US' first offshore wind farm gains tax equity from GE and Citi
General Electric (GE) and Citigroup have closed tax equity financing for Deepwater Wind's Block Island Wind Farm, the first offshore wind farm in the US. Construction of the 30 MW wind farm was completed in August and commercial operations are expected to start in November. GE Renewable Energy is providing five 6 MW turbines, as well as long-term services and maintenance for the project. The deal contributes to Citi's goal to invest $100bn over 10 years in activities related to reducing the impact of climate change.

BLOCK ISLAND, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE (NYSE:GE) unit, GE Energy Financial Services, and Citi today announced the closing of tax equity financing on Deepwater Wind’s Block Island Wind Farm, the first offshore wind farm in the United States.

“An innovative project takes thoughtful and hard-working partners to navigate all of the ‘first mover’ considerations. We couldn't have asked for better institutions to partner with than Citi and GE,” said Bryan Martin, Chairman of the Board of Deepwater Wind and Managing Director of D.E. Shaw & Co., L.P.

“We’re very proud that two world-class, U.S. companies have chosen to invest in America’s first offshore wind farm,” said Deepwater Wind CEO Jeffrey Grybowski. “Their backing is a testament to the significance of this project and the strength of the American offshore wind industry.”

Deepwater Wind completed construction on the 30-megawatt Block Island Wind Farm in August, and commercial operations are expected to begin in November. The role of the D.E. Shaw group, principal owner of Deepwater Wind, remains unchanged with the addition of the two tax equity investors.

GE Renewable Energy is the project’s turbine supplier, providing the five, 6-megawatt Haliade wind turbines for the wind farm, which is located roughly three miles off the coast of Block Island, R.I.

Kevin Walsh, Managing Director and Head of U.S. Renewables at GE Energy Financial Services, said, “The Block Island Wind Farm is a landmark project in the U.S. renewables market that GE is proud to support with capital investments and advanced wind energy technology.”

“Citi is proud to partner with GE, D.E. Shaw and Deepwater Wind to support this innovative project,” said Marshal Salant, Global Head of Alternative Energy Finance at Citi. “The Block Island Wind Farm offers a great example of Citi’s commitment to sustainable growth and to financing the development of clean renewable energy infrastructure.”

The landmark transaction contributes to Citi’s 2015 announced goal to lend, invest and facilitate a total of $100 billion over ten years to activities that reduce the impacts of climate change and create environmental solutions that benefit people and communities, Salant noted.

In addition to the turbines, GE Renewable Energy’s offshore wind business is providing long-term services and maintenance for the project. The Block Island Wind Farm is GE Energy Financial Services’ second offshore wind investment this year, building upon the company’s $12 billion renewable energy investment commitments in more than 18-gigawatts of wind and solar projects.

About Deepwater Wind

Deepwater Wind is a leading U.S. offshore wind and transmission developer. The Company is led by a veteran team with extensive experience in developing renewable-energy projects. The Company is actively planning offshore wind projects to serve multiple East Coast markets located 15 or more miles offshore, including New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Jersey. The Company’s Block Island Wind Farm is America’s first offshore wind farm. Visit www.dwwind.com for more info.

About Citi

Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.

Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi

About GE Energy Financial Services

A strategic GE Capital business, GE Energy Financial Services is a global energy investor that provides financial solutions that help meet the world’s energy needs. Drawing on its technical know-how, financial strength and strong risk management, GE Energy Financial Services invests in long-lived and capital intensive projects and companies. The firm has 35+ years of experience managing energy assets through multiple economic cycles, and a global portfolio that spans conventional and renewable power, and oil and gas infrastructure projects.

GE Energy Financial Services is part of the GE Store and is able to provide unique customer value by leveraging GE’s industrial energy heritage and strong technology footprint to offer access to capital and expertise. It is headquartered in Stamford, CT with regional hubs in London, Houston, Hong Kong and Nairobi. More information: www.geenergyfinancialservices.com; Twitter @GEEnergyFinServ.

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the "GE Store," through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. www.ge.com