DESRI declared the financial notice to continue (FNTP) and the start of construction for the Catclaw Solar and Storage project (Catclaw, or the Project). The 205 megawatt (MWac) Catclaw solar complex near Buckeye, Arizona, has a 1,000 megawatt-hour (MWh) storage system. On April 29, 2025, DESRI celebrated the Project’s groundbreaking with partners after purchasing it from Avantus in 2024.
“The DESRI team is thrilled that Catclaw has begun construction and will commence operations in 2026,” stated Bob Schoenherr, Chief Strategy Officer of DESRI. “DESRI currently owns 131 MWac of operating renewable energy assets and 160 MWac of solar assets under construction in Arizona; Catclaw is our first project with Arizona Public Service (APS). Given skyrocketing demand for new energy and capacity resources across the state, our team is happy to pair reliable and cost-effective resources with this need. We appreciate Avantus’s work on the Project’s development and look forward to an efficient build.”
“Catclaw will help power Arizona’s growing energy needs with clean, reliable electricity—especially during times of peak demand,” stated Cliff Graham, CEO of Avantus. “This milestone is the result of strong collaboration with the City of Buckeye, local partners, DESRI, and APS, and builds on the groundwork Avantus has laid to accelerate clean energy in the region. Together, we’re creating local jobs and strengthening the grid with affordable, resilient energy for Arizona communities.”
APS and Catclaw have a 20-year power purchase contract. It is anticipated that the plant would produce enough renewable energy annually to power around 40,000 households in Arizona.
As the Coordinating Lead Arrangers, BNP Paribas and Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale (NORD/LB) provided funding for the project’s construction. The Joint Lead Arrangers were Korea Development Bank, Bank of China, and Westpac Banking Corporation; the Mandatory Lead Arranger was Comerica Bank; the Senior Managing Agent was Flagstar Bank; and the Participant was Crédit Industriel et Commercial. The Administrative Agent was Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas.
“APS has a track record of providing top tier, reliable service to Arizona homes and businesses, and we thoughtfully invest in and secure diverse resources that can help us continue to deliver the energy our customers count on,” stated Derek Seaman, APS Director of Resource Acquisition. “The Catclaw Solar and Storage project will provide our customers with the benefits of reliable, cost-competitive electricity sourced directly from clean energy technologies.”
“Buckeye’s collaboration with the DESRI team was unprecedented,” stated Buckeye Mayor Eric Orsborn. “We worked together to design this project so it seamlessly integrated with the surrounding environment, while ensuring Buckeye and the entire West Valley remain sustainable.”
EPC Services Company will be the high-voltage EPC, and RES will be the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor. For the Project, Tesla will supply battery storage equipment. After the plant is up and running, Invenergy Services will handle continuing operations and maintenance.
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