Power Finance & Risk magazine has announced that Ares Management Corp.’s Aviator Wind project is among the six finalists for its 2019 Renewable Energy Deal of the Year. Husch Blackwell served as local counsel on the 525 MW project, the largest single-phase, single-site wind project in U.S. history. The deal closed on August 30, 2019.
“Renewable energy projects of this scope and size entail a lot of complexity and have many moving parts,” said Chris Reeder, the Husch Blackwell partner who led the firm’s project team. “I am incredibly proud of the work we did to help the client and other project advisors work through the challenges and bring Aviator to this point. It was a privilege to assist on such a high-profile project.”
Power Finance & Risk noted the project as “impressive” and highlighted the project’s power purchase agreements with Facebook and McDonald’s, as well as its financing stack comprised of “construction and back-levered debt and tax equity ahead of closing on the acquisition.” The magazine summed up the project commenting that “every aspect was deftly executed.”
The Husch Blackwell team led by Reeder included Brian Pullin, Mashaal Bhaidani, Megan Caldwell,Tricia Jackson, Sylvia Bartell, Timothy Ribelin, Lynn Butler, Maria Faconti and Cacki Jewart.
The project was also previously recognized by Infrastructure Investor magazine as its Renewables Deal of the Year, North America.