Scott Leonard and Recurrent Energy Invest in Communities

As part of Recurrent Energy’s construction of its North Fork Solar project in Oklahoma, it employed a herd of sheep to graze on the grass around the project site, a practice known as agrivoltaics. To keep the herd in line, the shepherd enlisted a group of sheepdogs. On one occasion a sheepdog jumped the fence and wandered into a nearby living room. “It was a funny story because the neighbor was really pleased to pet the dog, and this is a neighbor to the project who had initial concerns about the project being built,” says Scott Leonard, director of real estate at Recurrent Energy.

This story illustrates Recurrent’s commitment to and engagement with the communities in which it builds and, ultimately, services its projects.

“We’re ready to answer the phone or call someone back within 24 hours when a landowner, a neighbor, a utility, a community organizer or a charity gives us a call to discuss elements of a project, whether they have questions about when the construction will begin, what it would be like when the construction is underway, if they can recommend local laborers available for work on the project, or how long it’s going to take to complete construction. Even things like sheepdogs ending up in their living rooms,” says Leonard.

Through its relationships with landowners and the communities, Recurrent appreciates communities’ objectives to make ends meet and prosper.

“These communities are very excited about the investment and we’re putting to work tracts of land that are either unusable for farming or the landowners don’t want to farm anymore. Instead, we’re going to farm the sun on these same parcels,” says Leonard.

Recurrent’s community engagement goes beyond its construction projects. For example, Recurrent partners with local high schools, community colleges, and 4-H groups, even repairing roads, or refurbishing local theaters.

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“We have learned about these opportunities through the landowner connection established by our real estate department. The types of community outreach that are most needed and most effective (in the communities). This type of work has really ramped up since we became an independent power producer,” says Leonard. Such gestures are Recurrent’s guarantee that it will be there to help the community, long after the facility is built.

“There’s a lot of companies that come and go and they don’t necessarily look after the land or the community,” says Leonard.

“Some of the companies that build these solar projects, build it and they walk away. There’s not much interaction with the folks afterwards. We try to improve upon that. And that’s something that we specialize in here at Recurrent,” explains Leonard.

Recurrent Energy’s initial business development model was “build to flip.” Hoping to drive long-term value and stability, in 2022 it transitioned to a “build to own” model, and in 2023 it started construction of the first of three ownership operation projects.

“You have to think of a 40-year project rather than an asset that you’re going to flip at construction or right after construction,” says Leonard.

Thinking like this deepens Recurrent’s investment in the community and establishes a longer-term relationship with the landowners and neighbors.

“Stewart Title has been fortunate to partner with Recurrent Energy and Scott Leornard,” says Ilene Eckert, vice president and business development officer at Stewart Title Energy and Infrastructure Group. “He is extremely knowledgeable and a great leader in renewable energy space. He is determined and willing to collaborate on projects. Seeing these projects come to life is rewarding for the us at Stewart Title.”

“We deeply value our partnership with Recurrent Energy, which has been developed over the past ten years through dozens of projects,” adds Jack Hays, senior director of solar at Westwood Professional Services. “Their commitment to renewables, paired with Scott’s industry expertise, has been instrumental in our shared success, fostering growth and resilience in the renewable energy sector.” 

Leonard came to Recurrent in 2015 as a real estate manager after a very long career as a real estate paralegal. He enjoyed the casual atmosphere cultivated at Recurrent compared to the button-down environment of law. He ascended through the ranks to become Recurrent’s director of real estate in 2022.

Under his directorship, Recurrent completed the real estate development on three projects in 2023, in Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana with two more battery storage projects in 2024 in Texas and Arizona. The North Fork facility involves nine landowners with whom he personally met several times, holding potluck dinners, presenting project updates, and answering questions. 

Leonard’s team comprises several real estate managers and contract coordinators who handle the day-to-day real estate work on projects. He hires individuals with good soft skills who can speak with community members, and he emphasizes the importance of working with community members.

“We go out to these sites and do that in-person community interaction together,” says Leonard.

Eventually he loosens the reins as his team members handle assets and community relationships on their own, only occasionally guiding them with advice. He considers himself a “can” rather than a “tell” boss, demonstrating how he handles his projects so that the team members can gain autonomy.

“It’s important to not only foster good working relationships and have a team that likes working here and working under someone like me, but that they also feel independent or they can make a difference within the communities that they are impacting,” says Leonard.

Leonard is sure Recurrent Energy is destined to be a major player in the energy market by owning and operating several dozen facilities nationwide while working with community leaders to ensure it is making a difference in communities.

“We’re bringing good money to the tax bases of these governments and handling whatever comes up on these projects and just having a reputation for being a trusted leader in the industry,” says Leonard.