Renewable Energy and Corporate PPAs: Overcoming Regulatory, Financing, Intercreditor, Tax Challenges

Transcription

1 Presenting a live 90-minute webinar with interactive Q&A Renewable Energy and Corporate PPAs: Overcoming Regulatory, Financing, Intercreditor, Tax Challenges WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, pm Eastern 12pm Central 11am Mountain 10am Pacific Today s faculty features: Robert Eberhardt, Partner, Chadbourne & Parke, New York Eli M. Katz, Partner, Chadbourne & Parke, New York Robert F. Shapiro, Partner, Chadbourne & Parke, Washington, D.C. The audio portion of the conference may be accessed via the telephone or by using your computer's speakers. Please refer to the instructions ed to registrants for additional information. If you have any questions, please contact Customer Service at ext. 10.

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5 Renewable Energy and Corporate PPAs: Overcoming Regulatory, Financing, Intercreditor and Tax Challenges Rob Eberhardt Eli Katz Bob Shapiro

6 Agenda Corporate PPA Overview Corporate PPA Structures and Terms Regulatory Issues Intercreditor Issues Tax Issues

7 Corporate PPA Overview

8 Recent Market Trends 52% of offtake contracts from wind were signed with non-utility offtakers last year Many of these contracts are for shorter durations than typical PPAs (12-15 years) Merchant tail puts pressure on tax equity and backleverage financings 8

9 9

10 Recent Market Trends Corporates are being driven by: desire to reduce price volatility corporate environmental commitments Confluence of factors is driving this trend: Long-term extension of tax credits falling prices for generating renewable power less optimistic of effect of simply buying RECs 10

11 State Renewable Portfolio Standards and Goals Source: 11

12 Recent Market Trends Longer term policy support for renewables is becoming more pronounced Paris Accord Clean Power Plan Corporate customers looking for environmental commitments Dispersed energy needs for corporates makes on-site solar or wind less compelling Trend towards virtual or synthetic PPAs is rapidly becoming the solution 12

13 Recent Market Trends Key Challenges: Corporates unfamiliarity with buying power compare to utilities who do this for a living Financing parties evaluating long-term corporate credit risk Difficulty obtaining parent guaranties Covenant restrictions in corporate credit facilities Inter-creditor issues between financing parties and corporate buyers More demands on project credit support 13

14 Selected Projects Year Project Sponsor Offtaker Lead Lender Tax Equity Market 2010 Garden Wind NextEra Google MISO 2012 Minco Wind II NextEra Google SPP 2014 Keechi Wind Enbridge Microsoft N/A MetLife ERCOT 2015 Fowler Ridge IV Wind Pattern Amazon Siemens Financial Services JPMorgan and MetLife 2015 Pilot Hill Wind EDF Microsoft N/A MetLife and GE 2016 CA Flats Solar First Solar Apple TBD TBD CAISO 2016 Cimarron Bend Wind PJM PJM Enel Google N/A TBD SPP 14

15 Corporate PPA Structures and Terms 15

16 Physical PPAs [ What had Project Company Energy RECs Corporate Offtaker Energy Market $ Ancil. Services Wholesale Energy Market (e.g. PJM, CAISO) Fixed $ Electric Utility (Retail Service Provider) 16

17 Synthetic PPAs [ What had Corporate Project Company Offtaker PPA Payment RECs PPA Payment Project Company Energy Market $ Ancil. Services Wholesale Energy Market (e.g. PJM, CAISO) Electric Utility (Retail Service Provider) 17

18 PPA Terms Wholesale Sales - Typical Virtual PPAs and Physical PPAs delivered through spot markets in organized power market Difference from Financial Hedge PPAs in non-organized markets - Wholesaler or Bypass 18

19 PPA Terms Delivery Point is a point on the market grid ( PJM, ERCOT, CAISO) Payment: 1. Virtual contract for differences seller gets fixed price; buyer get market price, either at point of interconnection with grid or different settlement point. 2. Physical PPA: fixed price to Seller. Basis risk. Where is floating price? Negative market price risk 19

20 PPA Terms Milestones. Late COD Delay damages and termination Option for physical delivery sale Minimum Performance requirement availability/production 20

21 PPA Terms RECs who owns (no RPS requirement) Capacity who gets auctions Two way credit support Buyer and Seller Creditworthiness of Buyer what happens if downgrade Risk of Curtailment by market operator impact on minimum performance requirement; payments for energy 21

22 Regulatory Issues

23 Regulatory Issues Market-Based Rate Authority (except ERCOT) Exempt Wholesale Generator Status No Retail Sales (retail franchise/ EWG issues) QF as option for small producers 23

24 Intercreditor Issues 24

25 Wind Farm Sample Financial Structure Construction Phase Sponsor Lenders Project Co. Construction loan Offtaker Operational Phase Holdco Lenders Sponsor Class A Interests Tax Equity Class B Interests Project Co. Offtaker 25

26 Construction Phase Intercreditor Issues At financial closing, the project company has no operational history or hard assets Senior lenders have senior liens on all project assets and project company equity Liens of offtaker (if any) typically subordinated Offtaker relies on other forms of credit support (e.g. letters of credit) 26

27 Operational Phase Intercreditor Issues Tax equity is equity structurally subordinated to project company creditors Tax equity typically prohibits project company-level indebtedness and liens on project assets Liens of offtaker (if any) typically subject to forbearance agreement with tax equity 27

28 Operational Phase Intercreditor Issues Forbearance Terms Tax equity given notice and opportunity to cure defaults cure periods negotiated Offtaker foreclosure prohibited during forbearance period (e.g., until tax equity flip date) Other offtaker remedies typically remain intact (e.g., termination, draw on letter of credit) 28

29 29 Tax Issues

30 Key Tax Issues Most corporate PPAs leave tax ownership with project owner Tax credits and depreciation are monetized by project sponsor and reduce energy cost Offtake arrangements should be service contracts for tax purposes and not leases Tax code has six factor test to make this determination 30

31 Key Tax Issues Particular tax issues arise when corporates take equity stake in project Sales of power to related parties may impact tax credits Arrangements that are hedge-like should be identified as a hedge for tax purposes to avoid: Tax timing issues Capital gain/ordinary income mismatch 31

32 Key Tax Issues Shorter tenor of corporate PPAs also impact form of tax equity financings at project level: Tax equity demand for greater share of cash flow More accelerated sweep events Forbearance on corporate stepping into sponsor s position Evaluating revised tax profile if Corporate offtaker forecloses on project 32