DESRI has begun construction on the Catclaw Solar and Storage project, a large-scale renewable energy facility located in Buckeye, Arizona. The project has officially reached its financial notice to proceed (FNTP) milestone, marking the start of its development. Catclaw will include a 205-megawatt (MWac) solar energy system paired with a 1,000 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery storage system, positioning it as a significant addition to Arizona’s clean energy landscape.
The Catclaw project was acquired by DESRI from Avantus in 2024. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 29, 2025, bringing together project partners and local stakeholders to celebrate the launch of the initiative. Once operational, the facility is expected to generate enough renewable electricity to power around 40,000 homes in Arizona each year. The project has secured a 20-year power purchase agreement with Arizona Public Service (APS), providing long-term clean energy to the utility’s customers.
To finance the construction, DESRI secured funding from a consortium of financial institutions. BNP Paribas and Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale (NORD/LB) acted as Coordinating Lead Arrangers, with additional support from Korea Development Bank, Bank of China, and Westpac Banking Corporation as Joint Lead Arrangers. Comerica Bank participated as Mandated Lead Arranger, Flagstar Bank as Senior Managing Agent, and Crédit Industriel et Commercial as Participant. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas will serve as the Administrative Agent for the financing.
Bob Schoenherr, Chief Strategy Officer of DESRI, said in a statement, “The DESRI team is thrilled that Catclaw has begun construction and will commence operations in 2026. 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.”
Cliff Graham, CEO of Avantus, commented, “Catclaw will help power Arizona’s growing energy needs with clean, reliable electricity especially during times of peak demand. 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.”
Derek Seaman, APS Director of Resource Acquisition, mentioned, “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. 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 Mayor Eric Orsborn, stated, “Buckeye’s collaboration with the DESRI team was unprecedented. 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.”
RES has been appointed as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor for the solar project, while EPC Services Company will handle the high-voltage EPC work. Tesla will supply the battery storage equipment, supporting the integration of solar energy into the grid with added flexibility and reliability. Once completed, ongoing operations and maintenance will be managed by Invenergy Services. The Catclaw Solar and Storage project represents a major investment in Arizona’s clean energy future, combining solar generation with advanced storage technology to deliver sustainable, reliable power and support grid resilience in the years ahead.
