Connor, Clark & Lunn (CC&L) Infrastructure has acquired a “significant” stake in two wind energy projects totalling 329 megawatts (MW) of capacity from Pattern Energy Group LP, growing its renewables portfolio to over two gigawatts.

Announced Tuesday, the 180 MW Armow Wind and 149 MW Grand Renewable Wind projects in southern Ontario are under 20-year power purchase agreements with the Independent Electricity System Operator, the province’s Crown corporation for the electricity market.

The Toronto-based infrastructure investor is an affiliate of parent company CC&L Financial Group, which holds $132 billion in assets. Crestpoint Real Estate Investments Ltd., a commercial real estate investment manager, is part of CC&L Financial Group.

The two wind projects will be jointly owned by CC&L Infrastructure, San Francisco-based Pattern Energy and Samsung Renewable Energy, with the Six Nations of the Grand River holding a stake in Grand Renewable Wind.

Pattern Energy will hold a minority equity stake in both projects and will remain the manager and operator, the release states.

"We are excited to partner with Pattern Energy and look forward to leveraging our collective decades of experience safely and successfully operating renewable energy projects," Matt O'Brien, president of CC&L Infrastructure, said.

Sustainable Biz Canada reached out to CC&L Infrastructure for additional comment, but did not receive a reply by time of publication.

About CC&L Infra, Pattern Energy

CC&L Infrastructure invests in a range of sectors, such as energy, transportation, water, digital and environmental. Its portfolio of over $6 billion in assets under management spans Canada, the U.S., Chile and Bermuda. Renewable energy — wind, solar and hydroelectric — makes up a significant portion of the portfolio.

One of its largest renewable assets is the 297 MW Sharp Hills wind farm in southeastern Alberta.

On the solar side, it has invested in the 200 MW Riverstart Solar Project in Indiana and the 100 MW Kingston Solar Project in Ontario with Samsung Renewable Energy.

The largest hydroelectricity project named on its portfolio website is the 31 MW Long Lake Hydro Project near Stewart, B.C.

The company has an energy transition strategy centred around investing in low-carbon energy production, the infrastructure to support clean power like batteries and expanding transmission assets, and technologies such as carbon capture and sequestration or clean fuels.

Pattern Energy, which has an operating capacity of approximately six gigawatts across over 30 facilities, is a North America-focused renewable energy developer, builder and operator. Most of its projects are in the U.S., but it has operating wind projects in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, with the Enterprise Solar project in Vulcan County, Alta. under development.

"Establishing this partnership with CC&L Infrastructure, an experienced and active Canadian infrastructure investor, will allow Pattern to grow our positive impact in Canada and to expand our portfolio in the country," Hunter Armistead, CEO of Pattern Energy, said.

Pattern Energy’s wind projects generate "enough clean energy to power nearly 1.5 million Canadians," he added.