Looking Ahead to 2026

Property owners seeking new revenue opportunities without deploying capital may find an overlooked asset directly overhead. Solect Energy has published an article outlining how rooftop solar site leases allow commercial and industrial property owners to generate long-term, contractually defined income from unused rooftop space.

As commercial property owners seek new ways to strengthen net operating income and enhance asset performance, rooftop solar site leases are emerging as a practical strategy for generating long-term, non-operational income. The structure aligns with long-term property strategy without disrupting business operations.

The article, “Rooftop Solar Site Leases: A New Revenue Stream for Commercial Property Owners” explains how third-party rooftop commercial solar lease structures transform non-revenue-producing roof space into a 20–25 year income stream.

Under a rooftop solar site lease, a solar developer leases the rooftop, finances and installs the solar energy system, and manages long-term operations and maintenance. Property owners retain full ownership and control of their buildings while receiving predictable lease payments. Because the system occupies rooftop space only, tenant operations, interior square footage, and parking areas remain unaffected.

“Rooftop solar site leases function much like a long-term tenant occupying otherwise unused space,” said Matt Shortsleeve, SVP of Policy & Marketing at Solect Energy. “For many property owners, it represents a practical way to generate stable income without capital investment or additional operational complexity.”

Properties best suited for rooftop solar site leases often include industrial and warehouse properties, flex and distribution facilities, and large retail buildings with significant usable roof area and long-term site control.

The article also discusses current federal incentive considerations, including eligibility for the 30% federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) under existing “Safe Harbor” provisions. Project timing can influence eligibility, development flexibility and financial outcomes.

The full article, detailing lease structure, qualification criteria, and federal incentive considerations, is available here: Rooftop Solar Site Leases: A New Revenue Stream for Commercial Property Owners

Solect Energy |  https://solect.com/

EDF power solutions Canada and Alliance de l'énergie de l'Est and the Société de gestion éolienne de la Madawaska inc. (a subsidiary of Hydro-Québec) are proud to announce the successful financial closing for the Madawaska Wind project. The 274-megawatt (MW) project is located in the municipalities of Dégelis and Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande within the Regional County Municipality (RCM) of Témiscouata, in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. The closing follows the recent issuance of the government decree authorizing the project, giving the green light for implementation.

The required capital for the project has been secured through lead arrangers Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, National Bank of Canada, Desjardins Group, and KfW IPEX-Bank. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce acted as administrative agent. The financing is structured in accordance with the Green Loan Principles, with Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, National Bank of Canada, and Desjardins Group acting as coordinators for the application of these principles.

“Securing this financing underscores the commercial viability and strategic importance of the Madawaska Wind project in achieving Quebec’s energy transition goals and the importance of our collaboration with local communities,” said Amy Lloyd, CFO of EDF power solutions North America. “We are especially grateful to our financial partners for supporting the project, allowing us to move forward with the construction phase. Beyond strengthening the Hydro-Québec grid with low-carbon capacity, we're delivering a win for the climate and a lasting economic boost for the community.”

“I would like to express our gratitude to our financial partners, as well as our partners EDF power solutions and Hydro-Québec,” said Michel Lagacé, President of Alliance de l'énergie de l'Est. “This funding underscores the importance of the Madawaska project for Quebec and for the host communities here in eastern Quebec.”

Mathieu Johnson, Senior Vice President – Partnerships and Development, Hydro-Québec, said, “The financing agreement for the Madawaska Wind project marks a key step toward achieving our energy transition ambitions. This project is part of our wind power development strategy, which calls for adding 10,000 MW by 2035, while working closely with the community, in order to generate tangible, long-term benefits for the regions."

The Madawaska Wind project will feature 45 wind turbines, which will be connected to Hydro-Québec's grid. Once completed, the project will generate enough energy to power more than 44,000 homes per year.

The project contributes directly to the decarbonization of the Quebec economy while providing significant local benefits. Over the course of the project, the member communities of the Alliance de l'énergie de l'Est will share approximately CAD $181 million.

While the host communities, Dégelis and Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande, will share more than $25 million.

Preparatory work for the construction phase has been underway since January. With financing closed, the Madawaska Wind project can officially move into the construction phase, generating more than 300 jobs. The project partners are committed to working with local businesses and suppliers, ensuring sustainable development that benefits the community. The wind farm is scheduled to begin operations in the fall of 2027.

Stikeman Elliott acted as legal counsel to the project for the transaction, with Blake, Cassels and Graydon LLP acting on behalf of the lenders.

Madawaska Wind Project

EDF | re.com

Alliance de l'énergie de l'Est | https://alliance-est.ca/

Vistra (NYSE: VST) announced an expansion of its battery aggregation program to include Enphase Energy's IQ Batteries, further scaling its residential virtual power plant (VPP) to strengthen grid reliability across Texas. The program, Battery Rewards, is offered through Vistra's flagship retail electricity brand, TXU Energy, and allows eligible Enphase customers to earn incentives by exporting stored battery power to the grid during periods of high demand.

Through Battery Rewards, Vistra aggregates energy from participating, customer-owned residential batteries and dispatches it to the Texas grid when it is needed most. By harnessing flexible distributed energy resources, the program helps manage peak demand and maximize the use of existing grid infrastructure.

"As Texas continues to expect rapid load growth, demand-side solutions are becoming increasingly important," said Sam Sen, Vistra's vice president of energy transition solutions. "By bringing additional flexible resources like batteries online during critical periods, we can strengthen grid reliability and serve more load using the infrastructure already in place."

TXU Energy customers who enroll in Battery Rewards and own an Enphase IQ Battery will receive financial incentives for participating while maintaining control of their systems during local power outages. Participants can also continue to benefit from TXU Energy solar buyback plans, which provide bill credits for excess solar energy exported to the grid.

"The pace of energy demand growth in Texas is unlike anything we've seen before, especially as more people move to the state, and industries from manufacturing to technology are all growing," said Marco Krapels, chief marketing officer and head of global energy markets at Enphase Energy. "Through our partnership with Vistra, flexible, distributed energy resources like Enphase home battery systems can help supply this demand when and where it's needed most, while homeowners are compensated and retain backup power and control when it matters most."

The virtual power plant relies on a sophisticated operating system to coordinate energy assets in real time. Kraken's AI-powered platform automatically responds during periods of high demand by shifting participating homes to draw power from their batteries instead of the grid. This temporarily reduces each home's grid demand and, when available, allows excess stored energy to be exported to the grid – helping customers participate effortlessly in a more flexible, affordable, and reliable energy system.

"Vistra is putting customers at the heart of the energy transformation," said Devrim Celal, chief flexibility officer at Kraken. "By connecting batteries into one smart system, we are helping the company support the grid while creating value for consumers. This creates better experiences and helps to build lasting customer relationships."

This VPP expansion builds on Vistra's long history of introducing innovative energy solutions, including first-to-Texas connected thermostat offerings and the nation's first free electric vehicle charging program supported by vehicle telematics.

With Battery Rewards, Vistra continues to give customers more choice and control over their energy use while playing an active role in supporting grid reliability. For more information about the Battery Rewards program, please visit txu.com.

Vistra | https://vistracorp.com/

Cypress Creek Renewables ("Cypress Creek" or the "Company") announced the departure of Sarah Slusser as Chief Executive Officer and the appointment of Kevin Smith as the new CEO.

As CEO for the last seven years, Ms. Slusser transformed the Company from a development-focused business into a leading independent power producer with more than 3.4 GW of solar and storage assets operating or under construction. Under her leadership, the Company expanded from its Southeastern roots into 24 states across the country, doubled its development pipeline, and built a strong in-house energy storage platform, highlighted by the commercialization of Cypress Creek's first standalone storage asset in 2023.

Ms. Slusser oversaw the Company's acquisition by EQT in 2021, positioning Cypress Creek for long term growth with the backing of a leading global infrastructure partner. She also guided the Company through two major federal tax policy shifts, advanced its focus on large utility-scale projects, strategically evolved its community solar platform into a scalable development and asset-rotation business, and assembled a talented management team that has positioned Cypress Creek for continued growth to serve the burgeoning demand, including large load.

Kevin Smith joins Cypress Creek at a pivotal moment in the Company's evolution, bringing more than three decades of leadership experience developing, financing, constructing, and operating energy infrastructure across five continents. Over his career, Kevin has led energy development efforts across the U.S. and internationally, building projects in 26 states and more than a dozen countries, with power contracts exceeding $75 billion in revenues.

Most recently, Kevin served as CEO of Arevon Energy, where he led the development and construction of more than $5.6 billion in solar and battery storage projects over the past two and a half years while nearly doubling the company's operating revenues. Prior to that, he was CEO, Americas for Lightsource bp in the United States, overseeing the company's rapid expansion in the U.S. market and completing more than $3.5 billion in solar projects. Kevin holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from Purdue University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

"It has been an honor to lead Cypress Creek through a period of extraordinary growth and transformation," said Sarah Slusser. "I'm incredibly proud of the team we've built and the impact we've made in bringing more clean energy online across the country. Cypress Creek is stronger than ever, and I look forward to seeing it continue to thrive under Kevin's leadership."

"Sarah's tenure at Cypress Creek has been defined by growth, innovation, and a clear focus on scaling energy solutions to meet the demands of the future," said Matt Kestenbaum, Managing Director for EQT's Infrastructure Advisory Team Americas. "Sarah has built a strong platform for the next phase of the Company's journey, and we are thankful for her dedication, leadership, and partnership over the past five years. Kevin's proven track record of scaling renewable platforms and driving disciplined growth makes him uniquely suited to lead Cypress Creek through its next phase of expansion."

"On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Sarah for her exceptional leadership and dedication to Cypress Creek," said Kevin Howell, Chairman of the Cypress Creek Board of Directors. "Her vision and strategic execution have strengthened our Company's foundation and expanded its role as a leader in the energy transition. We are grateful for her contributions and wish her all the best. As we look to the future, the Board would like to welcome Kevin Smith to Cypress Creek."

"Cypress Creek has built a strong, differentiated platform with significant growth potential," said Kevin Smith. "I look forward to working alongside the team and our partners at EQT to scale the business, enhance enterprise value, and strengthen the Company's position as a leading renewable energy platform in the U.S."

Cypress Creek Renewables | https://ccrenew.com/

Pivot Energy, a national renewable energy independent power producer, announced a multi-year partnership with Sustain Our Future Foundation (SOFF) to fund local community initiatives. The donations will fund sustainable infrastructure and healthy environments, while advancing economic inclusion in communities where Pivot operates. This includes initiatives focused on 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 megawatts (MW) of impactful community-scale solar projects across the U.S. between 2025 and 2029. The agreement represents Pivot's largest REC agreement and most significant community impact collaboration. The agreement also marks Microsoft's first major distributed generation framework and, by matching customer electricity usage with new renewable electricity generation, supports the company's goal of reducing its Scope 3 emissions by more than half by 2030.

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

• 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.”

SOFF, a national nonprofit that partners with corporations and renewable energy developers to strengthen the community impact of renewable energy projects, is leading the grantmaking strategy for the 500 MWac community-scale solar collaboration between Pivot Energy and Microsoft, in close collaboration with local community leaders.

“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,” said Yinka N. Bode-George, Founder and CEO of Sustain our Future Foundation. Our approach ensures that communities lead in shaping how benefit funding strengthens their own climate resilience.”

“Microsoft is teaming up with Pivot Energy to bring 500 megawatts of new solar energy to 100 communities across 20 states over five years. Through Pivot’s collaboration with Sustain Our Future, this initiative is more than renewable energy; it’s a commitment to uplifting communities, expanding job opportunities and making essential resources more affordable,” said Danielle Decatur, Director, Microsoft Energy Team. “The journey begins in Garrett County, where local priorities shape a more resilient and healthy future for all.”

Pivot Energy | pivotenergy.net

Sustain Our Future Foundation | https://www.sustainourfuture.org/

Yokogawa Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6841) announces that its subsidiary Yokogawa Solution Service Corporation has received an order from Cosmo Eco Power to provide an integrated wind power solution to Cosmo Eco Power's Shimamaki-Kuromatsunai Wind Farm in Hokkaido. The solution includes the supply of a power plant controller and battery storage.

In Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost prefecture, the increasing adoption of renewable energy has made it difficult to maintain the power grid's frequency. To ensure the safety of the power grid, the country's strictest grid connection requirements have been established. When constructing a wind power plant, battery storage and/or control systems are required to absorb output fluctuations and adjust power generation.

Planned construction site of the Shimamaki-Kuromatsunai Wind Farm (Photo courtesy of Cosmo Eco Power Co., Ltd.)

Cosmo Eco Power's wind power plant will be capable of generating 94.6MW of electricity and is expected to start operation in 2029. The plant will play an active role in providing much-needed power to the region. In this project, Yokogawa Solution Service will supply the Power Plant Controller from BaxEnergy, a Yokogawa company. To provide seamless, integrated support for customers, Yokogawa Solution Service has selected Tesla Megapack as the project's energy storage solution.

Koji Nakaoka, Executive Vice President & Executive Officer, Energy & Sustainability Business headquarters at Yokogawa Electric Corporation, commented, “I am confident that BaxEnergy's Power Plant Controller will contribute to improving the operational efficiency of Cosmo Eco Power's wind power plant, and our endeavor can be extended to similar renewable power plants that utilize battery storage. With BaxEnergy's first foray into the Japanese market, I look forward to continuing to provide more value to our customers and together journeying towards a decarbonized society.”

BaxEnergy | www.baxenergy.com

Yokogawa | www.yokogawa.com

ALL Erection & Crane Rental, flagship branch of the ALL Family of Companies and an authorized Shuttlelift dealer for Ohio, announces a new purchase of 10 Shuttlelift carry deck cranes. The package, arriving in Q2 and Q3 of this year, includes five 20-ton SCD20 models and five 25-ton SCD25 models.

“Many of these new units are bound for our rental fleet,” Josh Bacci, Ohio sales manager for ALL, explained. “They’re also for sale in Ohio. Customers who are interested in one of these—or any other new Shuttlelift carry deck—can contact us for sales assistance.” ALL is also able to sell used Shuttlelift units from any of its U.S. branches, not just Ohio.

Known for delivering power and flexibility in a compact package, Shuttlelift carry decks are highly maneuverable and ideal for both indoor and outdoor projects. Their spacious load decks provide ample room for material handling, and they can also pick and carry without using the deck, within appropriate load limits.

“The 20- to 25-ton capacity has been a sweet spot for us in carry decks,” said Bacci. “They’re in demand for work at refineries and industrial plants as well as in maintenance and construction applications.”

Bacci says Shuttlelift makes the only carry decks with a pivoting boom nose. Able to be mechanically offset in multiple positions, it lowers the boom nose head height by up to two feet, depending on model. This offset increases ground clearance for transporting a large load through low clearances. These units also have Shuttlelift’s multi-mode steering, including crab steering in which all four wheels turn. This enables the crane to get closer with greater efficiency.

ALL Family of Companies | www.allcrane.com