North America PV Snippets: Hecate, Invenergy, Orbital

• Hecate Energy has proposed to build a 500 MW solar power plant in New York for more than $500 million investment
• Invenergy has raised construction financing for 2^nd phase of its 1.31 GW Samson Solar Energy Center in Texas
• Orbital Solar Services has secured an EPC contract for $64 million 137 MW Arkansas solar project

Hecate Energy proposes 500 MW solar farm in NY: Hecate Energy has filed an application with the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) to develop a 500 MW solar power plant in the towns of Elba and Oakfield, Genesee County. It believes if the project is approved and constructed, it will be the 'largest solar project ever built in New York State'. Hecate Energy will realize the Cider Solar Farm for more than $500 million investment. On completion it is expected to generate 920,000 MWh of renewable electricity annually. It is the 1^st new application submitted to new ORES through which the state plans to 'enhance the siting and construction' of environmentally responsible, cost-effective projects so these can be delivered in a timely manner with input from local communities. Spain's Repsol owns 40% stake in Hecate Energy (see North America PV Snippets: NIPSCO, Hecate Energy, UL).

Invenergy secures financing for 2^nd phase of Texas project: Invenergy has completed the construction financing for the second phase of its Samson Solar Energy Center in Texas which will enable it to construct 250 MW capacity out of a 1.31 GW complex. It believes the project will be the largest solar energy facility in the US on completion and has already secured 5 offtakers (see Invenergy's 1.31 GW Solar Facility To Power 5 Brands). The entire project is to be constructed in 5 phases with each phase starting operations upon completion. Invenergy has already started construction on the first 2 phases. The entire 1.31 GW capacity worth $1.6 billion is scheduled to come online in 2023.

Orbital Energy to build 137 MW solar project in Arkansas: Orbital Energy Group has bagged EPC contract for 137 MW solar farm in Arkansas from an unidentified North American Fortune 100 Energy Company. It secured the $64 million project contract through its wholly-owned subsidiary Orbital Solar Services (OSS). The subsidiary is expected to bring the utility scale project online in early 2022. In January 2021, OSS was engaged by Akon backed Sunrise Half Century Fund to replace redundant US coal facilities with utility scale solar capacity (see 1 GW Solar Capacity To Replace US Coal Facilities).