Invenergy Completes construction financing for 999 MW Wind farm in USA

Invenergy, a leading privately held global developer and operator of sustainable energy solutions, announced that it completed construction financing for its largest wind energy development to date, the 999-megawatt Traverse Wind Energy Center, on March 1, 2021.

Located in Custer, Blaine, and Kingfisher Counties, Traverse is the largest of three wind energy projects being developed by Invenergy as part of the 1,485-megawatt North Central Wind Energy Facilities. Santander, MUFG, Natixis, SMBC, and CIBC acted as coordinating lead arrangers for the financing, which includes a construction loan and letter of credit. GE Energy Financial Services, a global energy investor, is a partner in the project.

The other two projects—287-megawatt Maverick Wind Energy Center in Major, Garfield and Kingfisher Counties and the 199-megawatt Sundance Wind Energy Center in Woods and Major Counties—both achieved financial close in December 2020. Rabobank, CoBank, KeyBanc, and NordLB acted as lead arrangers for both financings, which each include a construction loan and letter of credit.

All three projects are currently under construction, and American Electric Power (AEP) will assume ownership of the three wind farms upon start of commercial operations to serve customers of subsidiaries Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) and Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO). Sundance is expected to begin commercial operations this spring, Maverick later this year, and Traverse in early 2022.

The three projects represent a combined $2 billion capital investment in north-central Oklahoma. The complete projects will generate enough electricity to power 440,000 American homes.