Altus Power seeks EFSEC approval after purchasing Columbia Solar projects; public comment period set

Altus Power has asked the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council to approve an upstream ownership transfer and technical amendments to three Columbia Solar site certification agreements after purchasing Greenbacker’s membership interests in the project companies, the company said at an EFSEC public comment hearing.

Will DeTesso, a senior associate on Altus Power’s financial asset management team, told the council the acquisition closed on Dec. 17, 2025, and described the change as an upstream ownership change that leaves the underlying project companies intact. "This is an upstream change in ownership only," DeTesso said. "The same project companies ... fully remain. Nothing changes at the project company level."

EFSEC staff said the transfer request triggers review under the Washington Administrative Code. Sarah Randolph of EFSEC staff told the council that, under WAC 463-66-100, the council must verify that a new owner has the organizational, financial, managerial and technical capability to meet the terms of the site certification agreements (SCAs). Randolph told attendees Altus had filed documentation with staff and that, if approved, the council would authorize technical SCA amendments to record the ownership change.

In his presentation, DeTesso described Altus as a long-term owner-operator and said the company has replaced each project's letter of credit with one provided on Altus’s behalf and has shared those instruments with EFSEC staff. "Financial assurances are in place for each project," he said. DeTesso also summarized Altus’s asset-management approach and said the firm intends to operate the sites through their useful life while complying with all SCA conditions.

Councilmembers asked for clarification. Councilmember Berwick asked whether Altus already operates projects in Washington; DeTesso said he believed these were Altus’s first projects in the state but offered to confirm. Councilmember Dean asked whether the replacement letters of credit were included in the meeting packet; staff replied they were not in the packet but have been filed with EFSEC’s financial team and can be made available to council members on request.

EFSEC staff outlined public comment opportunities. Amy Hofkammer of EFSEC staff said redline versions of the proposed SCA amendments are posted on EFSEC’s website, the online comment database was open through midnight on the day of the hearing, and a separate two-week comment period on the draft order and redlines was expected to run roughly June 24–July 7 to allow the council to consider comments before its July meeting. No members of the public spoke during the hearing.

The hearing was informational; the council did not vote or issue a decision at the session. EFSEC will review written comments received during the posted comment periods before taking any formal action on Altus’s transfer and amendment request.

Next steps: EFSEC staff said staff will post redlines and a draft order for a two-week comment period, after which the council will consider edits and the record before a decision at a future meeting.