Duke Energy’s 200-megawatt Rambler Solar Project in San Angelo, Texas, currently faces one active unpaid construction work claim worth over $4 million, according to the Tom Green County clerk’s office.
The 1,700-acre facility, owned by Rambler Solar, LLC (d/b/a Duke Energy), was also previously suspect to an additional $9.4 million unpaid construction work claim — also known as a mechanics lien — in July 2020, until it was bonded off later that month.
General contractor Signal Energy is named the hiring party in the previously bonded-off mechanics lien with claimant subcontractor Walker Engineering, according to the Tom Green County clerk’s office.
The currently active $4 million lien was filed by material supplier HCS Renewable Energy against Walker Engineering.
When active, a mechanics lien attaches to a property and can hinder a property owner from selling or refinancing the serviced property until the unpaid work claim has been paid.
Bonding off a mechanics lien is similar to releasing a lien, or satisfying the claim. After the lien has been filed, the hiring party responsible for the claim can work with a surety bond company to replace the value of the claim against the property — thus allowing the claimant party to recover their proceeds.
Each unpaid work claim was filed pursuant to Texas mechanics lien statutes.
Texas solar project has faced over $12M in unpaid work claims
The active mechanics lien claim and the bonded-off claim total a combined $12,894,718.40 in unpaid construction work at the Rambler Solar Project, located at 8999 Jeremiah Lane, San Angelo, TX.
On July 23, 2020, the same month the project was completed and operational, subcontractor Walker Engineering filed a mechanics lien worth $9,405,311 against Signal Energy. Just five days later, Walker Engineering’s lien claim was bonded off by Western Surety Company, according to the release of the mechanics lien affidavit.
In addition, Walker Engineering is listed as the hiring party in HCS Renewable Energy’s currently active lien claim, which was placed on December 15, 2020.
This lien, valued at $4,489,407.42, was filed pursuant unpaid work spanning from September 2019 to August 2020.
Rambler Solar Project home to 700,000+ solar panels
According to Duke Energy, the project houses 733,000 solar panels across the 1,700-acre property in San Angelo — located just over 200 miles northwest of Austin, Texas.
Duke Energy also reports the Rambler Solar Project will supply energy to and estimated 40,000 homes throughout the San Angelo area.
The similarly sized Holstein Solar Project — also owned and operated by Duke Energy — in nearby Wingate, Texas began construction shortly after the Rambler Solar Project was completed in July 2020, according to a report from Solar Industry.
Spanning 1,300 acres, Duke’s Holstein Solar Project will include 709,000 solar panels while also providing 40,000 homes with energy.
“We’re pleased to continue our expansion of solar energy resources in Texas, which is experiencing an increasing demand for power,” said Chris Fallon, president of Duke Energy Renewables, in an interview with Solar Industry.
“The Rambler Solar project will bring significant economic benefit to the state and generate clean energy to meet the area’s growing energy needs.”