Immediately following the passage of the OBBBA, we provided a shortlist of 30 top late-stage projects best positioned to offer significant value to buyers. The legislation, as we noted, created a new urgency within the clean energy market to secure projects that would still qualify for federal tax credits.
Less than two months later, market data confirms this acceleration. Of the 30 projects we initially highlighted, 7 are already under exclusivity, and many others are in active conversations with engaged buyers. The market is shifting rapidly, necessitating a new evaluation of the top projects currently available. In response, we have analyzed the latest data to curate an updated list of the most attractive projects on the LevelTen Marketplace.
The race is on, and the window of opportunity is narrowing.
All Roads Point to Increasing Prices and Competitive Pressure
This PPA market acceleration is happening alongside a rise in wholesale electricity price forecasts. This parallel trend, driven by factors like increased demand from data centers and electrification, improves the underlying economics of a VPPA. Buyers who act now are not just avoiding future PPA price hikes, but are also locking in deals that may look more financially attractive than they did just a quarter ago.
This dynamic is critical, as PPA prices are continuing to rise. In our recent State of the Market report, we found a 4% increase in PPA prices in the weeks immediately following the OBBBA announcement.
Since publishing our initial Top Projects list in late July, we've seen this sample of the most attractive projects experience even faster price hikes:
- ERCOT: Prices for select top projects have increased by approximately 5%.
- MISO: Prices for select top projects have increased by 7%.
These increases show how quickly the most attractive projects are repricing — a trend we expect to accelerate in Q3.
Emerging Contractual Trends for Buyers
As competition intensifies, buyers that do not move efficiently will likely face more stringent and developer-favorable contract terms. We are observing an increase in demands for:
- CapEx flexibility for the evolving global tariff situation.
- Change in Law provisions that further insulate developers from adverse policy changes at the federal level.
For buyers, market timing is now directly correlated with leverage in PPA negotiations.
How to Accelerate Procurement and Secure Value
Speed is critical at this moment. Traditional, multi-month RFP processes risk leaving buyers behind, as the best projects are often secured before such processes can conclude.
LevelTen offers two distinct procurement pathways designed for the current market's velocity:
- Facilitate Bilateral Transactions: We can provide our updated list of top projects and introduce you to the developer. With the release of our evolved Platform, buyers can quickly and easily navigate self-service deals with identified developers and projects.
- The LevelTen LEAP™ RFP: For buyers requiring a competitive procurement process, our accelerated RFP is engineered for speed and efficiency. One North American tech giant launched an RFP immediately following OBBBA and secured a top project in under 60 days, breaking our own benchmarks and bypassing months of traditional RFP delays.
The Window for Action is Now
The OBBBA deadline has created a finite opportunity to secure tax credit-eligible projects. The most attractive of these projects are being secured quickly.
The best projects won’t wait. Reach out now to get the updated list or launch an accelerated LEAP RFP before they’re gone.
