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The subsidiary of a company from Spain with plans to spend more than $1 billion on energy projects in Oklahoma is asking Corporation Commissioners for authority to construct an 11-mile-long power distribution line as part of a solar farm in the northern part of the state.
Little Sahara Gen-Tie Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of Heelstone Renewable Energy headquartered in Durham, North Carolina submitted the recent application with state regulators. Heelstone’s parent company is Qualitas Energy, headquartered in Madrid, Spain.
Little Sahara is asking for a Certificate of Authority as part of Oklahoma’s Oklahoma High Voltage Electric Transmission Facility Act which was approved by the legislature and allowed to become law as of August 1. The case was filed as PUD2026-000082.
Heelstone Energy intends to construct a renewable energy campus near Alva in Woods County and explained that it will be comprised of both solar photovoltaic systems and battery storage that will transmit the energy to a regional transmission system via the 11-mile-long, up to 345-kilovolt line.
Heelstone Renewable Energy, LLC Senior Vice President of Development, Jonathan Burke testified that the Little Sahara Gen-Tie Holdings, LLC is an entity created by Heelstone for the purposes of developing, planning and constructing the Little Sahara Gen-Tie Project.
He explained in his testimony the company intends to use steel monopoles in tangent, dead-end and crossing configurations with heights up to 150 feet and a right-of-way width of 200 to 400 feet. Burke said Little Sahra has already acquired the necessary land rights along the proposed gen-tie route through voluntary, private easements and lease purchase agreements.
“Little Sahara plans to commence construction in Q3 2028,” stated Burke who said the project represents a significant long-term investment in Oklahoma’s economy. But he offered no details or information about the size of the solar project. Heelstone did not respond to an inquiry made via email.
“Heelstone is developing an Oklahoma portfolio representing an anticipated private investment of up to $1.2 billion, supporting the state’s energy infrastructure, local businesses, and rural communities.
Burke said the project would contribute property tax revenues and other local tax-related payments totaling many times its annual tax obligation over its operational life.
“Using current projections, this equates to an aggregate local tax contribution on the order
of hundreds of millions of dollars over the Project’s expected operating life, providing a
stable and meaningful source of funding for local schools, county services, and other
public entities,” testified Burke.
The company is intending to hold an open house October 28 at the Northwest Technology Center in Alva from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
It describes itself as a leading U.S. utility-scale solar and storage independent power producer with more than a decade of experience across development, project finance, construction and operations. The company was founded in 2012 and has developed and or brought into commercial operation more than 70 solar photovoltaic projects totaling more than 12 GW. The firm said its mission is to bring table, predictable revenue to landowners and affordable renewable energy to communities across the country.
Heelstone was acquired by Qualitas Energy in 2024.

About Qualitas Energy
Qualitas Energy is a leading global investment and management platform with a dual focus on both funding and developing renewable energy, energy transition, and sustainable infrastructure. Its headquarters are in Madrid, Spain.
Since 2006, the Qualitas Energy team has dedicated over €14 billion to the energy transition worldwide. These investments have been deployed through six vehicles: Fotowatio / FRV, Vela Energy, Qualitas Energy III, Qualitas Energy IV, Qualitas Energy V, and Qualitas Energy Credit Fund. Qualitas Energy’s existing portfolio currently comprises 11 GW of operational and development-stage renewable energy assets – including solar PV, concentrated solar power (CSP), wind, energy storage, hydroelectric power, and renewable natural gas – across Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Chile, and the United States.
Over the past five years, Qualitas Energy has generated enough energy to supply 1.7 million homes and has successfully avoided the emission of 1.5 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent. The Qualitas Energy team consists of more than 500 professionals across fifteen offices in Madrid, Berlin, London, Milan, Hamburg, Wiesbaden, Trier, Cologne, Stuttgart, Warsaw, Wroclaw, Santiago, Durham, Bristol, and Edinburgh.
Jerry Bohnen is the founder and creator of OK Energy Today, which began in 2012. He is an Edward R. Murrow Investigative award winner and has been recognized by other national, regional and state institutions during his 50 years as a broadcast journalist. Contact Jerry at editor@okenergytoday.com
OK Energy Today is a news media publication committed to timely, accurate reporting on Oklahoma energy.
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