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Variable Interest Entities
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Variable Interest Entities Variable Interest Entities

NEP has identified NEP OpCo, a limited partnership with a general partner and limited partners, as a VIE. NEP has consolidated the results of NEP OpCo and its subsidiaries because of its controlling interest in the general partner of NEP OpCo. At September 30, 2019, NEP owned an approximately 37.5% limited partner interest in NEP OpCo and NEE Equity owned a noncontrolling 62.5% limited partner interest in NEP OpCo (NEE's noncontrolling interest). The assets and liabilities of NEP OpCo as well as the operations of NEP OpCo represent substantially all of NEP's assets and liabilities and its operations.

In addition, at September 30, 2019, NEP OpCo consolidated 12 VIEs related to certain subsidiaries that have sold differential membership interests in entities which own and operate 20 wind electric generation facilities. These entities are considered VIEs because the holders of the differential membership interests do not have substantive rights over the significant activities of these entities. The assets, primarily property, plant and equipment - net, and liabilities, primarily asset retirement obligation and non-
current due to related party, of the VIEs, totaled approximately $4,850 million and $120 million, respectively, at September 30, 2019 and $4,937 million and $132 million, respectively, at December 31, 2018.

At September 30, 2019, NEP OpCo also consolidated a VIE related to a Class B noncontrolling interest in NEP Renewables. This entity is considered a VIE because the holder of the Class B noncontrolling interest does not have substantive rights over the significant activities of the entity. The assets, primarily property, plant and equipment - net and liabilities, primarily long-term debt and asset retirement obligation, of the VIE totaled approximately $2,281 million and $94 million, respectively, at September 30, 2019 and $2,339 million and $89 million, respectively, at December 31, 2018. Substantially all of the indirect subsidiaries of NEP Renewables have sold differential membership interests and are also included in the disclosure of the VIEs related to differential membership interests.

At September 30, 2019, NEP OpCo also consolidated a VIE related to the June 2019 sale of a Class B noncontrolling interest in NEP Renewables II. This entity is considered a VIE because the holder of the Class B noncontrolling interest does not have substantive rights over the significant activities of the entity. The assets, primarily intangible assets - PPA and property, plant and equipment - net and liabilities, primarily other long-term liabilities and asset retirement obligation, of the VIE totaled approximately $2,207 million and $326 million, respectively, at September 30, 2019. NEP Renewables II includes two VIEs related to Rosmar and Silver State. See Note 1 and Note 7 - Equity.

NEP has an indirect equity method investment in three NEER solar projects with a total generating capacity of 277 MW. Through a series of transactions, a subsidiary of NEP issued 1,000,000 NEP OpCo Class B Units, Series 1 and 1,000,000 NEP OpCo Class B Units, Series 2, to NEER for approximately 50% of the ownership interests in the three solar projects (non-economic ownership interests). NEER, as holder of the NEP OpCo Class B Units, will retain 100% of the economic rights in the projects to which the respective Class B Units relate, including the right to all distributions paid by the project subsidiaries that own the projects to NEP OpCo. NEER has agreed to indemnify NEP against all risks relating to NEP’s ownership of the projects until NEER offers to sell economic interests to NEP and NEP accepts such offer, if NEP chooses to do so. NEER has also agreed to continue to manage the operation of the projects at its own cost, and to contribute to the projects any capital necessary for the operation of the projects, until NEER offers to sell economic interests to NEP and NEP accepts such offer. At September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, NEP's equity method investment related to the non-economic ownership interests of approximately $11 million and $20 million, respectively, is reflected as other non-current assets and, at September 30, 2019, $13 million is reflected as other non-current liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. All equity in earnings of the non-economic ownership interests is allocated to net income attributable to noncontrolling interests. NEP is not the primary beneficiary and therefore does not consolidate these entities because it does not control any of the ongoing activities of these entities, was not involved in the initial design of these entities and does not have a controlling interest in these entities.