Exus Renewables Repowering 2 Pennsylvania Wind Farms with $356M KeyBank Backing
Independent power producer Exus Renewables North America is modernizing two Pennsylvania wind energy projects that will be updated to deliver over 136 MW of newly rebuilt clean energy to data centers and other large energy consumers in the region.
Backed by $356 million in construction financing from lenders led by KeyBanc Capital Markets, Exus is repowering both its 61.6-MW Cambria Wind Farm (originally built in 2009) and its 75-MW Highland North Wind Farm (commercially operational since 2012), both located in Cambria County.
According to market researcher Cleanview, Pennsylvania's 27 active utility-scale wind farms account for 1,556 MW of power generation—enough to power roughly 350,000 homes. Approximately 14% of this capacity is undergoing repowering upgrades, allowing developers to bypass lengthy timelines and new permitting hurdles.
State coalition advocates highlighted that in 2019, Pennsylvania's wind energy sector helped avoid 3.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel plants. That effectively eliminated the annual emissions equivalent of 740,000 cars.
The Cambria Wind Farm is currently under construction for modernization, with commercial operation anticipated in the fall, according to a release. A joint ribbon-cutting ceremony is being planned for both sites in September.
When first commissioned, the Cambria facility had an operational capacity of 63 MW—with Highland North at the same 75-MW threshold. Despite the slight drop in nameplate capacity (maximum rated output), Exus states Cambria's total output is significantly higher, by roughly 30% in actual power, by upgrading the site with Vestas turbines.
Both projects utilize turbines from Danish manufacturer Vestas. This follows a 2024 agreement with Vestas, which operates two manufacturing facilities in Colorado, to execute multi-million-dollar repowering upgrades across Exus’ 306-MW Pennsylvania portfolio.
Those efforts also included the 139.4-MW Twin Ridges wind farm in Somerset County, in addition to the previous finalization of a 137-MW turbine order for Highland North and Cambria wind projects. Currently, Exus is working to expand its renewable energy portfolio in Pennsylvania amid rising energy demand.
"The demand for clean energy from data centers and large corporations isn't slowing down; it's accelerating," said CEO and President Jim Spencer of Exus Renewables North America in a statement. "For good developers with strong pipelines and quality sponsors, the capital is there, and this is exactly the kind of execution we're built for."
As an independent operator, Exus manages both utility-scale renewable energy and energy storage projects, which focus on advancing energy solutions across the U.S. Its leading financing partner, KeyBank, since 2007, has committed over $25 billion to the utility, power and renewable sector.
"KeyBank has a long history in Pennsylvania, and we're proud to support projects that expand clean energy generation while creating economic opportunities across the Commonwealth," added Andy Redinger, managing director and head of the utility, power and renewable energy group at KeyBanc Capital Markets.
