2001
The Origin of Invenergy
In 1990, engineer and energy entrepreneur Michael Polsky founded Polsky Energy Corporation (later renamed to SkyGen) after experiencing rapid success with his first company, Indeck Energy Services (IES).
SkyGen, which focused on developing large-scale natural-gas power plants, was where Polsky met his future business partner, Jim Murphy. Within a decade, they assembled one of the largest portfolios of gas-fired generation in North America. The company was later acquired by Calpine Corporation in 2000.
2003
Invenergy’s First Project, Hardee Energy Center
In Invenergy’s earliest days, success depended on more than vision—it depended on proof.
The early 2000s were a period of rapid change in the U.S. energy market: volatile power prices, shifting ownership structures, and a growing need for scalable, disciplined project development. From the outset, Invenergy’s founding team understood that navigating this environment would require moving decisively when the right opportunities emerged, and exercising patience when they did not.
That opportunity arrived in 2003 with Hardee Energy Center, a 370-megawatt natural gas power plant that began operations in 1993 in rural Florida.
2004
Nelson and St. Clair Energy Centers
In a 2004 bankruptcy proceeding, Invenergy had the unique opportunity to acquire the Nelson Energy Center, an Illinois-based natural gas plant that was only partially completed. Invenergy recognized the project’s long-term value in selling power to the wholesale market, but reviving the operation would prove challenging.
At the time of acquisition, only one out of four intended gas turbines had been delivered and installed. The plant had room for three additional turbines, but this was still more than double what the site needed to operate in its current market.
2007
The Origin of Invenergy Services
As Invenergy expanded its early portfolio of wind projects, the team recognized an opportunity to raise the standard for how those assets were operated. While the projects were supported by their original equipment manufacturers, Invenergy sought to bring the same operational discipline and accountability that had defined its natural gas business to its renewable fleet.
Invenergy began building its own operations platform, Invenergy Services, from the ground up. In 2007, the company developed and took over operations at the Camp Springs Energy Center in Texas, launching its first Remote Operations Center (ROC) in an extra conference room in the O&M building. It had four computers: one for each of Invenergy’s wind sites.
2008-2016
The Evolution of Grand Ridge Energy Center
Building on Invenergy’s innovative, adaptive spirit, Grand Ridge Energy Center was the starting point for a new approach to energy development and the genesis of Invenergy’s first solar and battery storage projects.
The Grand Ridge site – with an existing grid interconnection and abundant available land – was ideally positioned within Invenergy’s growing renewable energy portfolio. Just as importantly, it offered an opportunity to think beyond a single technology and explore how different energy resources could work together to improve site productivity and reliability.
In 2012, Invenergy completed its first solar project at Grand Ridge. By adding solar generation alongside wind, the site’s energy capacity and reliability increased, and the development timeline and construction costs were significantly reduced.
2013
7 Major Project Financings in One Quarter
December 2013 marked a milestone in Invenergy’s history that solidified a long-standing truth: our ability to deliver is powered by our people.
In a single quarter, teams across the company successfully executed seven major project financings and transactions, representing more than $1 billion in activity across North America and Europe.
Invenergy had already spent a decade building expertise, refining processes and developing a culture focused on execution. By 2013, the company had proven it could successfully manage large, complex transactions – what made that December different was the sheer volume.
2014
Invenergy Enters Mexico’s Energy Market
When Mexico reimagined its energy future in the mid-2010s, Invenergy stepped in to help build it.
Invenergy established its presence in Mexico in 2014, drawn by the country’s long-term potential at a moment when energy reforms were reshaping the power sector and opening new opportunities for private investment. Starting with a local partner and now operating independently, Invenergy brought its U.S. development and technical expertise to build a platform tailored to Mexico’s unique energy needs.
2018
Operating Beyond Invenergy
As the company rapidly built its operating expertise, Founder Michael Polsky and then-COO Alex George began discussing expanding Invenergy Services to third-party facilities. The ultimate question was: who would build and lead the business?
Then Director of Wind Operations Support Brad Purtell stepped forward. Brad had given over one hundred tours of the Invenergy Control Center in 2017 to customers, public officials, and partners; he was already selling Invenergy’s operating capabilities daily and knew it could translate into an actionable business plan. He drafted the job description for a Director of Third-Party Services Business Development, then stepped into the role himself.
2019
A 1.5-Gigawatt Triumph: Lackawanna Energy Center
In 2019, Jessup, Pennsylvania, became home to Invenergy’s largest operating energy plant: the Lackawanna Energy Center. Beyond its triumphant 1.5-gigawatt scale, Lackawanna holds a special place in Invenergy’s history as a masterclass in modern energy efficiency, innovation, and community impact.
Planning began as early as 2012, as older power plants across PJM retired and created opportunities for new natural gas generation. The initial concept was to develop a 1,370-megawatt facility into the side of a mountain near Scranton, Pennsylvania, using existing Invenergy equipment in storage.