White Cap announces 10-year solar pact

ATLANTA — White Cap, a leading distributor of specialty building materials and safety products to professional contractors, has agreed to acquire most of the annual clean energy generated by a 114-megawatt solar power plant under construction in Lamar County, Texas, under a 10-year virtual power purchase agreement.

VPPA is a financial transaction supporting the development of new renewable energy assets. This VPPA is made possible by ENGIE Energy Marketing NA, Inc., a subsidiary of ENGIE SA, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. The project is expected to start in 2025, subject to the usual risks associated with the construction schedule.

This new solar investment demonstrates White Cap’s ongoing commitment to sustainable construction. As part of its commitment, White Cap has invested in internal projects and processes to reduce emissions and energy consumption, modernized several facilities with energy-efficient LED lighting and taken other steps to create sustainable operations.

“As the largest distributor of specialty building materials in North America, with approximately 450 locations and 10,000 employees, White Cap has a responsibility to minimize its impact on the environment,” said Alan Sollenberger, CEO of White Cap. “Collaborating with like-minded organizations like ENGIE and Transparent Energy allows White Cap to make our commitment to a more sustainable future a reality.”

“ENGIE is proud to partner with White Cap to strengthen its commitment to renewable energy and sustainable construction,” said Ken Robinson, president, ENGIE Energy Marketing NA. “This transaction exemplifies ENGIE’s commitment to working with customers to build a more sustainable future.”

Located approximately 90 miles northeast of Dallas in Lamar County and owned by funds managed by AB CarVal, the Tyson Nick Solar Project is a 114 MW project under construction. The North Texas renewable asset is ideally located to generate clean, renewable energy that could serve more than 15,000 homes. The project is expected to achieve commercial operation in 2025.

White Cap has retained Transparent Energy, a national leader in energy procurement, as its renewable energy advisor on the transaction.