Operations Board of Directors
November 8, 2023
10:30 A.M.
Central Coast Community Energy
70 Garden Court, Suite 300
Monterey, CA 93940
REMOTE LOCATION VIA TELECONFERENCE
Any interested parties or community members may attend, and participate in, the meeting at the following addresses where Board members may also join the meeting from:
County of Santa Cruz
701 Ocean Street, Third Floor Training Room
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
City of San Luis Obispo
City Hall
990 Palm Street, Council Chambers
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
City of Santa Maria
City Hall
110 East Cook Street, Council Chambers
Santa Maria, CA 93454
County of Santa Barbara
County Administration Building
105 East Anapamu Street, Suite 108
Large Conference Room
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Public may participate through ZOOM. For ZOOM participation please join by computer audio at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/s/82380649701
Or join by phone:
+1 669 900 6833 or +1 669 219 2599
Enter this Webinar ID Number: 823 8064 9701 when prompted. Please note there is no Participant Code, you will press # again after the recording prompts you.
You will be placed in the meeting as an attendee. To make a public comment:
If joined by computer, please press the button to raise your hand If joined by phone, please push *9 on your keypad
If you have anything that you wish to be distributed to the Board, please provide 15 copies to a member of 3CE staff or the Board Clerk, who will distribute the information to the Board members and staff.
The public may comment on the consent agenda and matters not listed on the agenda but within the Board's jurisdiction at the opening of the meeting. The Board may not take action at this meeting on any item not listed on the Agenda other than to refer the matter to staff or set it for a future meeting. The public may comment on a specific item listed on this agenda when the Board considers that item.
Speakers are limited to 3 minutes each.
In addition, members of the public may request and receive copies without undue delay of any documents that are distributed to the Board, unless there is a specific exemption under the Public Records Act that prevents the disclosure of the record. (Cal. Gov’t Code Section 54957.5) In compliance with Government Code Section 54957.5, non-exempt writings that are distributed to a majority or all of the Board in advance of a meeting and that relate to an agenda item will be made available at 3CE’s offices located at 70 Garden Court, Suite 300, Monterey, CA 93940 during normal business hours and are also available on the 3CE website located at: https://pub-3ce.escribemeetings.com/ AGENDA
Welcome & Roll Call
Pledge of Allegiance
Corrections or Additions
The Clerk will announce agenda corrections or proposed additions of emergency, urgency, or continued items, which will be acted on by the Board as provided in Section 54954.2 of the California Government Code.
Public Comment on Items on the Consent Calendar and Items Not listed on the Agenda The public may address the Board on the Consent Calendar and any matter within the jurisdiction of the Board but not on the agenda.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Approve Minutes from the October 11, 2023, Meeting of the Operations Board
2. Approve and authorize the CEO to execute a 2nd amended and restated power purchase agreement with Victory Pass LLC, to effect non-substantive amendments with no changes to previously approved not to exceed amount or term
3. Receive FY 23-24 Energy Programs Update
4. Receive Regulatory Update
5. Receive the Treasurer’s Report for the period October 1, 2022, through August 31, 2023
REGULAR AGENDA
6. CEO Report
a. Staffing Update
b. Power Supply Update
c. Property Ownership Principles
d. Prepay Update
7. Receive an Update on the Rate Design Request for Proposal (RFP)
8. Approve and authorize the CEO to execute Amendment No. 3 to the Electrify Your Home implementation services agreement with Cohen Ventures, Inc., DBA Energy Solutions, to increase the not-to-exceed amount by $1,500.000 for a total of $3,260,000 with
no change to the agreement term
9. Approve and authorize the CEO to execute a Power Purchase Agreement ("PPA") with SunZia Wind PowerCo, LLC., in a form substantially similar to the attached, as well as any necessary ancillary documents, including potential replacement PPA(s) with the
same terms and conditions as the attached except for any necessary administrative changes, with a power delivery term of 15 years starting with an expected Commercial Operation Date of September 30, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $715,000,000
Board member comments and reports
Adjournment
Operations Board of Directors
October 11, 2023
10:30am
Central Coast Community Energy
70 Garden Court, Suite 300
Monterey, CA 93940
County of Santa Cruz
701 Ocean Street, Third Floor Training Room
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
City of San Luis Obispo
City Hall
990 Palm Street, Council Chambers
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
City of Santa Maria
City Hall
110 East Cook Street, Council Chambers
Santa Maria, CA 93454
County of Santa Barbara County
Administration Building 105 East
Anapamu Street, Large
Conference Room
Santa Barbra, CA 93101
MINUTES
The meeting was called to order at 10:32 AM with 17 members attending in 5 locations and a quorum established.
Directors Present: 3CE Headquarters: Espinosa, Guertin, Hannah, Pia, Reynolds, Wood County of Santa Cruz: Wise-West, McCloud, Palacios, Vice Chair Goldstein City of San Luis Obispo: Campbell, Garcia, Chair Johnson City of Santa Maria: Murphy, Posada
County of Santa Barbara: Imhof, Miyasato
Directors Absent: De La Rosa (arrived at 10:34am HQ), Lewis Corrections or Additions
Clerk announced that there were no corrections or additions to the agenda.
The Chair opened the public comment period for the consent calendar and items not listed on the agenda.
No public comments received.
The Chair closed public comment period.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION: Moved by Vice Chair Goldstein, seconded by Director Miyasato to approve the Consent Agenda.
ACTION: The Motion Carried with a roll call vote: 18/0/1 AYES: Campbell, De La Rosa, Espinosa, Garcia, Guertin, Hannah, Wise-West, Imhof, McCloud, Miyasato, Murphy, Palacios, Pia, Posada, Reynolds, Wood, Vice Chair Goldstein, Chair Johnson NOES: None
ABSENT: Lewis
1. Approved Minutes from the September 13, 2023, meeting of the Operations Board
2. Received FY 22-23 Energy Programs Update
3. Received Regulatory Update
4. Received the Treasurer’s Report for the period October 1, 2022, through July 31, 2023
REGULAR AGENDA
5. Community Advisory Council Report
The Chair opened the public comment period.
No Public Comments Received.
The Chair closed public comment period.
ACTION: Discussion Item; no action required
6. CEO Report
a. Staffing Update
b. Power Supply Update
c. Finance Update
d. Legislative Update
The Chair opened the public comment period.
No Public Comments Received.
The Chair closed public comment period.
ACTION: Discussion Item; no action required
7. Authorized the CEO to execute a 3-year agreement not-to-exceed $2,398,500 with Yellow Bus Advertising for Marketing and Communications Support Services
MOTION: Moved by Director Imhof, seconded by De La Rosa to approve.
ACTION: The Motion Carried with a roll call vote: 18/0/1
AYES: Campbell, De La Rosa, Espinosa, Garcia, Guertin, Hannah, Wise-West, Imhof, McCloud, Miyasato, Murphy, Palacios, Pia, Posada, Reynolds, Wood, Vice Chair Goldstein, Chair Johnson NOES: None
ABSENT: Lewis
8. Approve and authorize the CEO to execute an amended and restated power purchase agreement with San Luis West Solar LLC, and any necessary ancillary documents, in an amount not to exceed $115,000,000 MOTION: Moved by Director Garcia , seconded by E spinosa to approve.
ACTION: The Motion Carried with a roll call vote: 17/0/2 AYES: Campbell, De La Rosa, Espinosa, Garcia, Guertin, Hannah, Wise-West, McCloud, Miyasato, Murphy, Palacios, Pia, Posada, Reynolds, Wood, Vice Chair Goldstein, Chair Johnson
NOES: None
ABSENT: Imhof (left at 11:20am), Lewis
Board member reports and comments
Adjourned at 11:31am
Staff Report Item 2
TO: 3CE Operations Board of Directors
FROM: Robert M. Shaw, Chief Executive Officer
PREPARED BY: Dennis Dyc-O’Neal, Chief Operating Officer SUBJECT: Approve and authorize the CEO to execute a 2nd amended and restated power purchase agreement with Victory Pass LLC, to effect non-substantive amendments with no changes to previously approved not to exceed amount or term DATE: November 8, 2023
RECOMMENDATION:
We recommend the Operations Board approve and authorize the CEO to execute a 2nd amended and restated power purchase agreement (“2nd A&R PPA”) with Victory Pass LLC, to effect non-substantive amendments and no changes to previously approved not-to-exceed amount.
BACKGROUND:
The original Victory Pass PPA was solicited and negotiated in tandem with Silicon Valley Clean Energy (“SVCE”) for 200MW solar generation plus 50 MW of energy storage, located in Riverside County. 3CE and SVCE are splitting the offtake of Victory Pass 50/50. The original PPA would meet roughly 6% of 3CE’s total load and was for a term of 15 years and a notional value not to exceed $149 million.
A 1st amended & restated power purchase agreement (“1st A&R PPA”) was executed to recognize a 5- month delay, adjust the pricing, allow 3CE to meet its compliance obligations, and keep us on track towards meeting our 100% RPS by 2030 goal. The 1st A&R PPA is for a term of 15 years and a notional value not to exceed $170 million.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
The Operations Board’s approval of the 2nd A&R PPA will provide additional value to 3CE through three primary changes: (1) add a Limited Assignment Agreement to the benefit of 3CE to enable this project’s inclusion in 3CE’s prepay activities and thus generate a savings over the contracted cost of energy; (2) provide 3CE an election to convert the battery component of this project into a grid-chargeable asset
following its investment tax credit period, thereby potentially increasing its value to 3CE, and; (3) a technical change to measure the round-trip efficiency of the battery, and associated compensation mechanism for deviations from expected round-trip efficiency during operations. 1 st Amended and Restated PPA 2nd Amended and Restated PPA Product 100 MW Solar Generation plus
25 MW 4-hour Energy Storage
100 MW Solar Generation plus
25 MW 4-hour Energy Storage
Delivery Term 15 Years 15 Years
Percentage of 3CE Load 6% 6%
Location Riverside County Riverside County
Not to Exceed Amount $170 Million $170 Million
Additional Provisions NONE Limited Assignment Agreement Election for Grid Charging
Roundtrip Efficiency Change
None of these changes would substantially alter the previously approved agreement and are administrative in nature.
The Victory Pass project continues to be a critical component of 3CE’s portfolio for regulatory compliance with the Mid Term Reliability procurement order and the Renewable Portfolio Standard accounting.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The is no fiscal impact of this 2nd A&R PPA for solar and storage products. The revisions are non-substantive and do not change the previously approved not exceed amount over the 15-year term.
CONCLUSION:
Approving the 2nd, A&R provides 3CE additional operational benefits associated with the Victory Pass project, including an agreement around the limited assignment agreement, an election for grid charging and improved roundtrip efficiency accounting.
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. 2nd A&R PPA between Victory Pass LLC and 3CE-redacted
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
i
ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS ........................................................................................................ 1
1.1 Contract Definitions ............................................................................................... 1
1.2 Rules of Interpretation ......................................................................................... 22 ARTICLE 2 TERM; CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.................................................................. 23
2.1 Contract Term. ..................................................................................................... 23
2.2 Conditions Precedent ........................................................................................... 24
2.3 Development; Construction; Progress Reports .................................................... 25
2.4 Remedial Action Plan .......................................................................................... 25
2.5 Guaranteed Capacity Adjustment ........................................................................ 25
2.6 Storage Contract Capacity Adjustment ................................................................ 25
2.7 Expected Energy Adjustment .............................................................................. 26 ARTICLE 3 PURCHASE AND SALE ...................................................................................... 26
3.1 Purchase and Sale of Product ............................................................................... 26
3.2 Sale of Green Attributes....................................................................................... 26
3.3 Imbalance Energy. ............................................................................................... 26
3.4 Ownership of Renewable Energy Incentives. ...................................................... 26
3.5 Future Environmental Attributes. ........................................................................ 27
3.6 Test Energy. ......................................................................................................... 27
3.7 Capacity Attributes. ............................................................................................. 27
3.8 Resource Adequacy Failure ................................................................................. 28
3.9 CEC Certification and Verification. .................................................................... 28
3.10 RPS Standard Terms and Conditions. .................................................................. 29
3.11 Compliance Expenditure Cap. ............................................................................. 29
3.12 Project Configuration ........................................................................................... 30 ARTICLE 4 OBLIGATIONS AND DELIVERIES ................................................................... 30
4.1 Delivery................................................................................................................ 30
4.2 Title and Risk of Loss. ......................................................................................... 31
4.3 Forecasting ........................................................................................................... 31
4.4 Dispatch Down/Curtailment. ............................................................................... 33
4.5 Charging Energy Management ............................................................................ 34
4.6 Reduction in Delivery Obligation ........................................................................ 36
4.7 Guaranteed Energy Production ............................................................................ 36
4.8 Storage Availability ............................................................................................. 37
4.9 Storage Capacity Tests ......................................................................................... 37
4.10 WREGIS .............................................................................................................. 38
4.11 Interconnection Capacity ..................................................................................... 39
4.12 ........................................................................................... 40
4.13 Scheduling Coordinator Instructions. .................................................................. 40 ARTICLE 5 TAXES .................................................................................................................. 40
5.1 Allocation of Taxes and Charges. ........................................................................ 40
5.2 Cooperation. ......................................................................................................... 40
ii
5.3 Ownership. ........................................................................................................... 40 ARTICLE 6 MAINTENANCE OF THE FACILITY ................................................................ 41
6.1 Maintenance of the Facility. ................................................................................ 41
6.2 Maintenance of Health and Safety. ...................................................................... 41
6.3 Shared Facilities ................................................................................................... 41 ARTICLE 7 METERING ........................................................................................................... 41
7.1 Metering. .............................................................................................................. 41
7.2 Meter Verification. ............................................................................................... 42 ARTICLE 8 INVOICING AND PAYMENT; CREDIT ............................................................ 42
8.1 Invoicing. ............................................................................................................. 42
8.2 Payment................................................................................................................ 43
8.3 Books and Records. ............................................................................................. 43
8.4 Payment Adjustments; Billing Errors. ................................................................. 43
8.5 Billing Disputes. .................................................................................................. 43
8.6 Netting of Payments. ............................................................................................ 44
8.7 Seller’s Development Security. ........................................................................... 44
8.8 Seller’s Performance Security.............................................................................. 44
8.9 First Priority Security Interest in Cash or Cash Equivalent Collateral ................ 45
8.10 Financial Statements. ........................................................................................... 45 ARTICLE 9 NOTICES .............................................................................................................. 45
9.1 Addresses for the Delivery of Notices ................................................................. 45
9.2 Acceptable Means of Delivering Notice .............................................................. 46 ARTICLE 10 FORCE MAJEURE ............................................................................................. 46
10.1 Definition ............................................................................................................. 46
10.2 No Liability If a Force Majeure Event Occurs .................................................... 47
10.3 Notice ................................................................................................................... 47
10.4 Termination Following Force Majeure Event...................................................... 48 ARTICLE 11 DEFAULTS; REMEDIES; TERMINATION ..................................................... 48
11.1 Events of Default ................................................................................................. 48
11.2 Remedies; Declaration of Early Termination Date. ............................................. 51
11.3 Termination Payment ........................................................................................... 52
11.4 Notice of Payment of Termination Payment ....................................................... 52
11.5 Disputes With Respect to Termination Payment ................................................. 53
11.6 Rights And Remedies Are Cumulative ................................................................ 53
11.7 .................................................................. 53 ARTICLE 12 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND EXCLUSION OF WARRANTIES ........ 53
12.1 No Consequential Damages. ................................................................................ 53
12.2 Waiver and Exclusion of Other Damages. ........................................................... 53 ARTICLE 13 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; AUTHORITY .......................... 54
13.1 Seller’s Representations and Warranties. ............................................................ 54
iii
13.2 Buyer’s Representations and Warranties ............................................................. 55
13.3 General Covenants ............................................................................................... 56
13.4 Prevailing Wage ................................................................................................... 56 ARTICLE 14 ASSIGNMENT.................................................................................................... 57
14.1 General Prohibition on Assignments ................................................................... 57
14.2 Collateral Assignment .......................................................................................... 57
14.3 Permitted Assignment by Seller........................................................................... 59
14.4 Buyer Limited Assignment. ................................................................................. 59 ARTICLE 15 DISPUTE RESOLUTION ................................................................................... 60
15.1 Governing Law. ................................................................................................... 60
15.2 Venue. .................................................................................................................. 60
15.3 Dispute Resolution. .............................................................................................. 60 ARTICLE 16 INDEMNIFICATION ......................................................................................... 61
16.1 Mutual Indemnity................................................................................................. 61
16.2 Notice of Claim. ................................................................................................... 61
16.3 Failure to Provide Notice. .................................................................................... 61
16.4 Defense of Claims ................................................................................................ 61
16.5 Subrogation of Rights .......................................................................................... 62
16.6 Rights and Remedies are Cumulative .................................................................. 62 ARTICLE 17 INSURANCE ...................................................................................................... 62
17.1 Insurance .............................................................................................................. 62 ARTICLE 18 CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ................................................................... 64
18.1 Definition of Confidential Information ................................................................ 64
18.2 Duty to Maintain Confidentiality ......................................................................... 64
18.3 Irreparable Injury; Remedies ............................................................................... 64
18.4 Disclosure to Lenders, Etc. .................................................................................. 64
18.5 Press Releases ...................................................................................................... 65 ARTICLE 19 MISCELLANEOUS ............................................................................................ 65
19.1 Entire Agreement; Integration; Exhibits .............................................................. 65
19.2 Amendments ........................................................................................................ 65
19.3 No Waiver ............................................................................................................ 65
19.4 No Agency, Partnership, Joint Venture or Lease ................................................. 65
19.5 Severability .......................................................................................................... 65
19.6 Mobile-Sierra ....................................................................................................... 66
19.7 Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. ................................................................... 66
19.8 Electronic Delivery .............................................................................................. 66
19.9 Binding Effect ...................................................................................................... 66
19.10 No Recourse to Members of Buyer ..................................................................... 66
19.11 Forward Contract ................................................................................................. 66
19.12 Further Assurances............................................................................................... 66
iv
Exhibits:
Exhibit A Facility Description
Exhibit B Major Project Development Milestones and Commercial Operation Exhibit C Compensation
Exhibit D Scheduling Coordinator Responsibilities
Exhibit E Progress Reporting Form
Exhibit F-1 Form of Average Expected Energy Report
Exhibit F-2 Form of Monthly Delivery Forecast
Exhibit G Guaranteed Energy Production Damages Calculation Exhibit H Form of Commercial Operation Date Certificate Exhibit I-1 Form of Installed PV Capacity Certificate
Exhibit I-2 Form of Installed Battery Capacity Certificate Exhibit J Form of Construction Start Date Certificate
Exhibit K Form of Letter of Credit
Exhibit L Form of Guaranty
Exhibit M Form of Replacement RA Notice
Exhibit N Notices
Exhibit O Storage Capacity Tests
Exhibit P Storage Facility Availability
Exhibit Q Operating Restrictions
Exhibit R Metering Diagram
Exhibit S Form of Limited Assignment Agreement
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED RENEWABLE POWER PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
This Second Amended and Restated Renewable Power Purchase Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into as of ___________, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), between Buyer and Seller. Buyer and Seller are sometimes referred to herein individually as a “Party” and jointly as the “Parties.” All capitalized terms used in this Agreement are used with the meanings ascribed to them in Article 1 to this Agreement.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Seller intends to develop, design, permit, construct, own or otherwise control, and operate the Facility;
WHEREAS, Seller desires to sell, and Buyer desires to purchase, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Product;
WHEREAS, the Parties entered into that certain Renewable Power Purchase Agreement (the “Original Agreement”), dated as of May 12, 2021 (the “Original Effective Date”); WHEREAS, the Parties entered into that certain Amended and Restated Renewable Power Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 28, 2022 (the “Amended and Restated Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend and restate the Amended and Restated Agreement in its entirety.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree to amend and restate the Amended and Restated Agreement as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Contract Definitions. The following terms, when used herein with initial capitalization, shall have the meanings set forth below:
“AC” means alternating current.
“Accepted Compliance Costs” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.11(d). “Adjusted Energy Production” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit G. “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, each Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such designated Person. For purposes of this definition, the definition of “Change of Control,” and the definition of “Permitted Transferee”, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under
2 common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean (a) the direct or indirect right to cast at least fifty percent (50%) of the votes exercisable at an annual general meeting (or its equivalent) of such Person or, if there are no such rights, ownership of at least fifty percent (50%) of the equity or other ownership interest in such Person, or (b) the right to direct the policies or operations of such Person (including, if such Person is a limited liability company, the right to act as the manager or managing member of such limited liability company). For purposes of this Agreement, Clearway Energy, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of Seller.
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble and includes any Exhibits, schedules and any written supplements hereto, the Cover Sheet, and any designated collateral, credit support or similar arrangement between the Parties. “Alternative Storage Capacity Methodology” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.9(d). “Amended and Restated Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals. “Ancillary Services” means all ancillary services, products and other attributes, if any, associated with the Facility.
“Approved Forecast Vendor” means a vendor reasonably acceptable to both Buyer and Seller for the purposes of providing or verifying the forecasts under Section 4.3(d). “Automated Dispatch System” or “ADS” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “Availability Adjusted Storage Contract Capacity” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit P.
“Availability Adjustment” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit P. “Available Generating Capacity” means Buyer’s Share of the capacity of the Generating Facility, expressed in whole MWs, that is mechanically available to generate Energy. “Average Expected Energy Report” means the annual report delivered by Seller pursuant to Section 4.3(a).
“Bankrupt” or “Bankruptcy” means with respect to any entity, such entity that (a) files a petition or otherwise commences, authorizes or acquiesces in the commencement of a proceeding or cause of action under any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar Law, (b) has any such petition filed or commenced against it which remains unstayed or undismissed for a period of ninety (90) days, (c) makes an assignment or any general arrangement for the benefit of creditors, (d) otherwise becomes bankrupt or insolvent (however evidenced), (e) has a liquidator, administrator, receiver, trustee, conservator or similar official appointed with respect to it or any substantial portion of its property or assets, or (f) is generally unable to pay its debts as they fall due.
3 “Business Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday, or a Federal Reserve Bank holiday in California. A Business Day begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 5:00 p.m. local time for the Party sending a Notice, or payment, or performing a specified action. “Buyer” means Central Coast Community Energy, a California joint powers authority. “Buyer Bid Curtailment” means any curtailment of the Facility arising out of or resulting from the manner in which Buyer bids, offers or schedules the Facility, the Energy or any Products, or in which Buyer fails to do so, including a situation where all of the following occurs:
(a) the CAISO provides notice, including through ADS, to a Party or the Scheduling Coordinator for the Facility, requiring the Party to deliver less Facility Energy from the Facility than the full amount of energy forecasted in accordance with Section 4.3 to be produced from the Facility for a period of time;
(b) for the same time period as referenced in (a), the notice referenced in (a) results from the manner in which Buyer or the SC schedules or bids the Facility, Facility Energy, or Ancillary Services, including where the Buyer or the SC for the Facility:
(i) did not submit a Self-Schedule or an Energy Supply Bid for the MW subject to the reduction; or
(ii) submitted an Energy Supply Bid and the CAISO notice referenced in (a) is solely a result of CAISO implementing the Energy Supply Bid; or (iii) submitted a Self-Schedule for less than the full amount of Facility Energy forecasted to be generated by or delivered from the Facility.
If the Facility is subject to a Planned Outage, Forced Facility Outage, Force Majeure Event or a Curtailment Period during the same time period as referenced in (a), then the calculation of Deemed Delivered Energy in respect of such period shall not include any Energy that was not generated or stored due to such Planned Outage, Forced Facility Outage, Force Majeure Event or Curtailment Period.
“Buyer Curtailment Order” means (i) the instruction from Buyer to Seller to reduce PV Energy from the Facility by the amount, and for the period of time set forth in such instruction, which instruction shall be consistent with the Operating Restrictions, for reasons unrelated to a Planned Outage, Forced Facility Outage, Force Majeure Event or Curtailment Order, or (ii) a curtailment of any portion of the Generating Facility or its output or any reduction in PV Energy arising out of Buyer’s issuance of any Discharging Notice or any other instruction, order or other communication requesting or requiring the Storage Facility to be discharged. “Buyer Curtailment Period” means the period of time, as measured using current Settlement Intervals, during which Seller reduces PV Energy from the Facility pursuant to or as a result of (a) Buyer Bid Curtailment, (b) a Buyer Curtailment Order, or (c) Buyer Default; provided, that the duration of any Buyer Curtailment Period shall be inclusive of the time required for the Generating Facility to ramp down and ramp up.
4 “Buyer Default” means a failure by Buyer (or its agents) to perform Buyer’s obligations hereunder, and includes an Event of Default of Buyer.
“Buyer’s Share” means fifty percent (50%).
“Buyer’s WREGIS Account” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.10(a). “CAISO” means the California Independent System Operator Corporation or any successor entity performing similar functions.
“CAISO Approved Meter” means a CAISO approved revenue quality meter or meters, CAISO approved data processing gateway or remote intelligence gateway, telemetering equipment and data acquisition services sufficient for monitoring, recording and reporting, in real time, all Directly Delivered PV Energy, Discharging Energy, and Facility Energy delivered to the Delivery Point.
“CAISO Grid” has the same meaning as “CAISO Controlled Grid” as defined in the CAISO Tariff.
“CAISO Operating Instruction” has the same meaning as “Operating Instruction” as defined in the CAISO Tariff.
“CAISO Resource ID” has the same meaning as “Resource ID” as defined in the CAISO Tariff.
“CAISO Tariff” means the California Independent System Operator Corporation Agreement and Tariff, Business Practice Manuals (BPMs), and operating procedures, including the rules, protocols, procedures and standards attached thereto, as the same may be amended or modified from time-to-time and approved by FERC.
“California Renewables Portfolio Standard” or “RPS” means the renewable energy program and policies established by California State Senate Bills 1038 (2002), 1078 (2002), 107 (2008), X-1 2 (2011), 350 (2015), and 100 (2018) as codified in, inter alia, California Public Utilities Code Sections 399.11 through 399.31 and California Public Resources Code Sections 25740 through 25751, as such provisions are amended or supplemented from time to time. “Capacity Attribute” means any current or future defined characteristic, certificate, tag, credit, or accounting construct associated with the amount of power that the Storage Facility can generate and deliver to the Delivery Point at a particular moment and that can be purchased and sold under CAISO market rules, including Resource Adequacy Benefits. “Capacity Damages” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit B. “CEC” means the California Energy Commission, or any successor agency performing similar statutory functions.
“CEC Certification and Verification” means that the CEC has certified (or, with respect to periods before the date that is one hundred eighty (180) days following the Commercial
5 Operation Date, that the CEC has pre-certified) that the Generating Facility is an Eligible Renewable Energy Resource for purposes of the California Renewables Portfolio Standard and that all PV Energy delivered to the Delivery Point qualifies as generation from an Eligible Renewable Energy Resource.
“CEC Precertification” means that the CEC has issued a precertification for the Facility indicating that the planned operations of the Facility would comply with applicable CEC requirements for CEC Certification and Verification.
“CEQA” means the California Environmental Quality Act.
“Change of Control” means any circumstance in which Ultimate Parent ceases to control Seller or own, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediate entities, more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding equity interests in Seller; provided that in calculating ownership percentages for all purposes of the foregoing:
(a) any ownership interest in Seller held by Ultimate Parent indirectly through one or more intermediate entities shall not be counted towards Ultimate Parent’s ownership interest in Seller unless Ultimate Parent directly or indirectly owns more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding equity interests in each such intermediate entity; and (b) ownership interests in Seller owned directly or indirectly by any Lender (including any tax equity provider) or assignee or transferee thereof shall be excluded from the total outstanding equity interests in Seller.
“Charging Energy” means Buyer’s Share of the as-available Energy produced by the Generating Facility, less Station Use and Electrical Losses and delivered to the Storage Facility pursuant to a Charging Notice or in connection with a Storage Capacity Test. All Charging Energy shall be used solely to charge the Storage Facility and, subject to Section 4.5(g), all Charging Energy shall be generated solely by the Generating Facility. For avoidance of doubt, Charging Energy shall be measured at the Storage Facility Meter. “Charging Notice” means the operating instruction, and any subsequent updates, given by Buyer to Seller, directing the Storage Facility to charge at a specific MW rate to a specified Stored Energy Level, including in connection with a Storage Capacity Test, provided that any such operating instruction shall be in accordance with the Operating Restrictions. For the avoidance of doubt, any Charging Notice shall not constitute a Buyer Bid Curtailment, Buyer Curtailment Order or Curtailment Order.
“Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.2.
“COD Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit B. “Collateral Assignment Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.2. “Commercial Operation” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit B. “Commercial Operation Date” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit B.
6 “Commercial Operation Delay Damages” means an amount equal to
“Compliance Actions” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.11(b). “Compliance Costs” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.11(a). “Compliance Expenditure Cap” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.11(a). “Confidential Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 18.1. “Construction Start” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit B. “Construction Start Date” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit B. “Contract Price” has the meaning set forth on the Cover Sheet and is each of the Renewable Rate and the Storage Rate.
“Contract Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a). “Contract Year” means a period of twelve (12) consecutive months. The first Contract Year shall commence on the Commercial Operation Date and each subsequent Contract Year shall commence on the anniversary of the Commercial Operation Date. “Costs” means, with respect to the Non-Defaulting Party, brokerage fees, commissions and other similar third-party transaction costs and expenses reasonably incurred by such Party either in terminating any arrangement pursuant to which it has hedged its obligations or entering into new arrangements which replace the Agreement; and all reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Non-Defaulting Party in connection with terminating the Agreement. “Cover Sheet” means the cover sheet to this Agreement, which is incorporated into this Agreement.
“COVID-19” means the epidemic disease designated COVID-19 and the related virus designated SARS-CoV-2 and any mutations thereof, and the efforts of a Governmental Authority to combat such disease.
“CPUC” means the California Public Utilities Commission or any successor agency performing similar statutory functions.
“Credit Rating” means, with respect to any entity, the rating then assigned to such entity’s unsecured, senior long-term debt obligations (not supported by third party credit enhancements) or if such entity does not have a rating for its senior unsecured long-term debt, then the rating then assigned to such entity as an issuer rating by S&P or Moody’s. If ratings by S&P and Moody’s are not equivalent, the lower rating shall apply.
“Curtailment Cap” is the yearly quantity per Contract Year, in MWh, equal to fifty (50) hours multiplied by the Guaranteed Capacity.
9 “Efficiency Rate” means the measured round-trip efficiency rate of the Storage Facility, expressed as a percentage, calculated pursuant to a Storage Capacity Test in accordance with Exhibit O by dividing Energy Out by Energy In.
“Electrical Losses” means all transmission or transformation losses between the Facility and the Delivery Point, including losses associated with (i) delivery of Directly Delivered PV Energy to the Delivery Point, (ii) delivery of Charging Energy to the Storage Facility, and (iii) delivery of Discharging Energy to the Delivery Point, calculated in accordance with CAISO approved methodologies applicable to revenue metering.
“Eligible Renewable Energy Resource” has the meaning set forth in California Public Utilities Code Section 399.12(e) and California Public Resources Code Section 25741(a), as either code provision is amended or supplemented from time to time. “Energy” means metered electrical energy measured in MWh. “Energy In” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit O.
“Energy Out” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit O.
“Energy Supply Bid” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “Event of Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1. “Excess MWh” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit C.
“Excused Event” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit P. “Expected Commercial Operation Date” is the date set forth on the Cover Sheet by which Seller reasonably expects to achieve Commercial Operation. “Expected Construction Start Date” is the date set forth on the Cover Sheet by which Seller reasonably expects to achieve Construction Start. “Expected Energy” means Buyer’s Share of the quantity of PV Energy that Seller expects to be able to deliver to Buyer from the Generating Facility during each Contract Year or other time period (assuming no Charging Energy or Discharging Energy during such Contract Year or time period) in the quantity specified on the Cover Sheet, as may be adjusted pursuant to Section 2.7 and Section 5 of Exhibit B.
“Facility” means the Generating Facility and the Storage Facility. “Facility Energy” means the sum of Directly Delivered PV Energy and Discharging Energy during any Settlement Interval or Settlement Period, net of Electrical Losses and Station Use, as measured by the Generating Facility Meter or Storage Facility Meter, as applicable, which meters will be adjusted in accordance with CAISO meter requirements and Prudent Operating Practices to account for Electrical Losses and Station Use.
10 “FERC” means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or any successor government agency.
“Force Majeure Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1. “Forced Facility Outage” means an unexpected failure of one or more components of the Facility that prevents Seller from generating Energy or making Facility Energy available at the Delivery Point and that is not the result of a Force Majeure Event. “Forecasting Penalty” means for each hour in which Seller does not provide the forecast required in Section 4.3(d), the product of (A) the absolute difference (if any) between (i) the Buyer’s Share of expected Energy for such hour (which, for the avoidance of doubt, assumes no Charging Energy or Discharging Energy in such hour) set forth in the Day-Ahead Forecast, or if there is no Day-Ahead Forecast, then the Monthly Delivery Forecast, and (ii) the Buyer’s Share of actual Energy produced by the Generating Facility (absent any Charging Energy and Discharging Energy), multiplied by (B) the absolute value of the Real-Time Price in such hour. “Forward Certificate Transfers” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.10(a). “Full Capacity Deliverability Status” means a written confirmation from the CAISO that the Storage Facility is eligible for Full Capacity Deliverability Status. “Future Environmental Attributes” shall mean any and all generation attributes (other than Green Attributes or Renewable Energy Incentives) under the RPS regulations or under any and all other international, federal, regional, state or other law, rule, regulation, bylaw, treaty or other intergovernmental compact, decision, administrative decision, program (including any voluntary compliance or membership program), competitive market or business method (including all credits, certificates, benefits, and emission measurements, reductions, offsets and allowances related thereto) that are attributable, now, or in the future, to the generation of electrical energy by the Facility and its displacement of conventional energy generation. Future Environmental Attributes do not include investment tax credits or production tax credits associated with the construction or operation of the Facility, or other financial incentives in the form of credits, reductions, or allowances associated with the Facility that are applicable to a state or federal income taxation obligation.
“Gains” means, with respect to any Party, an amount equal to the present value of the economic benefit to it, if any (exclusive of Costs), resulting from the termination of this Agreement for the remaining Contract Term, determined in a commercially reasonable manner. Factors used in determining the economic benefit to a Party may include, without limitation, reference to information supplied by one or more third parties, which shall exclude Affiliates of the Non-Defaulting Party, including without limitation, quotations (either firm or indicative) of relevant rates, prices, yields, yield curves, volatilities, spreads or other relevant market data in the relevant markets, comparable transactions, forward price curves based on economic analysis of the relevant markets, settlement prices for comparable transactions at liquid trading hubs (e.g., SP-15), all of which should be calculated for the remaining Contract Term, and include the value of Green Attributes and Capacity Attributes.
11 “Generating Facility” means the 200 MW solar photovoltaic generating facility described on the Cover Sheet and in Exhibit A, located at the Site and including mechanical equipment and associated facilities and equipment required to deliver (i) PV Energy to the Delivery Point, (ii) Charging Energy from the Generating Facility to the Storage Facility; provided, that the “Generating Facility” does not include the Storage Facility or the Shared Facilities. “Generating Facility Meter” means the CAISO Approved Meter, along with a compatible data processing gateway or remote intelligence gateway, telemetering equipment and data acquisition services sufficient for monitoring, recording and reporting, in real time, the amount of PV Energy delivered to the Generating Facility Metering Point for the purpose of invoicing in accordance with Section 8.1. For clarity, the Generating Facility may contain multiple measurement devices that will make up the Generating Facility Meter, and, unless otherwise indicated, references to the Generating Facility Meter shall mean all such measurement devices and the aggregated data of all such measurement devices, taken together. “Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, provincial, local or municipal government, any political subdivision thereof or any other governmental, congressional or parliamentary, regulatory, or judicial instrumentality, authority, body, agency, department, bureau, or entity with authority to bind a Party at law, including CAISO; provided, however, that “Governmental Authority” shall not in any event include any Party. “Green Attributes” means any and all credits, benefits, emissions reductions, offsets, and allowances, howsoever entitled, attributable to the generation from the Facility and its displacement of conventional energy generation. Green Attributes include but are not limited to Renewable Energy Credits, as well as: (1) any avoided emissions of pollutants to the air, soil or water such as sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and other pollutants; (2) any avoided emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) that have been determined by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or otherwise by law, to contribute to the actual or potential threat of altering the Earth’s climate by trapping heat in the atmosphere; (3) the reporting rights to these avoided emissions, such as Green Tag Reporting Rights. Green Tags are accumulated on a MWh basis and one Green Tag represents the Green Attributes associated with one (1) MWh of Energy. Green Attributes do not include (i) any energy, capacity, reliability or other power attributes from the Facility, (ii) production tax credits associated with the construction or operation of the Facility and other financial incentives in the form of credits, reductions, or allowances associated with the Facility that are applicable to a state or federal income taxation obligation, (iii) fuel-related subsidies or “tipping fees” that may be paid to Seller to accept certain fuels, or local subsidies received by the generator for the destruction of particular preexisting pollutants or the promotion of local environmental benefits, or (iv) emission reduction credits encumbered or used by the Facility for compliance with local, state, or federal operating or air quality permits. If the Facility is a biomass or landfill gas facility and Seller receives any tradable Green Attributes based on the greenhouse gas reduction benefits or other emission offsets attributed to its fuel usage, it shall provide Buyer with sufficient Green Attributes to ensure that there are zero net emissions associated with the production of electricity from the Facility.
12 “Green Tag Reporting Rights” means the right of a purchaser of renewable energy to report ownership of accumulated “green tags” in compliance with and to the extent permitted by applicable Law and include, without limitation, rights under Section 1605(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, and any present or future federal, state or local certification program or emissions trading program, including pursuant to the WREGIS Operating Rules. “Guaranteed Capacity” means Buyer’s Share of the total generating capacity of the Generating Facility, as measured in MW at the Delivery Point, set forth on the Cover Sheet, as the same may be adjusted pursuant to Section 2.5 and Section 5(a) of Exhibit B. “Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date” means the Expected Commercial Operation Date, as such date may be extended by the Development Cure Period. “Guaranteed Construction Start Date” means the Expected Construction Start Date, as such date may be extended by the Development Cure Period. “Guaranteed Efficiency Rate” means the guaranteed Efficiency Rate of the Storage Facility throughout the Delivery Term, as set forth on the Cover Sheet. “Guaranteed Energy Production” means an amount of Energy, as measured in MWh, equal to
for the applicable Performance Measurement Period.
“Guaranteed Storage Availability” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.8. “Guarantor” means, with respect to Seller, (a) a Person that is reasonably acceptable to Buyer, or (b) any Person that (i) Buyer does not already have any material credit exposure to under any other agreements, guarantees, or other arrangements at the time its Guaranty is issued, (ii) has an Investment Grade Credit Rating or has a tangible net worth of at least (iii) is incorporated or organized in a jurisdiction of the United States and is in good standing in such jurisdiction, and (iv) executes and delivers a Guaranty for the benefit of Buyer.
“Guaranty” means a guaranty from a Guarantor provided for the benefit of Buyer substantially in the form attached as Exhibit L or in such other form as is reasonably acceptable to Buyer.
“Imbalance Energy” means the amount of energy in MWh, in any given Settlement Period or Settlement Interval, by which the amount of Facility Energy deviates from the amount of Scheduled Energy.
“Indemnifiable Loss(es)” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.1(a). “Indemnified Group” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.1(a). “Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.1(a). “Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.1(a).
13 “Initial Synchronization” means the initial delivery of Energy from the Facility to the Delivery Point.
“Installed Battery Capacity” means Buyer’s Share of the maximum dependable operating capability of the Storage Facility to discharge electric energy, as measured in MW(ac) at the Delivery Point, that achieves Commercial Operation, adjusted for ambient conditions on the date of the performance test, and as evidenced by a certificate substantially in the form attached as Exhibit I-2 hereto.
“Installed PV Capacity” means Buyer’s Share of the actual generating capacity of the Generating Facility, as measured in MW(ac) at the Delivery Point, that achieves Commercial Operation, as demonstrated by a performance test, adjusted for ambient conditions on the date of the performance test, and evidenced by a certificate substantially in the form attached as Exhibit I-1 hereto.
“Interconnection Agreement” means the interconnection agreement entered into by Seller or an Affiliate pursuant to which the Facility will be interconnected with the Transmission System, and pursuant to which Seller’s Interconnection Facilities and any other Interconnection Facilities will be constructed, operated and maintained during the Contract Term. “Interconnection Facilities” means the interconnection facilities, control and protective devices and metering facilities required to connect the Facility with the Transmission System in accordance with the Interconnection Agreement.
“Interest Rate” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2. “Inter-SC Trade” or “IST” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “Investment Grade Credit Rating” means a Credit Rating of BBB- or higher by S&P or Fitch or Baa3 or higher by Moody’s.
“ITC” means the investment tax credit established pursuant to Section 48 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
“Joint Powers Act” means the Joint Exercise of Powers Act of the State of California (Government Code Section 6500 et seq.).
“Joint Powers Agreement” means that certain Joint Powers Agreement dated February 21, 2017, as amended from time to time, under which Buyer is organized as a Joint Powers Authority in accordance with the Joint Powers Act.
“Law” means any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, decision, writ, order, decree or judgment, permit or any interpretation thereof, promulgated or issued by a Governmental Authority.
“Lender” means, collectively, any Person (i) providing senior or subordinated construction, interim, back leverage or long-term debt, tax equity financing or refinancing for or in connection with the development, construction, purchase, installation or operation of the
14 Facility, whether that financing or refinancing takes the form of private debt (including back-leverage debt), tax equity financing, public debt or any other form (including financing or refinancing provided to a member or other direct or indirect owner of Seller), including any Person directly or indirectly providing financing or refinancing for the Facility or purchasing equity ownership interests of Seller or its Affiliates in connection with a tax equity transaction, and any trustee or agent or similar representative acting on their behalf, (ii) providing interest rate or commodity protection under an agreement hedging or otherwise mitigating the cost of any of the foregoing obligations, (iii) participating in a lease financing (including a sale leaseback or leveraged leasing structure) with respect to the Facility, or (iv) acting as an issuing bank for any Letter(s) of Credit issued pursuant hereto or letters of credit in connection with the Facility. “Letter(s) of Credit” means one or more irrevocable, standby letters of credit issued by a U.S. commercial bank or a foreign bank with a U.S. branch with such bank (a) having a Credit Rating of at least A- with an outlook designation of “stable” from S&P or A3 with an outlook designation of “stable” from Moody’s or (b) being reasonably acceptable to Buyer, in a form substantially similar to the letter of credit set forth in Exhibit K. “Licensed Professional Engineer” means an independent, professional engineer selected by Seller and reasonably acceptable to Buyer, licensed in the State of California. “Limited Assignee” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.4. “Locational Marginal Price” or “LMP” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “Losses” means, with respect to any Party, an amount equal to the present value of the economic loss to it, if any (exclusive of Costs), resulting from termination of this Agreement for the remaining Contract Term, determined in a commercially reasonable manner. Factors used in determining economic loss to a Party may include, without limitation, reference to information supplied by one or more third parties, which shall exclude Affiliates of the Non-Defaulting Party, including without limitation, quotations (either firm or indicative) of relevant rates, prices, yields, yield curves, volatilities, spreads or other relevant market data in the relevant markets, comparable transactions, forward price curves based on economic analysis of the relevant markets, settlement prices for comparable transactions at liquid trading hubs (e.g., SP-15), all of which should be calculated for the remaining Contract Term and must include the value of Green Attributes, Capacity Attributes, and Renewable Energy Incentives.
“Lost Output” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7. “Major Equipment” means any inverter, transformer, enclosure, or battery comprising the Storage Facility, spares of which are not readily available to Seller for replacement acting in accordance with Prudent Operating Practice.
“Master File” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “Maximum Charging Capacity” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit A. “Maximum Discharging Capacity” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit A.
15 “Milestones” means the development activities for significant permitting, interconnection, financing and construction milestones set forth on the Cover Sheet. “Minimum Efficiency Rate” means the percentage specified on the Cover Sheet. “Monthly Delivery Forecast” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(b). “Monthly Storage Availability” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit P. “Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or its successors. “MW” means megawatts in alternating current, unless expressly stated in terms of direct current.
“MWh” means megawatt-hour measured in alternating current, unless expressly stated in terms of direct current.
“Negative LMP” means, in any Settlement Interval, the Real-Time Market LMP at the Facility’s PNode is less than Zero Dollars ($0).
“Negative LMP Costs” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit C. “NERC” means the North American Electric Reliability Corporation or any successor entity performing similar functions.
“Net Qualifying Capacity” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “Network Upgrades” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “Non-Defaulting Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2. “Notice” shall, unless otherwise specified in the Agreement, mean written communications by a Party to be delivered by hand delivery, United States mail, overnight courier service, or electronic messaging (e-mail).
“Notice of Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.2. “On-Peak Hour” means any hour from hour-ending 0700 to hour-ending 2200 (i.e., 6:00 AM to 9:59 PM) on Monday through Saturday, local time, excluding North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) holidays.
“Operating Restrictions” means those rules, requirements, and procedures set forth on Exhibit Q.
“Original Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals. “Original Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals. “Other Buyer” means the Buyer as defined in the Other PPA.
17 “Portfolio Content Category 2” or “PCC2” means any Renewable Energy Credit associated with the generation of electricity from an Eligible Renewable Energy Resource consisting of the portfolio content set forth in California Public Utilities Code Section 399.16(b)(2), as may be amended from time to time or as further defined or supplemented by Law.
“Portfolio Content Category 3” or “PCC3” means any Renewable Energy Credit associated with the generation of electricity from an Eligible Renewable Energy Resource consisting of the portfolio content set forth in California Public Utilities Code Section 399.16(b)(3), as may be amended from time to time or as further defined or supplemented by Law.
“Product” has the meaning set forth on the Cover Sheet. “Progress Report” means a progress report including the items set forth in Exhibit E. “Property Tax Exemption” means the “new construction” exemption for property tax purposes under California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 73 or a similar Law. “Prudent Operating Practice” means (a) the applicable practices, methods and acts required by or consistent with applicable Laws and reliability criteria, and otherwise engaged in or approved by a significant portion of the electric utility and independent power producer industry during the relevant time period with respect to grid-interconnected, utility-scale generating facilities with integrated storage in the Western United States, or (b) any of the practices, methods and acts which, in the exercise of reasonable judgment in light of the facts known at the time the decision was made, could have been expected to accomplish the desired result at a reasonable cost consistent with good business practices, reliability, safety and expedition. Prudent Operating Practice is not intended to be limited to the optimum practice, method or act to the exclusion of all others, but rather to acceptable practices, methods or acts generally accepted in the industry with respect to grid-interconnected, utility-scale generating facilities with integrated storage in the Western United States. Prudent Operating Practice includes compliance with applicable Laws, applicable reliability criteria, and the criteria, rules and standards promulgated in the National Electric Safety Code and the National Electrical Code, as they may be amended or superseded from time to time, including the criteria, rules and standards of any successor organizations. “PTC” means the production tax credit established pursuant to Section 45 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
“PV Energy” means Buyer’s Share of that portion of Energy that is generated by the Generating Facility, as measured by the Generating Facility Meter after adjustment to exclude (a) all Electrical Losses, and (b) all Energy that serves Station Use or is stored in the Storage Facility to serve Station Use.
“Qualifying Capacity” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “RA Deficiency Amount” means the liquidated damages payment that Seller shall pay to Buyer for an applicable RA Shortfall Month as calculated in accordance with Section 3.8(b).
19 “Resource Adequacy Benefits” means the rights and privileges attached to the Storage Facility that satisfy any entity’s resource adequacy obligations, as those obligations are set forth in any Resource Adequacy Rulings and includes any local, zonal or otherwise locational attributes associated with the Storage Facility, in addition to flex attributes. “Resource Adequacy Rulings” means CPUC Decisions 04-01-050, 04-10-035, 05-10-042, 06-04-040, 06-06-064, 06-07-031 06-07-031, 07-06-029, 08-06-031, 09-06-028, 10-06-036, 11-06-022, 12-06-025, 13-06-024 and any other existing or subsequent ruling or decision, or any other resource adequacy Law, however described, as such decisions, rulings, Laws, rules or regulations may be amended or modified from time-to-time throughout the Delivery Term.
“S&P” means the Standard & Poor’s Financial Services, LLC (a subsidiary of S&P Global Inc.) or its successor.
“Schedule” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff, and “Scheduled” and “Scheduling” have a corollary meaning.
“Scheduled Energy” means the Facility Energy that clears under the applicable CAISO market based on the final Day-Ahead Schedule, FMM Schedule (as defined in the CAISO Tariff), or any other financially binding Schedule, market instruction or dispatch for the Facility for a given period of time implemented in accordance with the CAISO Tariff. “Scheduling Coordinator” or “SC” means an entity certified by the CAISO as qualifying as a Scheduling Coordinator pursuant to the CAISO Tariff for the purposes of undertaking the functions specified in “Responsibilities of a Scheduling Coordinator,” of the CAISO Tariff, as amended from time to time.
“Scheduling Coordinator Instruction” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.13. “Security Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.9. “Self-Schedule” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “Seller” has the meaning set forth on the Cover Sheet.
“Seller’s WREGIS Account” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.10(a). “Settlement Amount” means the Non-Defaulting Party’s Costs and Losses, on the one hand, netted against its Gains, on the other. If the Non-Defaulting Party’s Costs and Losses exceed its Gains, then the Settlement Amount shall be an amount owing to the Non-Defaulting Party. If the Non-Defaulting Party’s Gains exceed its Costs and Losses, then the Settlement Amount shall be Zero Dollars ($0). The Settlement Amount does not include consequential, incidental, punitive, exemplary or indirect or business interruption damages. “Settlement Interval” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “Settlement Period” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff.
20 “Shared Facilities” means the gen-tie lines, transformers, substations, or other equipment, permits, contract rights, and other assets and property (real or personal), in each case, as necessary to enable delivery of energy from the Facility (which is excluded from Shared Facilities) to the point of interconnection, including the Interconnection Agreement itself, that are used in common with third parties.
“Site” means the real property on which the Facility is or will be located, as further described in Exhibit A, and as shall be updated by Seller at the time Seller provides an executed Construction Start Date certificate in the form of Exhibit J to Buyer; provided, that Seller may not add additional APNs without the consent of Buyer.
“Site Control” means that, for the Contract Term, Seller (or, prior to the Delivery Term, its Affiliate): (a) owns or has the option to purchase the Site; (b) is the lessee or has the option to lease the Site; or (c) is the holder of an easement or an option for an easement, right-of-way grant, or similar instrument with respect to the Site.
“Station Use” means:
(a) The Energy produced or discharged by the Facility that is used within the Facility to power the lights, motors, control systems and other electrical loads that are necessary for operation of the Facility; and
(b) The Energy produced or discharged by the Facility that is consumed within the Facility’s electric energy distribution system as losses (other than losses that are Electrical Losses). “Storage Capacity” means Buyer’s Share of (a) the maximum dependable operating capability of the Storage Facility to discharge electric energy that can be sustained for four (4) consecutive hours and (b) any other products that may be developed or evolve from time to time during the Contract Term that the Storage Facility is able to provide as the Facility is configured on the Commercial Operation Date and that relate to the maximum dependable operating capability of the Storage Facility to discharge electric energy.
“Storage Capacity Test” or “SCT” means any test or retest of the capacity of the Storage Facility and/or Efficiency Rate conducted in accordance with the testing procedures, requirements and protocols set forth in Section 4.9 and Exhibit O.
“Storage Contract Capacity” means Buyer’s Share of the Storage Facility Total Capacity, initially equal to the amount set forth on the Cover Sheet, as may be adjusted in accordance with adjustments to the Storage Facility Total Capacity.
“Storage Facility Total Capacity” means the total capacity (in MW) of the Storage Facility initially equal to the amount set forth on the Cover Sheet, as the same may be adjusted (i) in accordance with Section 2.6 and Section 5(b) of Exhibit B and (ii) from time to time pursuant to Section 4.9 and Exhibit O to reflect the results of the most recently performed Storage Capacity Test.
“Storage Facility” means the 50MW/200MWh energy storage facility described on the Cover Sheet and in Exhibit A (including the operational requirements of the energy storage
21 facility), located at the Site and including mechanical equipment and associated facilities and equipment required to deliver Storage Product (but excluding any Shared Facilities), and as such storage facility may be expanded or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
“Storage Facility Meter” means the bi-directional CAISO Approved Meter, along with a compatible data processing gateway or remote intelligence gateway, telemetering equipment and data acquisition services sufficient for monitoring, recording and reporting, in real time, the amount of Charging Energy delivered to the Storage Facility Metering Points and the amount of Discharging Energy discharged from the Storage Facility at the Storage Facility Metering Points to the Delivery Point for the purpose of invoicing in accordance with Section 8.1. For clarity, the Facility will contain multiple measurement devices that will make up the Storage Facility Meter, and, unless otherwise indicated, references to the Storage Facility Meter shall mean all such measurement devices and the aggregated data of all such measurement devices, taken together. “Storage Facility Metering Points” means the locations of the Storage Facility Meters shown on Exhibit R.
“Storage Product” means (a) Discharging Energy, (b) Buyer’s Share of Capacity Attributes, if any, (c) Storage Capacity, and (d) Buyer’s Share of Ancillary Services (as defined in the CAISO Tariff), if any, in each case arising from or relating to the Storage Facility. “Storage Rate” has the meaning set forth on the Cover Sheet. “Stored Energy Level” means, at a particular time, the amount of electric energy in the Storage Facility available to be discharged, expressed in MWh. “Supplementary Storage Capacity Test Protocol” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit O.
“System Emergency” means any condition that requires, as determined and declared by CAISO or the PTO, automatic or immediate action to (i) prevent or limit harm to or loss of life or property, (ii) prevent loss of transmission facilities or generation supply in the immediate vicinity of the Facility, or (iii) to preserve Transmission System reliability. “Tax” or “Taxes” means all U.S. federal, state and local and any foreign taxes, levies, assessments, surcharges, duties and other fees and charges of any nature imposed by a Governmental Authority, whether currently in effect or adopted during the Contract Term, including ad valorem, excise, franchise, gross receipts, import/export, license, property, sales and use, stamp, transfer, payroll, unemployment, income, and any and all items of withholding, deficiency, penalty, additions, interest or assessment related thereto. “Tax Credits” means the PTC, ITC and any other state, local or federal production tax credit, depreciation benefit, tax deduction or investment tax credit specific to the production of renewable energy or investments in renewable energy facilities or storage facilities. “Terminated Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2(a).
22 “Termination Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.3. “Test Energy” means PV Energy delivered (a) commencing on the later of (i) the first date that the CAISO informs Seller in writing that Seller may deliver Energy to the CAISO and (ii) the first date that the PTO informs Seller in writing that Seller has conditional or temporary permission to parallel and (b) ending upon the occurrence of the Commercial Operation Date. “Test Energy Rate” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6. “Transmission Provider” means any entity or entities transmitting or transporting the Facility Energy on behalf of Seller or Buyer to or from the Delivery Point. “Transmission System” means the transmission facilities operated by the CAISO, now or hereafter in existence, which provide energy transmission service within the CAISO grid from the Delivery Point.
“Ultimate Parent” means Clearway Energy Group LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Variable Energy Resource” or “VER” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “WREGIS” means the Western Renewable Energy Generation Information System or any successor renewable energy tracking program.
“WREGIS Certificate Deficit” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.10(e). “WREGIS Certificates” has the same meaning as “Certificate” as defined by WREGIS in the WREGIS Operating Rules and are designated as eligible for complying with the California Renewables Portfolio Standard.
“WREGIS Operating Rules” means those operating rules and requirements adopted by WREGIS as of October 2022, as subsequently amended, supplemented or replaced (in whole or in part) from time to time.
1.2 Rules of Interpretation. In this Agreement, except as expressly stated otherwise or unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) headings and the rendering of text in bold and italics are for convenience and reference purposes only and do not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement; (b) words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa and the masculine, feminine and neuter genders include all genders; (c) the words “hereof”, “herein”, and “hereunder” and words of similar import shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement;
23 (d) a reference to an Article, Section, paragraph, clause, Party, or Exhibit is a reference to that Section, paragraph, clause of, or that Party or Exhibit to, this Agreement unless otherwise specified;
(e) a reference to a document or agreement, including this Agreement means such document, agreement or this Agreement including any amendment or supplement to, or replacement, novation or modification of this Agreement, but disregarding any amendment, supplement, replacement, novation or modification made in breach of such document, agreement or this Agreement;
(f) a reference to a Person includes that Person’s successors and permitted assigns;
(g) the term “including” means “including without limitation” and any list of examples following such term shall in no way restrict or limit the generality of the work or provision in respect of which such examples are provided; (h) references to any statute, code or statutory provision are to be construed as a reference to the same as it may have been, or may from time to time be, amended, modified or reenacted, and include references to all bylaws, instruments, orders and regulations for the time being made thereunder or deriving validity therefrom unless the context otherwise requires; (i) in the event of a conflict, a mathematical formula or other precise description of a concept or a term shall prevail over words providing a more general description of a concept or a term;
(j) references to any amount of money shall mean a reference to the amount in United States Dollars;
(k) words, phrases or expressions not otherwise defined herein that (i) have a generally accepted meaning in Prudent Operating Practice shall have such meaning in this Agreement or (ii) do not have well known and generally accepted meaning in Prudent Operating Practice but that have well known and generally accepted technical or trade meanings, shall have such recognized meanings; and
(l) each Party acknowledges that it was represented by counsel in connection with this Agreement and that it or its counsel reviewed this Agreement and that any rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 2
TERM; CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
2.1 Contract Term.
(a) The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall remain in full force and effect until the conclusion of the Delivery Term, subject to any early termination provisions and any contract term extension provisions set forth herein (“Contract
24 Term”); provided, however, that subject to Buyer’s obligations in Section 3.6, Buyer’s obligations to pay for or accept any Product are subject to Seller’s completion of the conditions precedent pursuant to Section 2.2.
(b) Applicable provisions of this Agreement shall continue in effect after termination, including early termination, to the extent necessary to enforce or complete the duties, obligations or responsibilities of the Parties arising prior to termination. The confidentiality obligations of the Parties under Article 18 and all indemnity and audit rights shall remain in full force and effect for two (2) years following the termination of this Agreement.
2.2 Conditions Precedent. The Delivery Term shall not commence until Seller completes each of the following conditions:
(a) Seller has delivered to Buyer (i) a certificate from a Licensed Professional Engineer substantially in the form of Exhibit H, (ii) a certificate from a Licensed Professional Engineer substantially in the form of Exhibit I-1 setting forth the Installed PV Capacity on the Commercial Operation Date, and (iii) a certificate from a Licensed Professional Engineer substantially in the form of Exhibit I-2 setting forth the Installed Battery Capacity on the Commercial Operation Date;
(b) A Participating Generator Agreement and a Meter Service Agreement between Seller and CAISO shall have been executed and delivered and be in full force and effect, and a copy of each such agreement delivered to Buyer;
(c) An Interconnection Agreement between Seller and the PTO shall have been executed and delivered and be in full force and effect and a copy of the Interconnection Agreement delivered to Buyer;
(d) All applicable regulatory authorizations, approvals and permits required for the operation of the Facility have been obtained and all required conditions thereof that are capable of being satisfied on the Commercial Operation Date have been satisfied and shall be in full force and effect;
(e) Seller has received CEC Precertification of the Facility (and reasonably expects to receive final CEC Certification and Verification for the Facility in no more than one hundred eighty (180) days from the Commercial Operation Date); (f) Seller (with the reasonable participation of Buyer) shall have completed all applicable WREGIS registration requirements that are reasonably capable of being completed prior to the Commercial Operation Date under WREGIS rules, including (as applicable) the completion and submittal of all applicable registration forms and supporting documentation, which may include applicable interconnection agreements, informational surveys related to the Facility, QRE service agreements, and other appropriate documentation required to effect Facility registration with WREGIS and to enable Renewable Energy Credit transfers related to the Facility within the WREGIS system;
(g) Seller has delivered the Performance Security to Buyer in accordance with Section 8.8; and
25 (h) Seller has paid Buyer for all amounts owing under this Agreement as of the Commercial Operation Date, if any, including Daily Delay Damages and Commercial Operation Delay Damages.
2.3 Development; Construction; Progress Reports. Within fifteen (15) days after the close of (i) each calendar quarter from the first calendar quarter following the Effective Date until the Construction Start Date, and (ii) each calendar month from the first calendar month following the Construction Start Date until the Commercial Operation Date, Seller shall provide to Buyer a Progress Report and shall hold regularly scheduled meetings between representatives of Buyer and Seller to review such monthly reports and discuss Seller’s construction progress. The form of the Progress Report is set forth in Exhibit E, and shall include such additional information as may be reasonably requested by Buyer from time to time. Seller shall also provide Buyer with any reasonable requested documentation (subject to confidentiality restrictions) directly related to the achievement of Milestones within ten (10) Business Days of receipt of such request by Seller. For the avoidance of doubt, as between Seller and Buyer, Seller is solely responsible for the design and construction of the Facility, including the location of the Site, obtaining all permits and approvals to build the Facility, the Facility layout, and the selection and procurement of the equipment comprising the Facility.
2.4 Remedial Action Plan. If Seller (a) misses the Guaranteed Construction Start Date, (b) misses three (3) or more Milestones (other than the Guaranteed Construction Start Date), or (c) misses any one (1) Milestone (other than the Guaranteed Construction Start Date) by more than ninety (90) days, except as the result of Force Majeure Event or Buyer Default, Seller shall submit to Buyer, within ten (10) Business Days after the occurrence of (a), (b) or (c), a remedial action plan (“Remedial Action Plan”), which will describe in detail any delays (actual or anticipated) beyond the scheduled Milestone dates, including the cause of the delay, if known (e.g., governmental approvals, financing, property acquisition, design activities, equipment procurement, project construction, interconnection, or any other factor), Seller’s detailed description of its proposed course of action to achieve the missed Milestones and all subsequent Milestones by the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date; provided, that delivery of any Remedial Action Plan shall not relieve Seller of its obligation to provide Remedial Action Plans with respect to any subsequent Milestones and to achieve the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Subject to the provisions of Exhibit B, so long as Seller complies with its obligations under this Section 2.4, Seller shall not be considered in default of its obligations under this Agreement solely as a result of missing any Milestone.
2.5 Guaranteed Capacity Adjustment. At any time prior to Construction Start, Seller may, upon ten (10) Business Days’ Notice to Buyer that such adjustment is reasonably required in order to optimize the design and/or efficiency of the Facility, adjust the Guaranteed Capacity upward or downward by up to one and a half (1.5) MW. Upon such Notice, each reference to the Guaranteed Capacity under this Agreement (except for purposes of calculating the Development Security) shall automatically be amended and deemed to be a reference to such adjusted amount, without the need for written amendment by the Parties, including references in the description of the Facility and the Operating Restrictions.
2.6 Storage Contract Capacity Adjustment. At any time prior to Construction Start, Seller may, upon ten (10) Business Days’ Notice to Buyer that such adjustment is reasonably
26 required in order to optimize the design and/or efficiency of the Facility, adjust the Storage Facility Total Capacity upward or downward by up to one and a half (1.5) MW. Upon such Notice, each reference to the Storage Facility Total Capacity and the Storage Contract Capacity under this Agreement (except for purposes of calculating the Development Security) shall automatically be amended and deemed to be a reference to such adjusted amount, without the need for written amendment by the Parties, including references in the description of the Facility and the Operating Restrictions.
2.7 Expected Energy Adjustment. If Seller adjusts the Guaranteed Capacity pursuant to Section 2.5, then promptly following the later of (a) the Commercial Operation Date, and (b) if applicable, the Guaranteed Capacity build-out period described in Section 5 of Exhibit B, the Expected Energy shall be adjusted pro rata in proportion to such adjusted Guaranteed Capacity without the need for written amendment by the Parties.
ARTICLE 3
PURCHASE AND SALE
3.1 Purchase and Sale of Product. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, during the Delivery Term, Buyer will purchase and receive all of Buyer’s Share of the Product produced by or associated with the Facility at the Contract Price and in accordance with Exhibit C, and Seller shall supply and deliver to Buyer all of Buyer’s Share of the Product produced by or associated with the Facility (net of applicable losses). At its sole discretion, Buyer may during the Delivery Term re-sell or use for another purpose all or a portion of Buyer’s Share of the Product, provided that no such re-sale or use shall relieve Buyer of any obligations hereunder.
During the Delivery Term, Buyer will have exclusive rights to offer, bid, or otherwise submit Buyer’s Share of the Product, or any component thereof, from the Facility after the Delivery Point for resale into the market or to any third party, and retain and receive any and all related revenues.
Subject to Buyer’s obligation to purchase Product in accordance with this Section 3.1 and Exhibit C, Buyer has no obligation to purchase from Seller any Product for which the associated Facility Energy is not or cannot be delivered to the Delivery Point as a result of an outage of the Facility, a Force Majeure Event, or a Curtailment Order.
3.2 Sale of Green Attributes. During the Delivery Term, Seller shall sell and deliver to Buyer, and Buyer shall purchase and receive from Seller, all Green Attributes attributable to the PV Energy.
3.3 Imbalance Energy. Buyer and Seller recognize that in any given Settlement Period there may be Imbalance Energy. To the extent there is any Imbalance Energy, any payments or charges related to such Imbalance Energy shall be for the account of Buyer.
3.4 Ownership of Renewable Energy Incentives. Seller shall have all right, title and interest in and to all Renewable Energy Incentives. Buyer acknowledges that any Renewable Energy Incentives belong to Seller. If any Renewable Energy Incentives, or values representing the same, are initially credited or paid to Buyer, Buyer shall cause such Renewable Energy Incentives or values relating to same to be assigned or transferred to Seller without delay. Buyer shall reasonably cooperate with Seller, at Seller’s sole expense, in Seller’s efforts to meet the
29 3.10 RPS Standard Terms and Conditions.
(a) Seller warrants that all necessary steps to allow the Renewable Energy Credits transferred to Buyer to be tracked in the Western Renewable Energy Generation Information System will be taken prior to the first delivery under the contract. (b) Seller, and, if applicable, its successors, represents and warrants that throughout the Delivery Term of this Agreement that: (i) the Project qualifies and is certified by the CEC as an Eligible Renewable Energy Resource (“ERR”) as such term is defined in Public Utilities Code Section 399.12 or Section 399.16; and (ii) the Project’s output delivered to Buyer qualifies under the requirements of the California Renewables Portfolio Standard. To the extent a change in law occurs after execution of this Agreement that causes this representation and warranty to be materially false or misleading, it shall not be an Event of Default if Seller has used commercially reasonable efforts to comply with such change in law. (c) Seller and, if applicable, its successors, represents and warrants that throughout the Delivery Term of this Agreement the Renewable Energy Credits transferred to Buyer conform to the definition and attributes required for compliance with the California Renewables Portfolio Standard, as set forth in California Public Utilities Commission Decision 08-08-028, and as may be modified by subsequent decision of the California Public Utilities Commission or by subsequent legislation. To the extent a change in law occurs after execution of this Agreement that causes this representation and warranty to be materially false or misleading, it shall not be an Event of Default if Seller has used commercially reasonable efforts to comply with such change in law.
(d) As used in this Section 3.10, the term “contract” shall have the same meaning as “Agreement”, the term “Project” shall have the same meaning as “Facility”, and the phrase “commercially reasonable efforts” means efforts consistent with and subject to Section
3.11. 3.11 Compliance Expenditure Cap.
(a) If a change in Laws occurring after the Original Effective Date has increased Seller’s known or reasonably expected costs to comply with Seller’s obligations under this Agreement with respect to obtaining, maintaining, conveying or effectuating Buyer’s use of (as applicable) any Product then the Parties agree that the maximum aggregate amount of out-of-pocket costs and expenses (“Compliance Costs”) Seller shall be required to bear during the Delivery Term to comply with all of such obligations shall be capped at (“Compliance Expenditure Cap”). Seller’s
internal administrative costs associated with obtaining, maintaining, conveying or effectuating, Buyer’s use of (as applicable) any Product are excluded from the Compliance Expenditure Cap. (b) Any actions required for Seller to comply with its obligations set forth in Section 3.11(a) above, the Compliance Costs of which will be included in the Compliance Expenditure Cap, shall be referred to collectively as the “Compliance Actions.”
30 (c) If Seller reasonably anticipates the need to incur Compliance Costs in excess of the Compliance Expenditure Cap in order to take any Compliance Action, Seller shall provide Notice to Buyer of such anticipated Compliance Costs. (d) Buyer will have sixty (60) days to evaluate such Notice (during which time period Seller is not obligated to take any Compliance Actions described in the Notice) and shall, within such time, either (1) agree to reimburse Seller for all or some portion of the Compliance Costs that exceed the Compliance Expenditure Cap (such Buyer-agreed upon costs, the “Accepted Compliance Costs”), or (2) waive Seller’s obligation to take such Compliance Actions, or any part thereof for which Buyer has not agreed to reimburse Seller. (e) If Buyer agrees to reimburse Seller for the Accepted Compliance Costs, then Seller shall take such Compliance Actions covered by the Accepted Compliance Costs as agreed upon by the Parties and Buyer shall reimburse Seller for Seller’s actual costs to effect the Compliance Actions, not to exceed the Accepted Compliance Costs, within sixty (60) days from the time that Buyer receives an invoice and documentation of such costs from Seller.
3.12 Project Configuration. In order to optimize the benefits of the Facility, Buyer and Seller each agree that if requested by the other Party, then Buyer and Seller will discuss in good faith potential reconfiguration of the Facility or Interconnection Facilities (including enabling the Storage Facility to be charged from the grid); provided that neither Party shall be obligated to agree to any changes under this Agreement, or to incur any expense in connection with such changes, except under terms mutually acceptable to both Parties (and Seller’s Lenders) as set forth in a written agreement executed by the Parties.
ARTICLE 4
OBLIGATIONS AND DELIVERIES
4.1 Delivery.
(a) Energy. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, commencing on the Commercial Operation Date and through the end of the Contract Term, Seller shall supply and deliver the Product to Buyer at the Delivery Point, and Buyer shall take delivery of the Product at the Delivery Point in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Seller will be responsible for paying or satisfying when due any costs or charges imposed in connection with the delivery of Facility Energy to the Delivery Point, including without limitation, Station Use, Electrical Losses, any costs associated with delivering the Charging Energy from the Generating Facility to the Storage Facility, and any operation and maintenance charges imposed on Seller by the Transmission Provider directly relating to the Facility’s operations. Buyer shall be responsible for all costs, charges and penalties, if any, imposed in connection with the delivery of Facility Energy at and after the Delivery Point, including without limitation transmission costs and transmission line losses and imbalance charges. The Facility Energy will be scheduled with the CAISO by Buyer (or Buyer’s designated Scheduling Coordinator for the Facility) in accordance with Exhibit D. (b) Green Attributes. All Green Attributes associated with the Facility Energy during the Delivery Term are exclusively dedicated to and will be conveyed to Buyer. Seller represents and warrants that Seller holds the rights to all Green Attributes from the Facility Energy,
31 and Seller agrees to convey and hereby conveys all such Green Attributes to Buyer as included in the delivery of the Product from the Facility.
4.2 Title and Risk of Loss.
(a) Energy. Title to and risk of loss related to the Facility Energy, shall pass and transfer from Seller to Buyer at the Delivery Point. Seller warrants that all Product delivered to Buyer is free and clear of all liens, security interests, claims and encumbrances of any kind. (b) Green Attributes. Title to and risk of loss related to the Green Attributes associated with the Facility Energy shall pass and transfer from Seller to Buyer upon the transfer of such Green Attributes in accordance with WREGIS.
4.3 Forecasting. Seller shall provide the forecasts described below at its sole expense and in a format reasonably acceptable to Buyer (or Buyer’s designee). Seller shall use reasonable efforts to provide forecasts that are accurate and, to the extent not inconsistent with the requirements of this Agreement, shall prepare such forecasts, or cause such forecasts to be prepared, in accordance with Prudent Operating Practices, including CAISO requirements applicable to projects similar to the Facility.
(a) Annual Forecast of Energy. No less than forty-five (45) days before (i) the first day of the first Contract Year of the Delivery Term and (ii) at the beginning of each calendar year for every subsequent Contract Year during the Delivery Term, Seller shall provide to Buyer and the SC for the Facility (if applicable) a non-binding forecast of each month’s average-day expected PV Energy, by hour, for the following calendar year in a form substantially similar to the table found in Exhibit F-1, or as reasonably requested by Buyer. (b) Monthly Forecast of Energy and Available Generating Capacity. No less than thirty (30) days before the beginning of Commercial Operation, and thereafter ten (10) Business Days before the beginning of each month during the Delivery Term, Seller shall provide to Buyer and the SC for the Facility (if applicable) a non-binding forecast of Buyer’s Share of the hourly expected PV Energy, Available Generating Capacity and Storage Capacity for each day of the following month in a form substantially similar to the table found in Exhibit F-2 (“Monthly Delivery Forecast”).
(c) Day-Ahead Forecast. By 5:30 AM local time on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of delivery, or as otherwise specified by Buyer consistent with Prudent Operating Practice, Seller shall provide Buyer with a non-binding forecast of (i) Available Generating Capacity and (ii) Storage Capacity and (iii) Buyer’s Share of hourly expected PV Energy, and (iv) Stored Energy Level, in each case, for each Settlement Interval of each hour of the immediately succeeding day (“Day-Ahead Forecast”). A Day-Ahead Forecast provided in a day prior to any non-Business Day(s) shall include non-binding forecasts for the immediate day, each succeeding non-Business Day and the next Business Day. Each Day-Ahead Forecast shall clearly identify, for each Settlement Interval of each hour, Seller’s best estimate of (i) the Available Generating Capacity and (ii) the Storage Capacity and (iii) Buyer’s Share of the hourly expected PV Energy, and (iv) Stored Energy Level. These Day-Ahead Forecasts shall be sent to Buyer’s on-duty Scheduling Coordinator. If Seller fails to provide Buyer with a Day-Ahead Forecast as
32 required herein for any period, then for such unscheduled delivery period only Buyer shall rely on any Real-Time Forecast provided in accordance with Section 4.3(d) or the Monthly Delivery Forecast or Buyer’s best estimate based on information reasonably available to Buyer. (d) Real-Time Forecasts. During the Delivery Term, Seller shall notify Buyer (as Scheduling Coordinator) of any changes from the Day-Ahead Forecast of one (1) MW or more in (i) Available Generating Capacity or (ii) Storage Capacity, in each case, whether due to Forced Facility Outage, Force Majeure Event or other cause, as soon as reasonably possible, but no later than one (1) hour prior to the deadline for submitting Schedules to the CAISO in accordance with the rules for participation in the Real-Time Market. If the Available Generating Capacity or Storage Capacity changes by at least one (1) MW as of a time that is less than one (1) hour prior to the Real-Time Market deadline, but before such deadline, then Seller must notify Buyer (as Scheduling Coordinator) as soon as reasonably possible. Such Real-Time Forecasts of Available Generating Capacity and Storage Capacity shall be provided by Seller and shall contain information regarding the beginning date and time of the event resulting in the change in Available Generating Capacity or Storage Capacity, as applicable, the expected end date and time of such event, and any other information required by the CAISO or reasonably requested by Buyer (as Scheduling Coordinator). Seller shall also provide access to routinely updated forecasts for each Settlement Interval of each hour of the expected Energy. Such real-time forecasts of Energy shall be provided by the CAISO, or if the CAISO does not provide such forecasts for the Facility then such forecasts shall be provided by an Approved Forecast Vendor. With respect to any Forced Facility Outage, Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to notify Buyer (as Scheduling Coordinator) of such outage within ten (10) minutes of the commencement of the Forced Facility Outage. Seller shall inform Buyer (as Scheduling Coordinator) of any developments that will affect either the duration of such outage or the availability of the Facility during or after the end of such outage. These Real-Time Forecasts shall be communicated in a method reasonably acceptable to Buyer (as Scheduling Coordinator); provided that Buyer (as Scheduling Coordinator) specifies the method no later than twenty (20) Business Days prior to the effective date of such requirement. In the event Buyer (as Scheduling Coordinator) fails to provide Notice of an acceptable method for communications under this Section 4.3(d), then Seller shall send such communications by telephone to Buyer.
(e) Forced Facility Outages. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Seller shall promptly notify Buyer’s on-duty Scheduling Coordinator of Forced Facility Outages and Seller shall keep Buyer informed of any developments that will affect either the duration of the outage or the availability of the Facility during or after the end of the outage. (f) Forecasting Penalties. Subject to a Force Majeure Event, in the event Seller does not in a given hour provide the forecast required in Section 4.3(d) and Buyer incurs a loss or penalty resulting from Seller’s failure and Buyer’s scheduling activities with respect to Facility Energy during such hour, Seller shall be responsible for a Forecasting Penalty for each such hour.
Settlement of Forecasting Penalties shall occur as set forth in Article 8 of this Agreement. (g) CAISO Tariff Requirements. To the extent such obligations are applicable to the Facility, Seller will comply with all applicable obligations for Variable Energy Resources under the CAISO Tariff and the Eligible Intermittent Resource Protocol, including providing
33 appropriate operational data and meteorological data, and will fully cooperate with Buyer, Buyer’s SC, and CAISO, in providing all data, information, and authorizations required thereunder.
4.4 Dispatch Down/Curtailment.
(a) General. Seller agrees to reduce the amount of PV Energy produced by the Generating Facility, by the amount and for the period set forth in any Curtailment Order, Buyer Curtailment Order, or notice received from CAISO in respect of a Buyer Bid Curtailment, provided that Seller is not required to reduce such amount to the extent such reduction or any such Curtailment Order, Buyer Curtailment Order or notice is inconsistent with the limitations of the Facility set out in the Operating Restrictions.
(b) Buyer Curtailment. Buyer shall have the right to order Seller to curtail deliveries of Facility Energy through Buyer Curtailment Orders, provided that Buyer shall pay Seller for all Deemed Delivered Energy associated with a Buyer Curtailment Period in excess of the Curtailment Cap in accordance with Exhibit C.
(c) Failure to Comply. If Seller fails to comply with a Buyer Curtailment Order, Buyer Bid Curtailment or Curtailment Order, then, for each MWh of Facility Energy that is delivered by the Facility to the Delivery Point in contradiction to the Buyer Curtailment Order, Buyer Bid Curtailment or Curtailment Order, Seller shall pay Buyer for each such MWh at an amount equal to the sum of (A) + (B) + (C), where: (A) is the amount, if any, paid to Seller by Buyer for delivery of such excess MWh and, (B) is the sum, for all Settlement Intervals with a Negative LMP during the Buyer Curtailment Period or Curtailment Period, of the absolute value of the product of such excess MWh in each Settlement Interval and the Negative LMP for such Settlement Interval, and (C) is any penalties assessed by the CAISO or other charges assessed by the CAISO resulting from Seller’s failure to comply with the Buyer Curtailment Order, Buyer Bid Curtailment or Curtailment Order.
(d) Seller Equipment Required for Curtailment Instruction Communications.
Subject to the last sentence of this Section 4.4(d), Seller shall acquire, install, and maintain such facilities, communications links and other equipment, and implement such protocols and practices, as necessary to respond and follow instructions, including an electronic signal conveying real time and intra-day instructions, to operate the Facility as reasonably directed by the Buyer in accordance with this Agreement or a Governmental Authority, including to implement a Buyer Curtailment Order, Buyer Bid Curtailment or Curtailment Order in accordance with the then-current methodology used to transmit such instructions as it may change from time to time. If at any time during the Delivery Term Seller’s facilities, communications links or other equipment, protocols or practices are not in compliance with then-current methodologies, Seller shall, subject to the last sentence of this Section 4.4(d), take the steps necessary to become compliant as soon as reasonably possible. Seller shall be liable pursuant to Section 4.4(c) for failure to comply with a Buyer Curtailment Order, Buyer Bid Curtailment or Curtailment Order, during the time that Seller’s facilities, communications links or other equipment, protocols or practices are not in compliance with this Section 4.4(d). For the avoidance of doubt, a Buyer Curtailment Order, Buyer Bid Curtailment or Curtailment Order communication via such systems and facilities shall have the same force and effect on Seller as any other form of communication. If Seller is directed by Buyer to install or implement facilities, communications links or other equipment, protocols or practices
34 facilities pursuant to this Section 4.4(d) that are not otherwise required for the Facility pursuant to the CAISO Tariff, then the installation or implementation of such facilities, communications links or other equipment, protocols or practices facilities will be deemed Compliance Actions subject to the Compliance Expenditure Cap as set forth in Section 3.11.
4.5 Charging Energy Management.
(a) Upon receipt of a valid Charging Notice, Seller shall take any and all action necessary to deliver the Charging Energy from the Generating Facility to the Storage Facility in order to deliver the Storage Product in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (including the Operating Restrictions), including maintenance, repair or replacement of equipment in Seller’s possession or control used to deliver the Charging Energy to the Storage Facility. The Parties acknowledge and agree that, except as provided in Section 4.5(g) below, although Charging Energy will exclusively be PV Energy delivered directly from the Generating Facility to the Storage Facility, for purposes of CAISO financial settlements the Parties understand that CAISO will treat Charging Energy as being procured by Buyer from the CAISO Grid as if such Charging Energy were grid energy, and that as a result the CAISO will have separate financial settlements (i) for deliveries of PV Energy to the Generating Facility Meter and (ii) for deliveries of Charging Energy to the Storage Facility Meter. If CAISO rules or protocols become inconsistent with such understanding, the Parties shall reasonably coordinate to amend or modify this Agreement to carry out the intent hereof, such agreement not to be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld. (b) During the Delivery Term, Buyer will have the right to direct Seller to charge the Storage Facility seven (7) days per week and twenty-four (24) hours per day (including holidays), by providing Charging Notices to Seller electronically, provided, that Buyer’s right to issue Charging Notices is subject to Prudent Operating Practice and the requirements and limitations set forth in this Agreement, including the Operating Restrictions and the provisions of Section 4.5(a). Each Charging Notice issued in accordance with this Agreement will be effective unless and until Buyer modifies such Charging Notice by providing Seller with an updated Charging Notice.
(c) Seller shall not charge the Storage Facility during the Delivery Term other than pursuant to a valid Charging Notice, or in connection with a Storage Capacity Test, or pursuant to a notice from CAISO, the PTO, Transmission Provider, or any other Governmental Authority, or as otherwise required by applicable law. If, during the Contract Term, Seller (a) charges the Storage Facility to a Stored Energy Level greater than the Stored Energy Level provided for in the Charging Notice or (b) charges the Storage Facility in violation of the first sentence of this Section 4.5(c), then (x) Seller shall be responsible for all energy costs associated with such charging of the Storage Facility, (y) Buyer shall not be required to pay for the charging of such energy (i.e., Charging Energy), and (z) Buyer shall be entitled to discharge such energy and entitled to all of the benefits (including Storage Product) associated with such discharge. (d) During the Delivery Term, Buyer will have the right to direct Seller to discharge the Storage Facility seven (7) days per week and twenty-four (24) hours per day (including holidays), by providing Discharging Notices to Seller electronically, and subject to the requirements and limitations set forth in this Agreement, including the Operating Restrictions.
Each Discharging Notice issued in accordance with this Agreement will be effective unless and
37 less than the Guaranteed Energy Production in each Performance Measurement Period. Seller shall be excused from achieving the Guaranteed Energy Production during any Performance Measurement Period only to the extent of any Force Majeure Events, System Emergency, Storage Capacity Tests, Buyer’s Default or other failure to perform, and Curtailment Periods or Buyer Curtailment Periods. For purposes of determining whether Seller has achieved the Guaranteed Energy Production, Seller shall be deemed to have delivered to Buyer (1) any Deemed Delivered Energy, (2) Energy in the amount it could reasonably have delivered to Buyer but was prevented from delivering to Buyer by reason of any Force Majeure Events, System Emergency, Storage Capacity Tests, Buyer’s Default or other failure to perform, and Curtailment Periods (“Lost Output”), plus (3) the amount of undelivered Energy during such Performance Measurement Period with respect to which Seller has already paid liquidated damages. If Seller fails to achieve the Guaranteed Energy Production amount in any Performance Measurement Period, Seller shall pay Buyer damages calculated in accordance with Exhibit G.
4.8 Storage Availability.
(a) During the Delivery Term, the Storage Facility shall maintain a Monthly Storage Availability during each month of no less than (the “Guaranteed Storage Availability”), which Monthly Storage Availability shall be calculated in accordance with Exhibit P.
(b) If the Monthly Storage Availability during any month is less than the Guaranteed Storage Availability, then Buyer’s payment for the Storage Product shall be calculated by reference to the Availability Adjusted Storage Contract Capacity (as determined in accordance with Exhibit P).
4.9 Storage Capacity Tests.
(a) Prior to the Commercial Operation Date, Seller shall schedule and complete a Storage Capacity Test in accordance with Exhibit O. Thereafter, Seller and Buyer shall have the right to run additional Storage Capacity Tests in accordance with Exhibit O. (b) Buyer shall have the right to send one or more representative(s) to witness all Storage Capacity Tests. Buyer shall be responsible for all costs, expenses and fees payable or reimbursable to its representative(s) witnessing any Storage Capacity Test. Except as otherwise specified in Exhibit O, all other costs or revenues associated with any Storage Capacity Test shall be borne by, or accrue to, Seller, as applicable.
(c) Following each Storage Capacity Test, Seller shall submit a testing report in accordance with Exhibit O. If the actual capacity or efficiency rate determined pursuant to a Storage Capacity Test deviates from the then current Storage Facility Total Capacity and/or Efficiency Rate, then the actual capacity and/or efficiency rate, as applicable, determined pursuant to a Storage Capacity Test (up to, but not in excess of, the Storage Facility Total Capacity as of the Original Effective Date, as may have been adjusted (if at all) pursuant to Section 2.6 and Section 5 of Exhibit B) shall become the new Storage Facility Total Capacity and/or Efficiency Rate, effective as of the first day of the month following the completion of the test, for all purposes
38 under this Agreement, including compensation under Exhibit C, until the next such Storage Capacity Test.
(d) Except for the initial Storage Capacity Test conducted prior to the Commercial Operation Date, Seller shall, in lieu of conducting a Storage Capacity Test, be permitted to demonstrate the Storage Facility Total Capacity in accordance with the Alternative Storage Capacity Methodology. “Alternative Storage Capacity Methodology” means a mutually agreed upon methodology for demonstrating the Storage Facility Total Capacity in lieu of a Storage Capacity Test by reference to the operational data reflecting the net output of the Storage Facility from the point of interconnection. At the request of Seller, Buyer, in coordination with Other Buyer, and Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to establish and agree upon the Alternative Storage Capacity Methodology. If Buyer, in coordination with Other Buyer, and Seller mutually agree on an Alternative Storage Capacity Methodology, the agreed Storage Facility Total Capacity shall become the Storage Facility Total Capacity for all purposes of this Agreement, including compensation under Exhibit C, at the beginning of the day following Notice thereof delivered by Seller to Buyer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Buyer is not required to accept Seller’s proposal for an Alternative Storage Capacity Methodology and Buyer shall at all times have the right to request a Storage Capacity Test in accordance with Exhibit O, even if an Alternative Storage Capacity Methodology has been agreed to by the Parties pursuant to this Section 4.9(d). In the event of a conflict between the test results under an Alternative Storage Capacity Methodology and a Storage Capacity Test in accordance with Exhibit O, the results from the Storage Capacity Test in accordance with Exhibit O shall control.
4.10 WREGIS. Seller shall, at its sole expense, but subject to Section 3.11, take all actions and execute all documents or instruments necessary to ensure that all WREGIS Certificates associated with all Renewable Energy Credits corresponding to all PV Energy are issued and tracked for purposes of satisfying the requirements of the California Renewables Portfolio Standard and transferred in a timely manner to Buyer for Buyer’s sole benefit. Seller shall transfer the Renewable Energy Credits to Buyer. Seller shall comply with all Laws, including the WREGIS Operating Rules, regarding the certification and transfer of such WREGIS Certificates to Buyer and Buyer shall be given sole title to all such WREGIS Certificates. Seller shall be deemed to have satisfied the warranty in Section 3.10(a), provided that Seller fulfills its obligations under Sections
4.10(a) through (f) below. In addition:
(a) Prior to the Commercial Operation Date or as soon as reasonably possible thereafter, Seller shall register the Facility with WREGIS and establish an account with WREGIS (“Seller’s WREGIS Account”), which Seller shall maintain until the end of the Delivery Term.
Seller shall transfer the WREGIS Certificates using “Forward Certificate Transfers” (as described in the WREGIS Operating Rules) from Seller’s WREGIS Account to the WREGIS account(s) of Buyer or the account(s) of a designee that Buyer identifies by Notice to Seller (“Buyer’s WREGIS Account”). Seller shall be responsible for all expenses associated with registering the Facility with WREGIS, establishing and maintaining Seller’s WREGIS Account, paying WREGIS Certificate issuance and transfer fees, and transferring WREGIS Certificates from Seller’s WREGIS Account to Buyer’s WREGIS Account. (b) Seller shall cause Forward Certificate Transfers to occur on a monthly basis in accordance with the certification procedure established by the WREGIS Operating Rules. Since
39 WREGIS Certificates will only be created for whole MWh amounts of PV Energy generated, any fractional MWh amounts (i.e., kWh) will be carried forward until sufficient generation is accumulated for the creation of a WREGIS Certificate.
(c) Seller shall, at its sole expense, ensure that the WREGIS Certificates for a given calendar month correspond with the PV Energy for such calendar month as evidenced by the Facility’s metered data.
(d) Due to the ninety (90) day delay in the creation of WREGIS Certificates relative to the timing of invoice payment under Section 8.2, Buyer shall make an invoice payment for a given month in accordance with Section 8.2 before the WREGIS Certificates for such month are formally transferred to Buyer in accordance with the WREGIS Operating Rules and this Section 4.10. Notwithstanding this delay, Buyer shall have all right and title to all such WREGIS Certificates upon payment to Seller in accordance with Section 8.2. (e) A “WREGIS Certificate Deficit” means any deficit or shortfall in WREGIS Certificates delivered to Buyer for a calendar month as compared to the PV Energy for the same calendar month (“Deficient Month”) caused by an error or omission of Seller. If any WREGIS Certificate Deficit is caused, or the result of any action or inaction by Seller, then the amount of PV Energy in the Deficient Month shall be reduced by the amount of the WREGIS Certificate Deficit for purposes of calculating Buyer’s payment to Seller under Article 8 and the Guaranteed Energy Production for the applicable Contract Year; provided, however, that such adjustment shall not apply to the extent that Seller either (x) resolves the WREGIS Certificate Deficit within ninety (90) days after the Deficient Month or (y) provides Replacement Green Attributes (as defined in Exhibit G) delivered to NP 15 EZ Gen Hub as Scheduled Energy within ninety (90) days after the Deficient Month (i) upon a schedule reasonably acceptable to Buyer and (ii) provided that such deliveries do not impose additional costs upon Buyer for which Seller refuses to provide reimbursement. Without limiting Seller’s obligations under this Section 4.10, if a WREGIS Certificate Deficit is caused solely by an error or omission of WREGIS, the Parties shall cooperate in good faith to cause WREGIS to correct its error or omission. (f) Subject to Section 3.11, if WREGIS changes the WREGIS Operating Rules after the Original Effective Date or applies the WREGIS Operating Rules in a manner inconsistent with this Section 4.10 after the Original Effective Date, the Parties promptly shall modify this Section 4.10 as reasonably required to cause and enable Seller to transfer to Buyer’s WREGIS Account a quantity of WREGIS Certificates for each given calendar month that corresponds to the PV Energy in the same calendar month.
4.11 Interconnection Capacity. During the Test Energy period and throughout the Delivery Term, Seller shall provide under the Interconnection Agreement interconnection capacity and rights to the Facility of not less than the Dedicated Interconnection Capacity to (i) interconnect the Facility with the CAISO Grid, and (ii) fulfill Seller’s obligations under the Agreement, including delivery of PV Energy and Discharging Energy to the Delivery Point. Seller shall not allow the interconnection capacity under the Interconnection Agreement that is associated with the Dedicated Interconnection Capacity to be used by any party other than Buyer and Other Buyer, including in connection with the Shared Facilities.
41 from the Seller or that this agreement is anything other than a “service contract” within the meaning of Section 7701(e)(3) of the Code.
ARTICLE 6
MAINTENANCE OF THE FACILITY
6.1 Maintenance of the Facility. Seller shall comply with Law and Prudent Operating Practice relating to the operation and maintenance of the Facility and the generation and sale of Product.
6.2 Maintenance of Health and Safety. Seller shall take reasonable safety precautions with respect to the operation, maintenance, repair and replacement of the Facility. If Seller becomes aware of any circumstances relating to the Facility that create an imminent risk of damage or injury to any Person or any Person’s property, Seller shall take prompt, reasonable action to prevent such damage or injury and shall give Notice to Buyer’s emergency contact identified on Exhibit N of such condition. Such action may include, to the extent reasonably necessary, disconnecting and removing all or a portion of the Facility, or suspending the supply of PV Energy or Discharging Energy to Buyer.
6.3 Shared Facilities. The Parties acknowledge and agree that certain of the Shared Facilities and Interconnection Facilities, and Seller’s rights and obligations under the Interconnection Agreement, may be subject to certain shared facilities or co-tenancy agreements to be entered into among Seller, the Participating Transmission Owner, Seller’s Affiliates, or third parties pursuant to which certain Interconnection Facilities may be subject to joint ownership and shared maintenance and operation arrangements; provided that such agreements (i) shall permit Seller to perform or satisfy, and shall not purport to limit, its obligations hereunder, including providing interconnection capacity for the Facility in accordance with Section 4.11 and in an amount not less than the Dedicated Interconnection Capacity, and (ii) continue to provide for separate metering and a separate CAISO Resource ID for each of the Generating Facility and the Storage Facility, and (iii) shall not allow any Seller Affiliate or third party to use the interconnection capacity under the Interconnection Agreement associated with the Dedicated Interconnection Capacity.
ARTICLE 7
METERING
7.1 Metering. Seller shall measure the amount of PV Energy using the Generating Facility Meter, which will be subject to adjustment in accordance with applicable CAISO meter requirements and Prudent Operating Practices, including to account for Electrical Losses and Station Use. Seller shall measure the Charging Energy and the Discharging Energy using the Storage Facility Meter. All meters will be operated pursuant to applicable CAISO-approved calculation methodologies and maintained as Seller’s cost. Subject to meeting any applicable CAISO requirements, the meters shall be programmed to adjust for Electrical Losses and Station Use from the Facility to the Delivery Point in a manner subject to Buyer’s prior written approval, not to be unreasonably withheld. Seller shall obtain and maintain a single CAISO Resource ID dedicated exclusively to the Generating Facility and a single CAISO Resource ID dedicated exclusively to the Storage Facility. Seller shall not obtain additional CAISO Resource IDs for the
42 Generating Facility, the Storage Facility, or the Facility without the prior written consent of Buyer, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. If Buyer requests that Seller obtain one or more additional CAISO Resource IDs, then the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to amend this Agreement to accommodate such request, provided that any out of pocket costs associated with obtaining such additional CAISO Resource IDs incurred by Seller shall be reimbursed by Buyer, and further provided that Buyer shall be responsible for any incremental charges, costs or losses associated with such additional CAISO Resource IDs. Metering shall be consistent with the Metering Diagram set forth as Exhibit R, a final version of which shall be provided to Buyer at least thirty (30) days before the Commercial Operation Date. Each meter shall be kept under seal, such seals to be broken only when the meters are to be tested, adjusted, modified or relocated. In the event Seller breaks a seal, Seller shall notify Buyer as soon as practicable. In addition, Seller hereby agrees to provide all meter data to Buyer in a form reasonably acceptable to Buyer, and consents to Buyer obtaining from CAISO the CAISO meter data directly relating to the Facility and all inspection, testing and calibration data and reports. Seller and Buyer, or Buyer’s Scheduling Coordinator, shall cooperate to allow both Parties to retrieve the meter reads from the CAISO Market Results Interface – Settlements (MRI-S) (or its successor) or directly from the CAISO meter(s) at the Facility.
7.2 Meter Verification. Annually, if Seller has reason to believe there may be a meter malfunction, or upon Buyer’s reasonable request, Seller shall test the meter. The tests shall be conducted by independent third parties qualified to conduct such tests. Buyer shall be notified seven (7) days in advance of such tests and have a right to be present during such tests. If a meter is inaccurate it shall be promptly repaired or replaced.
ARTICLE 8
INVOICING AND PAYMENT; CREDIT
8.1 Invoicing. Seller shall make good faith efforts to deliver an invoice to Buyer for Buyer’s Share of Product within fifteen (15) Business Days after the end of the prior monthly billing period. Each invoice shall reflect (a) records of metered data, including CAISO metering and transaction data sufficient to document and verify the amount of Product delivered by the Facility for any Settlement Period during the preceding month, including the amount of PV Energy produced by the Generating Facility as read by the Generating Facility Meter, the amount of Charging Energy charged by the Storage Facility and the amount of Discharging Energy delivered from the Storage Facility to the Delivery Point, in each case, as read by the Storage Facility Meter, the amount of Replacement RA delivered to Buyer (if any), the calculation of PV Energy, Deemed Delivered Energy, and Adjusted Energy Production, the LMP prices at the Delivery Point for each Settlement Period, and the Contract Price applicable to such Product in accordance with Exhibit C; (b) access to any records, including invoices or settlement data from the CAISO, necessary to verify the accuracy of any amount; and (c) be in a format reasonably specified by Buyer, covering the services provided in the preceding month determined in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement. Buyer shall, and shall cause its Scheduling Coordinator to, provide Seller with all reasonable access (including, in real time, to the maximum extent reasonably possible) to any records, including invoices or settlement data from the CAISO, forecast data and other information, all as may be necessary from time to time for Seller to prepare and verify the accuracy of all invoices.
43 8.2 Payment. Buyer shall make payment to Seller for Buyer’s Share of Product by wire transfer or ACH payment to the bank account designated by Seller in Exhibit N, which may be updated by Seller by Notice hereunder. Buyer shall pay undisputed invoice amounts within twenty-five (25) days after receipt of the invoice or the end of the prior monthly billing period, whichever is later. If such due date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, such due date shall be the next Business Day. Payments made after the due date will be considered late and will bear interest on the unpaid balance. If the amount due is not paid on or before the due date or if any other payment that is due and owing from one Party to another is not paid on or before its applicable due date, a late payment charge shall be applied to the unpaid balance and shall be added to the next billing statement. Such late payment charge shall be calculated based on the prime rate published on the date of the invoice in The Wall Street Journal, or, if The Wall Street Journal is not published on that day, the next succeeding date of publication, plus two percent (2%) (the “Interest Rate”). If the due date occurs on a day that is not a Business Day, the late payment charge shall begin to accrue on the next succeeding Business Day.
8.3 Books and Records. To facilitate payment and verification, each Party shall maintain all books and records necessary for billing and payments, including copies of all invoices under this Agreement, for a period of at least two (2) years or as otherwise required by Law. Upon ten (10) Business Days’ Notice to the other Party, either Party shall be granted reasonable access to the accounting books and records within the possession or control of the other Party pertaining to all invoices generated pursuant to this Agreement. Seller acknowledges that in accordance with California Government Code Section 8546.7, Seller may be subject to audit by the California State Auditor with regard to Seller’s performance of this Agreement because the compensation under this Agreement exceeds Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000).
8.4 Payment Adjustments; Billing Errors. Payment adjustments shall be made if Buyer or Seller discovers there have been good faith inaccuracies in invoicing that are not otherwise disputed under Section 8.5 or an adjustment to an amount previously invoiced or paid is required due to a correction of data by the CAISO; provided, however, that there shall be no adjustments to prior invoices based upon meter inaccuracies. If the required adjustment is in favor of Buyer, Buyer’s next monthly payment shall be credited in an amount equal to the adjustment.
If the required adjustment is in favor of Seller, Seller shall add the adjustment amount to Buyer’s next monthly invoice. Adjustments in favor of either Buyer or Seller shall bear interest, until settled in full, in accordance with Section 8.2, accruing from the date on which the adjusted amount should have been due.
8.5 Billing Disputes. A Party may, in good faith, dispute the correctness of any invoice or any adjustment to an invoice rendered under this Agreement or adjust any invoice for any arithmetic or computational error within twelve (12) months of the date the invoice, or adjustment to an invoice, was rendered. In the event an invoice or portion thereof, or any other claim or adjustment arising hereunder, is disputed, payment of the undisputed portion of the invoice shall be required to be made when due. Any invoice dispute or invoice adjustment shall be in writing and shall state the basis for the dispute or adjustment. Payment of the disputed amount shall not be required until the dispute is resolved. Upon resolution of the dispute, any required payment shall be made within five (5) Business Days of such resolution along with interest accrued at the Interest Rate from and including the original due date to but excluding the date paid. Inadvertent overpayments shall be returned via adjustments in accordance with Section 8.4. Any dispute with
44 respect to an invoice is waived if the other Party is not notified in accordance with this Section 8.5 within twelve (12) months after the invoice is rendered or subsequently adjusted, except to the extent any misinformation was from a third party not affiliated with any Party and such third party corrects its information after the twelve-month period. If an invoice is not rendered within twelve (12) months after the close of the month during which performance occurred, the right to payment for such performance is waived.
8.6 Netting of Payments. The Parties hereby agree that they shall discharge mutual debts and payment obligations due and owing to each other on the same date through netting, in which case all amounts owed by each Party to the other Party for the purchase and sale of Product during the monthly billing period under this Agreement or otherwise arising out of this Agreement, including any related damages calculated pursuant to Exhibits B and G, interest, and payments or credits, shall be netted so that only the excess amount remaining due shall be paid by the Party who owes it.
8.7 Seller’s Development Security. To secure its obligations under this Agreement, Seller shall deliver Development Security to Buyer within thirty (30) days of the Original Effective Date. Seller shall maintain the Development Security in full force and effect, provided that Seller shall have no obligation to replenish the Development Security in the event Buyer collects or draws down any portion of the Development Security for any reason permitted under this Agreement.
Upon the earlier of (a) Seller’s delivery of the Performance Security, or (b) sixty (60) days after termination of this Agreement, Buyer shall return the Development Security to Seller, less the amounts drawn in accordance with this Agreement. If the Development Security is a Letter of Credit and the issuer of such Letter of Credit (i) fails to maintain the minimum Credit Rating specified in the definition of Letter of Credit, (ii) indicates its intent not to renew such Letter of Credit and such Letter of Credit expires prior to the Commercial Operation Date, or (iii) fails to honor Buyer’s properly documented request to draw on such Letter of Credit by such issuer, Seller shall have ten (10) Business Days to either post cash or deliver a substitute Letter of Credit in the amount of the Development Security and that otherwise meets the requirements set forth in the definition of Development Security.
8.8 Seller’s Performance Security. To secure its obligations under this Agreement, Seller shall deliver Performance Security to Buyer on or before the Commercial Operation Date.
If the Performance Security is not in the form of cash or Letter of Credit, it shall be substantially in the form of Guaranty set forth in Exhibit L. Seller shall maintain the Performance Security in full force and effect, subject to any draws made by Buyer in accordance with this Agreement, until the following have occurred: (A) the Delivery Term has expired or terminated early; and (B) all payment obligations of the Seller then due and payable under this Agreement, including compensation for penalties, Termination Payment, indemnification payments or other damages are paid in full (whether directly or indirectly such as through set-off or netting). Following the occurrence of both events, Buyer shall promptly return to Seller the unused portion of the Performance Security. If the Performance Security is a Letter of Credit and the issuer of such Letter of Credit (i) fails to maintain the minimum Credit Rating set forth in the definition of Letter of Credit, (ii) indicates its intent not to renew such Letter of Credit and such Letter of Credit expires prior to the Commercial Operation Date, or (iii) fails to honor Buyer’s properly documented request to draw on such Letter of Credit by such issuer, Seller shall have ten (10) Business Days to either post cash or deliver a substitute Letter of Credit that meets the requirements set forth in
45 the definition of Performance Security. Seller may at its option exchange one permitted form of Development Security or Performance Security for another permitted form of Development Security or Performance Security, as applicable.
8.9 First Priority Security Interest in Cash or Cash Equivalent Collateral. To secure its obligations under this Agreement, and until released as provided herein, Seller hereby grants to Buyer a present and continuing first-priority security interest (“Security Interest”) in, and lien on (and right to net against), and assignment of the Development Security, Performance Security, any other cash collateral and cash equivalent collateral posted pursuant to Sections 8.7 and 8.8 and any and all interest thereon or proceeds resulting therefrom or from the liquidation thereof, whether now or hereafter held by, on behalf of, or for the benefit of Buyer, and Seller agrees to take all action as Buyer reasonably requires in order to perfect Buyer’s Security Interest in, and lien on (and right to net against), such collateral and any and all proceeds resulting therefrom or from the liquidation thereof.
Upon or any time after the occurrence and continuation of an Event of Default caused by Seller, an Early Termination Date resulting from an Event of Default caused by Seller, or an occasion provided for in this Agreement where Buyer is authorized to retain all or a portion of the Development Security or Performance Security, Buyer may do any one or more of the following (in each case subject to the final sentence of this Section 8.9):
(a) Exercise any of its rights and remedies with respect to the Development Security and Performance Security, including any such rights and remedies under Law then in effect;
(b) Draw on any outstanding Letter of Credit issued for its benefit and retain any cash held by Buyer as Development Security or Performance Security; and (c) Liquidate all Development Security or Performance Security (as applicable) then held by or for the benefit of Buyer free from any claim or right of any nature whatsoever of Seller, including any equity or right of purchase or redemption by Seller.
Buyer shall apply the proceeds of the collateral realized upon the exercise of any such rights or remedies to reduce Seller’s obligations under this Agreement (Seller remains liable for any amounts owing to Buyer after such application), subject to Buyer’s obligation to return any surplus proceeds remaining after these obligations are satisfied in full.
8.10 Financial Statements. In the event a Guaranty is provided as Performance Security in lieu of cash or a Letter of Credit, Seller shall provide to Buyer, or cause the Guarantor to provide to Buyer, unaudited quarterly and annual audited financial statements of the Guarantor (including a balance sheet and statements of income and cash flows), all prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, consistently applied.
ARTICLE 9
NOTICES
9.1 Addresses for the Delivery of Notices. Except as provided in Exhibit D, any Notice required, permitted, or contemplated hereunder shall be in writing, shall be addressed to
46 the Party to be notified at the address set forth on Exhibit N or at such other address or addresses as a Party may designate for itself from time to time by Notice hereunder.
9.2 Acceptable Means of Delivering Notice. Each Notice required, permitted, or contemplated hereunder shall be deemed to have been validly served, given or delivered as follows: (a) if sent by United States mail with proper first class postage prepaid, three (3) Business Days following the date of the postmark on the envelope in which such Notice was deposited in the United States mail; (b) if sent by a regularly scheduled overnight delivery carrier with delivery fees either prepaid or an arrangement with such carrier made for the payment of such fees, the next Business Day after the same is delivered by the sending Party to such carrier; (c) if sent by electronic communication (including electronic mail or other electronic means) and if concurrently with the transmittal of such electronic communication the sending Party provides a copy of such electronic Notice by hand delivery or express courier, at the time indicated by the time stamp upon delivery; or (d) if delivered in person, upon receipt by the receiving Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Notices of outages or other scheduling or dispatch information or requests, may be sent by electronic communication and shall be considered delivered upon successful completion of such transmission.
ARTICLE 10
FORCE MAJEURE
10.1 Definition.
(a) “Force Majeure Event” means any act or event that delays or prevents a Party from timely performing all or a portion of its obligations under this Agreement or from complying with all or a portion of the conditions under this Agreement if such act or event, despite the exercise of reasonable efforts, cannot be avoided by and is beyond the reasonable control (whether direct or indirect) of and without the fault or negligence of the Party relying thereon as justification for such delay, nonperformance, or noncompliance. (b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, so long as the following events, despite the exercise of reasonable efforts, cannot be avoided by, and are beyond the reasonable control (whether direct or indirect) of and without the fault or negligence of the Party relying thereon as justification for such delay, nonperformance or noncompliance, a Force Majeure Event may include an act of God or the elements, such as flooding, lightning, hurricanes, tornadoes, or ice storms; explosion; fire; volcanic eruption; flood; epidemic or pandemic, including COVID-19; landslide; mudslide; sabotage; terrorism; earthquake; or other cataclysmic events; an act of public enemy; war; blockade; civil insurrection; riot; civil disturbance; or strikes or other labor difficulties caused or suffered by a Party or any third party except as set forth below. (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Force Majeure Event” does not include (i) economic conditions that render a Party’s performance of this Agreement at the Contract Price unprofitable or otherwise uneconomic (including an increase in component costs for any reason, including foreign or domestic tariffs, Buyer’s ability to buy electric energy at a lower price, or Seller’s ability to sell the Product, or any component thereof, at a higher price, than under this Agreement); (ii) Seller’s inability to obtain permits or approvals of any type for the construction, operation, or maintenance of the Facility, except to the extent such inability is caused
47 by a Force Majeure Event; (iii) the inability of a Party to make payments when due under this Agreement, unless the cause of such inability is an event that would otherwise constitute a Force Majeure Event as described above; (iv) a Curtailment Order; (v) Seller’s inability to obtain sufficient labor, equipment, materials, or other resources to build or operate the Facility except to the extent such inability is caused by a Force Majeure Event; (vi) any equipment failure except if such equipment failure is caused by a Force Majeure Event; or (vii) Seller’s inability to achieve Construction Start of the Facility following the Guaranteed Construction Start Date or achieve Commercial Operation following the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date unless the cause of such inability is an event that would otherwise constitute a Force Majeure Event as described above; it being understood and agreed, for the avoidance of doubt, that the occurrence of a Force Majeure Event may give rise to a Development Cure Period.
10.2 No Liability If a Force Majeure Event Occurs. Neither Seller nor Buyer shall be liable to the other Party in the event it is prevented from performing its obligations hereunder in whole or in part due to a Force Majeure Event. The Party rendered unable to fulfill any obligation by reason of a Force Majeure Event shall take reasonable actions necessary to remove such inability. Nothing herein shall be construed as permitting that Party to continue to fail to perform after said cause has been removed. Neither Party shall be considered in breach or default of this Agreement if and to the extent that any failure or delay in the Party’s performance of one or more of its obligations hereunder is caused by a Force Majeure Event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the occurrence and continuation of a Force Majeure Event shall not (a) suspend or excuse the obligation of a Party to make any payments due hereunder, (b) suspend or excuse the obligation of Seller to achieve the Guaranteed Construction Start Date or the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date beyond the extensions provided in Exhibit B, or (c) limit Buyer’s right to declare an Event of Default pursuant to Section 11.1(b)(ii) and receive a Damage Payment upon exercise of Buyer’s rights pursuant to Section 11.2.
10.3 Notice. In the event of any Force Majeure Event, the claiming Party shall (a) use commercially reasonable efforts to provide the other Party with oral notice of any Force Majeure Event within two (2) Business Days of obtaining knowledge of such Force Majeure Event, and (b) provide Notice within two (2) weeks of obtaining knowledge of such Force Majeure Event to the other Party addressed to the person or persons identified on Exhibit N in the form of a letter on the claiming Party’s letterhead describing in detail the occurrence giving rise to the Force Majeure Event, including the nature, cause, estimated date of commencement thereof, and the anticipated extent of any delay or interruption in performance. Seller’s delivery of information related to delays or Force Majeure Events pursuant to a Progress Report does not satisfy the requirements of this Section 10.3. The claiming party shall promptly notify the other Party in writing of the cessation or termination of such Force Majeure Event, all as known or estimated in good faith by the claiming Party. The suspension of performance due to a claim of a Force Majeure Event must be of no greater scope and of no longer duration than is required by the Force Majeure Event.
Upon written request from Buyer, Seller shall provide documentation demonstrating to Buyer’s reasonable satisfaction that each day of the claimed delay was the result of a Force Majeure Event and did not result from Seller’s actions or failure to exercise due diligence or take reasonable actions. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the extent and impact of COVID-19 on the Parties’ performance hereunder may not be immediately or readily ascertainable, but that each Party shall promptly notify the other in accordance with this Section 10.3 once any impacts of COVID-19 result in any delay or nonperformance hereunder.
51 (F) the Guarantor shall repudiate, disaffirm, disclaim, or reject, in whole or in part, or challenge the validity of any Guaranty; or (xi) with respect to any outstanding Letter of Credit provided for the benefit of Buyer that is not then required under this Agreement to be canceled or returned, the failure by Seller to provide for the benefit of Buyer (1) cash, (2) a substitute Letter of Credit from a different issuer meeting the criteria set forth in the definition of Letter of Credit, or (3) a replacement Guaranty from a Guarantor meeting the criteria set forth in the definition of Guarantor, in each case, in the amount required hereunder within ten (10) Business Days after Seller receives Notice of the occurrence of any of the following events:
(A) the issuer of the outstanding Letter of Credit shall fail to maintain a Credit Rating of at least A- by S&P or A3 by Moody’s; (B) the issuer of such Letter of Credit becomes Bankrupt; (C) the issuer of the outstanding Letter of Credit shall fail to comply with or perform its obligations under such Letter of Credit and such failure shall be continuing after the lapse of any applicable grace period permitted under such Letter of Credit;
(D) the issuer of the outstanding Letter of Credit shall fail to honor a properly documented request to draw on such Letter of Credit; (E) the issuer of the outstanding Letter of Credit shall disaffirm, disclaim, repudiate or reject, in whole or in part, or challenge the validity of, such Letter of Credit;
(F) such Letter of Credit fails or ceases to be in full force and effect at any time; or
(G) Seller shall fail to renew or cause the renewal of each outstanding Letter of Credit on a timely basis as provided in the relevant Letter of Credit and as provided in accordance with this Agreement, and in no event less than sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the outstanding Letter of Credit.
11.2 Remedies; Declaration of Early Termination Date. If an Event of Default with respect to a Defaulting Party shall have occurred and be continuing, the other Party (“Non-Defaulting Party”) shall have the following rights:
(a) to send Notice, designating a day, no earlier than the day such Notice is deemed to be received and no later than twenty (20) days after such Notice is deemed to be received, as an early termination date of this Agreement (“Early Termination Date”) that terminates this Agreement (the “Terminated Transaction”) and ends the Delivery Term effective as of the Early Termination Date;
52 (b) to accelerate all amounts owing between the Parties, and to collect as liquidated damages (i) the Damage Payment (in the case of an Event of Default by Seller occurring before the Commercial Operation Date, including an Event of Default under Section 11.1(b)(ii)) subject to the limitations in Section 11.7, or (ii) the Termination Payment calculated in accordance with Section 11.3 below (in the case of any other Event of Default by either Party); (c) to withhold any payments due to the Defaulting Party under this Agreement; (d) to suspend performance; or
(e) to exercise any other right or remedy available at law or in equity, including specific performance or injunctive relief, except to the extent such remedies are expressly limited under this Agreement;
provided, that payment by the Defaulting Party of the Damage Payment or Termination Payment, as applicable, shall constitute liquidated damages and the Non-Defaulting Party’s sole and exclusive remedy for the Terminated Transaction and the Event of Default related thereto.
11.3 Termination Payment. The Termination Payment (“Termination Payment”) for the Terminated Transaction shall be the aggregate of all Settlement Amounts plus any or all other amounts due to or from the Non-Defaulting Party (as of the Early Termination Date) netted into a single amount. If the Non-Defaulting Party’s aggregate Gains exceed its aggregate Losses and Costs, if any, resulting from the termination of this Agreement, the net Settlement Amount shall be zero. The Non-Defaulting Party shall calculate, in a commercially reasonable manner, a Settlement Amount for the Terminated Transaction as of the Early Termination Date. Third parties supplying information for purposes of the calculation of Gains or Losses may include, without limitation, dealers in the relevant markets, end-users of the relevant product, information vendors and other sources of market information. The Settlement Amount shall not include consequential, incidental, punitive, exemplary, indirect or business interruption damages. Without prejudice to the Non-Defaulting Party’s duty to mitigate, the Non-Defaulting Party shall not have to enter into replacement transactions to establish a Settlement Amount. Each Party agrees and acknowledges that (a) the actual damages that the Non-Defaulting Party would incur in connection with the Terminated Transaction would be difficult or impossible to predict with certainty, (b) the Damage Payment or Termination Payment described in Section 11.2 or this Section 11.3 (as applicable) is a reasonable and appropriate approximation of such damages, and (c) the Damage Payment or Termination Payment described in Section 11.2 or this Section 11.3 (as applicable) is the exclusive remedy of the Non-Defaulting Party in connection with the Terminated Transaction but shall not otherwise act to limit any of the Non-Defaulting Party’s rights or remedies if the Non-Defaulting Party does not elect a Terminated Transaction as its remedy for an Event of Default by the Defaulting Party.
11.4 Notice of Payment of Termination Payment. As soon as practicable after a Terminated Transaction, Notice shall be given by the Non-Defaulting Party to the Defaulting Party of the amount of the Damage Payment or Termination Payment and whether the Termination Payment is due to or from the Non-Defaulting Party. The Notice shall include a written statement explaining in reasonable detail the calculation of such amount and the sources for such calculation.
54 FOR BREACH OF ANY PROVISION FOR WHICH AN EXPRESS AND EXCLUSIVE
REMEDY OR MEASURE OF DAMAGES IS PROVIDED, SUCH EXPRESS REMEDY OR
MEASURE OF DAMAGES SHALL BE THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY, THE OBLIGOR’S LIABILITY SHALL BE LIMITED AS SET FORTH IN SUCH PROVISION, AND ALL OTHER REMEDIES OR DAMAGES AT LAW OR IN EQUITY ARE WAIVED. IF NO
REMEDY OR MEASURE OF DAMAGES IS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED HEREIN, THE OBLIGOR’S LIABILITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO DIRECT DAMAGES ONLY. THE
VALUE OF ANY TAX CREDITS LOST AND THE AMOUNT OF ANY RENEWABLE ENERGY INCENTIVES RECAPTURED, IN EITHER CASE DUE TO BUYER’S DEFAULT, SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE DIRECT DAMAGES.
TO THE EXTENT ANY DAMAGES REQUIRED TO BE PAID HEREUNDER ARE LIQUIDATED, INCLUDING UNDER SECTIONS 3.8, 4.7, 4.8, 11.2 AND 11.3, AND AS
PROVIDED IN EXHIBIT B, EXHIBIT G, AND EXHIBIT P THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT THE DAMAGES ARE DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE, THAT
OTHERWISE OBTAINING AN ADEQUATE REMEDY IS INCONVENIENT, AND THAT
THE LIQUIDATED DAMAGES CONSTITUTE A REASONABLE APPROXIMATION OF THE ANTICIPATED HARM OR LOSS. IT IS THE INTENT OF THE PARTIES THAT THE
LIMITATIONS HEREIN IMPOSED ON REMEDIES AND THE MEASURE OF DAMAGES
BE WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CAUSE OR CAUSES RELATED THERETO, INCLUDING
THE NEGLIGENCE OF ANY PARTY, WHETHER SUCH NEGLIGENCE BE SOLE, JOINT OR CONCURRENT, OR ACTIVE OR PASSIVE. THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO CONTEST SUCH PAYMENTS AS AN UNREASONABLE PENALTY.
THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT MONEY DAMAGES AND THE
EXPRESS REMEDIES PROVIDED FOR HEREIN ARE AN ADEQUATE REMEDY FOR THE
BREACH BY THE OTHER OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND EACH PARTY
WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE WITH RESPECT TO ANY OBLIGATION OF THE OTHER PARTY UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.
ARTICLE 13
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; AUTHORITY
13.1 Seller’s Representations and Warranties. As of the Original Effective Date, Seller represents and warrants as follows:
(a) Seller is a limited liability company, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, and is qualified to conduct business in the state of California and each jurisdiction where the failure to so qualify would have a material adverse effect on the business or financial condition of Seller. (b) Seller has the power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and is not prohibited from entering into this Agreement or discharging and performing all covenants and obligations on its part to be performed under and pursuant to this Agreement, except where such failure does not have a material adverse effect on Seller’s performance under this Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Seller has been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action on the part of Seller and does not and
55 will not require the consent of any trustee or holder of any indebtedness or other obligation of Seller or any other party to any other agreement with Seller. (c) The execution and delivery of this Agreement, consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, and fulfillment of and compliance by Seller with the provisions of this Agreement will not conflict with or constitute a breach of or a default under any Law presently in effect having applicability to Seller, subject to any permits that have not yet been obtained by Seller, the documents of formation of Seller or any outstanding trust indenture, deed of trust, mortgage, loan agreement or other evidence of indebtedness or any other agreement or instrument to which Seller is a party or by which any of its property is bound. (d) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Seller. This Agreement is a legal, valid and binding obligation of Seller enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as limited by laws of general applicability limiting the enforcement of creditors’ rights or by the exercise of judicial discretion in accordance with general principles of equity. (e) The Facility is located in the State of California. (f) Seller will be responsible for obtaining all permits necessary to construct and operate the Facility.
(g) Seller does not have any knowledge of any delay in achieving Construction Start or the Commercial Operation Date that is caused by a Force Majeure Event related to COVID-19.
13.2 Buyer’s Representations and Warranties. As of the Original Effective Date, Buyer represents and warrants as follows:
(a) Buyer is a joint powers authority and a validly existing community choice aggregator, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of California and the rules, regulations and orders of the California Public Utilities Commission, and is qualified to conduct business in each jurisdiction of the Joint Powers Agreement members. All Persons making up the governing body of Buyer are the elected or appointed incumbents in their positions and hold their positions in good standing in accordance with the Joint Powers Agreement and other Law.
(b) Buyer has the power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and is not prohibited from entering into this Agreement or discharging and performing all covenants and obligations on its part to be performed under and pursuant to this Agreement, except where such failure does not have a material adverse effect on Buyer’s performance under this Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Buyer has been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of Buyer and does not and will not require the consent of any trustee or holder of any indebtedness or other obligation of Buyer or any other party to any other agreement with Buyer.
(c) The execution and delivery of this Agreement, consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, and fulfillment of and compliance by Buyer with the provisions of this Agreement will not conflict with or constitute a breach of or a default under any Law
56 presently in effect having applicability to Buyer, the documents of formation of Buyer or any outstanding trust indenture, deed of trust, mortgage, loan agreement or other evidence of indebtedness or any other agreement or instrument to which Buyer is a party or by which any of its property is bound.
(d) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Buyer. This Agreement is a legal, valid and binding obligation of Buyer enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as limited by laws of general applicability limiting the enforcement of creditors’ rights or by the exercise of judicial discretion in accordance with general principles of equity. (e) Buyer warrants and covenants that with respect to its contractual obligations under this Agreement, it will not claim immunity on the grounds of sovereignty or similar grounds with respect to itself or its revenues or assets from (1) suit, (2) jurisdiction of court (provided that such court is located within a venue permitted in law and under the Agreement), (3) relief by way of injunction, order for specific performance or recovery of property, (4) attachment of assets, or (5) execution or enforcement of any judgment; provided, however that nothing in this Agreement shall waive the obligations or rights set forth in the California Tort Claims Act (Government Code Section 810 et seq.).
(f) Buyer is a “local public entity” as defined in Section 900.4 of the Government Code of the State of California.
13.3 General Covenants. Each Party covenants that commencing on the Original Effective Date and continuing throughout the Contract Term:
(a) It shall continue to be duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and to be qualified to conduct business in California and each jurisdiction where the failure to so qualify would have a material adverse effect on its business or financial condition;
(b) It shall maintain (or obtain from time to time as required) all regulatory authorizations, approvals and permits necessary for the operation of the Facility and for Seller to legally perform its obligations under this Agreement; and (c) It shall perform its obligations under this Agreement in compliance with all terms and conditions in its governing documents and in material compliance with any Law.
13.4 Prevailing Wage. Seller shall comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations, and orders and decrees of any courts or administrative bodies or tribunals, including without limitation employment discrimination laws and prevailing wage laws. Seller shall use reasonable efforts to ensure that all employees hired by Seller, and its contractors and subcontractors, that will perform construction work or provide services at the Site related to construction of the Facility are paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing for workers performing similar work in the locality as provided by applicable California law, if any (“Prevailing Wage Requirement”). Buyer agrees that Seller’s obligations under this Section 13.4 with respect to the Prevailing Wage Requirement will be satisfied upon the execution of a project labor agreement related to construction of the Facility, either by Seller or its applicable contractors.
57 ARTICLE 14
ASSIGNMENT
14.1 General Prohibition on Assignments. Except as provided in this Article 14, neither Party may voluntarily assign this Agreement or its rights or obligations under this Agreement, without the prior written consent of the other Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Any assignment made without required written consent, or in violation of the conditions to assignment set out below, shall be null and void. Seller shall be responsible for Buyer’s reasonable costs associated with the preparation, review, execution and delivery of documents in connection with any assignment of this Agreement by Seller, including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees.
14.2 Collateral Assignment. Subject to the provisions of this Section 14.2, Seller has the right to assign this Agreement as collateral for any financing or refinancing of the Facility. In connection with any financing or refinancing of the Facility, Buyer shall in good faith work with Seller and Lenders to agree upon a consent to collateral assignment of this Agreement (“Collateral Assignment Agreement”). The Collateral Assignment Agreement must be in form and substance agreed to by Buyer, Seller and Lender, with such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, and shall include, among others, the following provisions, unless otherwise agreed by Buyer, Seller and Lender:
(a) Buyer shall give Notice of an Event of Default by Seller to the Person(s) to be specified by Lender in the Collateral Assignment Agreement, before exercising its right to terminate this Agreement as a result of such Event of Default; provided that such notice shall be provided to Lender at the time such notice is provided to Seller and any additional cure period of Lender agreed to in the Collateral Assignment Agreement shall not commence until Lender has received notice of such Event of Default;
(b) Following an Event of Default by Seller under this Agreement, Buyer may require Seller or Lender (if Lender has provided the notice set forth in subsection (c) below) to provide to Buyer a report concerning:
(i) The status of efforts by Seller or Lender to develop a plan to cure the Event of Default;
(ii) Impediments to the cure plan or its development;
(iii) If a cure plan has been adopted, the status of the cure plan’s implementation (including any modifications to the plan as well as the expected timeframe within which any cure is expected to be implemented); and
(iv) Any other information which Buyer may reasonably require related to the development, implementation and timetable of the cure plan.
Seller or Lender must provide the report to Buyer within ten (10) Business Days after Notice from Buyer requesting the report. Buyer will have no further right to require the report with respect to a particular Event of Default after that Event of Default has been cured;
58 (c) Lender will have the right to cure an Event of Default on behalf of Seller, only if Lender sends a written notice to Buyer before the later of (i) the expiration of any cure period under this Agreement, and (ii) five (5) Business Days after Lender’s receipt of notice of such Event of Default from Buyer, indicating Lender’s intention to cure. Lender must remedy or cure the Event of Default within the cure period under this Agreement and any additional cure periods agreed in the Collateral Assignment Agreement up to a maximum of ninety (90) days (or one hundred eighty (180) days in the event of a bankruptcy of Seller or any foreclosure or similar proceeding if required by Lender to cure any Event of Default), provided that if Lender is prohibited by any court order or bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings from curing the Event of Default or from commencing or prosecuting foreclosure proceedings, the foregoing time periods shall be extended by the period of such prohibition;
(d) Lender will have the right to consent before any termination of this Agreement which does not arise out of an Event of Default; (e) Lender will receive prior Notice of and the right to approve material amendments to this Agreement, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned;
(f) If Lender, directly or indirectly, takes possession of, or title to the Facility (including possession by a receiver or title by foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure), Lender must assume all of Seller’s obligations arising under this Agreement and all related agreements (subject to such limits on liability as are mutually agreed to by Seller, Buyer and Lender as set forth in the Collateral Assignment Agreement); provided, before such assumption, if Buyer advises Lender that Buyer will require that Lender cure (or cause to be cured) any Event of Default existing as of the possession date and capable of cure in order to avoid the exercise by Buyer (in its sole discretion) of Buyer’s right to terminate this Agreement with respect to such Event of Default, then Lender at its option, and in its sole discretion, may elect to either:
(i) Cause such Event of Default to be cured (other than any Events of Default which relate to Seller’s bankruptcy or similar insolvency proceedings, to representations and warranties made by Seller or to Seller’s failure to perform obligations under other agreements, or which are otherwise personal to Seller); or
(ii) Not assume this Agreement;
(g) If Lender elects to sell or transfer the Facility (after Lender directly or indirectly, takes possession of, or title to the Facility), or a sale of the Facility occurs through the actions of Lender (for example, a foreclosure sale where a third party is the buyer, or otherwise), then Lender must cause the transferee or buyer to assume all of Seller’s obligations arising under this Agreement and all related agreements as a condition of the sale or transfer. Such sale or transfer may be made only to an entity that (i) meets the definition of Permitted Transferee and (ii) is an entity that Buyer is permitted to contract with under applicable Law; and (h) Subject to Lender’s cure of any Events of Defaults under the Agreement in accordance with Section 14.2(f), if (i) this Agreement is rejected in Seller’s Bankruptcy or otherwise terminated in connection therewith Lender shall have the right to elect within forty-five (45) days after such rejection or termination, to enter into a replacement agreement with Buyer
61 ARTICLE 16
INDEMNIFICATION
16.1 Mutual Indemnity.
(a) Each Party (the “Indemnifying Party”) agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the other Party, its directors, officers, agents, attorneys, employees and representatives (each an “Indemnified Party” and collectively, the “Indemnified Group”) from and against all third party claims, demands, losses, liabilities, penalties, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ and expert witness fees, for personal injury or death to Persons and damage to the property of any third party to the extent arising out of, resulting from, or caused by the negligent or willful misconduct of the Indemnifying Party, its Affiliates, its directors, officers, employees or agents (collectively, “Indemnifiable Losses”). (b) Nothing in this Section shall enlarge or relieve Seller or Buyer of any liability to the other for any breach of this Agreement. Neither Party shall be indemnified for its damages resulting from its sole negligence, intentional acts, or willful misconduct. These indemnity provisions shall not be construed to relieve any insurer of its obligations to pay claims consistent with the provisions of a valid insurance policy.
16.2 Notice of Claim. Subject to the terms of this Agreement and upon obtaining knowledge of an Indemnifiable Loss for which it is entitled to indemnity under this Article 16, the Indemnified Party will promptly notify the Indemnifying Party in writing of any damage, claim, loss, liability or expense which Indemnified Party has determined has given or could give rise to an Indemnifiable Loss under Section 16.1 (“Claim”). The Notice is referred to as a “Notice of Claim”. A Notice of Claim will specify, in reasonable detail, the facts known to Indemnified Party regarding the Indemnifiable Loss.
16.3 Failure to Provide Notice. A failure to give timely Notice or to include any specified information in any Notice as provided in this Section 16.3 will not affect the rights or obligations of any Party hereunder except and only to the extent that, as a result of such failure, any Party which was entitled to receive such Notice was deprived of its right to recover any payment under its applicable insurance coverage or was otherwise materially damaged as a direct result of such failure and, provided further, Indemnifying Party is not obligated to indemnify any member of the Indemnified Group for the increased amount of any Indemnifiable Loss which would otherwise have been payable to the extent that the increase resulted from the failure to deliver timely a Notice of Claim.
16.4 Defense of Claims. If, within ten (10) Business Days after giving a Notice of Claim regarding a Claim to Indemnifying Party pursuant to Section 16.2, Indemnified Party receives Notice from Indemnifying Party that Indemnifying Party has elected to assume the defense of such Claim, Indemnifying Party will not be liable for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof; provided, however, that if Indemnifying Party fails to take reasonable steps necessary to defend diligently such Claim within ten (10) Business Days after receiving Notice from Indemnifying Party that Indemnifying Party believes Indemnifying Party has failed to take such steps, or if Indemnifying Party has not undertaken fully to indemnify Indemnified Party in respect of all Indemnifiable Losses relating to the matter,
63 (b) Umbrella or Excess Liability Insurance. Seller shall maintain, or cause to be maintained at its sole expense, an Umbrella or Excess Liability Insurance policy in a minimum amount of liability
(c) Workers Compensation Insurance. Seller, if it has employees, shall also maintain at all times during the Contract Term Workers’ Compensation and Employers’ Liability insurance coverage in accordance with applicable requirements of California Law. Employer’s Liability insurance shall be One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) for injury or death occurring as a result of each accident. With regard to bodily injury by disease, the One Million Dollar ($1,000,000) policy limit will apply to each employee.
(d) Business Auto Liability Insurance. Seller shall maintain at all times during the Contract Term Business Auto Liability insurance for bodily injury and property damage with limits of . Such insurance shall cover liability
arising out of Seller’s use of all owned (if any), non-owned and hired vehicles, including trailers or semi-trailers in the performance of the Agreement.
(e) Construction All-Risk Insurance. Seller shall maintain or cause to be maintained during the construction of the Facility, but only after major electrical generating equipment as arrived at the Facility, prior to the Commercial Operation Date, construction all-risk form property insurance covering the Facility during such construction periods, and naming the Lender (if any) as the loss payee where its interest may appear. (f) Pollution Legal Liability. Seller shall maintain or cause to be maintained during the construction of the Facility prior to the Commercial Operation Date, Pollution Legal Liability Insurance in the amount of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) per occurrence and in the aggregate. Such insurance shall include coverage for bodily injury and property damage, including clean-up costs and defense costs, resulting from sudden & accidental or new gradual pollution conditions.
(g) Contractor Insurance. Seller shall require the contractor under its engineering, procurement and construction contract for the Facility to carry the same levels of insurance as Seller where exposure exists. Such engineering, procurement and construction contractor shall include Seller as an additional insured to (i) Commercial General Liability insurance; (ii) Employers’ Liability coverage; and (iii) Business Auto Liability insurance for bodily injury and property damage. Such engineering, procurement and construction contractor shall provide a primary and non-contributory endorsement and a waiver of subrogation to Seller for the required coverage pursuant to this Section 17.1(g). (h) Evidence of Insurance. Within ten (10) days after execution of the Agreement and upon annual renewal thereafter, Seller shall deliver to Buyer certificates of insurance evidencing such coverage. Buyer shall be given at least thirty (30) days prior Notice by Seller in the event of any cancellation of coverage. Such insurance shall be primary coverage without right of contribution from any insurance of Buyer. Any other insurance maintained by Seller is for the exclusive benefit of Seller and shall not in any manner inure to the benefit of Buyer.
64 ARTICLE 18
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
18.1 Definition of Confidential Information. The following constitutes “Confidential Information,” whether oral or written which is delivered by Seller to Buyer or by Buyer to Seller including: (a) the terms and conditions of, and proposals and negotiations related to, this Agreement, and (b) information that either Seller or Buyer stamps or otherwise identifies as “confidential” or “proprietary” before disclosing it to the other. Confidential Information does not include (i) information that was publicly available at the time of the disclosure, other than as a result of a disclosure in breach of this Agreement; (ii) information that becomes publicly available through no fault of the recipient after the time of the delivery; (iii) information that was rightfully in the possession of the recipient (without confidential or proprietary restriction) at the time of delivery or that becomes available to the recipient from a source not subject to any restriction against disclosing such information to the recipient; and (iv) information that the recipient independently developed without a violation of this Agreement.
18.2 Duty to Maintain Confidentiality. Confidential Information will retain its character as Confidential Information but may be disclosed by the recipient (the “Receiving Party”) if and to the extent such disclosure is required (a) to be made by any requirements of Law, (b) pursuant to an order of a court or (c) in order to enforce this Agreement. If the Receiving Party becomes legally compelled (by interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoenas, summons, civil investigative demands, or similar processes or otherwise in connection with any litigation or to comply with any applicable Law, order, regulation, ruling, regulatory request, accounting disclosure rule or standard or any exchange, control area or independent system operator request or rule) to disclose any Confidential Information of the disclosing Party (the “Disclosing Party”), Receiving Party shall provide Disclosing Party with prompt notice so that Disclosing Party, at its sole expense, may seek an appropriate protective order or other appropriate remedy. If the Disclosing Party takes no such action after receiving the foregoing notice from the Receiving Party, the Receiving Party is not required to defend against such request and shall be permitted to disclose such Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party, with no liability for any damages that arise from such disclosure. Each Party hereto acknowledges and agrees that information and documentation provided in connection with this Agreement may be subject to the California Public Records Act (Government Code Section 6250 et seq.).
18.3 Irreparable Injury; Remedies. Receiving Party acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are necessary and reasonable in order to protect Disclosing Party and the business of Disclosing Party, and expressly acknowledges that monetary damages would be inadequate to compensate Disclosing Party for any breach or threatened breach by Receiving Party of any covenants and agreements set forth in this Article 18. Accordingly, Receiving Party acknowledges that any such breach or threatened breach will cause irreparable injury to Disclosing Party and that, in addition to any other remedies that may be available, in law, in equity or otherwise, Disclosing Party will be entitled to obtain injunctive relief against the threatened breach of this Article 18 or the continuation of any such breach, without the necessity of proving actual damages.
18.4 Disclosure to Lenders, Etc.. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 18, Confidential Information may be disclosed by Seller to any actual or potential Lender or investor or any of their Affiliates, and Seller’s actual or potential agents, consultants,
65 contractors, or trustees, so long as the Person to whom Confidential Information is disclosed either is bound by similarly restrictive confidentiality obligations as those contained in this Agreement or agrees in writing to be bound by the confidentiality provisions of this Article 18 to the same extent as if it were a Party.
18.5 Press Releases. Neither Party shall issue (or cause its Affiliates to issue) a press release regarding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement unless both Parties have agreed upon the contents of any such public statement.
ARTICLE 19
MISCELLANEOUS
19.1 Entire Agreement; Integration; Exhibits. This Agreement, together with the Cover Sheet and Exhibits attached hereto constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between Seller and Buyer with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements relating to the subject matter hereof, which are of no further force or effect. The Exhibits attached hereto are integral parts hereof and are made a part of this Agreement by reference. The headings used herein are for convenience and reference purposes only. In the event of a conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and those of the Cover Sheet or any Exhibit, the provisions of first the Cover Sheet, and then this Agreement shall prevail, and such Exhibit shall be corrected accordingly. This Agreement shall be considered for all purposes as prepared through the joint efforts of the Parties and shall not be construed against one Party or the other Party as a result of the preparation, substitution, submission or other event of negotiation, drafting or execution hereof.
19.2 Amendments. This Agreement may only be amended, modified or supplemented by an instrument in writing executed by duly authorized representatives of Seller and Buyer; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, this Agreement may not be amended by electronic mail communications.
19.3 No Waiver. Waiver by a Party of any default by the other Party shall not be construed as a waiver of any other default.
19.4 No Agency, Partnership, Joint Venture or Lease. Seller and the agents and employees of Seller shall, in the performance of this Agreement, act in an independent capacity and not as officers or employees or agents of Buyer. Under this Agreement, Seller and Buyer intend to act as energy seller and energy purchaser, respectively, and do not intend to be treated as, and shall not act as, partners in, co-venturers in or lessor/lessee with respect to the Facility or any business related to the Facility. This Agreement shall not impart any rights enforceable by any third party (other than a permitted successor or assignee bound to this Agreement or, to the extent set forth herein, any Lender) or Indemnified Party.
19.5 Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is unenforceable or held to be unenforceable, the Parties agree that all other provisions of this Agreement have force and effect and shall not be affected thereby. The Parties shall, however, use their best endeavors to agree on the replacement of the void, illegal or unenforceable provision(s) with legally
66 acceptable clauses which correspond as closely as possible to the sense and purpose of the affected provision and this Agreement as a whole.
19.6 Mobile-Sierra. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, neither Party shall seek, nor shall they support any third party seeking, to prospectively or retroactively revise the rates, terms or conditions of service of this Agreement through application or complaint to FERC pursuant to the provisions of Section 205, 206 or 306 of the Federal Power Act, or any other provisions of the Federal Power Act, absent prior written agreement of the Parties. Further, absent the prior written agreement in writing by both Parties, the standard of review for changes to the rates, terms or conditions of service of this Agreement proposed by a Party shall be the “public interest” standard of review set forth in United Gas Pipe Line Co. v. Mobile Gas Service Corp., 350 U.S. 332 (1956) and Federal Power Commission v. Sierra Pacific Power Co., 350 U.S. 348 (1956). Changes proposed by a non-Party or FERC acting sua sponte shall be subject to the most stringent standard permissible under applicable law.
19.7 Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument and each of which shall be deemed an original. The Parties may rely on electronic, facsimile or scanned signatures as originals.
19.8 Electronic Delivery. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by electronic format (including portable document format (.pdf)) shall be the same as delivery of an original executed signature page.
19.9 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
19.10 No Recourse to Members of Buyer. Buyer is organized as a Joint Powers Authority in accordance with the Joint Exercise of Powers Act of the State of California (Government Code Section 6500, et seq.) pursuant to its Joint Powers Agreement and is a public entity separate from its constituent members. Buyer shall solely be responsible for all debts, obligations and liabilities accruing and arising out of this Agreement. Seller shall have no rights and shall not make any claims, take any actions or assert any remedies against any of Buyer’s constituent members, or the employees, directors, officers, consultants or advisors of Buyer or its constituent members, in connection with this Agreement.
19.11 Forward Contract. The Parties acknowledge and agree that this Agreement constitutes a “forward contract” within the meaning of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, and Buyer and Seller are “forward contract merchants” within the meaning of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Each Party further agrees that, for all purposes of this Agreement, each Party waives and agrees not to assert the applicability of the provisions of 11 U.S.C. § 366 in any bankruptcy proceeding wherein such Party is a debtor. In any such proceeding, each Party further waives the right to assert that the other Party is a provider of last resort to the extent such term relates to 11 U.S.C. §366 or another provision of 11 U.S.C. § 101-1532.
19.12 Further Assurances. Each of the Parties hereto agree to provide such information, execute and deliver any instruments and documents and to take such other actions as may be
67 necessary or reasonably requested by the other Party which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement and which do not involve the assumptions of obligations other than those provided for in this Agreement, to give full effect to this Agreement and to carry out the intent of this Agreement.
[Signatures on following page]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the Effective Date.
VICTORY PASS I, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company
By:
Name:
Title:
CENTRAL COAST COMMUNITY
ENERGY, a California joint powers
authority
By:
Name:
Title:
Approved as to form:
By:
Name:
Title:
Exhibit A - 1
EXHIBIT A
FACILITY DESCRIPTION
Site Name: Victory Pass Project
Site includes all or some of the following APNs: See attached Schedule 1.
County: Riverside County
CEQA Lead Agency: California Department of Fish and Wildlife Type of Generating Facility: Solar photovoltaic electricity generating facility Type of Storage Facility: A lithium-ion battery energy storage system which is capable of receiving Charging Energy from the Generating Facility and in the form of grid energy; provided, that the Storage Facility shall not receive Charging Energy from any source other than the Generating Facility, except as provided in Section 4.5(g).
Guaranteed Capacity: See definition in Section 1.1.
Storage Facility Total Capacity: See definition in Section 1.1.
Maximum Facility Output: 200 MW
Dedicated Interconnection Capacity for Facility: 200 MW Maximum Charging Capacity: 50 MW
Maximum Discharging Capacity: 50 MW
Maximum Stored Energy Level: 200 MWh
Operating Restrictions of Storage Facility: See Exhibit Q Delivery Point: The Facility PNode corresponding to Southern California Edison’s Red Bluff substation
PNode: PNode shall be updated by mutual agreement of Buyer and Seller prior to the initial delivery of Test Energy hereunder, to reflect the PNode then closest to the Facility.
Participating Transmission Owner: Southern California Edison
Exhibit A - 2
Schedule 1
List of APNs
Exhibit B - 3
provided below, or (iii) Seller failed to provide written notice to Buyer as required in the next sentence. Seller shall provide prompt written notice to Buyer of a delay, but in no case more than thirty (30) days after Seller became aware of such delay, except that in the case of a delay occurring within sixty (60) days of the Expected Commercial Operation Date, or after such date, Seller must provide written notice within five (5) Business Days of Seller becoming aware of such delay. Upon request from Buyer, Seller shall provide documentation demonstrating to Buyer’s reasonable satisfaction that the delays described above did not result from Seller’s actions or failure to take reasonable actions.
5. Failure to Reach Guaranteed Capacity or Storage Contract Capacity. (a) Guaranteed Capacity. If, at Commercial Operation, the Installed PV Capacity is less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Guaranteed Capacity, Seller shall have one hundred twenty (120) days after the Commercial Operation Date to install additional capacity or Network Upgrades such that the Installed PV Capacity is equal to (but not greater than) the Guaranteed Capacity, and Seller shall provide to Buyer a new certificate substantially in the form attached as Exhibit I-1 hereto specifying the new Installed PV Capacity. If Seller fails to construct the Guaranteed Capacity by such date, Seller shall pay “Capacity Damages” to Buyer, in an amount equal to the product of (i) and (ii) each MW (or
portion thereof) that the Guaranteed Capacity exceeds the Installed PV Capacity, and the Guaranteed Capacity and other applicable portions of the Agreement shall be adjusted accordingly. (b) Storage Contract Capacity. If, at Commercial Operation, the Installed Battery Capacity is less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Storage Contract Capacity, Seller shall have one hundred twenty (120) days after the Commercial Operation Date to install additional capacity or Network Upgrades such that the Installed Battery Capacity is equal to (but not greater than) one hundred percent (100%) of the Storage Contract Capacity, and Seller shall provide to Buyer a new certificate substantially in the form attached as Exhibit I-2 hereto specifying the new Installed Battery Capacity. If Seller fails to construct the Storage Contract Capacity by such date, Seller shall pay Capacity Damages to Buyer, in an amount equal to the product of (i) and (ii) each MW (or portion thereof) that the Storage Contract Capacity exceeds the Installed Battery Capacity, and the Storage Contract Capacity and other applicable portions of the Agreement shall be adjusted accordingly.
Exhibit D - 1
EXHIBIT D
SCHEDULING COORDINATOR RESPONSIBILITIES
(a) Buyer as Scheduling Coordinator for the Facility. Upon Initial Synchronization of the Facility to the CAISO Grid and through the end of the Delivery Term, Buyer shall be the Scheduling Coordinator or designate a qualified third party to provide Scheduling Coordinator services with the CAISO for the Facility for the delivery and the receipt of Test Energy and the Product at the Delivery Point and for the purposes of conducting Storage Capacity Tests. At least thirty (30) days prior to the Initial Synchronization of the Facility to the CAISO Grid, (i) Seller shall take all actions and execute and deliver to Buyer and the CAISO all documents necessary to authorize or designate Buyer (or Buyer’s designee) as the Scheduling Coordinator for the Facility effective as of the Initial Synchronization of the Facility to the CAISO Grid, and (ii) Buyer shall, and shall cause its designee to, take all actions and execute and deliver to Seller and the CAISO all documents necessary to authorize or designate Buyer or its designee as the Scheduling Coordinator for the Facility effective as of the Initial Synchronization of the Facility to the CAISO Grid. On and after Initial Synchronization of the Facility to the CAISO Grid, Seller shall not authorize or designate any other party to act as the Facility’s Scheduling Coordinator, nor shall Seller perform for its own benefit the duties of Scheduling Coordinator, and Seller shall not revoke Buyer’s authorization to act as the Facility’s Scheduling Coordinator unless agreed to by Buyer.
Buyer (as the Facility’s SC) shall submit Schedules to the CAISO in accordance with this Agreement and the applicable CAISO Tariff, protocols and Scheduling practices for Product on a day-ahead, hour-ahead, fifteen-minute market or real time basis, as determined by Buyer. Buyer shall cause its Scheduling Coordinator to reasonably cooperate with Seller during the testing and commissioning of the Facility prior to the Commercial Operation Date. (b) Notices. Buyer (as the Facility’s SC) shall provide Seller with access to a web-based system through which Seller shall submit to Buyer and the CAISO all notices and updates required under the CAISO Tariff regarding the Facility’s status, including, but not limited to, all outage requests, forced outages, forced outage reports, clearance requests, or must offer waiver forms. Seller will cooperate with Buyer to provide such notices and updates. If the web-based system is not available, Seller shall promptly submit such information to Buyer and the CAISO (in order of preference) telephonically or by electronic mail transmission to the personnel designated to receive such information.
(c) CAISO Costs and Revenues. Except as otherwise set forth below, Buyer (as Scheduling Coordinator for the Facility) shall be responsible for CAISO costs (including penalties, Imbalance Energy costs, and other charges) and shall be entitled to all CAISO revenues (including credits, Imbalance Energy revenues, and other payments), including revenues associated with CAISO dispatches, bid cost recovery, Inter-SC Trade credits, or other credits in respect of the Product Scheduled or delivered from the Facility. Seller shall be responsible for all CAISO penalties imposed on Buyer resulting from any failure by Seller to abide by the CAISO Tariff requirements imposed on it as Facility owner (but not in connection with obligations of Buyer hereunder) or the outage notification requirements set forth in this Agreement (except to the extent such non-compliance is caused by Buyer’s failure to perform its duties as Scheduling Coordinator for the Facility). The Parties agree that any Availability Incentive Payments (as defined in the CAISO Tariff) are for the benefit of the Seller and for Seller’s account and that any Non-Page 90 of 368
Exhibit D - 2
Availability Charges (as defined in the CAISO Tariff) are the responsibility of the Seller and for Seller’s account except to the extent such Non-Availability Charges are caused by Buyer’s (as Scheduling Coordinator) failure to perform its must-offer requirements under Section 40.6 of the CAISO Tariff or caused by Buyer’s other actions (as Scheduling Coordinator) in which case such Non-Availability Charges shall be the responsibility of Buyer and for Buyer’s account. In addition, if during the Delivery Term, the CAISO implements or has implemented any sanction or penalty related to scheduling, outage reporting, or generator operation, and any such sanctions or penalties are imposed upon the Facility or to Buyer as Scheduling Coordinator due to failure by Seller to abide by the CAISO Tariff or the outage notification requirements set forth in this Agreement, the cost of the sanctions or penalties shall be the Seller’s responsibility. (d) CAISO Settlements. Buyer (as the Facility’s SC) shall be responsible for all settlement functions with the CAISO related to the Facility. Buyer shall render a separate invoice to Seller for any CAISO payments, charges or penalties (“CAISO Charges Invoice”) for which Seller is responsible under this Agreement. CAISO Charges Invoices shall be rendered after settlement information becomes available from the CAISO that identifies any such CAISO charges. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Seller acknowledges that the CAISO will issue additional invoices reflecting CAISO adjustments to such CAISO charges. Buyer will review, validate, and if requested by Seller under paragraph (e) below, dispute any charges that are the responsibility of Seller in a timely manner and consistent with Buyer’s existing settlement processes for charges that are Buyer’s responsibilities. Subject to Seller’s right to dispute and to have Buyer pursue the dispute of any such invoices, Seller shall pay the amount of CAISO Charges Invoices within ten (10) Business Days of Seller’s receipt of the CAISO Charges Invoice. If Seller fails to pay such CAISO Charges Invoice within that period, Buyer may net or offset any amounts owing to it for these CAISO Charges Invoices against any future amounts it may owe to Seller under this Agreement. The obligations under this Section with respect to payment of CAISO Charges Invoices shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement. (e) Dispute Costs. Buyer (as the Facility’s SC) may be required by Seller to dispute CAISO settlements in respect of the Facility. Buyer agrees to pay costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) associated with its involvement with such CAISO disputes, except to the extent they relate to CAISO charges payable by Seller under this Agreement with respect to the Facility.
(f) Terminating Buyer’s Designation as Scheduling Coordinator. At least thirty (30) days prior to expiration of this Agreement or as soon as reasonably practicable upon an earlier termination of this Agreement, the Parties will take all actions necessary to terminate the designation of Buyer as Scheduling Coordinator for the Facility as of 11:59 p.m. on such expiration date.
(g) Master File and Resource Data Template. Seller shall provide the data to the CAISO (and to Buyer) that is required for the CAISO’s Master File and Resource Data Template (or successor data systems) for the Facility consistent with this Agreement. Neither Party shall change such data without the other Party’s prior written consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld.
(h) NERC Reliability Standards. Buyer (as Scheduling Coordinator) shall cooperate
Exhibit D - 3
reasonably with Seller to the extent necessary to enable Seller to comply, and for Seller to demonstrate Seller’s compliance with, NERC reliability standards. This cooperation shall include the provision of information in Buyer’s possession that Buyer (as Scheduling Coordinator) has provided to the CAISO related to the Facility or actions taken by Buyer (as Scheduling Coordinator) related to Seller’s compliance with NERC reliability standards.
Exhibit E - 1
EXHIBIT E
PROGRESS REPORTING FORM
Each Progress Report must include the following items:
1. Executive Summary.
2. Facility description.
3. Site plan of the Facility.
4. Gantt chart schedule showing progress on achieving each of the Milestones.
5. Description of any material planned changes to the Facility or the Site.
6. Summary of activities during the previous calendar quarter or month, as applicable.
7. Forecast of activities scheduled for the current calendar quarter.
8. Written description about the progress relative to Seller’s Milestones, including whether Seller has met or is on target to meet the Milestones.
9. List of issues that are likely to potentially affect Seller’s Milestones.
10. A status report of start-up activities including a forecast of activities ongoing and after start-up, a report on Facility performance including performance projections for the next twelve (12) months.
11. If applicable, prevailing wage reports as required by Law.
12. Progress and schedule of all major agreements, contracts, permits, approvals, technical studies, financing agreements and major equipment purchase orders showing the start dates, completion dates, and completion percentages.
13. Pictures, in sufficient quantity and of appropriate detail, in order to document construction and startup progress of the Facility, the interconnection into the Transmission System and all other interconnection utility services.
14. Supplier Diversity Reporting (if applicable). Format to be provided by Buyer.
15. Any other documentation reasonably requested by Buyer.
Exhibit F-1 - 1
EXHIBIT F-1
FORM OF AVERAGE EXPECTED ENERGY REPORT
1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:0
0 11:0
0 12:0
0 13:0
0 14:0
0 15:0
0 16:0
0 17:0
0 18:0
0 19:0
0 20:0
0 21:0
0 22:0
0 23:0
0 24:0
0 JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
The foregoing table is provided for informational purposes only, and it shall not constitute, or be deemed to constitute, an obligation of any of the Parties to this Agreement.
Exhibit F-2 - 1
EXHIBIT F-2
FORM OF MONTHLY DELIVERY FORECAST
The following table is provided for informational purposes only, and shall not constitute, or be deemed to constitute, an obligation of any of the Parties to this Agreement.
Available Generating Capacity, MW Per Hour – [MONTH]
1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 24:00 Day
1 Day
2 Day
3 Day
4 Day
5 [insert additional rows for each day in the month]
Day
29 Day
30 Day
31
Exhibit G - 2
No payment shall be due if the calculation of (A - B) or (C - D) yields a negative number.
Within sixty (60) days after each Contract Year, Buyer will send Seller Notice of the amount of damages owing, if any, which shall be payable to Buyer before the later of (a) thirty (30) days of such Notice and (b) ninety (90) days after each Performance Measurement Period.
Exhibit H - 1
EXHIBIT H
FORM OF COMMERCIAL OPERATION DATE CERTIFICATE
This certification (“Certification”) of Commercial Operation is delivered by [licensed professional engineer] (“Engineer”) to Central Coast Community Energy, a California joint powers authority (“Buyer”) in accordance with the terms of that certain Second Amended and Restated Renewable Power Purchase Agreement dated ________, 2023 (“Agreement”) by and between Victory Pass I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Buyer. All capitalized terms used in this Certification but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Agreement.
As of [Date], Engineer hereby certifies and represents to Buyer the following:
1. The Generating Facility is fully operational, reliable and interconnected, fully integrated and synchronized with the Transmission System.
2. Seller has installed equipment for the Generating Facility with a nameplate capacity of no less than of the Guaranteed Capacity.
3. Seller has installed equipment for the Storage Facility with a nameplate capacity of no less than of the Storage Contract Capacity.
4. The Generating Facility’s testing included a performance test demonstrating peak electrical output of no less than of the Guaranteed Capacity for the Generating Facility at the Delivery Point, adjusted for ambient conditions on the date of the Facility testing, and such peak electrical output, as adjusted, was [peak output in MW].
5. The Storage Facility is fully capable of charging, storing and Discharging Energy up to no less than of the Storage Contract Capacity and receiving instructions to charge, store and discharge energy, all within the operational constraints and subject to the applicable Operating Restrictions.
6. Authorization to parallel the Facility was obtained by the Participating Transmission Owner, [Name of Participating Transmission Owner as appropriate] on [Date].
7. The Transmission Provider has provided documentation supporting full unrestricted release for Commercial Operation by [Name of Participating Transmission Owner as appropriate] on [Date].
8. The CAISO has provided notification supporting Commercial Operation, in accordance with the CAISO Tariff on [Date].
Exhibit H - 2
EXECUTED by [LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER]
this ________ day of _____________, 20__.
[LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER]
By:
Printed Name:
Title:
Exhibit I-1 - 1
EXHIBIT I-1
FORM OF INSTALLED PV CAPACITY CERTIFICATE
This certification (“Certification”) of Installed PV Capacity is delivered by [licensed professional engineer] (“Engineer”) to Central Coast Community Energy, a California joint powers authority (“Buyer”) in accordance with the terms of that certain Second Amended and Restated Renewable Power Purchase Agreement dated ________, 2023 (“Agreement”) by and between Victory Pass I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Buyer. All capitalized terms used in this Certification but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Agreement.
I hereby certify the performance test for the Generating Facility demonstrated peak electrical output of [__] MW AC at the Delivery Point, as adjusted for ambient conditions on the date of the performance test (“Installed PV Capacity”).
[LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER]
By:
Printed Name:
Title:
Date:
Exhibit I-2 - 1
EXHIBIT I-2
FORM OF INSTALLED BATTERY CAPACITY CERTIFICATE
This certification (“Certification”) of Installed Battery Capacity is delivered by [licensed professional engineer] (“Engineer”) to Central Coast Community Energy, a California joint powers authority (“Buyer”) in accordance with the terms of that certain Second Amended and Restated Renewable Power Purchase Agreement dated ________, 2023 (“Agreement”) by and between Victory Pass I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Buyer. All capitalized terms used in this Certification but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Agreement.
I hereby certify the Storage Capacity Test demonstrated a maximum dependable operating capability that can be sustained for four (4) consecutive hours to discharge electric energy of __ MW AC to the Delivery Point, in accordance with the testing procedures, requirements and protocols set forth in Section 4.9 and Exhibit O (the “Installed Battery Capacity”). [LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER]
By:
Printed Name:
Title:
Date:
Exhibit J - 1
EXHIBIT J
FORM OF CONSTRUCTION START DATE CERTIFICATE
This certification of Construction Start Date (“Certification”) is delivered by Victory Pass I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Seller”) to Central Coast Community Energy, a California joint powers authority (“Buyer”) in accordance with the terms of that certain Second Amended and Restated Renewable Power Purchase Agreement dated ________, 2023 (“Agreement”) by and between Seller and Buyer. All capitalized terms used in this Certification but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Agreement.
Seller hereby certifies and represents to Buyer the following:
1. Construction Start (as defined in Exhibit B of the Agreement) has occurred, and a copy of the full notice to proceed that Seller issued to its contractor as part of Construction Start is attached hereto.
2. the precise Site on which the Facility is located is, which must include some or all of the previously identified APNs (such description shall amend the description of the Site in Exhibit A): ______________________________________________________________.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certification on behalf of Seller as of the ___ day of ________.
VICTORY PASS I, LLC
By:
Printed Name:
Title:
Exhibit K - 1
EXHIBIT K
FORM OF LETTER OF CREDIT
[Issuing Bank Letterhead and Address]
IRREVOCABLE STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT NO. [XXXXXXX]
Date:
Bank Ref.:
Amount: US$[XXXXXXXX]
Expiry Date:
Beneficiary:
Central Coast Community Energy
70 Garden Court, Suite 300
Monterey, CA 93940
Attn: Dennis Dyc-O’Neal, Director of Power Supply Resources Ladies and Gentlemen:
By the order of __________ (“Applicant”), we, [insert bank name and address] (“Issuer”) hereby issue our Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit No. [XXXXXXX] (the “Letter of Credit”) in favor of Central Coast Community Energy, a California joint powers authority (“Beneficiary”), for an amount not to exceed the aggregate sum of U.S. $[XXXXXX] (United States Dollars [XXXXX] and 00/100), pursuant to that certain Second Amended and Restated Renewable Power Purchase Agreement dated as of ________, 2023 and as amended (the “Agreement”) between Applicant and Beneficiary. This Letter of Credit shall become effective immediately and shall expire on [Insert Date ] which is one year after the issue date of this Letter of Credit, or any expiration date extended in accordance with the terms hereof (the “Expiration Date”).
Funds under this Letter of Credit are available to Beneficiary by presentation on or before the Expiration Date of a dated statement purportedly signed by your duly authorized representative, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, containing one of the two alternative paragraphs set forth in paragraph 2 therein, referencing our Letter of Credit No. [XXXXXXX] (“Drawing Certificate”).
The Drawing Certificate may be presented by (a) physical delivery, (b) as a PDF attachment to an e-mail to [bank email address] or (c) facsimile to [bank fax number [XXX-XXX-XXXX]] confirmed by [e-mail to [bank email address]]. Transmittal by facsimile or email shall be deemed delivered when received.
The original of this Letter of Credit (and all amendments, if any) is not required to be presented in connection with any presentment of a Drawing Certificate by Beneficiary hereunder in order to
Exhibit K - 2
receive payment.
We hereby agree with the Beneficiary that all documents presented under and in compliance with the terms of this Letter of Credit, that such drafts will be duly honored upon presentation to the Issuer on or before the Expiration Date. All payments made under this Letter of Credit shall be made with Issuer’s own immediately available funds by means of wire transfer in immediately available United States dollars to Beneficiary’s account as indicated by Beneficiary in its Drawing Certificate or in a communication accompanying its Drawing Certificate.
Partial draws are permitted under this Letter of Credit, and this Letter of Credit shall remain in full force and effect with respect to any continuing balance.
It is a condition of this Letter of Credit that the Expiration Date shall be deemed automatically extended without an amendment for a one year period beginning on the present Expiration Date hereof and upon each anniversary for such date, unless at least one hundred twenty (120) days prior to any such Expiration Date we have sent to you written notice by overnight courier service that we elect not to extend this Letter of Credit, in which case it will expire on the date specified in such notice. No presentation made under this Letter of Credit after such Expiration Date will be honored.
Notwithstanding any reference in this Letter of Credit to any other documents, instruments or agreements, this Letter of Credit contains the entire agreement between Beneficiary and Issuer relating to the obligations of Issuer hereunder.
This Letter of Credit is subject to the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (2007 Revision) International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600 (the “UCP”), except to the extent that the terms hereof are inconsistent with the provisions of the UCP, including but not limited to Articles 14(b) and 36 of the UCP, in which case the terms of this Letter of Credit shall govern. In the event of an act of God, riot, civil commotion, insurrection, war or any other cause beyond Issuer’s control (as defined in Article 36 of the UCP) that interrupts Issuer’s business and causes the place for presentation of the Letter of Credit to be closed for business on the last day for presentation, the Expiration Date of the Letter of Credit will be automatically extended without amendment to a date thirty (30) calendar days after the place for presentation reopens for business.
Please address all correspondence regarding this Letter of Credit to the attention of the Letter of Credit Department at [insert bank address information], referring specifically to Issuer’s Letter of Credit No. [XXXXXXX]. For telephone assistance, please contact Issuer’s Standby Letter of Credit Department at [XXX-XXX-XXXX] and have this Letter of Credit available. [Bank Name]
_________________________
[Insert officer name]
[Insert officer title]
Exhibit K - 3
(DRAW REQUEST SHOULD BE ON BENEFICIARY’S LETTERHEAD)
Drawing Certificate
[Insert Bank Name and Address]
The undersigned, a duly authorized representative of Central Coast Community Energy, a California joint powers authority, as beneficiary (the “Beneficiary”) of the Irrevocable Letter of Credit No. [XXXXXXX] (the “Letter of Credit”) issued by [insert bank name] (the “Bank”) by order of __________ (the “Applicant”), hereby certifies to the Bank as follows:
1. Applicant and Beneficiary are party to that certain Second Amended and Restated Renewable Power Purchase Agreement dated as of ___________, 20__ (the “Agreement”).
2. Beneficiary is making a drawing under this Letter of Credit in the amount of U.S. $___________ because a Seller Event of Default (as such term is defined in the Agreement) has occurred or other occasion provided for in the Agreement where Beneficiary is authorized to draw on the letter of credit has occurred.
OR
Beneficiary is making a drawing under this Letter of Credit in the amount of U.S. $___________, which equals the full available amount under the Letter of Credit, because Applicant is required to maintain the Letter of Credit in force and effect beyond the expiration date of the Letter of Credit but has failed to provide Beneficiary with a replacement Letter of Credit or other acceptable instrument within thirty (30) days prior to such expiration date.
3. The undersigned is a duly authorized representative of Central Coast Community Energy and is authorized to execute and deliver this Drawing Certificate on behalf of Beneficiary.
You are hereby directed to make payment of the requested amount to Central Coast Community Energy by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the following account:
[Specify account information]
Central Coast Community Energy, a California joint powers authority Name and Title of Authorized Representative
Date__________________________
Exhibit L - 1
EXHIBIT L
FORM OF GUARANTY
This Guaranty (this “Guaranty”) is entered into as of [Date] (the “Effective Date”) by and between [_____], a [______] (“Guarantor”), and Central Coast Community Energy, a California joint powers authority (together with its successors and permitted assigns, “Buyer”).
Recitals
A. Buyer and Victory Pass I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Seller”), entered into that certain Second Amended and Restated Renewable Power Purchase Agreement (as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “PPA”) dated as of ________, 2023.
B. Guarantor is entering into this Guaranty as Performance Security to secure Seller’s obligations under the PPA, as required by Section 8.8 of the PPA.
C. It is in the best interest of Guarantor to execute this Guaranty inasmuch as Guarantor will derive substantial direct and indirect benefits from the execution and delivery of the PPA.
D. Initially capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meaning set forth in the PPA.
Agreement
1. Guaranty. For value received, Guarantor does hereby unconditionally, absolutely and irrevocably guarantee, as primary obligor and not as a surety, to Buyer the prompt payment by Seller of any and all amounts and payment obligations now or hereafter owing from Seller to Buyer under the PPA, including, without limitation, compensation for penalties, the Termination Payment, indemnification payments or other damages, as and when required pursuant to the terms of the PPA (the “Guaranteed Amount”), provided, that Guarantor’s aggregate liability under or arising out of this Guaranty shall not exceed ________ Dollars ($___________). The Parties understand and agree that any payment by Guarantor or Seller of any portion of the Guaranteed Amount shall thereafter reduce Guarantor’s maximum aggregate liability hereunder on a dollar-for-dollar basis. This Guaranty is an irrevocable, absolute, unconditional and continuing guarantee of the full and punctual payment, and not of collection, of the Guaranteed Amount and, except as otherwise expressly addressed herein, is in no way conditioned upon any requirement that Buyer first attempt to collect the payment of the Guaranteed Amount from Seller, any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Amount or any other Person or entity or resort to any other means of obtaining payment of the Guaranteed Amount. In the event Seller shall fail to duly, completely or punctually pay any Guaranteed Amount as required pursuant to the PPA, Guarantor shall promptly pay such amount as required herein.
2. Demand Notice. For avoidance of doubt, a payment shall be due for purposes of this Guaranty only when and if a payment is due and payable by Seller to Buyer under the terms and conditions of the Agreement. If Seller fails to pay any Guaranteed Amount as required pursuant to the PPA for five (5) Business Days following Seller’s receipt of Buyer’s written notice of such
Exhibit L - 2
failure (the “Demand Notice”), then Buyer may elect to exercise its rights under this Guaranty and may make a demand upon Guarantor (a “Payment Demand”) for such unpaid Guaranteed Amount. A Payment Demand shall be in writing and shall reasonably specify in what manner and what amount Seller has failed to pay and an explanation of why such payment is due and owing, with a specific statement that Buyer is requesting that Guarantor pay under this Guaranty.
Guarantor shall, within five (5) Business Days following its receipt of the Payment Demand, pay the Guaranteed Amount to Buyer.
3. Scope and Duration of Guaranty. This Guaranty applies only to the Guaranteed Amount.
This Guaranty shall continue in full force and effect from the Effective Date until the earlier of the following: (x) all Guaranteed Amounts have been paid in full (whether directly or indirectly through set-off or netting of amounts owed by Buyer to Seller), (y) replacement Performance Security is provided in an amount and form required by the terms of the PPA, or (z) one hundred eighty (180) days after the early termination of the PPA or expiration of the PPA by its terms.
Further, this Guaranty (a) shall remain in full force and effect without regard to, and shall not be affected or impaired by any invalidity, irregularity or unenforceability in whole or in part of this Guaranty, and (b) subject to the preceding sentence, shall be discharged only by complete performance of the undertakings herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall not be released, discharged, or otherwise affected and this Guaranty shall not be invalidated or impaired or otherwise affected for the following reasons:
(i) the extension of time for the payment of any Guaranteed Amount, or (ii) any amendment, modification or other alteration of the PPA, or (iii) any indemnity agreement Seller may have from any party, or (iv) any insurance that may be available to cover any loss, except to the extent insurance proceeds are used to satisfy the Guaranteed Amount, or
(v) any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of, or other similar proceeding affecting, Seller or any of its assets, including but not limited to any rejection or other discharge of Seller’s obligations under the PPA imposed by any court, trustee or custodian or any similar official or imposed by any law, statue or regulation, in each such event in any such proceeding, or
(vi) the release, modification, waiver or failure to pursue or seek relief with respect to any other guaranty, pledge or security device whatsoever, or (vii) any payment to Buyer by Seller that Buyer subsequently returns to Seller pursuant to court order in any bankruptcy or other debtor-relief proceeding, or (viii) those defenses based upon (A) the legal incapacity or lack of power or authority of any Person, including Seller and any representative of Seller to enter into the PPA or perform its obligations thereunder, (B) lack of due execution, delivery, validity or enforceability, including of the PPA, or (C) Seller’s inability to pay any Guaranteed Amount or perform its obligations under the PPA, or
Exhibit L - 3
(ix) any other event or circumstance that may now or hereafter constitute a defense to payment of the Guaranteed Amount, including, without limitation, statute of frauds and accord and satisfaction;
provided that Guarantor reserves the right to assert for itself any defenses, setoffs or counterclaims that Seller is or may be entitled to assert against Buyer.
4. Waivers by Guarantor. Guarantor hereby unconditionally waives as a condition precedent to the performance of its obligations hereunder, with the exception of the requirements in Paragraph 2, (a) notice of acceptance, presentment or protest with respect to the Guaranteed Amounts and this Guaranty, (b) notice of any action taken or omitted to be taken by Buyer in reliance hereon, (c) any requirement that Buyer exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against Seller under the PPA, and (d) any event, occurrence or other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing waiver of surety defenses, it is agreed that the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not affect the liability of Guarantor hereunder:
(i) at any time or from time to time, without notice to Guarantor, the time for payment of any Guaranteed Amount shall be extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived; (ii) the obligation to pay any Guaranteed Amount shall be modified, supplemented or amended in any respect in accordance with the terms of the PPA; (iii) subject to Paragraph 9, any (a) sale, transfer or consolidation of Seller into or with any other entity, (b) sale of substantial assets by, or restructuring of the corporate existence of, Seller or (c) change in ownership of any membership interests of, or other ownership interests in, Seller; or
(iv) the failure by Buyer or any other Person to create, preserve, validate, perfect or protect any security interest granted to, or in favor of, Buyer or any Person.
5. Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payments that may be made hereunder by the Guarantor, Guarantor hereby agrees that until the earlier of payment in full of all Guaranteed Amounts or expiration of the Guaranty in accordance with Paragraph 3, it shall not be entitled to, nor shall it seek to, exercise any right or remedy arising by reason of its payment of any Guaranteed Amount under this Guaranty, whether by subrogation or otherwise, against Seller or seek contribution or reimbursement of such payments from Seller.
6. Representations and Warranties. Guarantor hereby represents and warrants that (a) it has all necessary and appropriate [limited liability company][corporate] powers and authority and the legal right to execute and deliver, and perform its obligations under, this Guaranty, (b) this Guaranty constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium and other similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights or general principles of equity, (c) the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty does not and will not contravene Guarantor’s organizational documents, any applicable Law or any contractual provisions binding on or affecting Guarantor, (d) there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator, or, to the knowledge of the Guarantor, threatened, against or
Exhibit L - 4
affecting Guarantor or any of its properties or revenues which may, in any one case or in the aggregate, adversely affect the ability of Guarantor to enter into or perform its obligations under this Guaranty, and (e) no consent or authorization of, filing with, or other act by or in respect of, any arbitrator or Governmental Authority, and no consent of any other Person (including, any stockholder or creditor of the Guarantor), that has not heretofore been obtained is required in connection with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Guaranty by Guarantor.
7. Notices. Notices under this Guaranty shall be deemed received if sent to the address specified below: (i) on the day received if served by overnight express delivery, and (ii) four Business Days after mailing if sent by certified, first class mail, return receipt requested. If transmitted by facsimile, such notice shall be deemed received when the confirmation of transmission thereof is received by the party giving the notice. Any party may change its address or facsimile to which notice is given hereunder by providing notice of the same in accordance with this Paragraph 7.
If delivered to Buyer, to it at [____]
Attn: [____]
Fax: [____]
If delivered to Guarantor, to it at [____]
Attn: [____]
Fax: [____]
8. Governing Law and Forum Selection. This Guaranty shall be governed by, and interpreted and construed in accordance with, the laws of the United States and the State of California, excluding choice of law rules. The Parties agree that any suit, action or other legal proceeding by or against any party (or its affiliates or designees) with respect to or arising out of this Guaranty shall be brought in the federal courts of the United States or the courts of the State of California sitting in the City and County of Monterey, California.
9. Miscellaneous. This Guaranty shall be binding upon Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Buyer and its successors and permitted assigns pursuant to the PPA. No provision of this Guaranty may be amended or waived except by a written instrument executed by Guarantor and Buyer. This Guaranty is not assignable by Guarantor without the prior written consent of Buyer. No provision of this Guaranty confers, nor is any provision intended to confer, upon any third party (other than Buyer’s successors and permitted assigns) any benefit or right enforceable at the option of that third party. This Guaranty embodies the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements and understandings of the parties hereto, verbal or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. If any provision of this Guaranty is determined to be illegal or unenforceable (i) such provision shall be deemed restated in accordance with applicable Laws to reflect, as nearly as possible, the original intention of the parties hereto and (ii) such determination shall not affect any other provision of this Guaranty and all other provisions shall remain in full force
Exhibit L - 5
and effect. This Guaranty may be executed in any number of separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed an original, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. This Guaranty may be executed and delivered by electronic means with the same force and effect as if the same was a fully executed and delivered original manual counterpart.
[Signature on next page]
Exhibit L - 6
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Guaranty to be duly executed and delivered by its duly authorized representative on the date first above written.
GUARANTOR:
[_______]
By:______________________________
Printed Name:__________________
Title:____________________________
BUYER:
[_______]
By:______________________________
Printed Name:__________________
Title:____________________________
By:______________________________
Printed Name:__________________
Title:____________________________
Exhibit M - 1
EXHIBIT M
FORM OF REPLACEMENT RA NOTICE
This Replacement RA Notice (this “Notice”) is delivered by Victory Pass I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Seller”) to Central Coast Community Energy, a California joint powers authority (“Buyer”) in accordance with the terms of that certain Second Amended and Restated Renewable Power Purchase Agreement dated ________, 2023 (“Agreement”) by and between Seller and Buyer. All capitalized terms used in this Notice but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Agreement.
Pursuant to Section 3.8(b) of the Agreement, Seller hereby provides the below Replacement RA product information:
Exhibit M - 2
VICTORY PASS I, LLC
By:
Its:
Date:
Exhibit N - 2
VICTORY PASS I, LLC (“Seller”) CENTRAL COAST COMMUNITY
ENERGY (“Buyer”)
With additional Notices of an Event of
Default or Force Majeure Event to:
Attn: VP Asset Management
Phone: 480-424-1240
Email: [email protected]
With additional Notices of an Event of
Default or Force Majeure Event to:
Central Coast Community Energy
Attn: Brian Kimball, General Counsel
Phone: (831) 257-4000
Email: [email protected]
With a copy to:
Hall Energy Law PC
Attn: Stephen Hall
Phone: (503) 313-0755
Email: [email protected]
Emergency Contact:
Attn: VP Asset Management
Phone: 480-424-1240
Email: [email protected]
Emergency Contact:
Attn:
Phone:
Facsimile:
E-mail:
Exhibit O - 1
EXHIBIT O
STORAGE CAPACITY TESTS
Storage Capacity Test Notice and Frequency
A. Commercial Operation Date Storage Capacity Test. Upon no less than ten (10) Business Days prior Notice to Buyer, Seller shall schedule and complete a Storage Capacity Test prior to the Commercial Operation Date. Such initial Storage Capacity Test shall be performed in accordance with this Exhibit O and shall establish the initial Storage Facility Total Capacity hereunder based on the actual capacity of the Storage Facility determined by such Storage Capacity Test.
B. Subsequent Storage Capacity Tests. Following the Commercial Operation Date, but not more than once per Contract Year within the first quarter of each Contract Year, upon no less than ten (10) Business Days prior Notice to Seller, Buyer, in coordination with Other Buyer, shall have the right to require Seller to schedule and complete a Storage Capacity Test. In addition, Buyer, in coordination with Other Buyer, shall have the right to require a retest of the most recent Storage Capacity Test at any time upon no less than five (5) Business Days prior written Notice to Seller if Buyer provides data with such Notice reasonably indicating that the Storage Capacity has varied materially from the results of the most recent Storage Capacity Test. For the sake of clarity, each request made for a Storage Capacity Test or retest by Buyer pursuant to this Paragraph B must be requested in conjunction with Other Buyer. Seller shall have the right to perform a Storage Capacity Test or run a retest of any Storage Capacity Test at any time during any Contract Year upon five (5) Business Days’ prior written Notice to Buyer (or any shorter period reasonably acceptable to Buyer consistent with Prudent Operating Practice). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any revenues associated with a Storage Capacity Test that is initiated by Seller shall accrue to Buyer. Following the Commercial Operation Date, but not more than twice per Contract Year, upon no less than ten (10) Business Days prior Notice to Buyer, Seller shall have the right to schedule and complete a Storage Capacity Test. In addition, Seller shall have the right to schedule and complete a retest of the Storage Capacity Test at any time upon no less than five (5) Business Days prior written Notice to Buyer if Seller provides data with such Notice reasonably indicating that the Storage Capacity or Efficiency Rate has varied materially from the results of the most recent Storage Capacity Test.
C. Test Results and Re-Setting of Storage Capacity and Efficiency Rate. No later than five (5) days following any Storage Capacity Test, Seller shall submit a testing report detailing results and findings of the test. The report shall include meter readings and plant log sheets verifying the operating conditions and output of the Storage Facility. In accordance with Section
4.9(c) of the Agreement, Part II.I and Part II.J below, the actual capacity and efficiency rate determined pursuant to a Storage Capacity Test (up to, but not in excess of, the original Storage Facility Total Capacity set forth on the Cover Sheet, as such original Storage Facility Total Capacity set forth on the Cover Sheet may have been adjusted (if at all) pursuant to Section 2.6 and Exhibit B) shall become the new Storage Facility Total Capacity and Efficiency Rate, effective as of the first day of the month following the completion of the test for calculating the monthly payment for the Storage Product and all other purposes under this Agreement.
Exhibit O - 2
Storage Capacity Test Procedures
PART I. GENERAL.
Each Storage Capacity Test (including the initial Storage Capacity Test, each subsequent Storage Capacity Test, and all re-tests thereof permitted under paragraph B above) shall be conducted in accordance with Prudent Operating Practices and the provisions of this Exhibit O. For ease of reference, a Storage Capacity Test is sometimes referred to in this Exhibit O as a “SCT”. Buyer or its representative may be present for the SCT and may, for informational purposes only, use its own metering equipment (at Buyer’s sole cost).
PART II. REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO ALL STORAGE CAPACITY TESTS AND EFFICIENCY TESTS.
A. Purpose of Test. Each SCT shall:
(1) Determine an updated Storage Facility Total Capacity; (2) Determine the amount of Energy required to fully charge the Storage Facility;
(3) Determine the Storage Facility charge ramp rate;
(4) Determine the Storage Facility discharge ramp rate; and (5) Determine an updated Efficiency Rate.
B. Parameters. During each SCT, the following parameters shall be measured and recorded simultaneously for the Storage Facility, at a minimum of ten (10) minute intervals:
(1) time (minutes);
(2) charging energy (MWh);
(3) discharging energy (MWh);
(4) Stored Energy Level (MWh).
C. Site Conditions. During each SCT, the following conditions at the Site shall be measured and recorded simultaneously at thirty (30) minute intervals:
(1) Relative humidity (%);
(2) Barometric pressure (inches Hg) near the horizontal centerline of the Storage Facility; and
(3) Ambient air Temperature (°F).
Exhibit O - 3
D. Test Elements. Each SCT shall include the following test elements:
(1) The discharging of the Storage Facility to 0% Stored Energy Level; (2) The charging of the Storage Facility at a constant power charge rate equal to the Storage Facility Total Capacity as of the commencement of the Storage Capacity Test;
(3) The measurement of the time from when the charge signal is sent until the constant power charge rate is achieved (dividing the constant power charge rate by this measurement will determine the updated charging ramp rate); (4) The measurement of Energy, as measured by the Storage Facility Meter, that is required to charge the Storage Facility until a 100% Stored Energy Level is achieved;
(5) The discharging of the Storage Facility at a constant power discharge rate equal to the Storage Facility Total Capacity as of the commencement of the Storage Capacity Test;
(6) The measurement of the time from when the discharge signal is sent until the constant power discharge rate is achieved (dividing the constant power charge rate by this measurement will determine the updated discharging ramp rate);
(7) The measurement of Energy, as measured by the Storage Facility Meter, that is discharged from the Storage Facility to the Delivery Point until a 0% Stored Energy Level is achieved as indicated by the battery management system.
E. Test Conditions.
(1) General. At all times during a SCT, the Storage Facility shall be operated in compliance with Prudent Operating Practices and all operating protocols recommended, required or established by the manufacturer for operation. (2) Abnormal Conditions. If abnormal operating conditions that prevent the recordation of any required parameter occur during a SCT (including a level of irradiance that does not permit the Generating Facility to produce sufficient Charging Energy), Seller may postpone or reschedule all or part of such SCT in accordance with Part II.F below.
(3) Instrumentation and Metering. Seller shall provide all instrumentation, metering and data collection equipment required to perform the SCT. The instrumentation, metering and data collection equipment electrical meters shall be calibrated in accordance with Prudent Operating Practice.
F. Incomplete Test. If any SCT is not completed in accordance herewith, Buyer may
Exhibit O - 4
in its sole discretion: (i) accept the results up to the time the SCT stopped; (ii) require that the portion of the SCT not completed, be completed within a reasonable specified time period; or (iii) require that the SCT be entirely repeated.
Notwithstanding the above, if Seller is unable to complete a SCT due to a Force Majeure Event or the actions or inactions of Buyer or the CAISO or the PTO or the Transmission Provider, Seller shall be permitted to reconduct such SCT on dates and at times reasonably acceptable to the Parties.
G. Final Report. Within fifteen (15) Business Days after the completion of any SCT, Seller shall prepare and submit to Buyer a written report of the results of the SCT, which report shall include:
(1) a record of the personnel present during the SCT that served in an operating, testing, monitoring or other such participatory role;
(2) the measured data for each parameter set forth in Part II.A through D, as applicable, including copies of the raw data taken during the test; (3) the current level of Storage Capacity, Energy In, Energy Out, Efficiency Rate, Maximum Charging Capacity, the current charge and discharge ramp rate, and Stored Energy Level determined by the SCT, including supporting calculations; and
(4) Seller’s statement of either Seller’s acceptance of the SCT or Seller’s rejection of the SCT results and reason(s) therefor.
Within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of such report, Buyer shall notify Seller in writing of either Buyer’s acceptance of the SCT results or Buyer’s rejection of the SCT and reason(s) therefor.
If either Party reasonably rejects the results of any SCT, such SCT shall be repeated in accordance with Part II.F.
H. Supplementary Storage Capacity Test Protocol. No later than sixty (60) days prior to commencing Facility construction, Seller shall deliver to Buyer for its review and approval (such approval not to be unreasonably delayed or withheld) a supplement to this Exhibit O with additional and supplementary details, procedures and requirements applicable to Storage Capacity Tests based on the then current design of the Facility (“Supplementary Storage Capacity Test Protocol”).
Thereafter, from time to time, Seller may deliver to Buyer for its review and approval (such review and approval to occur in coordination with Other Buyer, and such approval not to be unreasonably delayed or withheld) any Seller recommended updates to the then current Supplementary Storage Capacity Test Protocol. The initial Supplementary Storage Capacity Test Protocol (and each update thereto), once approved by Buyer (such approval to occur in coordination with Other Buyer), shall be deemed an amendment to this Exhibit O.
Exhibit O - 5
I. Adjustment to Storage Facility Total Capacity. The total amount of discharged Energy delivered to the Delivery Point (expressed in MWh AC) during each of the first four hours of discharge (up to, but not in excess of, the product of (i) the original Storage Facility Total Capacity set forth on the Cover Sheet, as such original Storage Facility Total Capacity on the Cover Sheet may have been adjusted (if at all) under this Agreement, multiplied by (ii) 4 hours) shall be divided by four hours to determine the Storage Facility Total Capacity, which shall be expressed in MW AC, and shall be the new Storage Facility Total Capacity in accordance with Section 4.9(c) of the Agreement.
J. Adjustment to Efficiency Rate. The total amount of Energy Out divided by the total amount of Energy In, measured at the medium voltage bus by the physical meter installed in the Storage Facility, exclusive of Electrical Losses to the Delivery Point and separately metered Station Use associated with battery cooling and other thermal management equipment, and expressed as a percentage, shall be the new Efficiency Rate in accordance with Section 4.9(c) of the Agreement.
PART III - INITIAL SUPPLEMENTARY STORAGE CAPACITY TEST PROTOCOL A. Initial Supplementary Storage Capacity Test Protocol The initial Supplementary Storage Capacity Test Protocol outlined below shall not be binding on the Parties until delivery of the Supplementary Storage Capacity Test Protocol in accordance with Part II.I above and is included for the convenience of the Parties.
• Procedure:
(1) System Starting State: The Storage Facility shall be balanced using OEM procedures as appropriate and will be in the on-line state at the Minimum Storage Level.
(2) Record the initial value of the Storage Facility State-of-Charge (“SOC”). (3) Charge the Storage Facility at the maximum charging level until the battery reaches the maximum SOC allowed at that rate. Continue charging the Storage Facility at the fixed maximum battery voltage (CV charging). Stop the Storage Facility charge routine when the battery has reached the desired SOC, not to exceed six hours of charging.
(4) Record and store the AC energy charged to the Storage Facility as measured at the Storage Facility Meter (“Energy In”). All separately metered Storage Facility Station Use and Electrical Losses shall be excluded from the measurement of Energy In.
(5) Following an agreed-upon rest period, command a real power discharge that results in an AC power output of the Storage Facility’s maximum discharging level and maintain the discharging state until the earlier of (a)
Exhibit O - 6
the Facility has discharged at the maximum discharging level for five (5) consecutive hours, (b) the Storage Facility has reached the Minimum Storage Level, or (c) the sustained discharging level is at least 2% less than the maximum discharging level.
(6) Record and store the AC Energy discharged (in MWh) as measured at the Storage Facility Meter. Such data point shall be used for purposes of calculation of the Storage Capacity.
(7) Record and store the AC Energy discharged (in MWh) as measured at the Storage Facility Meter. Such data point shall be used for purposes of calculation of the Efficiency Rate.
(8) If the Storage Facility has not reached the Minimum Storage Level pursuant to Part III.A.5, continue discharging the Storage Facility until it reaches the Minimum Storage Level.
(9) Record and store the AC Energy discharged (in MWh) as measured at the Storage Facility Meter. “Energy Out” means that total AC Energy discharged (in MWh) as measured at the Storage Facility Meter from the commencement of discharging pursuant to Part III.A.5 until the Storage Facility has reached the Minimum Storage Level pursuant to either Part III.A.5 or Part III.A.8, as applicable. All separately metered Storage Facility Station Use and Electrical Losses shall be excluded from the measurement of Energy Out.
• Test Results
(1) The resulting Efficiency Rate is calculated as Energy Out/Energy In. (2) The resulting Storage Capacity measurement is the sum of the total Discharging Energy at the Storage Facility Meter divided by four (4) hours.
Exhibit P - 1
EXHIBIT P
STORAGE FACILITY AVAILABILITY
Monthly Storage Availability
(a) Calculation of Monthly Storage Availability. Seller shall calculate the “Monthly Storage Availability” in a given month using the formula set forth below:
Monthly Storage Availability (%) =
[MNTHHRSm - UNAVAILHRSm ]
MNTHHRSm
where:
m = relevant month “m” in which availability is calculated; MNTHHRSm is the total number of On-Peak Hours for the month; UNAVAILHRSm, is the total number of On-Peak Hours in the month during which the Storage Facility was unavailable to deliver Storage Product (as such unavailability is prorated for any Storage Contract Capacity that is available to deliver Storage Product at any given time) for any reason other than the occurrence of any of the following (each, an “Excused Event”): a Force Majeure Event, Buyer Bid Curtailment, Buyer Curtailment Orders, Curtailment Orders, Buyer Default, Storage Capacity Tests, System Emergencies, the Operating Restrictions in Exhibit Q, or a Planned Outage of the Storage Facility not to exceed seventy nine (79) hours in any given Contract Year. To be clear, hours of unavailability caused by any Excused Event will not be included in UNAVAILHRSm for such month. Any other event that results in unavailability of the Storage Facility for less than a full hour will count as an equivalent percentage of the applicable hour(s) for this calculation.
If the Storage Facility or any component thereof was previously deemed unavailable for an hour or part of an hour, and Seller provides a revised Notice indicating the Storage Facility is available for that hour or part of an hour by 5:00 a.m. of the morning Buyer schedules or bids the Storage Facility in the Day-Ahead Market, the Storage Facility will be deemed to be available to the extent set forth in the revised Notice.
If the Storage Facility or any component thereof was previously deemed unavailable for an hour or part of an hour and Seller provides a revised Notice indicating the Storage Facility is available for that hour or part of an hour at least sixty (60) minutes prior to the time the Buyer is required to schedule or bid the Storage Facility in the Real-Time Market, and the Storage Facility is dispatched in the Real-Time Market, the Storage Facility will be deemed to be available to the extent set forth in the revised Notice.
Exhibit R - 1
EXHIBIT R
METERING DIAGRAM
Intentionally Omitted
Exhibit S - 1
EXHIBIT S
FORM OF LIMITED ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit S - 2
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE
VICTORY PASS
Assigned Product: [____]
Assigned Delivery Point: [____]
Assigned Prepay Quantity: As set forth in Appendix 2; provided that (i) all Assigned Products shall be delivered pursuant to the Limited Assignment Agreement during the Assignment Period as provided in Appendix 1 and (ii) the Assigned Prepay Quantity is defined for the convenience of PPA Buyer and J. Aron and shall have no impact on the obligations of the Parties under the Limited Assignment Agreement.
APC Contract Price: $[____]/MWh
Assignment Period: [____]
Other Provisions: [____]
Exhibit S - 3
FORM OF LIMITED ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
This Limited Assignment Agreement (this “Assignment Agreement” or “Agreement”) is entered into as of [____], 20[23] by and among Victory Pass I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“PPA Seller”), Central Coast Community Energy, a California joint powers authority (“PPA Buyer”), and J. Aron & Company LLC, a New York limited liability company (“J. Aron”), and relates to that certain power purchase agreement (the “PPA”) between PPA Buyer and PPA Seller as described on Appendix 1. Unless the context otherwise specifies or requires, capitalized terms used but not defined in this Agreement have the meanings set forth in the PPA.
In consideration of the premises above and the mutual covenants and agreements herein set forth, PPA Seller, PPA Buyer and J. Aron (the “Parties” hereto; each is a “Party”) agree as follows:
1. Limited Assignment and Delegation.
(a) PPA Buyer hereby assigns, transfers and conveys to J. Aron all right, title and interest in and to the rights of PPA Buyer under the PPA to receive delivery of the products described on Appendix 1 (the “Assigned Products”) during the Assignment Period (as defined in Appendix 1), as such rights may be limited or further described in the “Further Information” section on Appendix 1 (the “Assigned Product Rights”). All Assigned Products shall be delivered pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement during the Assignment Period as provided in Appendix 1. All other rights of PPA Buyer under the PPA are expressly reserved for PPA Buyer.
(b) PPA Buyer hereby delegates to J. Aron the obligation to pay for all Assigned Products that are actually delivered to J. Aron pursuant to the Assigned Product Rights during the Assignment Period (the “Delivered Product Payment Obligation” and together with the Assigned Product Rights, collectively the “Assigned Rights and Obligations”); provided that (i) all other obligations of PPA Buyer under the PPA are expressly retained by PPA Buyer and PPA Buyer shall be solely responsible for any amounts due to PPA Seller that are not directly related to Assigned Products; and (ii) the Parties acknowledge and agree that PPA Seller will only be obligated to deliver a single consolidated invoice during the Assignment Period (with a copy to J. Aron consistent with Section 1(d) hereof). To the extent J. Aron fails to pay the Delivered Product Payment Obligation in full by the due date for payment set forth in the PPA, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, PPA Buyer agrees that it remains responsible for such payment and that it will be an Event of Default pursuant to Section 11.1(a) if PPA Buyer does not make such payment in full. Notwithstanding anything set forth in this Agreement, PPA Buyer remains liable to PPA Seller for all amounts due and owing under the PPA. (c) J. Aron hereby accepts and PPA Seller hereby consents and agrees to the assignment, transfer, conveyance and delegation described in clauses (a) and (b) above. (d) All scheduling of Assigned Products and other communications related to the PPA shall take place between PPA Buyer and PPA Seller pursuant to the terms of the PPA; provided that (i) title to Assigned Product will pass from PPA Seller to J. Aron upon delivery by PPA Seller of Assigned Product in accordance with the PPA; (ii) PPA Buyer is hereby authorized by J. Aron and shall act as J. Aron’s agent with regard to scheduling Assigned
Exhibit S - 4
Product; (iii) PPA Buyer will provide copies to J. Aron of any Notice (as defined in the PPA) of a Force Majeure Event or Event of Default or default, breach or other occurrence that, if not cured within the applicable grace period, could result in an Event of Default contemporaneously upon delivery thereof to PPA Seller and promptly after receipt thereof from PPA Seller; (iv) PPA Buyer will provide copies to J. Aron of annual forecasts of energy and monthly forecasts of Available Generating Capacity provided to PPA Buyer pursuant to Section 4.3 of the PPA; (v) PPA Buyer will provide copies to J. Aron of all invoices and supporting data provided to PPA Buyer pursuant to Section 8.1, provided that any payment adjustments or subsequent reconciliations occurring after the date that is 10 days prior to the payment due date for a monthly invoice, including pursuant to Section
8.2, will be resolved solely between PPA Buyer and PPA Seller and therefore PPA Buyer will not be obligated to deliver copies of any communications relating thereto to J. Aron; and (vi) PPA Buyer and PPA Seller, as applicable, will provide copies to J. Aron of any other information reasonably requested by J. Aron relating to Assigned Products. (e) PPA Seller acknowledges that (i) J. Aron intends to immediately transfer title to any Assigned Products received from PPA Seller through one or more intermediaries such that all Assigned Products will be re-delivered to PPA Buyer, and (ii) J. Aron has the right to purchase receivables due from PPA Buyer for any such Assigned Products. To the extent J. Aron purchases any such receivables due from PPA Buyer, J. Aron may transfer such receivables to PPA Seller and apply the face amount thereof as a reduction to any Delivered Product Payment Obligation.
(f) On or before the commencement of the Assignment Period, The Goldman Sachs Group (the “Guarantor”), Inc. will issue, in favor of PPA Seller, a guaranty of J. Aron’s payment obligations under this Assignment Agreement substantially in the form of Appendix 3 attached hereto (the “Guaranty”).
(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, PPA Buyer shall be entitled to retain for its own account all CAISO revenues associated with delivery of the Assigned Product to CAISO, including where PPA Buyer is acting as Scheduling Coordinator for the Facility (as defined in the PPA) and through scheduling of ISTs. Nothing in this Agreement modifies or amends any rights or obligations of PPA Buyer and PPA Seller under the PPA with respect to CAISO revenues and costs. As used in this clause (h), the following terms have the meanings specified below.
“CAISO” means California Independent System Operator or its successor. “CAISO Tariff” means CAISO’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved tariff, as modified, amended or supplemented from time to time. “Inter-SC Trade” or “IST” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “Scheduling Coordinator” means an entity certified by the CAISO as qualifying as a Scheduling Coordinator pursuant to the CAISO Tariff for the purposes of undertaking the functions specified in “Responsibilities of a Scheduling Coordinator,” of the CAISO. (h) The Assigned Prepay Quantity set forth in Appendix 2 relates to obligations by and between J. Aron and PPA Buyer and has no impact on PPA Seller’s rights and obligations under the PPA.
Exhibit S - 5
2. Assignment Early Termination.
(a) The Assignment Period may be terminated early upon the occurrence of any of the following:
(1) delivery of a written notice of termination by either J. Aron or PPA Buyer to each of the other Parties hereto;
(2) delivery of a written notice of termination by PPA Seller to each of J. Aron and PPA Buyer following J. Aron’s failure to pay when due any amounts owed to PPA Seller in respect of any Delivered Product Payment Obligation and such failure continues for one business day following receipt by J. Aron of written notice thereof; (3) delivery of a written notice by PPA Seller if any of the events described in Section 11.1(a)(iv) [Bankruptcy] of the PPA occurs with respect to J. Aron or Guarantor;
(4) delivery of a written notice by J. Aron if any of the events described in Section
11.1(a)(iv) [Bankruptcy] of the PPA occurs with respect to PPA Seller; or (5) if, at any time during the Assignment Period, either (x) the Guaranty terminates or is no longer in full force and effect or (y) the Guarantor fails to maintain a Credit Rating of (i) BBB- or higher by S&P or Fitch and (ii) Baa3 or higher by Moody’s. (b) The Assignment Period will end at the end of last delivery hour on the date specified in the termination notice provided pursuant to Section 2(a), which date shall not be earlier than the end of the last day of the calendar month in which such notice is delivered if termination is pursuant to clause (a)(1) or (a)(2) above. All Assigned Rights and Obligations shall revert from J. Aron to PPA Buyer upon the early termination of the Assignment Period, provided that (i) J. Aron shall remain responsible for the Delivered Product Payment Obligation with respect to any Assigned Product delivered to J. Aron prior to the end of the Assignment Period, and (ii) any legal restrictions on the effectiveness of such reversion (whether arising under bankruptcy law or otherwise) shall not affect the expiration or early termination of the Assignment Period.
(c) The Assignment Period will automatically terminate upon the expiration or early termination of the PPA. All Assigned Rights and Obligations shall revert from J. Aron to PPA Buyer upon the expiration of or early termination of the PPA, provided that (i) J. Aron shall remain responsible for the Delivered Product Payment Obligation with respect to any Assigned Product delivered to J. Aron prior to the end of the Assignment Period, and (ii) any legal restrictions on the effectiveness of such reversion (whether arising under bankruptcy law or otherwise) shall not affect the expiration or early termination of the Assignment Period.
(d) The Assignment Period will automatically terminate upon delivery by Guarantor of a notice of termination of the Guaranty. All Assigned Rights and Obligations shall revert from J. Aron to PPA Buyer upon the termination of the Assignment Period, provided that (i) J. Aron shall remain responsible for the Delivered Product Payment Obligation with
Exhibit S - 6
respect to any Assigned Product delivered to J. Aron prior to the end of the Assignment Period, and (ii) any legal restrictions on the effectiveness of such reversion (whether arising under bankruptcy law or otherwise) shall not affect the expiration or early termination of the Assignment Period.
(e) Nothing in Sections 2(b), 2(c) or 2(d) (without limitation) shall be construed to limit PPA Buyer’s obligations as described in Section 1(b).
3. Representations and Warranties.
(a) The PPA Buyer represents and warrants to J. Aron that (i) the PPA is in full force and effect; and (ii) all of its obligations under the PPA required to be performed on or before the Assignment Period start date have been fulfilled.
(b) The PPA Seller and the PPA Buyer represent and warrant, each to its own knowledge, to J. Aron that no event or circumstance exists (or would exist with the passage of time or the giving of notice) that would give either of them the right to terminate the PPA or suspend performance thereunder.
4. Notices. Any notice, demand, or request required or authorized by this Assignment Agreement to be given by one Party to another Party shall be delivered in accordance with Section 9.1 of the PPA and to the addresses of each of PPA Seller and PPA Buyer specified in the PPA. PPA Buyer agrees to notify J. Aron of any updates to such notice information, including any updates provided by PPA Seller to PPA Buyer. Notices to J. Aron shall be provided to the following address, as such address may be updated by J. Aron from time to time by notice to the other Parties:
J. Aron & Company LLC
200 West Street
New York, New York 10282-2198
Email: [email protected]
5. Conditions Precedent. This Agreement shall become effective upon the satisfaction of the following condition precedent: each party hereto shall have received duly executed counterparts of this Agreement.
6. Miscellaneous. Articles 12 (Limitation of Liability and Exclusion of Warranties) and 18 (Confidential Information) and Sections 13.2 (Buyer’s Representations and Warranties), 19.2 (Amendments), 19.4 (No Agency), 19.5 (Severability), 19.6 (Mobile-Sierra), 19.7 (Counterparts; Electronic Signatures), 19.9 (Binding Effect), 19.10 (No Recourse to Members of Buyer) and
19.12 (Further Assurances) of the PPA are incorporated by reference into this Agreement, mutatis mutandis, as if fully set forth herein and references to the PPA in such sections as so incorporated into this Agreement will be deemed to refer to this Agreement and J. Aron shall have the same rights and obligations with respect to this Agreement as PPA Buyer has under such sections. For avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement: (i) nothing in this Agreement shall modify any provision of the PPA; (ii) PPA Buyer remains obligated to perform all its obligations under the PPA notwithstanding the limited assignment under this Agreement (including without limitation any such obligations not timely performed by J. Aron under this Agreement) and any failure by J. Aron to make payments to PPA Seller when due under the PPA shall be a Buyer Event of Default under Section 11(a)(i) of the PPA if not cured within
Exhibit S - 7
the applicable cure period specified in Section 11(a)(i) of the PPA; (iii) this Agreement shall not purport to convey or otherwise allege any right of PPA Buyer or J. Aron to make any prepayment to PPA Seller under the PPA or to file or impose any lien on the Facility; and (iv) neither J. Aron nor PPA Buyer shall make any assignment of its rights or delegation of its obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of PPA Seller, which it may withhold in its sole discretion.
7. U.S. Resolution Stay Provisions. The Parties hereby confirm that they are adherents to the ISDA 2018 U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol (“ISDA U.S. Stay Protocol”), the terms of the ISDA U.S. Stay Protocol are incorporated into and form a part of this Agreement, and for the purposes of such incorporation, (i) J. Aron shall be deemed to be a Regulated Entity, (ii) each of PPA Buyer and PPA Seller shall be deemed to be an Adhering Party, and (iii) this Agreement shall be deemed a Protocol Covered Agreement. In the event of any inconsistencies between this Agreement and the ISDA U.S. Stay Protocol, the ISDA U.S. Stay Protocol will prevail.
8. Governing Law, Jurisdiction, Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a) Governing Law. This Assignment Agreement and the rights and duties of the parties under this Assignment Agreement will be governed by and construed, enforced and performed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without reference to any conflicts of laws provisions that would direct the application of another jurisdiction’s laws. (b) Jurisdiction. Each party submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts of the United States of America for the Northern District of California sitting in the city and county of San Francisco.
(c) Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury. Each party waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any suit, action or proceeding relating to this assignment agreement.
(d) PPA Seller Liability. All Parties agree that PPA Seller shall bear no liability to PPA Buyer or J. Aron or any other person for acting in accordance with this Agreement. [Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]
Exhibit S - 8
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Assignment Agreement effective as of the date first set forth above.
VICTORY PASS I, LLC
By:
Name:
Title:
CENTRAL COAST COMMUNITY ENERGY
By:
Name:
Title:
J. ARON & COMPANY LLC
By:
Name:
Title:
Execution and delivery of the foregoing Assignment Agreement is hereby approved.
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY CHOICE FINANCING AUTHORITY
By:
Name:
Title:
Exhibit S - 9
Appendix 1
Assigned Rights and Obligations
PPA: “PPA” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Power Purchase and Sale Agreement dated ________, 2023, by and between Central Coast Community Energy and Victory Pass I, LLC, as amended from time to time.
“Assignment Period” means the period beginning on [___________] and extending until [___________], provided that in no event shall the Assignment Period extend past the earlier of (i) the termination of the Assignment Period pursuant to Section 2 of the Assignment Agreement and (ii) the end of the Delivery Term under the PPA; provided that applicable provisions of this Agreement shall continue in effect after termination of the Assignment Period to the extent necessary to enforce or complete, duties, obligations or responsibilities of the Parties arising prior to the termination.
Assigned Product: “Assigned Products” includes all (i) Energy and (ii) Green Attributes (PCC1) produced by the Facility.
Further Information: PPA Seller shall continue to transfer the WREGIS Certificates associated with all Renewable Energy Credits corresponding to all PV Energy under the PPA to J. Aron pursuant to Section 4.10 of the PPA, provided that the transferee of such WREGIS Certificates may be changed from time to time in accordance with the written instructions of both J. Aron and Central Coast Community Energy upon twenty (20) Business Days’ notice, which change shall be effective as of the first day of the next calendar month, unless otherwise agreed. All Assigned Product delivered by PPA Seller to J. Aron shall be a sale made at wholesale, with J. Aron reselling all such Assigned Product.
Exhibit S - 10
Appendix 2
Assigned Prepay Quantity
[NOTE: To be set forth in a monthly volume schedule.]
Exhibit S - 11
Appendix 3
Form of GSG Guaranty
, 2023
NAME
ADDRESS
Attention:
Ladies and Gentlemen:
For value received, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (the “Guarantor”), a corporation duly organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, hereby unconditionally guarantees the prompt and complete payment when due, whether by acceleration or otherwise, of all obligations and liabilities, whether now in existence or hereafter arising, of J. Aron & Company LLC, a subsidiary of the Guarantor and a limited liability company duly organized under the laws of the State of New York (the “Company”), to COUNTERPARTY NAME (the “Counterparty”) arising out of or under the Limited Assignment Agreement among the Company, the Counterparty and Central Coast Community Energy dated as of [ ], 2023. This Guaranty is one of payment and not of collection.
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Guaranty and notice of any obligation or liability to which it may apply, and waives presentment, demand for payment, protest, notice of dishonor or non-payment of any such obligation or liability, suit or the taking of other action by Counterparty against, and any other notice to, the Company, the Guarantor or others.
Counterparty may at any time and from time to time without notice to or consent of the Guarantor and without impairing or releasing the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder:
(1) agree with the Company to make any change in the terms of any obligation or liability of the Company to Counterparty, (2) take or fail to take any action of any kind in respect of any security for any obligation or liability of the Company to Counterparty, (3) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company or others, or (4) compromise or subordinate any obligation or liability of the Company to Counterparty including any security therefor. Any other suretyship defenses are hereby waived by the Guarantor.
This Guaranty shall continue in full force and effect until the opening of business on the fifth business day after Counterparty receives written notice of termination from the Guarantor. It is understood and agreed, however, that notwithstanding any such termination this Guaranty shall continue in full force and effect with respect to the obligations and liabilities set forth above which shall have been incurred prior to such termination.
The Guarantor may not assign its rights nor delegate its obligations under this Guaranty, in whole or in part, without prior written consent of the Counterparty, and any purported
Exhibit S - 12
assignment or delegation absent such consent is void, except for (i) an assignment and delegation of all of the Guarantor’s rights and obligations hereunder in whatever form the Guarantor determines may be appropriate to a partnership, corporation, trust or other organization in whatever form that succeeds to all or substantially all of the Guarantor’s assets and business and that assumes such obligations by contract, operation of law or otherwise, and (ii) the Guarantor may transfer this Guaranty or any interest or obligation of the Guarantor in or under this Guaranty, or any property securing this Guaranty, to another entity as transferee as part of the resolution, restructuring or reorganization of the Guarantor upon or following the Guarantor becoming subject to a receivership, insolvency, liquidation, resolution or similar proceeding. Upon any such delegation and assumption or transfer of obligations, the Guarantor shall be relieved of and fully discharged from all obligations hereunder, whether such obligations arose before or after such delegation and assumption or transfer.
THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.
GUARANTOR AGREES TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF COURTS
LOCATED IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, OVER ANY DISPUTES ARISING UNDER OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY.
In the event the Guarantor becomes subject to a proceeding under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act or Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together, the "U.S. Special Resolution Regimes"), the transfer of this Guaranty, and any interest and obligation in or under, and any property securing, this Guaranty, from the Guarantor will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under such U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Guaranty, and any interest and obligation in or under this Guaranty, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event the Company or the Guarantor, or any of their affiliates, becomes subject to a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, default rights against the Company or the Guarantor with respect to this Guaranty are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such default rights could be exercised under such U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Guaranty was governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
Very truly yours,
THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC.
By:
Authorized Officer
Staff Report Item 3
TO: 3CE Operations Board of Directors
FROM: Robert M. Shaw, Chief Executive Officer
PREPARED BY: Dan Bertoldi, Manager of Energy Programs
SUBJECT: Receive update on FY 2023-24 Energy Programs
DATE: November 8, 2023
RECOMMENDATION:
This provides the Operations Board of Directors an update on FY 2023- 24 Energy Programs.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
Attached to this report are status updates on 3CE’s Energy Programs, which includes both Community Programs (Attachment 1) and Member Agency Programs (Attachment 2). These status updates highlight a variety of program performance metrics, including equipment incentivized, housing units electrified, dollars spent or reserved, and performance on equity (e.g., dollars going towards income qualified residents).
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report and update.
CONCLUSION:
3CE’s Energy Programs support local economic stimulation by providing the community and Member Agencies with funding and services to accelerate regional electrification as well as enhanced incentives for underserved customers to reduce GHG emissions throughout the 3CE service area.
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Update on 3CE Community Energy Programs
2. Update on 3CE Member Agency Services
FY 23-24 3CE Community Energy Programs
Provided in this report is an update on FY 23-24 Community Energy Programs implementation activities.
New Construction Electrification Program
On October 1, 2022, 3CE staff launched the New Construction Electrification Program (NCEP). This year’s iteration of this longstanding program provides affordable and farmworker housing developers, and homeowners building Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU), with incentives to build all-electric housing. In FY 23-24, 3CE is also offering incentives to single-family homeowners who lost their home as a result of a declared natural disaster, such as the 2022-2023 winter storms, to rebuild their homes to be all electric.
Housing projects must be built to all-electric standards for all energy utility needs including but not limited to water heating, space heating, and cooking appliances. Incentives will be provided on a per-unit basis and will be provided “downstream” to developers and homeowners upon successful completion of the project. In FY 23-24, 3CE budgeted a total of $1.1 million for NCEP.
To date, 3CE has received one application for an ADU project.
Electrify Your Ride Program
On October 1, 2023, 3CE staff launched the third iteration of the Electrify Your Ride (EYR) Program.
Building off last year’s program, EYR provides rebates to 3CE customers who purchase or lease an electric vehicle (EV). This program also incorporates rebates for Level 2 EV Chargers, as well as related home electrical upgrades - such as panel upgrades and wiring – to support “EV Readiness”. 3CE staff is working to develop a DC Fast Charger offering through the EYR program that will be made available later in FY 2023-24. The program also provides technical assistance for EV infrastructure buildout at multifamily and publicly accessible commercial customer sites. Technical assistance is being provided by Frontier Energy.
Residential, commercial/agricultural, and public agency customers are welcome to apply. Higher incentive amounts are available through this program for income-qualified customers, as well as for multifamily-unit buildings, to promote greater adoption of transportation electrification in disadvantaged and low-income communities. In FY 23-24, 3CE budgeted a total of $4 million for EYR.
To date, 3CE has received 145 applications and has approved over $200K in incentives.
Electric Bus Program
On October 1, 2023, 3CE launched the Electric Bus Program. The Electric Bus Program provides public schools/school districts, farmworker transit organizations, and public transit agencies enrolled in 3CE service with an opportunity to receive funding for the purchase of an all-electric bus.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until funds are fully reserved. Funds will be reserved for the awarded parties and paid to the applicant or the manufacturer prior to the delivery of the bus.
Funds can be distributed directly from 3CE to the manufacturer of the awardee’s choosing on behalf of the awardee. Applicants are encouraged to stack/leverage other incentive funds and no matching fund source restrictions apply. In FY 23-24, 3CE budgeted a total of $2 million for the Electric Bus Program.
To date, no applications have been received.
Agriculture Electrification Program
On October 1, 2023, 3CE launched the Agriculture (Ag) Electrification Program. This Program provides rebates to Ag customers for replacing fossil fuel powered equipment with electric equipment including farm tools, irrigation pumps, vehicles, and more. Enhanced incentives are available for small businesses and for businesses that experienced loss or damaged equipment as a result of a declared natural disaster (e.g., flooding). The program also provides technical assistance for EV infrastructure buildout at agricultural customer sites. Technical assistance is being provided by Frontier Energy. In FY 23-24, 3CE budgeted a total of $1.8 million for the Ag Electrification Program.
To date, 3CE has received one application to the Ag Electrification Program.
FY 23-24 Community Energy Programs Launch Schedule
Community Energy Programs Launch Date
New Construction Electrification Program October 1, 2023 Electrify Your Ride Program October 1, 2023
Electric Bus Program October 1, 2023
Ag Electrification Program October 1, 2023
Electrify Your Home Program Mid-Q1 (Anticipated)
Demand Response Program Q3 (Anticipated)
FY 23-24 3CE Member Agency Programs
Provided in this report is an update on FY 23-24 Member Agency program implementation activities.
Reach Code Program
On October 1, 2023, 3CE staff launched the Reach Code Program with program implementation support from a consultant, TRC Engineers. This program provides no-cost technical assistance to help Member Agencies adopt and implement reach codes and offers stakeholder outreach support. Support includes presenting to key stakeholders, answering technical questions, attending meetings, developing customized ordinances, reviewing staff presentations and reports, and developing implementation tools to help Member Agencies enforce their reach codes. In FY 23-24, 3CE budgeted a total of $100,000 for the Reach Code program.
To date, 3CE and TRC have engaged with one new Member Agency under the Reach Code Program.
Electrify Your Fleet Program
On October 1, 2023, 3CE staff launched the Electrify Your Ride (EYF) program. EYF provides rebates to Member Agencies after the purchase or lease of eligible vehicles as well as an option to reserve funds in advance of taking possession of an eligible vehicle. To reserve funds, applicants must provide proof of intent to acquire an eligible vehicle. Applications will be accepted until program funds are fully reserved or spent. A 3CE Member Agency applicant is eligible to reserve or be awarded up to $150,000 in EYF incentives in the program year. In FY 23-24, 3CE budgeted a total of $2.1 million for EYF.
To date, no applications have been received.
Charge Your Fleet Program
On October 1, 2023, 3CE staff launched the Charge Your Ride (CYF) program. CYF provides rebates after a completed purchase and installation of Level 2 or Level 3 (DC Fast Chargers) electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The Program will also offer an option for Member Agencies to reserve funds in advance of purchasing and installing charging infrastructure. To reserve funds, applicants must provide proof of intent to purchase and/or install equipment. Applications will be accepted until program funds are fully reserved or spent. A 3CE Member Agency applicant is eligible to reserve or be awarded up to $150,000 in CYF incentives during a single program year. In FY 23-24, 3CE budgeted a total of $1.2 million for CYF.
To date, no applications have been received.
Plan Your Fleet Program
On October 1, 2023, 3CE launched the Plan Your Fleet (PYF) Program with program implementation support from Optony. PYF provides no-cost planning, design, and engineering consultation to 3CE Member Agencies to accelerate fleet electrification and development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the 3CE service area. In FY 23-24, 3CE budgeted a total of $250,000 for PYF.
To date, 3CE and Optony have engaged with two new Member Agencies under the PYF program.
Staff Report Item 4
TO: 3CE Operations Board of Directors
FROM: Robert M. Shaw, Chief Executive Officer
PREPARED BY: Jerri Strickland, Policy Advisor
SUBJECT: Receive Regulatory Update
DATE: November 8, 2023
RECOMMENDATION:
Information item only.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
Please find attached 3CE’s Regulatory Update, providing the latest information on the following:
Resource Adequacy (RA)
Demand Flexibility
Load Management Standards (LMS) and Real-Time Pricing Bioenergy Market Adjustment Tariff (BioMAT)
Integrated Resource Planning (IRP)
Energy Resource Recovery Account (ERRA) Compliance
Energy Resources Recovery Account (ERRA) Forecast
CONCLUSION:
This is an informational item only.
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Regulatory Update
Regulatory Update
November 08, 2023
Table of Contents
REGULATORY UPDATE......................................................................................................................................................... 3 Resource Adequacy (RA)................................................................................................................................................. 3 Demand Flexibility............................................................................................................................................................. 3 Load Management Standards (LMS) and Real-Time Pricing............................................................................ 4 Bioenergy Market Adjustment Tariff (BioMAT).................................................................................................... 4 Integrated Resource Planning (IRP)........................................................................................................................... 5 Energy Resources Recovery Account (ERRA) Compliance ............................................................................... 5 Energy Resources Recovery Account (ERRA) Forecast...................................................................................... 6
REGULATORY UPDATE
Resource Adequacy (RA)
Issue
The Resource Adequacy (RA) program is the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) main grid reliability planning program. All load serving entities (LSEs) under the CPUC’s jurisdiction, including CCAs, must demonstrate purchase of a specified amount of eligible RA capacity each month and year to comply with RA program requirements. Increasing demand for a decreasing supply of eligible RA capacity over the past five years has resulted in sharply increased prices and unprecedented difficulty in procuring sufficient RA to achieve compliance. Over the past year, the CPUC has also sought to tie RA compliance to other, unrelated functions such as Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) expansion into new communities.
Status
On October 2
nd
, the CPUC issued a Draft Order instituting a successor rulemaking for the Resource Adequacy issues, including 2025 RA obligations. The Commission adopted the Order at the October 12 Voting Meeting. A prehearing conference is scheduled for November 17.
Next Steps
Comments on the newly adopted RA Rulemaking Order are due November 13 to determine the scope of the proceeding. Working with CalCCA, 3CE has provided input on what topics should be addressed within the rulemaking including a Residual Central Procurement Entity, RA imports, ensuring hourly transactability under the new Slice of Day framework, and system and flexible RA waivers. Other issues suggested by the commission include RA compliance and penalties, coordination with Integrated Resource Planning (IRP), Qualifying Capacity (QC) counting conventions for RA, and the measures by which installed capacity suppliers will be rated. The formal scope is scheduled to be issued by the Commission in December 2023.
Demand Flexibility
Issue
The CPUC opened this proceeding in 2022 to promote demand flexibility in California to improve grid reliability and reduce the cost of grid stress events. While this proceeding does not directly govern CCA ratemaking, 3CE is participating to ensure CCA ratemaking authority is preserved, monitor changes to IOU transmission and distribution rates, address data access issues between IOUs and CCAs that hinder time-dependent rate design, and help prevent cost shifts between bundled and unbundled customers.
This proceeding will also address the requirement set by AB 205 in 2022 that the CPUC design an income-graduated fixed charge (IGFC) for all residential electric utility customers by July 1, 2024. The goal of the IGFC is to reduce energy costs for low-income Californians by creating a monthly fixed charge that increases with income and allows the per-kWh volumetric charge to be lower. While the fixed charge will be on the delivery side of the bill and not directly impact 3CE billing, 3CE staff are following the proceeding to understand if changes to T&D billing will alter the percentage of customers’ overall electricity bill paid to 3CE.
Status
On August 15th, as part of the Demand Flexibility proceeding, the CPUC issued a staff proposal to expand AgFit, a dynamic pricing pilot for agricultural load currently operating through a partnership between
PG&E and CCA Valley Clean Energy. AgFit offers agricultural customers time-varying rates that incentivize the operation of irrigation pumps during off-peak hours, producing on-bill savings augmented by performance incentives. The CPUC also proposed expanding Southern California Edison’s (SCE) similar Dynamic Rate Pilot. The CPUC is currently seeking feedback on expanding AgFit and SCE’s Dynamic Rate Pilot to all CCAs.
Next Steps
3CE has filed several rounds of comments in support of expanding the AgFit Pilot. The comments have also advocated for equal partnership with PG&E in implementing the program and requested additional information on other expansion proposals under consideration.
The CPUC is scheduled to release a Proposed Decision in Q2 2024 establishing an IGFC rate structure and pathway for implementation in advance of the July 1, 2024, legislative deadline. Following the Decision each investor-owned utility will need to file an Advice Letter to implement new rates based on the approved rate structure. The earliest California electricity users could expect to see an IGFC on their bill is September 2026.
Load Management Standards (LMS) and Real-Time Pricing
Issue
The California Energy Commission (CEC) updated its Load Management Standard (LMS) regulations, which now require IOUs, municipal utilities, and CCAs with loads greater than 700 GWh/year to upload time-dependent rates to the CEC’s Market Informed Demand Automation Server (MIDAS) platform, to develop an LMS Compliance Plan by March 2024, and to present to their governing bodies at least one hourly marginal cost-based rate option (often referred to as a real-time rate) for their customers by 2025.
Status
3CE has fulfilled all MIDAS upload requests specified in the LMS ahead of the target date.
Next Steps
3CE continues to evaluate the potential benefits of time-dependent rate-setting for its customer base and load and will bring its recommendation to the board for consideration at a future meeting.
Additionally, staff are assembling the components of an LMS Compliance Plan in response to the Energy Commission’s directive.
Bioenergy Market Adjustment Tariff (BioMAT)
Issue
BioMAT is a procurement program opened in 2015 to encourage the development of small bioenergy projects in California. The program allows load serving entities (LSEs) under contract with these projects to recover their costs through the Public Purpose Programs (PPP) charge, which is collected from all California electricity users. With the passage of AB 843 in 2021, 3CE and other CCAs successfully lobbied legislators to include CCAs in the BioMAT program. AB 843 was the first time CCAs gained access to PPP funding, setting a valuable policy precedent. In accordance with AB 843, the CPUC opened a new proceeding in October 2022 to work through the details of CCA participation in the BioMAT program.