Linea Energy Secures Debt and Preferred Equity for Texas Battery Project

2 minutes read | March.17.2026

Linea Energy secured debt financing and a preferred equity financing from DESRI in its Duffy battery energy storage project in Matagorda County, Texas. The project is a 235 MW / 470 MWh utility-scale battery system designed to store electricity and support grid reliability in ERCOT.

Orrick advised Linea Energy.

THE COMPANIES

Linea Energy is an independent power producer focused on the development, ownership and operation of clean energy infrastructure.

DESRI develops, acquires, invests in, owns and operates long-term contracted renewable energy assets in the U.S., with a portfolio of more than 80 solar, wind and storage projects totaling over 12 GW of capacity.

THE IMPACT

The financing advances construction of the Duffy battery storage project, adding grid-scale storage capacity in ERCOT. Once operational, the system will store excess electricity and deliver power during peak demand, improving grid reliability and supporting the integration of renewable energy in Texas.

THE TEAM

The Orrick team was led by Louise Gibbons, John Eliason, Devin Canavan and Helen Aki and included support from Nikiforos Mathews, Darrell Thomas, Chelsea Munoz-Patchen, Zachary D.T. Huey, Jason Warrington, Shah Mohammadi, Trudie Makens, Sarafina Joseph and Ellie Rubinstein.

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Related Lawyers

Louise Gibbons Partner, Energy & Infrastructure, Energy

San Francisco

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D:+1 415 773 5734
E: [email protected]

Practice:

Energy & Infrastructure Sector
Energy & Infrastructure
Energy
Renewable Energy
Mergers & Acquisitions

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Louise Gibbons Partner

San Francisco

From the full suite of tax equity, preferred equity, cash equity and debt financings to tax credit transfers and all the hybrid structures in between, Louise takes a collaborative and relatable approach to closing each deal. She advises a range of renewables and energy transition industry participants, from project developers, sponsors, borrowers, lenders, investment banks, private equity funds and other capital providers and investors. She works with a range of asset classes, including among others, wind, solar, battery storage, hydrogen and renewable natural gas.

Louise was recognized by Chambers USA Nationwide Projects: Power & Renewables: Transactional in 2025, where clients describe her as "excellent," "very thorough," "detailed" and "pragmatic." She was named by Legal 500 as a Next Generation Partner in Energy Transactions: Electric Power in 2024 and noted for her “work in project finance and M&A work on transformative, first-in-kind renewable energy projects.”

As an All-American College sailor, Louise has pursued her interest in law of the sea and international laws throughout her career. She is translating this experience into differentiated advice for clients in the burgeoning U.S. offshore wind market.

John Eliason Partner, Energy & Infrastructure, Steuern

Washington, D.C.

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D:+1 202 339 8546
E: [email protected]

Practice:

Energy & Infrastructure Sector
Finance Sector
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Steuern
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John Eliason Partner

Washington, D.C.

John advises major financial institutions (tax equity investors and infrastructure funds), lenders, developers, and sponsors, particularly those in the wind, solar, storage, biomass and energy tech space. He helps clients structure financings for their projects to take advantage of federal and state tax incentives, like the Federal production tax credit (PTC), energy investment tax credit (ITC) and accelerated depreciation (MACRS and “bonus”) using partnership flips, sale-leasebacks, public/private partnerships, and other structuring options. He has been particularly focused on providing clients with the latest guidance and opportunities relating to the Inflation Reduction Act, including with respect to Section 6418 tax credit transfers and Section 6417 direct pay opportunities.

Recognized by Chambers USA and Chambers Global in Band 2 for Projects: Renewables & Alternative Energy, clients describe John as “extremely knowledgeable, flexible and can put technical jargon into plain terms.” Client sources also state “he knows the tax equity markets very well and is very commercial.”

Prior to law school, John founded an information management company based in Austin, Texas. He is also a veteran of the Texas Army National Guard.

Devin Canavan Of Counsel, Energy & Infrastructure, Energy

Washington, D.C.

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D:+1 202 339 8690
E: [email protected]

Practice:

Energy & Infrastructure Sector
Energy & Infrastructure
Energy
Infrastructure

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Devin Canavan Of Counsel

Washington, D.C.

Devin regularly represents several of the largest independent power producers and other major players in the energy space on debt financings across a variety of asset classes including wind, solar, battery storage, gas and infrastructure assets. Devin takes a collaborative and common sense approach to help clients navigate complex financing challenges in a dynamic market to ensure their deals reach a successful close.

Helen Aki Senior Associate, Energy & Infrastructure, Finance

San Francisco

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D:+1 415 773 5873
E: [email protected]

Practice:

Energy & Infrastructure Sector
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Finance
Renewable Energy
Energy Storage

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Helen Aki Senior Associate

San Francisco

She advises sponsors, investors and buyers in the renewable energy sector on all stages of a project, from drafting and negotiating offtake, procurement and construction contracts to coordinating debt, tax equity and preferred equity financing, as well as facilitating tax credit transfer structures, joint venture arrangements, and project acquisitions and sales.

Helen takes a collaborative approach to help clients build consensus and manage stakeholders across an increasingly complicated capital stack to close the deal. She understands both the legal and business challenges of the energy transition from a variety of perspectives, including through direct experience on secondment to the project finance group of a major U.S. renewable energy developer.

As a law student, Helen worked as a summer legal intern in the Administrative Law Judge Division of the California Public Utilities Commission, as a senior business analyst with Pacific Gas and Electric Company and as a legal trainee at Positive Planet UK.

Before practicing law, she led programs with state and local governments and ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs to advance the adoption of clean technologies, including battery storage, virtual power plants, commercial and industrial lighting and advanced building control systems.