California-headquartered Clearway Energy Group said it has closed financing and begun construction of the Swan Energy Center, a 650-MW solar facility located on portions of formerly strip-mined land in northwestern Bates County, Missouri.
The project is San Francisco-based Clearway’s first in Missouri. Its output is contracted under a 20-year power purchase agreement. The Swan array, which is expected to enter commercial operation in 2028, is part of a 1.2-GW portfolio of projects Clearway announced earlier this year.
“The Swan Energy Center represents a significant investment in Bates County, delivering reliable clean energy and economic benefits to the region,” said John Woody, chief development officer at Clearway. “We’re grateful to our local partners for their trust in welcoming Clearway to the community.”
Clearway on October 6 said it assembled a bank consortium led by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, DNB Bank ASA, and National Australia Bank Limited to finance the $1.5-billion energy center. The company partnered with Blattner Energy for construction of the project. Officials said it is expected to create up to 500 construction jobs at peak activity, and several long-term technician positions will be available once the project comes online.
Clearway also said it has structured a 30-year Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement with Bates County that is designed to generate more than $80 million in new revenue over the life of the agreement. The money is earmarked for local schools and other county services. Clearway has also committed:
- $1 million this year to help Bates County purchase emergency equipment.
- $288,000 annually for the first 10 years of the project’s operations to support 24 townships and road districts within Bates County for road and bridge departments.
- $200,000 to the towns of Amoret and Amsterdam for improvements in their public safety equipment.
Swan Energy Center will use U.S.-made solar panels and other equipment. Officials said the project site will maintain native grasses and floral resources to support habitat for pollinator species, such as the monarch butterfly, and help improve soil drainage and health.
Clearway’s project portfolio includes more than 14 GW of gross generating capacity in 27 states, including more than 2.8 GW of flexible dispatch able power generation. It also includes 11.4 GW of battery energy storage, solar and wind assets. Clearway, in addition to its California headquarters, has offices in Denver, Colorado; Houston, Texas; Phoenix, Arizona; Princeton, New Jersey; and San Diego, California.
—Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.
