Projects & Money 2011
As we approach the beginning of a new year, financing options for energy projects (both conventional and renewable) under the current economic conditions continue to be a challenge and a focal point for the energy industry. In order to gear up for financing opportunities in 2011, I, along with my colleagues Marcus Wood, Graham Noyes and Adam Kobos, will be heading to the Big Easy for Projects & Money 2011. Stoel Rives is proud to be a Gold Sponsor at this engaging conference, where Capital Providers, Project Developers and other dealmakers in the financing community will gather together to share information, discuss deal leads and capitalize on new market opportunities.
Projects & Money incorporates its comprehensive market updates with networking opportunities, introductions to new project developments, and interactive multimedia components. Presentations from industry professionals provide an inside look at some of the most ground-breaking deals of 2010, examine the trends they reveal, and provide a better understanding of what it takes to make deals happen.
Stoel Rives attorney Graham Noyes will present "DOE's Loan Guarantee Program: Crucial Financing Mechanism or a Costly Distraction?" on Tuesday, January 11, at 1:30 p.m. during the Pre-Summit Briefing.
On Wednesday, January 12, Partner Marcus Wood will moderate the discussion panel, "Transmission Outlook," at 2:15 p.m. during Track II: Project Sector Outlooks.
Hope to see you there!
To learn more about the conference or to register online, please visit: http://www.infocastinc.com/index.php/conference/416
Projects & Money
When: January 11-13, 2011
Where: Harrah's New Orleans – New Orleans, LA
Clean Energy Jobs Focus of New Manufacturing Solicitation Issued by the DOE
On August 12, 2010, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced a new loan guarantee solicitation for renewable energy manufacturing projects. The Commercial Technology Renewable Energy Manufacturing Projects solicitation (the "Solicitation") is supported by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the "Recovery Act") through Section 1705 of the Loan Guarantee Program and is focused primarily on providing new green energy jobs and the deployment of renewable energy technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The solicitation specifically identified "Eligible Projects" to include renewable energy manufacturing projects or facilities located in the United States that:
- Manufactures Commercial Technology products that support the generation of electricity or thermal energy from renewable resources;
- Has Project Costs greater than seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000);
- Is able to obtain a credit rating equivalent of "BB" or better from Standard & Poor's or Fitch, or "Ba2" or better from Moody's, as evaluated without the benefit of any DOE guarantee or any other credit support;
- Will create or retain jobs in the United States; and
- Otherwise meets all applicable requirements of Title XVII, including Section 1705, the Solicitation, including all attachments and all applicable requirements of the Recovery Act.
The Solicitation also provided, for illustrative purposes, examples of the types of Eligible Projects that may qualify, which include the following:
- wind energy component or systems manufacturing facilities;
- solar photovoltaic (PV) component or system manufacturing facilities;
- concentrated solar power component or system manufacturing facilities;
- hydropower component or system manufacturing facilities;
- geothermal component or system manufacturing facilities;
- other geothermal power cycle component or system manufacturing facilities; or
- ocean wave, tidal, and river current (e.g. hydrokinetic) component or system manufacturing facilities
Of primary importance for any potential applicants under this Solicitation is the timeline for making application and the requirement that projects commence construction no later than September 30, 2011. Specifically, the Solicitation consists of a two-step process with rolling deadlines. The first Part I deadline is September 30, 2010, and the first Part II deadline is November 30, 2010. Final Part I applications are due November 30, 2010 and final Part II applications are due January 31, 2011. Applicants are strongly encouraged to get their applications in early -- particularly in light of the commence construction deadline. In addition, the DOE will make available up to $750 million to pay the credit subsidy costs of loan guarantees issued through this solicitation.
It should be noted that the DOE recently implemented a number of improvements to its loan guarantee program that will help facilitate a more efficient application process through the launch of a "user-friendly" online application portal. The application portal can be accessed directly from the DOE's loan guarantee program website. According to the DOE, this on-line application system is designed to:
- guide the applicant through the development and submission of a loan or loan guarantee application;
- assist the applicant in determining basic program eligibility;
- assist the applicant in preparing an application suitable for DOE review;
- highlight areas of the applicant’s proposal that may require additional information; and
- provide the applicant with guidance on how to prepare a stronger application.
