Acquisition (Tables)
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Business Acquisition [Line Items]  
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information
Meikle was under construction throughout 2016 and did not reach commercial operations until February 1, 2017. Meikle's statements of operations and balance sheets for the year ended December 31, 2016 reflect development and construction activity, whose costs were primarily being capitalized to construction in progress, and include no revenue or operating expenses. Therefore, the Company has determined there is no material difference between pro forma data that give effects to the Meikle acquisition as if it had occurred on January 1, 2016 and the commercial operations date. The unaudited pro forma data is presented for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be indicative of actual results that would have been achieved had the acquisition been consummated as of February 1, 2017 when Meikle reached commercial operations. The unaudited pro forma data should not be considered representative of the Company’s future financial condition or results of operations.
Unaudited pro forma data (in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Pro forma total revenue
 
$
94,820

 
$
312,116

Pro forma total expenses
 
(144,170
)
 
(376,980
)
Pro forma net loss
 
(49,350
)
 
(64,864
)
Less: pro forma net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
(19,025
)
 
(52,694
)
Pro forma net loss attributable to Pattern Energy
 
$
(30,325
)
 
$
(12,170
)
Broadview Project [Member]  
Business Acquisition [Line Items]  
Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed
The identifiable assets, operating contracts and liabilities assumed for Broadview and Western Interconnect were recorded at their fair values, which corresponded to the sum of the cash purchase price, contingent consideration payment, and the fair value of the other investors' noncontrolling interests.
The fair values are as follows (in thousands):
 
 
April 21, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
3,022

Trade receivables
 
3,259

Prepaid expenses
 
187

Other current assets
 
9,830

Restricted cash
 
44,383

Deferred financing costs, net
 
1,890

Property, plant and equipment
 
627,648

Intangible assets
 
22,346

Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities
 
(2,956
)
Accrued interest
 
(108
)
Long-term debt, current portion
 
(51,053
)
Accrued construction costs
 
(38,960
)
Related party payable
 
(674
)
Contingent liability
 
(36,205
)
Asset retirement obligation
 
(6,296
)
Other long-term liabilities
 
(12,350
)
Total consideration before non-controlling interest
 
563,963

Less: noncontrolling interests
 
(325,600
)
Total consideration
 
$
238,363
Meikle [Member]  
Business Acquisition [Line Items]  
Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed
The fair value of the purchase consideration, including transaction-related expenses of the asset acquisition, and fair value of the noncontrolling interest is allocated to the relative fair value of the individual assets, operating contracts and liabilities assumed. The noncontrolling interest was recorded at fair value estimated using the purchase price paid by PSP pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement. The preliminary fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with the Meikle acquisition are as follows (in thousands):

August 10, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents
$
3,865

Trade receivables
5,432

Prepaid expenses
1,194

Deferred financing costs, current
36

Other current assets
432

Restricted cash
6,808

Deferred financing costs
726

Property, plant and equipment
375,717

Finite lived intangible asset
29,287

Other assets
80

Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities
(4,676
)
Accrued construction costs
(1,762
)
Related party payable
(96
)
Accrued interest
(1,180
)
Derivative liabilities, current
(1,980
)
Current portion of long-term debt
(7,291
)
Long-term debt, net
(258,303
)
Derivative liabilities, noncurrent
(13,198
)
Other long-term liabilities
(1,816
)
Total consideration before non-controlling interest
133,275

Less: noncontrolling interests
(64,789
)
Total consideration
$
68,486
Acquired projects [Member]  
Business Acquisition [Line Items]  
Condensed Income Statement [Table Text Block]
The following table presents the amounts included in the consolidated statements of operations for the acquisitions discussed above since their respective dates of acquisition:
Unaudited data (in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Total revenue
 
$
16,556

 
$
25,357

Total expenses
 
(22,859
)
 
(35,856
)
Net loss
 
(6,303
)
 
(10,499
)
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
(7,019
)
 
(11,274
)
Net income attributable to Pattern Energy
 
$
716

 
$
775