growing EPC and O&M divisions.
Competitive Power Ventures affiliate, CPV Renewable Power, and investment partner Harrison Street Asset Management have announced the start of commercial operations at CPV Rogue’s Wind. The 114 MW project is CPV’s third operating project in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, following CPV Fairview Energy Center (2019) and CPV Maple Hill Solar (2023).
“Pennsylvania remains a strong partner to CPV, and our activities reflect the state’s ‘all-of-the-above’ approach to address energy demand and help foster opportunities for new power projects,” shared Sherman Knight, CEO of CPV. “This project provides the Commonwealth with new affordable generation, while expanding CPV’s investment in Cambria County. Alongside our existing natural gas-fired and solar facilities in the county, Rogue’s Wind underscores CPV’s commitment to developing the diverse energy infrastructure needed to support growing demand while balancing reliability, affordability, and sustainability.”
CPV secured tax equity financing with U.S. Bank. Marathon Capital served as advisor, emphasizing the project’s quality and CPV’s leading role in developing utility-scale renewable projects.
CPV Rogue’s Wind is the company’s third renewable project that utilizes former coal mining land for renewable power generation. The project sits on over 6,000 acres and operates in partnership with private landowners and the active ATV park, Rock Run Recreation Area. The park features over 140 miles of trails, allowing riders an opportunity to reach the base of the wind towers.
CPV Rogue’s Wind was constructed by White Construction, which utilized local contractors. Logisticus Group handled the transport of the project’s 19 Vestas V-162 wind turbines, traveling more than 260 miles from port to site.
Commercial-scale power company Altus Power has acquired five community solar projects currently under development in Virginia from New Leaf Energy. The 32 MW portfolio will participate in utility Appalachian Power Company’s (APCo) shared solar program and is expected to deliver the benefits of clean power to approximately 5,000 homes.
The ground-mounted projects expand Altus Power’s community solar footprint into Virginia and will deliver direct savings to eligible households and enterprises through solar bill credits, at a time when power prices continue to rise.
“Virginia has made a clear commitment to protecting ratepayers from rising electricity costs through the expansion of clean, incremental power, and this program is a key part of that vision,” said Abhi Parmar, CIO of Altus Power. “We’re excited to be partnering with New Leaf Energy to help bring it to life, combining our strengths to successfully navigate a new market and deliver real savings to households and businesses across the state.”
This transaction marked the first collaboration between Altus Power and New Leaf Energy, reflecting a shared commitment to expanding access to community solar in emerging markets.
“We’re proud to help establish and shape a new shared solar program that puts affordability front and center for customers,” said Skylar Werde, head of community solar at Altus Power. “This is about unlocking new pathways: working alongside partners to open new markets, expand access to community solar, and ensure more households and businesses can benefit from locally generated, lower-cost clean energy. It’s a clear reflection of our commitment to scaling this model nationwide.”
Altus Power currently serves more than 40,000 community solar subscribers nationwide.
