Cleanleaf Energy has partnered with Heelstone Renewable Energy to provide O&M services for 350 MW of solar projects, a move that enhances its utility-scale portfolio. The agreement covers five solar sites—four in Georgia and one in Pennsylvania.
Cleanleaf Energy and Heelstone Announce 350 MW Solar O&M Partnership
Cleanleaf Energy was formed in mid-2022 after Borrego O&M spun off its solar and energy storage development business to sharpen its focus on engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) and operations and maintenance (O&M) services.
Heelstone launched in 2012 with initial projects in North Carolina. By 2016, the company had expanded its development into California, and in 2019, it received an investment from Ares Infrastructure and Power to help develop its utility-scale solar projects across the United States. Heelstone was acquired by Qualitas Energy in January 2024, at which point the developer reportedly had a portfolio of 20 GW of solar and storage assets.
The 350 MW O&M Agreement

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The five-year operations and maintenance (O&M) agreements include automatic renewals and cover projects scheduled to become operational within the next 30 to 90 days.
This expansion underscores Cleanleaf Energy’s growing role in the renewable energy sector, particularly in the management and optimization of large-scale solar installations.
“We did our homework, and Cleanleaf stood out with the most advanced and competitive services. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship on these and future projects,” said a representative from the Heelstone Renewable Energy leadership team.
Support From Realtime Operations Center
Cleanleaf’s state-of-the-art Realtime Operations Center (ROC) in Dallas will support these new projects. Central to Cleanleaf’s commitment to exceptional service, the ROC is equipped to address client needs promptly and ensure the highest standards of reliability and performance.
Cleanleaf’s CEO, Mikael Backman, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, saying, “This achievement underscores our capabilities and readiness to handle more utility-scale projects. The synergies of our large DG footprint in 27 states combined with a growing utility-scale portfolio create an exciting future for effective, high-performing O&M services to the solar industry. We are excited about the future and our role in making the energy transition a permanent reality.”
