Community Owned

Community Wind Energy 2006: A Million Little Pieces

Developing community wind is no simple task. Experts on this panel will dissect both legal and financial aspects of the development process to show how the many pieces can fit together. Topics covered in this session will include the legal aspects of your business structure, negotiating power purchase agreements, understanding and locating tools for financing, factors affecting financing and your proforma.

Listen to audio from this session:

Part A

Part B

 

Chapter 14: Interconnection

Interconnection - Getting Energy to Market

The electrical generation, transmission, and distribution system has been labeled the most complex machine ever created by humans. There are many rules and regulations to ensure that it runs reliably, and as a result the process for interconnecting your energy project with this system involves dealing with regulatory agencies at the state and regional level as well as utility personnel, engineering consultants, and lawyers with experience with interconnection contracts. It can take over a year to complete the required interconnection studies and can cost your project up into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. You will need to weigh the results of conversations and studies to determine if it is worth moving on to the next phase of studies or if the cost of interconnection will not allow your site to be profitable.

Scale: 
Commercial Scale
Topic: 
Community Wind - Resources
Interconnection
Ownership: 
Community Owned

Chapter 13: Power Purchase Agreement

PPA
A power purchase agreement (PPA) is a contract to buy the electricity generated by a power plant. These agreements are a critical part of planning a successful wind project because they secure a long-term stream of revenue for the project through the sale of the electricity generated by the project. Securing a good PPA is often one of the most challenging elements of wind project development.

This section covers the basics of a power purchase agreement and things to consider as you negotiate with a power purchaser. The main topics covered in this section are:

Scale: 
Commercial Scale
Topic: 
Community Wind - Resources
Legal Considerations
Project Economics
Project Financing
Windustry Publication
Ownership: 
Community Owned

Chapter 12: The Minnesota Flip


The Minnesota Flip business model was developed in response to a unique combination of federal incentives for wind development and state policies that encouraged development of community-owned wind projects. The structure has proven a successful model for landowners and equity investors interested in partnering in the development of wind projects. This partnership allows the equity investor to take advantage of federal tax credits, while providing local owners the economic benefits of ownership.

Scale: 
Commercial Scale
Topic: 
Business Models
Community Wind - Resources
Project Development/Planning
Project Economics
Windustry Publication
Ownership: 
Community Owned
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