CleanChoice Energy Triples Capacity with Solar Acquisitions in North Carolina

Why It Matters

The deal expands CleanChoice’s renewable footprint, bolsters PJM grid reliability, and showcases the commercial viability of agrivoltaic farms.

Key Takeaways

• Acquires 222.2 MW North Carolina solar assets.
• Projects will interconnect to PJM grid by 2028.
• Agrivoltaic design preserves farmland and wildlife.
• $350k community investment supports local schools and food banks.
• CleanChoice’s portfolio triples, reaching ~322 MW capacity.

Pulse Analysis

CleanChoice Energy’s North Carolina acquisitions mark a strategic scaling move for a company that has positioned itself as a direct‑to‑consumer clean‑energy provider. By adding the Sumac and Sweetleaf projects, the firm lifts its total operating capacity from roughly 100 MW to over 300 MW, a three‑fold increase that strengthens its bargaining power in the competitive PJM market. The timing aligns with a broader surge in utility‑scale solar development, as utilities and corporate buyers chase low‑cost, emissions‑free power to meet tightening climate mandates.

Beyond sheer capacity, the agrivoltaic model employed at both sites reflects a growing industry trend that blends renewable generation with productive land use. By retaining existing farmland, installing wildlife‑friendly fencing, and protecting surrounding wetlands, CleanChoice mitigates common environmental concerns associated with large solar farms. The $350,000 community fund further embeds the projects in local economies, supporting food banks, schools, and scholarships—a tactic that can smooth permitting processes and foster public goodwill.

Financially, the acquisitions were funded by True Green Capital Management’s investment vehicles, underscoring the rising role of dedicated clean‑energy capital in accelerating project pipelines. As electricity demand climbs nationwide, developers that can deliver high‑capacity, grid‑ready assets with minimal ecological impact are likely to capture premium pricing in power purchase agreements. CleanChoice’s expanded footprint positions it to leverage economies of scale, attract additional corporate off‑take contracts, and potentially explore further agrivoltaic expansions across the PJM footprint and beyond.

CleanChoice Energy Triples Capacity with Solar Acquisitions in North Carolina

By Darrell Proctor · Wednesday, February 18, 2026

A company known for supplying “farm‑to‑table” clean energy to homes and businesses said it was growing its portfolio by acquiring two solar power projects in North Carolina. CleanChoice Energy, which is majority‑owned by funds managed by True Green Capital Management, announced on February 18 that it is adding projects located in Halifax and Bertie counties that together have a generation capacity of 222.2 MW.

CleanChoice Energy said the acquisitions are the company’s largest to date. The company, headquartered in Washington, D.C., and founded in 2012, currently operates a 100‑MW solar farm in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. It is also building new projects in Kylertown, Pennsylvania, and in Washington and Rensselaer counties in New York.

Construction of the North Carolina projects—the Sumac facility in Bertie County (103.92 MW) and the Sweetleaf installation in Halifax County (118.3 MW)—is expected to begin early next year, with grid interconnection in the PJM territory anticipated in 2028.

“The Sumac and Sweetleaf projects represent a pivotal step in our evolution into a fully integrated clean energy company that builds, owns, and delivers renewable power directly to customers,” said Zoë Gamble, president of CleanChoice. “As electricity demand accelerates nationwide, we’re investing in high‑capacity solar infrastructure that strengthens grid reliability, expands domestic energy supply, and gives more households access to locally sourced, pollution‑free power.”

CleanChoice said it will invest $350,000 combined to support local communities near the Sumac and Sweetleaf projects, funding food banks, schools, scholarship opportunities, education, and more.

The projects are agrivoltaic installations, meaning they integrate agricultural use of the land with power generation. Both will feature wildlife‑friendly fencing, and the company emphasized that no trees will be cleared and there will be no impact to existing timber and forests. Sediment and erosion control measures will protect wetlands, streams, and jurisdictional waters. CleanChoice will work with third‑party environmental consultants to avoid impacting protected habitats or species.

CleanChoice is acquiring the Sumac and Sweetleaf projects from Geenex, a developer of utility‑scale energy projects.

“These projects represent years of strategic development work designed to deliver reliable, high‑capacity energy resources to the PJM grid,” said Emily Williams, CEO of Geenex. “As electricity demand continues to accelerate, it is essential that well‑sited, community‑supported projects move efficiently from development into construction. We are proud to have advanced Sumac and Sweetleaf to this stage and to work with CleanChoice to help meet the region’s growing energy needs.”

Geenex began developing the Sumac and Sweetleaf projects in 2017.

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— Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.