Asheville – Pine Gate Renewables (PGW) is fundraising with the goal of donating $250,000 to nonprofits engaged in hurricane relief in Western North Carolina. In its eighth year of business, PGW is now one of Asheville’s better-kept secrets. Located on Roberts Street in the hurricane-decimated River Arts District, the company now builds solar projects across the United States.
Senior Director of Government and External Affairs Kristen McKenzie summarizes, “As a trusted partner and leader in the industry, we have closed more than $7 billion in project financing and capital investment. Our operational fleet includes over 100 solar facilities, accounting for more than 2 GW of installed capacity, with more than 30 GW of projects in development.”
Contrasted to Wi-Fi pioneer Richard Hull’s quips that some alternative means of power generation are “the energy of the future and always will be,” McKenzie says, “We are generating the Power of Tomorrow.”TM She describes PGR as “a utility-scale solar and energy storage company.” She adds, “We are dedicated to the innovative deployment of clean energy and have extensive experience in the development, financing, construction, and operation of solar and energy storage facilities.”
Projects start with land acquisition. The company is “highly selective” to make sure parcels are buildable and in good markets with economically feasible transmission options. Next, PGR goes to great lengths to be a good neighbor, listening and learning about the lifestyles and needs of residents, leaders, and other stakeholders.
Then, PGR constructs the solar farms. It has projects up and running in ten states, plus a tremendous pipeline of projects that take in 23 more. In North Carolina alone, 82 projects capable of generating a total of 3,383 MW are in some stage of development. Its Sunstone Solar Project in Oregon will be the largest solar + storage facility in the United States. In October, the company successfully closed a $288 million preferred equity financing round led by Blackstone Credit and Insurance.
PGR also handles the engineering and paperwork needed to connect their solar farms to the grid. PGR associates are skilled in navigating the renewable energy market, so they can set up instruments to help corporations achieve their goals for reducing carbon emissions. These might include getting generating parties credit for renewable energy they put on the grid or writing contracts with corporations for purchasing green energy directly or merely paying for green energy that the company cannot use itself. Clientele include Fortune 500 companies, universities, and local governments.
As large as PGR’s footprint is, McKenzie says, “A third of its workforce is located in areas impacted by Hurricane Helene.” That’s why “Pine Gate Renewables, together with its subsidiaries Blue Ridge Power and ACT Power Services, established a new philanthropic and community giving program, the Pine Gate Renewables Community Impact Fund. Before the end of this year, the fund will donate $250,000 to eligible nonprofits working in communities within Western North Carolina.”
The fund accepts both corporate and individual donations, and PGR will match all donations dollar for dollar. PGR Co-Founder and CEO Ben Catt explained, “Our mission has always extended beyond the innovative deployment of clean energy solutions to support the communities where we live, work, develop, and operate. Long term, we’ll expand the fund to support non-profits in communities where we live, work, and develop and operate renewable energy projects.”
Eligible projects will be for “nonprofits working in communities within the Hurricane Helene FEMA Major Disaster Declaration areas” that are also within the PGR business footprint, including residences of PGR employees. Qualified applicants will be 501(c)(3) nonprofits with a focus on “education, environment, culture and the arts, civic and community development, and health and human services.” Grants will not be given to “individuals; religious programs of churches or other sectarian organizations; fraternal, political, advocacy, or labor organizations; fundraising events; golf tournaments or other sporting events; organizations that limit membership and services based on race, religion, color, creed, sex, age, or national origin; or travel-related events including student trips or tours.”
Pine Gate is not waiting to grant awards, either. December 3, the company announced its first award of $50,000 was going to MANNA FoodBank. Also receiving $50,000 were Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, to help with affordable housing construction and repair, and ArtsAVL, to help local artists get back on their feet. Nonprofits are invited to apply for assistance at PineGateGiving.org. The website also has a link for online donations and instructions for other forms of contribution.