Factor This Finance And Project Development Roundup: Avan…

There was a big ballyhoo at the White House on Wednesday over ratepayer protection from the biggest, baddest wolf that’s been huffing and puffing up electricity prices: data centers.

“They need some PR help,” President Trump admitted in his at-this-point-almost-endearing way of saying the quiet part out loud. “People think that if a data center goes in there, electricity prices are going to go up. It’s not going to happen.”

Perhaps it’s not going to happen because it’s already happening?

Even by the funky math used by the Trump administration’s Labor Department, which has also stopped tracking a bunch of things, Americans are paying 6.3% more for electricity than they were a year ago. Depending on where you live, that figure can be multiples larger (hey, PJM people!).

Under the terms of the nonbinding Ratepayer Protection Pledge, Google, Microsoft, Meta, Oracle, xAI, OpenAI, and Amazon agreed to do things they’ve already been doing: building or buying new sources of power generation for their data centers and covering the cost of any necessary infrastructure upgrades. The hyperscalers could also sell excess power generation to utilities for public consumption (very can you spare some capacity, sir? vibes), in addition to negotiating separate rate structures with public utilities and states, ensuring expenses are not passed on to consumers. They also committed to making backup generation available to prevent blackouts during emergencies and to hiring locally.

Energy experts are already doubtful that such promises can be kept, let alone slow down rapidly-increasing power prices. While Trump said the pledge would force tech companies to produce their own electricity, the deal is ly not enforceable at the federal level, and keeping hundreds of megawatts of generation off the grid comes with its own problems.

Basically, the big boys with the shiny toys are going to play however the hell they choose to, even if the President of the United States asks them to play nice. All we can do is hope they don’t break too much of our stuff, and if we’re lucky, maybe we’ll get a few wind turbines and front-of-the-meter batteries out of the deal.

Speaking of- how about another round of financial finagling and energy project updates? When you find the weekend and its friends, tell ’em I’ve got some beer in the garage fridge from last summer that needs drinkin’.

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Avantus Secures $300M for Arizona Solar + Storage

This week, southwest U.S.-focused renewable do-it-all Avantus closed on a financing package of more than $300 million with Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, New York Branch (CIBC) for the Kitt Solar and Energy Storage Project. Located in Pinal County, Arizona, within the City of Eloy, Kitt features 100 MWac/130 MWdc of solar and 400 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy storage.

The financing package includes construction funding, a tax equity bridge loan, and letters of credit. Currently under construction, Kitt is expected to create up to 500 construction jobs and reach commercial operation by the end of 2026. Once operational, the project is expected to generate more than $25 million in local tax revenue.

“The financing demonstrates the continued bankability and commercial viability of utility-scale solar and storage projects in the region, and Avantus’ growing presence in Arizona,” observed Avantus CEO Cliff Graham.

“We are proud to support Avantus in delivering critical clean energy infrastructure at a pivotal moment for Arizona’s power system,” added Eugene Kasozi, managing director in charge of the cleantech sector for BBVA. “This financing highlights BBVA’s ability to structure and deliver comprehensive capital solutions for complex, utility-scale solar and storage projects, ensuring disciplined execution during construction.”

The project has a signed Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with local utility Arizona Public Service (APS). Avantutf66rdv s says the 400 MWh battery storage system will play a vital role in grid resilience, storing solar energy during the day and dispatching it during evening peak demand hours and major weather events, a critical capability as the state prepares for growing energy demand and hotter summers.

RES is providing the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services for the project; oft-featured in this weekly digest, battery maker Fluence is providing its Gridstack Pro battery energy storage system (BESS) technology and integration.

Avantus has one of the largest pipelines of solar and energy storage projects in the United States, with about 24 gigawatts (GWdc) of solar and 75 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy storage under development across the Western U.S.

Pivot-ing to the Future?

National renewable independent power producer (IPP) Pivot Energy has announced a multi-year partnership with Sustain Our Future Foundation (SOFF) to fund local community initiatives while advancing economic inclusion in communities where Pivot operates. Those projects focus on everything from sustainable infrastructure and healthy environments to home weatherization, flood mitigation, and workforce development.

This collaboration is supported through Pivot’s five-year framework agreement with Microsoft to develop up to 500 MW of impactful community-scale solar projects across the U.S. through 2029. The agreement represents Pivot’s largest renewable energy credit (REC) agreement and most significant community impact collaboration. It’s Microsoft’s first dip into major distributed generation.

The first round of grants, totaling $400,000, was released to the ing local community non-profits and local social enterprises in Garrett County, Maryland:

• Garrett County Community Action Committee – A nonprofit organization supporting working families through home electrification and weatherization upgrades. Funding will support its work to improve energy efficiency, reduce household energy burdens, and help create safer, healthier living conditions for residents across the county.
• Garrett Soil Conservation District – A municipal program dedicated to strengthening community resilience. Funding will support the district to implement localized flood-mitigation projects, provide land-stewardship resources, and engage residents in practical conservation strategies that protect homes, farms, and waterways.
• Student Scholarships for Garrett College Wind Turbine Technician Program – A community college expanding pathways into the renewable energy workforce through a wind turbine technician training program. Funding for local student scholarships will support this workforce development program and open doors to family-sustaining careers while supporting the region’s renewable energy future.
• Clean Compost LLC – A local social enterprise strengthening the circular economy. Funding will support community composting services that divert organic waste, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and provide educational opportunities for residents and small businesses.
•  All Earth Eco-Tours – A local social enterprise promoting outdoor recreation. Funding will support environmental education and ecotourism to support community wellbeing and economic development, while cultivating a deeper connection to Garrett County’s natural landscapes.

“This collaboration amongst Pivot Energy, Sustain Our Future Foundation, and Microsoft shows what’s possible when developers, corporate partners, and community impact funds work together to ensure renewable energy directly benefits local communities,” said Tom Hunt, CEO of Pivot Energy. “We’re proud to reach this meaningful community investment milestone and deliver purpose-driven solar projects that create lasting local impact.”

“Companies can play a vital role in advancing local climate resilience by co-developing community benefit plans. As a collaboration intermediary, we are excited to work alongside Pivot Energy and Microsoft to align corporate renewable energy goals with community priorities,” echoed Yinka N. Bode-George, founder and CEO of SOFF. “Our approach ensures that communities lead in shaping how benefit funding strengthens their own climate resilience.”

Power Grid Technology Company Breaks Ground in Georgia

Governor Brian P. Kemp and his constituents are celebrating the groundbreaking of a new manufacturing facility in Franklin, Georgia, which will create up to 60 new full-time jobs in Heard County over the next 10 years. PFIFFNER Group, a Swiss-based international manufacturer of high-voltage technology, will invest about $18.5 million in the plant, which is expected to begin operations next year.

PFIFFNER Group develops, produces, and designs solutions for transmission and distribution systems, power generation, and railway electrification. The company says its products are used by utility companies, power equipment industries, and energy facilities to measure, switch, test, and reliably transfer electricity up to 550kV.

“PFIFFNER Group has chosen now to expand in the United States as a result of modernizations and innovation across the electricity grid technology industry,” said Marcel Rüfenacht, CEO of PFIFFNER Group. “Georgia stood out to our team for its proximity to customers, strong infrastructure, supportive business environment, a quality education system, and an ideal, available site fitting our company’s needs.”

PFIFFNER Group’s new facility will be located at Franklin Industrial Park East on Highway 34 in Franklin. It will supply instrument transformers for high-voltage substations and transformer bushings for manufacturers and utilities. The company will be hiring for roles in electromechanical assembly, machining, and machine operations, as well as electrical and mechanical engineers, over the next few years. Interested individuals can head here to learn more.

Qnetic Raises $5M for U.S. Manufacturing of Flywheel Energy Storage Systems

The long-duration flywheel energy storage system enthusiasts over at Qnetic have closed a $5 million funding round, their largest capital raise to date. The cash will go towards:

• Fitting out Qnetic’s California manufacturing center for low-volume production of the Q500
• Supporting multiple utility and commercial pilot projects
• Expanding field testing and validation work with partners over the next 18-24 months

Qnetic says its solid-state mechanical batteries deliver decades of life with unlimited daily cycling and no risk of thermal runaway, offering a safer, lower total lifetime cost alternative to lithium-ion for long-duration, high-cycling applications.

“It’s clear that the market is ready for a truly innovative energy storage solution, one that’s made in the U.S. of metals, magnets, and carbon fiber, with no mineral or supply chain bottlenecks. We look forward to ramping up development and production and fielding our first systems this year,” said Michael Pratt, Qnetic co-founder and CEO.

Qnetic’s system uses a 15-foot (4.5m) high-speed carbon-fiber rotor to improve energy density compared to a lower-speed, heavier rotor. This rotor is held in a vacuum and magnetically levitated by repulsive permanent magnets to eliminate wear and mechanical friction losses, a key weakness of current flywheel technologies. Qnetic plans to first go to market with a 500kWh unit, ed by a 1,000kWh unit that can be discharged over 4–12 hours with 85% round-trip efficiency.

Qnetic recently signed agreements with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the National Lab of the Rockies (formerly NREL) to formally assess and validate the company’s flywheel technology across a wide range of use cases. Combined with last year’s $2.1 million equity crowdfunding campaign, Qnetic has raised $7.1 million in the past 12 months.

Recurrent Sells Storage by the Seashore in Texas

Utility-scale solar and storage company Recurrent Energy, a subsidiary of Canadian Solar, has completed the sale of its 200 MWh Fort Duncan Battery Storage facility to Hunt Energy Network. Canadian Solar expects to recognize the revenue from the transaction in the first quarter of 2026.

Located in Maverick County, Texas, Fort Duncan reached commercial operation in June 2025. The company previously announced that it had secured $183 million in project financing and tax equity for the storage facility.

Fort Duncan Storage operates on a merchant basis and has established itself as a top-performing standalone battery energy storage system in the ERCOT South load zone, providing critical grid support and reliability services to the South Texas region. Fort Duncan Storage’s strong performance track record is backed by battery energy storage systems supplied by Canadian Solar’s e-STORAGE division.

“The project has demonstrated exceptional performance and has become a reliable and responsive asset for the Texas grid,” noted Ismael Guerrero, CEO of Recurrent Energy. “This transaction is an important milestone in our strategic initiative to selectively monetize projects to support our continued growth.”

Hunt Energy Network is an affiliate of one of the largest privately held energy companies in the United States. It started growing its battery storage portfolio four years ago and, with the purchase of Fort Duncan, now owns and operates 420 MW of battery storage facilities.

“We are fully committed to dramatically growing our presence within ERCOT, and this acquisition is a strong step towards achieving that goal,” confirmed Pat Wood III, executive chairman of Hunt Energy Network.