press kit - Cypress Creek Renewables

PRESS KIT
PRESS CONTACT
Jeff McKay
Media Relations
(213) 347-9386
[email protected]
COMPANY BACKGROUND
Cypress Creek Renewables is the leader in ‘local solar’ and partners with communities and utilities to provide
widespread access to affordable, clean energy. Cypress Creek Renewables local solar solutions produce energy at or
below market costs, while our locally based development strategy allows us to deploy solar where the power is needed
most.
With well over $1 billion raised and invested and over 2.6 gigawatts of local solar farms deployed or in development
(enough to power 1.5 million homes), Cypress Creek Renewables is the largest and fastest-growing dedicated provider
of local solar farms.
LEADERSHIP BIOS
Ben Van De Bunt, Chairman
As board chairman, Ben leads Cypress Creek in its mission to be the nation’s foremost developer of small-scale utility
solar farms. Prior to taking the lead at Cypress, Ben was a principal at Guthy-Renker, where he was the longtime
president and CEO. He has served on the Board of Directors/Advisors for companies including Solar City and Houlihan
Lokey, in addition to several non-profit and mission-based organizations. He received his JD from Harvard Law School
and a BA from UCLA.
Matthew McGovern, CEO
As CEO, Matt oversees all operations and investor relations for Cypress Creek Renewables. Prior to forming Cypress,
he served as the CFO of Paramount Equity, a role he held from December 2012 to April 2014. As CFO of Paramount,
Matt launched the firm’s first tax equity fund with US Bank in March 2013. Before joining Paramount, he was the CFO
of Gehrlicher Solar America Corporation from 2010 to 2012, where he developed and financed a large portfolio of
utility-scale and commercial solar projects.
Michael Cohen, President
As President of Cypress, Mike is instrumental in business development, financing and strategic initiatives. Prior to
Cypress, Mike led business development and project finance for Strata Solar from 2011 to 2014. Before Building
Strata’s development and finance model, he was an attorney with Kirkland & Ellis from 2008 to 2011, where he
focused on the development, financing and purchase/sale of renewable energy projects both domestically and abroad.
Jerome O’Brien, General Counsel
Jerome oversees all of Cypress Creek’s contract negotiations and legal due diligence activities. Prior to joining
Cypress Creek Renewables, Jerome was an attorney in the New York office of Jones Day, a leading international firm,
from 2008 to 2014.
Brian Matthay, Managing Director
Brian is Managing Director of Strategic Initiatives at Cypress Creek, focusing on activities that span Cypress’ finance
and development needs. Prior to Cypress, Brian was a Senior Vice President in the Environmental Finance Group at
Wells Fargo where he originated and structured tax equity investments for the bank’s own account from 2008 to 2014.
Patrick McConnell, Managing Director
Patrick is responsible for managing project investment and asset management at Cypress. Prior to Cypress, Patrick
led renewable energy finance and solar development for Stonehenge Capital Company and its sister development
company, Heelstone Energy. Prior to his time at Stonehenge/Heelstone, Patrick was a managing directory at Carrboro
Capital, a lower middle-market private equity firm focused on buyouts in the Southeast. Before Carrboro, Patrick was
the lead analyst in the structured finance group of RBS Greenwich Capital where he focused on CMBS, mezzanine,
and credit-tenant financings.
Peter Farlekas, LEED AP, Executive VP Engineering, Procurement and Construction
As Cypres Creek’s executive vice president of engineering, procurement and construction, Peter is responsible for
leading the project management team as it coordinates and supports all phases of project development. Prior to joining
Cypress Creek, Peter was most recently the VP for EPC/Operations and director of EPC Commercial Projects for
Gehrlicher Solar America Corporations.
Jon Buttles, Chief Financial Officer
As CFO, Jon is responsible for guiding and evaluating Cypress Creek’s immediate and long-range financial planning,
budgets and performance. With a background in investment banking, private equity, and venture capital at companies
including Core Equity Group, Monument Capital Partners and Merriman Capital, Inc., Jon is instrumental in Cypress
Creek’s strategic growth. Jon also currently serves on the board of advisors for a number of companies including GTX
Corp. and Boldface LLC.
David Bunge, VP Strategic Development
David is responsible for managing the development team at Cypress. David has been active in solar project
development since 2007. Prior to joining Cypress Creek Renewables, David founded Solexus Development where he
was responsible for development and execution of Missouri’s largest solar facility in Springfield, Missouri.
Fred Robinson, VP New Markets Development
Fred is currently helping lead Cypress’ development efforts in new markets focusing on deal origination, structuring
and market analysis. Prior to joining Cypress, Fred was a Manager of Mergers and Acquisitions at NextEra Energy
Resources, LLC. There he led the acquisition of over 500 MW of development assets to be operational by 2016. Fred
was also a member of the team that led the initial vetting of NextEra’s YieldCo, NextEra Energy Partners, LLC.
Evan Riley, VP Development
Evan Riley leads the development team at Cypress Creek. The scope of this team is to move projects from confirmed
site control to shovel and project finance ready. Evan formerly led the PV Performance Services Group at Black &
Veatch where he provided independent engineering and/or development support for over 6,000 MW of utility,
commercial and residential scale photovoltaic projects in various stages of development, construction and operation.
Chris Norqual, VP Utilities
Chris manages the interconnection process and interfaces with utilities and power off-takers for Cypress Creek
projects. With over 10 years of project management experience, Chris has been involved in developing early Cypress
assets from site control to commercial operation. He holds an undergraduate degree from Amherst College and an
MBA from the University of Southern California.
David Riester, Managing Director
David helps lead project financing and capital raising efforts as part of the Project Finance team at Cypress. Prior to
Cypress, David was managing director and part of the investment committee at GSSG Solar, a private investment firm
focused exclusively on solar. Prior to co-founding GSSG, David was a director in the Global Special Situations Group
at SunEdison where he was responsible for acquisitions, capital formation, and innovative financial structures. Before
SunEdison, David was on the investment team at the venture capital firm SVB Capital and a consultant at Cambridge
Associates.
Jeremy Neigher, Senior Director of Products
Jeremy is leading the product team where he is focusing on Cypress' local solar efforts. Prior to joining Cypress,
Jeremy led Clean Power Finance’s (CPF) Financial Product team. As an early employee at CPF, Jeremy helped build
the business from an early stage start-up to market leader in solar software and residential financing, holding roles in
product management, sales and marketing, and business development.
Allan Riska, Director of Project Finance
Allan is a Director in the Project Finance group, where he is part of a team that sources and closes tax-equity and debt
capital to finance the solar facilities from development through operation. Prior to joining Cypress Creek Renewables
Allan worked in structured products at Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch. Recently he was a Sr. Manager at
SunEdison where he financed commercial and utility-scale solar assets. Allan has an undergraduate degree in finance
from Virginia Tech and an MBA from the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business.
CYPRESS CREEK IN THE NEWS (SAMPLING)
Cypress Creek Renewables Establishing Solar Power Operations in Calhoun County
Publication: South Carolina Department of Commerce
Date: 10/29/15
Highlight: “Cypress Creek’s continued investment in South Carolina and our people is a reason to celebrate. This
Calhoun County project is further proof of the business-friendly environment we have worked to create across our state
for companies in all industries and from all around the world.”
–Gov. Nikki Haley
http://sccommerce.com/news/press-releases/cypress-creek-renewables-establishing-solar-power-operations-calhouncounty
Cypress Creek Looks to Build a New Solar Energy System in Montana
Publication: Hydrogen Fuel News
Date: 11/10/15
Highlight: “The developer has set its sights on Montana, where solar energy is beginning to gain more support from
both the state government and the private sector. The proposed solar project in Missoula would cover 40 acres and
generate 3 megawatts of electricity, which is enough to power approximately 540 homes.”
http://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/cypress-creek-looks-to-build-a-new-solar-energy-system-in-montana/8525765/
How Utilities Are Meeting Rising Corporate Demand For Renewables
Publication: Utility Dive
Date: 12/14/15
Highlight: “In North Carolina, Google last month became the first company to buy into Duke Energy's Carolinas Green
Source Rider program. The tech giant contracted for 61 MW of the Rutherford Farms solar array’s output to serve a
data center. An unnamed off-taker took the balance of the project’s 80 MW generation. The 15-year Google contract
will support Duke’s PPA with Cypress Creek Renewables, the project developer.”
http://www.utilitydive.com/news/how-utilities-are-meeting-rising-corporate-demand-for-renewables/410717/
California Company – With A Carolina Twist – Making It’s Mark In S.C. Solar Market
Publication: Charlotte Business Journal
Date: 12/14/15
Highlight: “[T]he Cypress Creek projects are traditional solar projects and get no incentive from the Duke program.
They are PPAs that utilities are required to offer to small power producers under rules made by the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission.”
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/energy/2016/02/california-company-with-a-carolina-twist-making.html
CYPRESS CREEK PRESS IMAGES