If the Facility is subject to a Planned Outage, Forced Facility Outage, Force Majeure Event and/or a Curtailment Period during the same time period as referenced in (a), then the calculation of Deemed Delivered Energy during such period shall not include any Facility Energy that was not generated due to such Planned Outage, Forced Facility Outage, Force Majeure Event or Curtailment Period.
“Buyer Curtailment Order” means the instruction from Buyer to Seller to reduce Facility Energy from the Facility by the amount, and for the period of time, set forth in such instruction for reasons unrelated to a Planned Outage, Forced Facility Outage, Force Majeure Event and/or Curtailment Order.
“Buyer Curtailment Period” means the period of time, as measured using relevant Settlement Intervals, during which Seller reduces Facility Energy from the Facility pursuant to or as a result of (a) a Buyer Bid Curtailment, (b) a Buyer Curtailment Order or (c) a Buyer Default, in each case that directly causes Seller to be unable to deliver Facility Energy to the Delivery Point; provided, the duration of any Buyer Curtailment Period shall be inclusive of the time required for the Facility to ramp down and ramp up.
“Buyer Default” means an Event of Default of Buyer.
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3 “Buyer’s Indemnified Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 18.2. “Buyer’s WREGIS Account” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(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 Facility Energy delivered to the Delivery Point.
“CAISO Charges Invoice” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit D. “CAISO Commercial Operation” has the meaning of “Commercial Operation” set forth in the CAISO Tariff.
“CAISO Costs” means the debits, costs, penalties and interest that are directly assigned by the CAISO to the CAISO Resource ID for the Facility for, or attributable to, Scheduling or deliveries from the Facility under this Agreement in each applicable Settlement Interval. “CAISO Grid” has the same meaning as “CAISO Controlled Grid” as defined in the CAISO Tariff.
“CAISO Resource ID” has the same meaning as “Resource ID” as defined in the CAISO Tariff.
“CAISO Revenues” means the credits and other payments incurred or received by Seller, as the Facility’s Scheduling Coordinator, as a result of Scheduling or Facility Energy from the Facility delivered by Seller to any CAISO administered market, including costs and revenues associated with CAISO dispatches, for each applicable Settlement Interval. “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 Damages” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit B. “CEC” means the California Energy Commission or its successor agency. “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
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4 Operation Date, that the CEC has pre-certified) that the Facility is an Eligible Renewable Energy Resource for purposes of the California Renewables Portfolio Standard and that all Facility 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.
“Change of Control” means, except in connection with public market transactions of equity interests or capital stock of Seller’s Ultimate Parent, any circumstance in which Ultimate Parent ceases to own, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediate entities, more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding equity interests in Seller; provided, 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) shall be excluded from the total outstanding equity interests in Seller. “COD Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit B. “Commercial Operation” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit B. “Commercial Operation Date” means the date Commercial Operation is achieved. “Commercial Operation Delay Damages” means an amount equal to (a) the Development Security amount required hereunder, divided by (b) ninety (90). “Compliance Actions” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.14(a). “Compliance Expenditure Cap” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.14. “Confidential Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 18.1. “Consent to Collateral Assignment” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.2. “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; provided, if the ITC or PTC rate for the Facility includes the Low-Income Community Bonus, then the Low-Income Community Bonus Contract Price shall apply as of the earliest date the Low-Income Community Bonus is in effect for Seller.
“Contract Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
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5 “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 successor entity. “CPUC Approval” means a final and non-appealable order, decision, or disposition of the CPUC, without conditions or modifications unacceptable to the Parties, or either of them, which approves this Agreement in its entirety, including payments to be made by Buyer, subject to CPUC review of Buyer’s administration of this Agreement. CPUC Approval will be deemed to have occurred on the date that a CPUC order, decision, or disposition containing such findings becomes final and non-appealable.
“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.
“Cure Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1(b)(iii). “Curtailed Energy” means the amount of energy expressed in MWh that the Facility would have produced and delivered to the Delivery Point, but that is not produced by the Facility and delivered to the Delivery Point during a Curtailment Period, which amount shall be equal to the Real-Time Forecast, expressed in MWh, applicable to the Curtailment Period, less the amount of Facility Energy delivered to the Delivery Point during the Curtailment Period; provided, if the Facility Energy is greater than the calculation of potential generation, then the Curtailed Energy shall be zero (0).
“Curtailment Order” means any of the following:
(a) CAISO orders, directs, alerts, or provides notice to a Party, including a CAISO Operating Order, to curtail deliveries of Facility Energy for the following reasons: (i) any System Emergency, or (ii) any warning of an anticipated System Emergency, or warning of an imminent condition or situation, which jeopardizes CAISO’s electric system integrity or the integrity of other systems to which CAISO is connected, or (iii) in response to an Energy oversupply or potential
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6 Energy oversupply, and Buyer or the SC for the Facility submitted a Self-Schedule for the MWhs curtailed corresponding to the MWhs in the VER forecast for the Facility during the relevant time period;
(b) a curtailment ordered by the Transmission Provider for reasons including, but not limited to, (i) any situation that affects normal function of the electric system including, but not limited to, any abnormal condition that requires action to prevent circumstances such as equipment damage, loss of load, or abnormal voltage conditions, or (ii) any warning, forecast or anticipation of conditions or situations that jeopardize the Transmission Provider’s electric system integrity or the integrity of other systems to which the Transmission Provider is connected; (c) a curtailment ordered by CAISO or the Transmission Provider due to a Transmission System Outage; or
(d) a curtailment in accordance with Seller’s obligations under its Interconnection Agreement with the Transmission Provider or distribution operator. “Curtailment Period” means the period of time, as measured using current Settlement Intervals, during which Seller reduces generation from the Facility pursuant to a Curtailment Order; provided, the Curtailment Period shall be inclusive of the time required for the Facility to ramp down and ramp up.
“Daily Delay Damages” means an amount equal to (a) the Development Security amount required hereunder, divided by (b) one hundred twenty (120). “Damage Payment” means the amount to be paid by the Defaulting Party to the Non-Defaulting Party after a Terminated Transaction occurring prior to the Commercial Operation Date, in a dollar amount as set forth in Section 11.3(a). “Day-Ahead Forecast” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(c). “Day-Ahead Market” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “Day-Ahead Schedule” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “Deemed Delivered Energy” means the amount of energy expressed in MWh that the Facility would have produced and delivered to the Delivery Point, but that is not produced by the Facility during a Buyer Curtailment Period, which amount shall be equal to the Real-Time Forecast, expressed in MWh, applicable to the Buyer Curtailment Period, as applicable, less the amount of Facility Energy delivered to the Delivery Point during the Buyer Curtailment Period, as applicable; provided, if the Facility Energy is greater than the calculation of potential generation, then the Deemed Delivered Energy shall be zero (0).
“Defaulting Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1(a). “Deficient Month” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(e). “Delay Damages” means Daily Delay Damages and Commercial Operation Delay Damages.
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7 “Delivery Point” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit A. “Delivery Term” shall mean the period of Contract Years set forth on the Cover Sheet beginning on the Commercial Operation Date, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
“Development Cure Period” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit B. “Development Security” means (i) cash, or (ii) a Letter of Credit in the amount set forth on the Cover Sheet.
“Disadvantaged Communities” or “DAC” has the meaning set forth in CPUC Decision 18-06-027 as communities that are defined in the CalEnviroScreen 4.0 (or any successor version) as among the top twenty-five percent (25%) of census tracts statewide, plus the census tracts in the highest five percent (5%) of CalEnviroScreen’s Pollution Burden that do not have an overall CalEnviroScreen score because of unreliable socioeconomic or health data. “Disclosing Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 18.2. “Early Termination Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2. “Effective Date” has the meaning set forth on the Preamble. “Electrical Losses” means all transmission or transformation losses between the Facility and the Delivery Point.
“Eligible Intermittent Resource Protocol” or “EIRP” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff or a successor CAISO program for intermittent resources. “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 electrical energy generated by the Facility, measured in kilowatt-hours or multiple units thereof.
“Energy Replacement Damages” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6. “Event of Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1. “Excess MWh” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(b). “Expected Commercial Operation Date” has the meaning set forth on the Cover Sheet. “Expected Construction Start Date” has the meaning set forth on the Cover Sheet. “Expected Energy” means the quantity of Energy that Seller expects to be able to deliver to Buyer from the Facility during each Contract Year in the quantity specified on the Cover Sheet. “Facility” means the solar photovoltaic generating facility described on the Cover Sheet
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8 and in Exhibit A, located at the Site and including mechanical equipment and associated facilities and equipment required to deliver Facility Energy to the Delivery Point. “Facility Energy” means the Energy during any Settlement Interval or Settlement Period, net of Electrical Losses and Station Use, as measured by the Facility Meter. “Facility Meter” means the CAISO approved revenue quality meter or meters (with a 0.3 accuracy class), 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 Facility Energy delivered to the Facility Metering Point for the purpose of invoicing in accordance with Section 8.1. For clarity, the Facility may contain multiple measurement devices that will make up the Facility Meter, and, unless otherwise indicated, references to the Facility Meter shall mean all such measurement devices and the aggregated data of all such measurement devices, taken together. “Facility Metering Point” means the location(s) of the Facility Meter(s) shown in Exhibit R. “FERC” means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or any successor government agency.
“Fifteen Minute Market” or “FMM” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “Financial Close” means Seller and/or one of its Affiliates has obtained debt and/or equity financing commitments from one or more Lenders sufficient to construct the Facility, including such financing commitments from Seller’s owner(s).
“Force Majeure Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1. “Forecasted Product” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(b). “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. “Forward Certificate Transfers” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(a). “Future Environmental Attributes” shall mean any and all Green Attributes that become recognized under applicable Law after the Effective Date (and not before the Effective Date), notwithstanding the last sentence of the definition of “Green Attributes” herein. Future Environmental Attributes do not include 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 quotations (either firm or indicative) of relevant rates, prices, yields,
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9 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. “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, “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 (including under the RPS regulations and/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)), 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; and (3) the reporting rights to such avoided emissions, such as Green Tag Reporting Rights. Green Attributes do not include (i) any energy, capacity, reliability or other power attributes from the Facility, (ii) 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, or (iii) emission reduction credits encumbered or used by the Facility for compliance with local, state, or federal operating and/or air quality permits. Green Attributes under the preceding definition are limited to Green Attributes that exist under applicable Law as of the Effective Date. “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. “Green Tags” means a unit accumulated on a MWh basis where one (1) represents the Green Attributes associated with one (1) MWh of Facility Energy. “Green-e Certified” means the Green Attributes provided to Buyer pursuant to this Agreement are certified under the Green-e Energy National Standard. “Green-e Energy National Standard” means the Green-e Renewable Energy Standard for Canada and the United States (formerly Green-e Energy National Standard) version 4.2,
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10 updated April 27, 2023, as may be further amended from time to time. “Guaranteed Capacity” means the generating capacity of the Facility, as measured in MW AC at the Delivery Point, that Seller commits to install pursuant to this Agreement, as set forth on the Cover Sheet.
“Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date” has the meaning set forth on the Cover Sheet, subject to extension pursuant to Exhibit B.
“Guaranteed Construction Start Date” has the meaning set forth on the Cover Sheet, subject to extension pursuant to Exhibit B.
“Guaranteed Energy Production” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6. “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.
“Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.1(a). “Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.1(a). “Initial Synchronization” means the commencement of Trial Operations (as defined in the CAISO Tariff).
“Installed Capacity” means the actual generating capacity of the Facility, as measured in MW AC at the Delivery Point, that achieves Commercial Operation, as evidenced by a certificate substantially in the form attached as Exhibit I hereto. “Inter-SC Trade” or “IST” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “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 Capacity Limit” means the maximum instantaneous amount of Energy that is permitted to be delivered to the Delivery Point under Seller’s Interconnection Agreement, in the amount of the Guaranteed Capacity.
“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. “IP Indemnity Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.1(b).
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11 “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 June 27, 2017, as amended from time to time, under which Buyer is organized as a Joint Powers Authority in accordance with the Joint Powers Act.
“kWh” means a kilowatt-hour measured in alternating current, unless expressly stated in terms of direct current.
“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, equity or tax equity financing or refinancing for or in connection with the development, construction, purchase, installation or operation of the Facility, whether that financing or refinancing takes the form of private debt (including back-leverage debt), equity (including tax equity), public debt or any other form (including financing or refinancing provided to a member or other direct or indirect owner of Seller), including any equity or tax equity investor directly or indirectly providing financing or refinancing for the Facility or purchasing equity ownership interests of Seller and/or its Affiliates, 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 and/or (iii) participating in a lease financing (including a sale leaseback or leveraged leasing structure) with respect to 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 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, 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. “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 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
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12 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 and Renewable Energy Incentives.
“Lost Output” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6. “Low-Income Community Bonus” has the meaning set forth in H.R. 5376 Section 13103. “Low-Income Community Bonus Contract Price” has the meaning set forth on the Cover Sheet.
“Material Permits” means all permits required for Seller to commence construction, as set forth on Exhibit P.
“Milestones” means the development activities for significant permitting, interconnection, financing and construction milestones set forth on the Cover Sheet. “Monthly Forecast” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(b). “Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or its successor. “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 Period or Settlement Interval, whether in the Day-Ahead Market or Real-Time Market, the LMP at the Facility’s Pnode is less than zero dollars ($0).
“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).
“Party” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Performance Measurement Period” means the prior 24-month period measured from the end of each Contract Year commencing in the second Contract Year. “Performance Security” means (i) cash or (ii) a Letter of Credit in the amount set forth on the Cover Sheet.
“Permitted Transferee” means (i) any Affiliate of Seller, or (ii) any entity that satisfies, or is controlled by another Person that satisfies, the following requirements:
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13 (a) A tangible net worth of not less than one hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) or a Credit Rating of at least BBB- from S&P, BBB- from Fitch, or Baa3 from Moody’s; and
(b) At least two (2) years of experience in the ownership and operations of power generation facilities similar to the Facility, or has retained a third-party with such experience to operate the Facility.
“Person” means any individual, sole proprietorship, corporation, limited liability company, limited or general partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, incorporated organization, institution, public benefit corporation, unincorporated organization, government entity or other entity.
“Planned Outage” means a period during which the Facility is either in whole or in part not capable of providing service due to planned maintenance that has been scheduled in advance in accordance with Section 4.5(a).
“Pnode” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff.
“Portfolio” means the single portfolio of electrical energy generating or other assets and entities, including the Facility (or the interests of Seller or Seller’s Affiliates or the interests of their respective direct or indirect parent companies), that is pledged as collateral security in connection with a Portfolio Financing.
“Portfolio Content Category” means PCC1, PCC2 or PCC3, as applicable. “Portfolio Content Category 1” or “PCC1” 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)(1), as may be amended from time to time or as further defined or supplemented by Law. “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. “Portfolio Financing” means any debt incurred by an Affiliate of Seller that is secured only by a Portfolio.
“Portfolio Financing Entity” means any Affiliate of Seller that incurs debt in connection with any Portfolio Financing.
“Product” has the meaning on the Cover Sheet.
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14 “Production Tax Credit” or “PTC” means the production tax credit for wind-powered electric generating facilities described in Section 45 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time.
“Progress Report” means a progress report including the items set forth in Exhibit E. “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 industry during the relevant time period with respect to grid-interconnected generating facilities 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, distributed-scale generating facilities in the Western United States. Prudent Operating Practice shall include compliance with applicable Laws, applicable reliability criteria, and the applicable 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.
“Real-Time Forecast” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(d). “Real-Time Market” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “Real-Time Price” means the Resource-Specific Settlement Interval LMP as defined in the CAISO Tariff. If there is more than one applicable Real-Time Price for the same period of time, Real-Time Price shall mean the price associated with the smallest time interval. “Receiving Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 18.2. “Reliability Network Upgrades” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “Remedial Action Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4. “Renewable Energy Credit” has the meaning set forth in California Public Utilities Code Section 399.12(h), as may be amended from time to time or as further defined or supplemented by Law.
“Renewable Energy Incentives” means: (a) all federal, state, or local Tax credits or other Tax benefits associated with the construction, ownership, or production of electricity from the Facility (including credits under Sections 38, 45, 46 and 48 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended); (b) any federal, state, or local grants, subsidies or other like benefits relating in any way to the Facility, including a cash grant available under Section 1603 of Division B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, in lieu of federal Tax credits or any similar or substitute payment available under subsequently enacted federal legislation; and (c) any other form of incentive relating in any way to the Facility that is not a Green Attribute or Future Environmental Attribute.
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15 “Replacement Energy” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit G. “Replacement Green Attributes” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit G. “Replacement Product” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit G. “Requested Confidential Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 18.2. “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, and/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.
“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 4.7(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. “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
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16 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, any such update to the Site that includes real property that was not originally contained within the Site boundaries described in Exhibit A shall be subject to Buyer’s approval of such updates in its sole discretion. “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.
“SP-15” means the Existing Zone Generation Trading Hub for Existing Zone region SP15 as set forth in the CAISO Tariff.
“Station Use” means the Energy (including Energy produced or discharged by the Facility) that is used within the Facility to power the lights, motors, temperature control systems, control systems and other electrical loads that are necessary for operation of the Facility. “Supply Chain Code” has the meaning in Exhibit S.
“System Emergency” means any condition that requires, as determined and declared by CAISO or the Transmission Provider, 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 and/or federal production tax credit, depreciation benefit, tax deduction and/or investment tax credit specific to the production of renewable energy and/or investments in renewable energy facilities. “Terminated Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2(a). “Termination Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.3(b). “Test Energy” means Facility Energy delivered (a) commencing on the later of (i) the first date that the CAISO informs Seller in writing that Seller may deliver Facility Energy to the CAISO and (ii) the first date that the Transmission Provider informs Seller in writing that Seller has conditional or temporary permission to operate in parallel with the CAISO Grid, and (b) ending upon the occurrence of the Commercial Operation Date.
“Test Energy Rate” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7. “Transmission Provider” means any entity that owns, operates and maintains transmission or distribution lines and associated facilities and/or has entitlements to use certain
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17 transmission or distribution lines and associated facilities for the purpose of transmitting or transporting the Facility Energy from the Delivery Point. “Transmission System” means the transmission facilities operated by the CAISO, now or hereafter in existence, which provide energy transmission service downstream from the Delivery Point.
“Transmission System Outage” means an outage on the Transmission System, other than a System Emergency, that is not caused by Seller’s actions or inactions and that prevents Buyer or the CAISO (as applicable) from receiving System Energy onto the Transmission System. “Ultimate Parent” means Prologis Inc., a Maryland Corporation. “Variable Energy Resource” or “VER” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “WECC” means the Western Electricity Coordinating Council or its successor. “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 4.7(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; (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 shall mean 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
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18 or this Agreement;
(f) a reference to a Person includes that Person’s successors and permitted assigns;
(g) the terms “include” and “including” mean “include or including (as applicable) without limitation” and any list of examples following such term shall in no way restrict or limit the generality of the word 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) the expression “and/or” when used as a conjunction shall connote “any or all of”;
(l) 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
(m) 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 (“Contract Term”); provided, 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
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19 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 shall remain in full force and effect for two (2) years following the termination of this Agreement, and all indemnity and audit rights shall remain in full force and effect for one (1) year following the termination of this Agreement. (c) Within one hundred eighty (180) days following Seller’s receipt of notification from Buyer that Seller was shortlisted by Buyer for negotiation of this Agreement, or such later timeframe as may be approved by the director of the CPUC Energy Division or his/her/their designee, Buyer will submit this Agreement to the CPUC via a Tier 2 advice letter seeking an order that, after issuance and the passage of time, would constitute a CPUC Approval (“Approval Application”). Seller agrees to cooperate with Buyer in preparing and filing the Approval Application and to actively support that application, as reasonably requested by Buyer.
If CPUC Approval of this Agreement is not obtained within one hundred eighty (180) days following the Effective Date, then either Party may terminate this Agreement upon written Notice to the other Party. Upon such termination, neither Party shall have any liability to the other Party, save and except for those obligations specified in Section 2.1(b), and Buyer shall promptly return to Seller any Development Security then held by Buyer, less any amounts drawn in accordance with this Agreement.
(d)
.
2.2 Conditions Precedent. The Delivery Term shall not commence until Seller completes to Buyer’s reasonable satisfaction each of the following conditions, which Buyer shall, if submitted by Seller within five (5) Business Days of the expected Commercial Operation Date, review and either accept or provide Notice stating in reasonably detail the basis for Buyer’s rejection thereof within five (5) Business Days of receipt thereof:
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20 (a) Seller shall have delivered to Buyer (i) a completion certificate from a Licensed Professional Engineer substantially in the form of Exhibit H and (ii) a certificate from a Licensed Professional Engineer substantially in the form of Exhibit I setting forth the Installed 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 Transmission Provider 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 for the operation of the Facility have been obtained and all 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 after the Commercial Operation Date); (f) Seller (with the reasonable participation of Buyer) shall have completed all applicable WREGIS registration requirements, including 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;
(h) Seller has taken all actions and executed all documents and instruments, required to authorize Buyer (or its designated agent) to act as Scheduling Coordinator under this Agreement, and Buyer (or its designated agent) is authorized to act as Scheduling Coordinator; (i) Seller has delivered to Buyer an officer’s certificate stating that Seller has not utilized any equipment or resources in connection with the construction, commissioning or testing of the Facility in violation of Section 2.3(b); and (j) Seller has paid Buyer for all amounts owing under this Agreement, if any, including Delay Damages.
2.3 Development; Construction; Progress Reports.
(a) 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 agree to regularly
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21 scheduled meetings between representatives of Buyer and Seller to review such reports and discuss Seller’s construction progress. The form of the Progress Report is set forth in Exhibit E. Seller shall also provide Buyer with any reasonably 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. Seller is solely responsible for the design and construction of the Facility, including the location of the Site, the Facility layout, and the selection and procurement of the equipment comprising the Facility.
(b) Seller shall ensure that all materials, products and components used in constructing, installing and operating the Facility throughout the Term shall be in compliance with the Supply Chain Code. Seller shall comprehensively implement due diligence procedures for its and its Affiliate’s suppliers, subcontractors and other participants in its supply chains, to comply with the Supply Chain Code. Seller shall notify Buyer as soon as it becomes aware of any breach, or potential breach, of its obligations under this Section 2.3(b). (c) Buyer shall have the right, at Buyer’s sole expense, to retain an independent auditor to audit Seller’s compliance with the requirements of Section 2.3(b).
2.4 Remedial Action Plan. If Seller misses a Milestone by more than thirty (30) days, except as the result of Force Majeure Event or Buyer Default, Seller shall submit to Buyer, within ten (10) Business Days of the end of such thirty (30)-day period following the Milestone completion date, 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 (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, 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 Low-Income Community Bonus. Seller shall make commercially reasonable efforts to qualify for and receive the Low-Income Community Bonus. Seller shall give Notice to Buyer within five (5) Business Days of Seller’sreceipt of notice from any Governmental Authority regarding the outcome of Seller’s request or application to receive such Low-Income Community Bonus. Buyer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide information reasonably requested by Seller in support of Seller’s obligations pursuant to this Section 2.5.
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 shall purchase all the Product produced by or associated with the Facility in accordance with Section 3.3, and Seller shall supply and deliver to Buyer all the Product produced by or associated with the Facility. At its sole discretion, Buyer may during the Delivery Term re-sell all or a portion of the Product; provided, no such resale shall
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22 relieve Buyer of any of its obligations under this Agreement. During the Delivery Term, Buyer shall have exclusive rights to offer, bid, or otherwise submit the Product, and/or any component thereof, from the Facility after the Delivery Point for resale in the market, and retain and receive any and all related revenues.
3.2 Sale of Green Attributes. During the Delivery Term, Seller shall sell and deliver to Buyer, and Buyer shall purchase from Seller, all Green Attributes attributable to the Facility Energy generated by the Facility. Upon request of Buyer, Seller shall use commercially reasonable effortsto (a) submit and receive approval from the Center for Resource Solutions (or any successor that administers the Green-e Certification process), for the Green-e tracking attestations and (b) support Buyer’s efforts to qualify the Green Attributes transferred by Seller as Green-e Certified.
3.3 Compensation.
(a) During the Delivery Term, Buyer shall pay Seller the Contract Price for each MWh of Facility Energy, plus Deemed Delivered Energy, if any, up to one hundred fifteen percent (115%) of the Expected Energy for each Contract Year. If at any point in any Contract Year, the amount of Facility Energy plus Deemed Delivered Energy exceeds one hundred fifteen percent (115%) of the Expected Energy for such Contract Year, the price to be paid for additional Facility Energy and/or Deemed Delivered Energy shall be $0.00/MWh. (b) If during any Settlement Interval, Seller delivers Facility Energy in excess of the product of the Guaranteed Capacity and the duration of the Settlement Interval, expressed in hours (“Excess MWh”), then the price applicable to all such Excess MWh in such Settlement Interval shall be zero dollars ($0), and if there is a Negative LMP during such Settlement Interval, Seller shall pay to Buyer an amount equal to the absolute value of the Negative LMP times such Excess MWh.
(c) During the Delivery Term, Seller shall receive no compensation from Buyer for Curtailed Energy or Facility Energy that is delivered in violation of a Curtailment Order. (d) Tax Credits. The Parties agree that the neither the Contract Price nor the Test Energy Rate are subject to adjustment or amendment if Seller fails to receive any Tax Credits, or if any Tax Credits expire, are repealed or otherwise cease to apply to Seller or the Facility in whole or in part, or Seller or its investors are unable to benefit from any Tax Credits. Seller shall bear all risks, financial and otherwise, throughout the Contract Term, associated with Seller’s or the Facility’s eligibility to receive Tax Credits or to qualify for accelerated depreciation for Seller’s accounting, reporting or Tax purposes. The obligations of the Parties hereunder, including those obligations set forth herein regarding the purchase and price for and Seller’s obligation to deliver Facility Energy and Product, shall be effective regardless of whether construction of the Facility (or any portion thereof) or the sale of Facility Energy is eligible for, or receives Tax Credits during the Contract Term.
3.4 Imbalance Energy. Buyer and Seller recognize that in any given Settlement Period the amount of Facility Energy delivered from the Facility may deviate from the amount of Scheduled Energy, and that to the extent there are such deviations, any costs, liabilities or revenues from such imbalances shall be solely for the account of Buyer, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement.
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23 3.5 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 requirements for any certification, registration, or reporting program relating to Renewable Energy Incentives.
3.6 Future Environmental Attributes.
(a) The Parties acknowledge and agree that as of the Effective Date, environmental attributes sold under this Agreement are restricted to Green Attributes; however, Future Environmental Attributes may be created by a Governmental Authority through Laws enacted after the Effective Date. Subject to the final sentence of this Section 3.6(a), and Section
3.6(b), in such event, Buyer shall bear all costs associated with the transfer, qualification, verification, registration and ongoing compliance for such Future Environmental Attributes, but there shall be no increase in the Contract Price. Upon Seller’s receipt of Notice from Buyer of Buyer’s intent to claim such Future Environmental Attributes, the Parties shall determine the necessary actions and additional costs associated with such Future Environmental Attributes.
Seller shall have no obligation to alter the Facility or the operation of the Facility unless the Parties have agreed on all necessary terms and conditions relating to such alteration or change in operation and Buyer has agreed to reimburse Seller for all costs, losses, and liabilities associated with such alteration or change in operation.
(b) If Buyer elects to receive Future Environmental Attributes pursuant to Section 3.6(a), the Parties agree to negotiate in good faith with respect to the development of further agreements and documentation necessary to effectuate the transfer of such Future Environmental Attributes, including agreement with respect to (i) appropriate transfer, delivery and risk of loss mechanisms, and (ii) appropriate allocation of any additional costs to Buyer, as set forth above; provided, the Parties acknowledge and agree that such terms are not intended to alter the other material terms of this Agreement.
3.7 Test Energy. No less than fourteen (14) days prior to the first day on which Test Energy is expected to be available from the Facility, Seller shall notify Buyer of the availability of the Test Energy. If and to the extent the Facility generates Test Energy, Seller shall sell and Buyer shall purchase from Seller all Test Energy and any associated Products from the Facility on an as-available basis for up to ninety (90) days from the first delivery of Test Energy. As compensation for such Test Energy and associated Product, Buyer shall pay Seller for each MWh of Test Energy an amount equal to (a) seventy percent (70%) of the Contract Price, and thereafter zero dollars ($0) per MWh (the “Test Energy Rate”). The conditions precedent in Section 2.2 are not applicable to the Parties’ obligations under this Section 3.7.
3.8 [Reserved].
3.9 [Reserved].
3.10 [Reserved].
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24 3.11 CEC Certification and Verification. Subject to Section 3.14, Seller shall take all necessary steps including making or supporting timely filings with the CEC to obtain and maintain CEC Certification and Verification for the Facility throughout the Delivery Term, including compliance with all applicable requirements for certified facilities set forth in the current version of the RPS Eligibility Guidebook (or its successor). Seller shall obtain CEC Precertification by the Commercial Operation Date. Within thirty (30) days after the Commercial Operation Date, Seller shall apply with the CEC for final CEC Certification and Verification. Within one hundred eighty (180) days after the Commercial Operation Date, Seller shall obtain and maintain throughout the remainder of the Delivery Term the final CEC Certification and Verification. Seller must promptly notify Buyer and the CEC of any changes to the information included in Seller’s application for CEC Certification and Verification for the Facility.
3.12 Eligibility. 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. [STC 6]
3.13 California Renewables Portfolio Standard. Subject to Section 3.14, Seller shall also take all other actions necessary to ensure that the Energy produced from the Facility is tracked for purposes of satisfying the California Renewables Portfolio Standard requirements, as may be amended or supplemented by the CPUC or CEC from time to time.
3.14 Compliance Expenditure Cap. If a change in Law occurring after the Effective Date has increased Seller’s cost to comply with Seller’s obligations under this Agreement that are made subject to this Section 3.14, including with respect to obtaining, maintaining, conveying or effectuating Buyer’s use of Green Attributes, then the Parties agree that the maximum aggregate amount of costs and expenses Seller shall be required to bear during the Delivery Term to comply with all of such obligations shall be capped at Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) per MW of Guaranteed Capacity (“Compliance Expenditure Cap”).
(a) Any actions required for Seller to comply with its obligations set forth in the first paragraph above, the cost of which will be included in the Compliance Expenditure Cap, shall be referred to collectively as the “Compliance Actions.” (b) If Seller reasonably anticipates the need to incur out-of-pocket expenses in excess of the Compliance Expenditure Cap in order to take any Compliance Action Seller shall provide Notice to Buyer of such anticipated out-of-pocket expenses. (c) 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 coststhat 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. If Buyer does not respond to a Notice given by
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25 Seller under this Section 3.14 within sixty (60) days after Buyer’s receipt of same, Buyer shall be deemed to have waived its rights to require Seller to take the Compliance Actions that are the subject of the Notice, and Seller shall have no further obligation to take, and no liability for any failure to take, such Compliance Actions until such time as Buyer agrees to pay such Accepted Compliance Costs.
(d) 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.
3.15 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 shall discuss in good faith potential reconfiguration of the Facility or Interconnection Facilities; provided, 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 as set forth in a written agreement.
ARTICLE 4
OBLIGATIONS AND DELIVERIES
4.1 Delivery.
(a) Energy. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, commencing on the Commercial Operation Date 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 shall 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 any operation and maintenance charges imposed 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 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) in accordance with Exhibit D. (b) Green Attributes. All Green Attributes associated with Test Energy and the Facility Energy during the Delivery Term are exclusively dedicated to and vested in Buyer. Seller represents and warrants that Seller holds the rights to all Green Attributes from the Facility, 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.
(c) Energy Products. If, at any time during the Contract Term, Buyer requests Seller to provide any new or different Energy related products that may become recognized from time to time in the CAISO market (including, for example, reactive power), and Seller is able to provide any such product from the Facility without material adverse effect (including for avoidance of doubt any obligation to incur more than de minimis costs or liabilities) on Seller or the Facility or Seller’s obligations or liabilities under this Agreement, then Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to coordinate with Buyer to provide such product. If provision of
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26 any such new product would have a material adverse effect (including for avoidance of doubt any obligation to incur more than de minimis costs or liabilities) on Seller or the Facility or Seller’s obligations or liabilities under this Agreement, then Seller shall be obligated to provide such product only if the Parties first execute an amendment to this Agreement with respect to such product that is mutually acceptable to both Parties.
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 shall be 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 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. Seller shall use commercially reasonable effortsto forecast accurately and to transmit such information in a format reasonably acceptable to Buyer (or Buyer’s designee).
(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) the beginning of each calendar year for every subsequent Contract Year during the Delivery Term, Seller shall provide to Buyer and Buyer’s SC (if applicable) a non-binding forecast of each month’s average-day expected Facility 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. 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 Buyer’s SC (if applicable) a non-binding forecast of (i) the available capacity of the Facility, and (ii) the hourly Facility Energy for each day of the following month (items (i)-(ii) collectively referred to as the “Forecasted Product”) in a form substantially similar to Exhibit F-2 (the “Monthly Forecast”). (c) Day-Ahead Forecast. By 5:30 AM Pacific Prevailing 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 and Buyer’s SC (if applicable) with a non-binding forecast of the hourly expected Forecasted Product, in each case, for each hour of the immediately succeeding day (the “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 hour, Seller’s best estimate of the hourly expected Forecasted Product. If Seller fails to provide Buyer with a Day-Ahead Forecast as required herein for any period, then for such unscheduled delivery period only Buyer shall rely on any Real-Time Forecast or the Monthly Forecast or Buyer’s best estimate based on information reasonably available to Buyer. (d) Real-Time Forecast. During the Delivery Term, Seller shall notify Buyer of any changes from the Day-Ahead Forecast of one (1) MW / one (1) MWh or more in the hourly expected Forecasted Product (the “Real-Time Forecast”), in each case, whether due to Forced
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27 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 Forecasted Product changes by at least one (1) MW / one (1) MWh as of a time that isless than one (1) hour prior to the Real-Time Market deadline, but before such deadline, then Seller must notify Buyer as soon as reasonably possible.
Such Real-Time Forecasts of Facility Energy shall be provided by an Approved Forecast Vendor and shall contain information regarding the beginning date and time of the event resulting in the change in any Forecasted Product, as applicable, the expected end date and time of such event, and any other information required by the CAISO or reasonably requested by Buyer. With respect to any Forced Facility Outage, Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to notify Buyer of such outage within ten (10) minutes of the commencement of the Forced Facility Outage. Seller shall inform Buyer of any developments that are reasonably likely to affect either the duration of such outage or the availability of the Facility during or after the end of such outage. Such Real-Time Forecasts shall be communicated in a method acceptable to Buyer, provided that Buyer specifies the method no later than sixty (60) days prior to the effective date of such requirement.
In the event Buyer fails to provide Notice of an acceptable method for communications under this Section 4.3(d), then Seller shall send such communications by telephone and e-mail to Buyer. (e) Forced Facility Outages. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Seller shall promptly notify Buyer’s SC 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 Forced Facility Outage. (f) Forecasting Penalties. In the event Seller does not in a given hour provide the Real-Time forecast required in Section 4.3(d), and Buyer incurs a loss or penalty resulting from its scheduling activities with respect to Facility Energy during such hour, Seller shall be responsible for a “Forecasting Penalty” for each such hour equal to the product of (A) the absolute difference (if any) between (i) the expected Facility Energy for such hour set forth in the Monthly Forecast, and (ii) the actual Facility Energy, multiplied by (B) the absolute value of the Real-Time Price in such hour. Settlement of Forecasting Penalties shall occur as set forth in Article 8 of this Agreement.
(g) CAISO Tariff Requirements. Seller shall comply with all applicable obligations for Variable Energy Resources under the CAISO Tariff and the Eligible Intermittent Resource Protocol, including providing 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 Facility Energy produced by the Facility, by the amount and for the period set forth in any Curtailment Order or Buyer Curtailment Order, or notice received from CAISO in respect of a Buyer Bid Curtailment. (b) Buyer Curtailment. Buyer shall have the right to order Seller to curtail deliveries of Facility Energy through Buyer Curtailment Orders; provided, Buyer shall compensate Seller for Deemed Delivered Energy in accordance with Section 3.3.
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28 (c) Failure to Comply. If Seller failsto 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 excess of 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, (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 Operating Instruction Communications.
Seller shall acquire, install, and maintain such facilities, communications links and other equipment, and implement such protocols and practices, as necessary to respond to and follow operating instructions from the CAISO and Buyer’s SC, including an electronic signal conveying real time and intra-day instructions, to operate the Facility as directed by Buyer from time to time in accordance with this Agreement and/or a Governmental Authority, including to implement a Buyer Curtailment Order, Buyer Bid Curtailment or Curtailment Order in accordance with the methodologies applicable to the Facility and used to transmit such instructions. If at any time during the Delivery Term Seller’s facilities, communications links or other equipment, protocols or practices are not in compliance with methodologies applicable to the Facility and directed by Buyer, Seller shall take the steps necessary to become compliant as soon as commercially 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 applicable methodologies. 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.
4.5 Reduction in Energy Delivery Obligation. Without limiting Section 3.1 or Exhibit G:
(a) Facility Maintenance.
(i) Seller shall provide to Buyer written schedules for Planned Outages for each Contract Year no later than thirty (30) days prior to the first day of the applicable Contract Year. Buyer may provide comments no later than ten (10) days after receiving any such schedule, and Seller shall in good faith take into account any such comments. Seller shall deliver to Buyer the final updated schedule of Planned Outages no later than ten (10) days after receiving Buyer’s comments. Seller shall be permitted to reduce deliveries of Product during any period of such Planned Outages.
(ii) If reasonably required in accordance with Prudent Operating Practices, Seller may perform maintenance at a different time than maintenance scheduled pursuant to Section 4.5(a)(i). Seller shall limit maintenance repairs performed pursuant to this Section 4.5(a) to periods when Buyer does not reasonably believe the Facility will be dispatched.
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29 (iii) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no Planned Outages of the Facility shall be scheduled or planned from each June 1 through October 31 during the Delivery Term, unless approved by Buyer in writing in its sole discretion. In the event that Seller has a previously Planned Outage that becomes coincident with a System Emergency, Seller shall make all reasonable efforts to reschedule such Planned Outage. (b) Forced Facility Outage. Seller shall be permitted to reduce deliveries of Product during any Forced Facility Outage. Seller shall provide Buyer with Notice and expected duration (if known) of any Forced Facility Outage.
(c) System Emergencies and other Interconnection Events. Seller shall be permitted to reduce deliveries of Product during any period of System Emergency, Transmission System Outage, Buyer Curtailment Period, or upon Notice of a Curtailment Order pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Interconnection Agreement or applicable tariff. (d) Force Majeure Event. Subject to Article 10, Seller shall be permitted to reduce deliveries of Product during any Force Majeure Event. (e) Health and Safety. Seller shall be permitted to reduce deliveries of Product as necessary to maintain health and safety pursuant to Section 6.2.
4.6 Guaranteed Energy Production. During each Performance Measurement Period, Seller shall deliver to Buyer an amount of Facility Energy, not including any Excess MWh, equal to no less than the Guaranteed Energy Production (as defined below). “Guaranteed Energy Production” means an amount of Facility Energy, as measured in MWh, equal to one hundred sixty percent (160%) of the average annual Expected Energy for the two (2) Contract Years constituting such Performance Measurement Period. Seller shall be excused from achieving the Guaranteed Energy Production during any Performance Measurement Period only to the extent of any Buyer Default or other Buyer failure to perform that directly prevents Seller from being able to deliver Facility Energy to the Delivery Point. For purposes of determining whether Seller has achieved the Guaranteed Energy Production, Seller shall be deemed to have delivered to Buyer the sum of: (a) any Deemed Delivered Energy plus (b) 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, Transmission System Outage, or Curtailment Periods (“Lost Output”). 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 (“Energy Replacement Damages”); provided, Seller may, as an alternative, provide Replacement Product (as defined in Exhibit G) delivered to Buyer at SP 15 EZ Gen Hub under a Day-Ahead Schedule as an IST within ninety (90) days after the conclusion of the applicable Performance Measurement Period in the event Seller fails to deliver the Guaranteed Energy Production during such Contract Years (i) upon a schedule reasonably acceptable to Buyer, (ii) provided that such deliveries do not impose additional costs upon Buyer for which Seller refuses to provide reimbursement, and (iii) not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the Expected Energy for the previous Contract Year.
4.7 WREGIS. Seller shall, at its sole expense, but subject to Section 3.14, 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 Facility Energy are issued and
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30 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 all 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 4.7(g), provided that Seller fulfills its obligations under Sections
4.7(a) through (g) below. In addition:
(a) Prior to the Commercial Operation Date, 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 WREGIS Certificates will only be created for whole MWh amounts of Facility 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 Facility 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 4.7. 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 Facility Energy for the same calendar month (“Deficient Month”) caused by an error or omission of Seller. If any WREGIS Certificate Deficit is caused by, or the result of any action or inaction of, Seller, then the amount of Facility Energy in the Deficient Month shall be reduced by three times (3x) 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, 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) 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 reimburse Buyer. Without limiting Seller’s
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31 obligations under this Section 4.7, 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) If WREGIS changes the WREGIS Operating Rules after the Effective Date or applies the WREGIS Operating Rules in a manner inconsistent with this Section 4.7 after the Effective Date, the Parties promptly shall modify this Section 4.7 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 Facility Energy in the same calendar month. (g) Seller warrants that all necessary steps to allow the Renewable Energy Credits transferred to Buyer to be tracked in WREGIS will be taken prior to the first delivery under this Agreement. [STC REC-2, Non-modifiable. D.11-01-025] (h) 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 CPUC Decision 08-08-028, and as may be modified by subsequent decision of the CPUC 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. [STC REC-1, Non-modifiable. D.11-01- 025]
ARTICLE 5
TAXES
5.1 Allocation of Taxes and Charges. Seller shall pay or cause to be paid all Taxes on or with respect to the Facility or on or with respect to the sale and making available of Product to Buyer, that are imposed on Product prior to its delivery to Buyer at the time and place contemplated under this Agreement. Buyer shall pay or cause to be paid all Taxes on or with respect to the delivery to and purchase by Buyer of Product that are imposed on Product at and after its delivery to Buyer at the time and place contemplated under this Agreement (other than withholding or other Taxes imposed on Seller’s income, revenue, receipts or employees). If a Party is required to remit or pay Taxes that are the other Party’s responsibility hereunder, such Party shall promptly pay the Taxes due and then seek and receive reimbursement from the other for such Taxes. In the event any sale of Product hereunder is exempt from or not subject to any particular Tax, Buyer shall provide Seller with all necessary documentation to evidence such exemption or exclusion within thirty (30) days after the date Buyer makes such claim. Buyer shall indemnify, defend, and hold Seller harmless from any liability with respect to Taxes for which Buyer is responsible hereunder and from which Buyer claims it is exempt.
5.2 Cooperation. Each Party shall use reasonable efforts to implement the provisions of and administer this Agreement in accordance with the intent of the Partiesto minimize all Taxes, so long as no Party is materially adversely affected by such efforts. The Parties shall cooperate to minimize Tax exposure; provided, neither Party shall be obligated to incur any financial or operational burden to reduce Taxes for which the other Party is responsible hereunder without receiving due compensation therefor from the other Party. All Product delivered by Seller to Buyer
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32 hereunder shall be a sale made at wholesale, with Buyer reselling such Product.
ARTICLE 6
MAINTENANCE OF THE FACILITY
6.1 Maintenance of the Facility. Seller shall, as between Seller and Buyer, be solely responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Facility and the delivery of the Product and 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 Buyer’s emergency contact identified on Exhibit N Notice of such condition. Such action may include disconnecting and removing all or a portion of the Facility, or suspending the supply of Facility Energy to the Delivery Point.
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 and/or co-tenancy agreements to be entered into among Seller, the Transmission Provider, Seller’s Affiliates, and/or third parties pursuant to which certain Interconnection Facilities may be subject to joint ownership and shared maintenance and operation arrangements; provided, such agreements shall (i) permit Seller to perform or satisfy, and shall not purport to limit, its obligations hereunder, including by reserving interconnection capacity under the Interconnection Agreements equal to the Interconnection Capacity Limit for Buyer’s sole use, (ii) provide for separate metering of the Facility, (iii) provide that any other generating or energy storage facilities not included in the Facility but using Shared Facilities shall not be included within the Facility’s CAISO Resource ID, and (iv) provide that in the event of any curtailment that is not specific to one or more CAISO Resources IDs of output from generating or energy storage facilities using the Shared Facilities shall not be allocated to the Facility more than its pro rata portion of the total capacity of all generating or energy storage facilities using the Shared Facilities. Seller shall not, and shall not permit any affiliate to, allocate to other parties a share of the total interconnection capacity under the Interconnection Agreements in excess of an amount equal to the total interconnection capacity under the Interconnection Agreements minus the Interconnection Capacity Limit.
ARTICLE 7
METERING
7.1 Metering. Seller shall measure the amount of Facility Energy using the Facility Meter. Seller shall separately meter all Station Use. The Facility Meter shall be operated pursuant to applicable CAISO-approved calculation methodologies and maintained as Seller’s cost. Subject to meeting any applicable CAISO requirements, the Facility Meter shall be programmed to adjust for all losses from the Facility Meter to the Delivery Point in a manner subject to Buyer’s prior written approval, not to be unreasonably withheld. Metering shall be consistent with the Metering Diagram set forth as Exhibit R. The Facility Meter shall be kept under seal, such seals to be broken only when the Facility Meter is to be tested, adjusted, modified or relocated. In the event Seller
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33 breaks a seal, Seller shall notify Buyer as soon as practicable. In addition, Seller hereby agrees to provide all Facility 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 the Scheduling Coordinator, shall cooperate to allow both Parties to retrieve the Facility Meter reads from the CAISO Market Results Interface-Settlements (MRI-S) web and/or directly from the Facility Meter.
7.2 Meter Verification. Annually, if Seller has reason to believe there may be a meter malfunction, or more frequently than annually 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. If a meter is inaccurate by more than one percent (1%) and it is not known when the meter inaccuracy commenced (if such evidence exists, then such date will be used to adjust prior invoices), then the invoices covering the period of time since the last meter test shall be adjusted for the amount of the inaccuracy on the assumption that the inaccuracy persisted during one-half of such period; provided, that (a) such period may not exceed twelve (12) months and (b) such adjustments are accepted by CAISO and WREGIS.
ARTICLE 8
INVOICING AND PAYMENT; CREDIT
8.1 Invoicing. Seller shall make good faith efforts to deliver an invoice to Buyer for Product no later than the tenth (10th) day of the subsequent month for Product delivered during the previous calendar month. Each invoice shall: (a) reflect 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 Product in MWh delivered during the prior billing period as set forth in CAISO T+12 settlement statements, the amount of Product in MWh produced by the Facility as read by the CAISO Approved Meter, deviations between the Scheduled Energy and the Facility Energy, and the applicable LMP prices at the Delivery Point for each Settlement Interval, the Contract Price applicable to such Product, the calculation of Deemed Delivered Energy, Adjusted Energy Production, and the amount of Replacement Product delivered during the preceding month; and (b) be in a format reasonably specified by Buyer, covering the Product provided in the preceding month determined in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement. Buyer shall provide Seller with reasonable access to any records, including invoices or settlement data from CAISO, necessary to verify the accuracy of any invoices.
8.2 Payment. Buyer shall make payment to Seller for Product (and any other amounts due) by wire transfer or ACH payment to the bank account provided on each monthly invoice.
Buyer shall pay undisputed invoice amounts by the later of (a) ten (10) Business Days after Buyer’s receipt of the invoice from Seller, and (b) the thirtieth (30th) day of the month after the operational month for which such invoice was rendered; provided, 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
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34 calculated based on an annual Interest Rate equal to 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 fifteen (15) 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, or there is determined to have been a meter inaccuracy sufficient to require a payment adjustment. If the required adjustment is in favor of Buyer, Buyer’s 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 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
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35 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 the Development Security to Buyer within thirty (30) days after the Effective Date. Seller shall maintain the Development Security in full force and effect. Upon the earlier of (i) Seller’s delivery of the Performance Security, or (ii) 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.
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.
Seller shall maintain the Performance Security in full force and effect, and Seller shall within ten (10) Business Days after any draw thereon replenish the Performance Security in the event Buyer collects or draws down any portion of the Performance Security for any reason permitted under this Agreement other than to satisfy a Termination Payment, until the following have occurred: (a) the Delivery Term has expired or terminated early; and (b) all payment obligations of Seller 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.
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 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
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36 (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 aftersuch application), subject to Buyer’s obligation to return any surplus proceeds remaining after such obligations are satisfied in full.
ARTICLE 9
NOTICES
9.1 Addresses for the Delivery of Notices. Any Notice required, permitted, or contemplated hereunder shall be in writing, shall be addressed to the Party to be notified at the address set forth in 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) at the time indicated by the time stamp upon delivery and, if after 5 pm, on the next Business Day; 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 commercially 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
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37 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 asjustification 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; 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 or changes in Law that render a Party’s performance of this Agreement at the Contract Price unprofitable or otherwise uneconomic (including an increase in component or compliance costs for any reason, including foreign or domestic tariffs, Buyer’s ability to buy Product 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 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, including the lack of wind, sun or other fuel source of an inherently intermittent nature, except to the extent such inability is caused by a Force Majeure Event; (vi) a strike, work stoppage or labor dispute limited only to any one or more of Seller, Seller’s Affiliates, Seller’s contractors, their subcontractors thereof or any other third party employed by Seller to work on the Facility; (vii) any equipment failure except if such equipment failure is caused by a Force Majeure Event; or (viii) any action or inaction by any third party, including Transmission Provider, that delays or prevents the approval, construction or placement in service of any Interconnection Facilities or Network Upgrades, except to the extent caused by a Force Majeure Event.
10.2 No Liability If a Force Majeure Event Occurs. Except as provided in Section 4 of Exhibit B, 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 with due speed and diligence. Nothing herein shall be construed as permitting that Party to continue to fail to perform after said cause has been removed. The obligation to use due speed and diligence shall not be interpreted to require resolution of labor disputes by acceding to demands of the opposition when such course is inadvisable in the discretion of the Party having such difficulty. 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. The occurrence and continuation of a Force Majeure Event shall not suspend or excuse the obligation of a Party to make any payments due hereunder.
10.3 Notice. In order to claim a Force Majeure Event, the claiming Party, within fourteen (14) days after the Party becomes aware, or should have become aware, of the initial occurrence of the claimed Force Majeure Event, must give the other Party Notice describing the particulars of the occurrence in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit Q, (b) provide timely evidence
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38 reasonably sufficient to establish that the occurrence constitutes Force Majeure as defined in this Agreement, and (c) 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 affected Party.
10.4 Termination Following Force Majeure Event or Development Cure Period. (a) If the cumulative extensions granted under the Development Cure Period (other than the extensions granted pursuant to clause 4(d) in Exhibit B) equal or exceed one hundred eighty (180) days, and Seller has demonstrated to Buyer’s reasonable satisfaction that such delays did not result from Seller’s actions or failure to take commercially reasonable actions, then Seller may terminate this Agreement upon written Notice to Buyer. Upon such termination, neither Party shall have any liability to the other Party, save and except for those obligations specified in Section 2.1, and Buyer shall promptly return to Seller any Development Security then held by Buyer, less any amounts drawn in accordance with this Agreement. (b) If a Force Majeure Event has occurred after the Commercial Operation Date that has caused either Party to be wholly or partially unable to perform its obligations hereunder in any material respect, and the impacted Party has claimed and received relief from performance of its obligations for a consecutive twelve (12) month period, then the non-claiming Party may terminate this Agreement upon Notice to the other Party. Upon any such termination, neither Party shall have any liability to the other Party, save and except for those obligations specified in Section 2.1(b), and Buyer shall promptly return to Seller any Performance Security then held by Buyer, less any amounts drawn in accordance with this Agreement.
ARTICLE 11
DEFAULTS; REMEDIES; TERMINATION
11.1 Events of Default. An “Event of Default” shall mean, (a) with respect to a Party (the “Defaulting Party”) that is subject to the Event of Default the occurrence of any of the following:
(i) the failure by such Party to make, when due, any payment required pursuant to this Agreement and such failure is not remedied within ten (10) Business Days after Notice thereof;
(ii) any representation or warranty made by such Party herein is false or misleading in any material respect when made or when deemed made or repeated, and such default is not remedied within thirty (30) days after Notice thereof (or such longer additional period, not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days, if the Defaulting Party is unable to remedy such default within such initial thirty (30)-day period despite exercising commercially reasonable efforts); (iii) the failure by such Party to perform any material covenant or obligation set forth in this Agreement (except to the extent constituting a separate Event of Default set forth in this Section 11.1; and except for failuresrelated to the Adjusted Energy Production that do not trigger the provisions of Section 11.1(b)(iii), the exclusive remedies for which are set forth in Section 4.7) and such failure is not remedied within thirty (30) days after Notice thereof (or such longer additional period, not to exceed an additional ninety (90) days, if the Defaulting Party is unable to remedy such default within such initial thirty (30) days period despite exercising
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39 commercially reasonable efforts);
(iv) such Party becomes Bankrupt;
(v) such Party assigns this Agreement or any of its rights hereunder other than in compliance with Article 14, if applicable; or (vi) such Party consolidates or amalgamates with, or merges with or into, or transfers all or substantially all of its assets to, another entity and, at the time of such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer, the resulting, surviving or transferee entity fails to assume all the obligations of such Party under this Agreement to which it or its predecessor was a party by operation of Law or pursuant to an agreement reasonably satisfactory to the other Party. (b) with respect to Seller as the Defaulting Party, the occurrence of any of the following:
(i) if at any time, Seller delivers or attempts to deliver Energy to the Delivery Point for sale under this Agreement that was not generated by the Facility, except for Replacement Product;
(ii) the failure by Seller to (A) achieve Construction Start on or before the Guaranteed Construction Start Date, as such date may be extended by Seller’s payment of Daily Delay Damages pursuant to Section 1(b) of Exhibit B and/or a Development Cure Period pursuant to Section 4 of Exhibit B, or (B) achieve Commercial Operation on or before the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date, as such date may be extended by Seller’s payment of Commercial Operation Delay Damages pursuant to Section 2 of Exhibit B and/or a Development Cure Period pursuant to Section 4 of Exhibit B;
(iii) if, in any consecutive six (6) month period, the Adjusted Energy Production amount (calculated in accordance with Exhibit G) for such period is not at least ten percent (10%) of the 6-month pro rata amount of Expected Energy for such period adjusted for seasonality proportionately to the monthly forecast provided annually by Seller under Section
4.3(a), and Seller fails to (x) deliver to Buyer within ten (10) Business Days after Notice from Buyer a plan or report developed by Seller that describes the cause of the failure to meet the ten percent (10%) threshold and the actions that Seller has taken, is taking, or proposes to take in an effort to cure such condition along with the written confirmation of a Licensed Professional Engineer that such plan or report is in accordance with Prudent Operating Practices and capable of cure within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days (“Cure Plan”) and (y) complete such Cure Plan in all material respects as set forth therein, including within the timeframe set forth therein;
(iv) failure by Seller to satisfy the collateral requirements pursuant to Sections 8.7 or 8.8, including the failure to replenish the Performance Security amount in accordance with this Agreement in the event Buyer draws against it for any reason other than to satisfy a Termination Payment;
(v) 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 either (1) cash, or (2) a Letter of Credit from a
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40 different issuer meeting the criteria set forth in the definition of Letter of Credit, 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;
(b) to accelerate all amounts owing between the Parties, and to collect as liquidated damages (i) the Damage Payment (if such termination occurs prior to or as of the Commercial Operation Date), or (ii) the Termination Payment (if such termination occurs following the Commercial Operation Date), as applicable, in each case calculated in accordance with Section 11.3 below;
(c) to withhold any payments due to the Defaulting Party under this Agreement; (d) to suspend performance; and
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41 (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, 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 any Terminated Transaction and the Event of Default related thereto.
11.3 Damage Payment; Termination Payment. If an Early Termination Date has been declared, the Non-Defaulting Party shall calculate, in a commercially reasonable manner, the Damage Payment or the Termination Payment, as applicable, in accordance with this Section 11.3. (a) Damage Payment Prior to Commercial Operation Date. If the Early Termination Date occurs before the Commercial Operation Date, then the Damage Payment shall be calculated in accordance with this Section 11.3(a).
(i) If Seller is the Defaulting Party, then the Damage Payment shall be owed to Buyer and shall be a dollar amount that equals the amount of the Development Security plus, if the Development Security is posted as cash, any interest accrued thereon. Buyer shall be entitled to immediately retain for its own benefit those funds held as Development Security and any interest accrued thereon if the Development Security is posted as cash, and any amount of Development Security that Seller has not yet posted with Buyer shall be immediately due and payable by Seller to Buyer. There will be no amounts owed to Seller. The Parties agree that Buyer’s damages in the event of an Early Termination Date prior to the Commercial Operation Date caused by Seller’s default would be difficult or impossible to determine and that the damages set forth in this Section 11.3(a)(i) are a reasonable approximation of Buyer’s harm or loss. (ii) If Buyer is the Defaulting Party, then the Damage Payment shall be owed to Seller and shall equal the sum of the actual, documented and verifiable costs incurred by Seller between the Effective Date and the Early Termination Date in connection with the Facility, less the fair market value (determined in a commercially reasonable manner after subtracting for the estimated costs of decommissioning and sale of assets) of (A) all Seller’s assets individually, or (B) the entire Facility, whichever is greater on the Early Termination Date, regardless of whether or not any Seller asset or the entire Facility is actually sold or disposed of. There will be no amount owed to Buyer. The Parties agree that Seller’s damages in the event of an Early Termination Date prior to the Commercial Operation Date caused by Buyer’s default would be difficult or impossible to determine and that the damages set forth in this Section 11.3(a)(ii) are a reasonable approximation of Seller’s harm or loss.
(b) Termination Payment On or After the Commercial Operation Date. The payment owed by the Defaulting Party to the Non-Defaulting Party for a Terminated Transaction occurring after the Commercial Operation Date (“Termination Payment”) shall be the aggregate of all Settlement Amounts plus any and all other amounts due to or from the Non-Defaulting Party (as of the Early Termination Date) netted into a single amount. 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, 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
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42 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 (i) the actual damages that the Non-Defaulting Party would incur in connection with a Terminated Transaction would be difficult or impossible to predict with certainty, (ii) the Termination Payment described in this Section 11.3(b) is a reasonable and appropriate approximation of such damages, and (iii) the Termination Payment described in this Section 11.3(b) is the exclusive remedy of the Non-Defaulting Party in connection with a 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 or Damage Payment. As soon as practicable after a Terminated Transaction, but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the Early Termination Date, Notice shall be given by the Non-Defaulting Party to the Defaulting Party of the amount of the Damage Payment or Termination Payment, as applicable, and whether the Termination Payment or Damage Payment, as applicable, 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. The Termination Payment or Damage Payment, as applicable, shall be made to or from the Non-Defaulting Party, as applicable, within ten (10) Business Days after such Notice is effective.
11.5 Disputes With Respect to Termination Payment or Damage Payment. If the Defaulting Party disputes the Non-Defaulting Party’s calculation of the Termination Payment or Damage Payment, as applicable, in whole or in part, the Defaulting Party shall, within five (5) Business Days of receipt of the Non-Defaulting Party’s calculation of the Termination Payment or Damage Payment, as applicable, provide to the Non-Defaulting Party a detailed written explanation of the basis for such dispute. Disputes regarding the Termination Payment or Damage Payment, as applicable, shall be determined in accordance with Article 15.
11.6 Limitation on Seller’s Ability to Make or Agree to Third-Party Sales from the Facility after Early Termination Date. If the Agreement is terminated prior to the Commercial Operation Date for any reason except due to Buyer’s Event of Default, neither Seller nor Seller’s Affiliates may sell, market or deliver any Product associated with or attributable to the Facility to a party other than Buyer for a period of two (2) years following such Early Termination Date, unless prior to selling, marketing or delivering such Product, or entering into the agreement to sell, market or deliver such Product to a party other than Buyer, Seller or Seller’s Affiliates provide Buyer with a written offer to sell the Product on terms and conditions materially similar to the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement (including price) and Buyer fails to accept such offer within forty-five (45) days of Buyer’s receipt thereof.
Neither Seller nor Seller’s Affiliates may sell or transfer the Facility, or any part thereof, or land rights or interests in the Site (including the interconnection queue position of the Facility) so long as the limitations contained in this Section 11.6 apply, unless the transferee agrees to be bound by the terms set forth in this Section 11.6 pursuant to a written agreement approved by Buyer.
Seller shall indemnify and hold Buyer harmless from all benefits lost and other damages sustained by Buyer as a result of any breach by Seller of its covenants contained within this Section 11.6.
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43 11.7 Rights And Remedies Are Cumulative. Except where liquidated damages or other remedy are explicitly provided as the exclusive remedy, the rights and remedies of a Party pursuant to this Article 11 shall be cumulative and in addition to the rights of the Parties otherwise provided in this Agreement.
11.8 Mitigation. Any Non-Defaulting Party shall be obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate its Costs, Losses and damages resulting from any Event of Default of the other Party under this Agreement.
ARTICLE 12
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND EXCLUSION OF WARRANTIES.
12.1 No Consequential Damages. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PART OF (A) AN
EXPRESS REMEDY OR MEASURE OF DAMAGES HEREIN, (B) AN IP INDEMNITY CLAIM, (C) AN ARTICLE 16 INDEMNITY CLAIM, (D) INCLUDED IN A LIQUIDATED DAMAGES CALCULATION, OR (E) RESULTING FROM A PARTY’S GROSS
NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE LIABLE TO
THE OTHER OR ITS INDEMNIFIED PERSONS FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE,
EXEMPLARY, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR LOSSES OR
DAMAGES FOR LOST REVENUE OR LOST PROFITS, WHETHER FORESEEABLE OR
NOT, ARISING OUT OF, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, BY STATUTE, IN TORT OR CONTRACT.
12.2 Waiver and Exclusion of Other Damages. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET
FORTH HEREIN, THERE IS NO WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR
A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND ANY AND ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARE DISCLAIMED. THE PARTIES CONFIRM THAT THE EXPRESS REMEDIES AND
MEASURES OF DAMAGES PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT SATISFY THE ESSENTIAL PURPOSES HEREOF. ALL LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING, THOSE PERTAINING TO SELLER’S LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND THE PARTIES’ WAIVER OF CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SHALL
APPLY EVEN IF THE REMEDIES FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT ARE DEEMED TO “FAIL OF THEIR ESSENTIAL PURPOSE” OR ARE OTHERWISE HELD TO BE INVALID OR UNENFORCEABLE.
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, DETERMINED ON AN AFTER-TAX BASIS, LOST DUE TO BUYER’S DEFAULT (WHICH SELLER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO MITIGATE AFTER
USE OF REASONABLE EFFORTS) AND AMOUNTS DUE IN CONNECTION WITH THE
RECAPTURE OF ANY RENEWABLE ENERGY INCENTIVES, IF ANY, SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE DIRECT DAMAGES.
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44 TO THE EXTENT ANY DAMAGES REQUIRED TO BE PAID HEREUNDER ARE LIQUIDATED, INCLUDING UNDER SECTIONS 4.6, 11.2 AND 11.3, AND AS PROVIDED
IN EXHIBIT B AND EXHIBIT G, 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 Effective Date, Seller represents and warrants as follows:
(a) Seller is a Delaware 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 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 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
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45 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 (i) will be located in and connected electrically to a circuit, load, or substation within Southern California Edison’s service territory, and (ii) is located within an eligible DAC.
(f) Neither Seller nor its Affiliates have received notice from or been advised by any existing or potential supplier or service provider that COVID-19 has caused, or is reasonably likely to cause, a delay in the construction of the Facility or the delivery of materials necessary to complete the Facility, in each case that would cause the Construction Start Date to be later than the Guaranteed Construction Start Date or the Commercial Operation Date to be later than the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date.
13.2 Buyer’s Representations and Warranties. As of the 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 presently in effect having applicability to Buyer, including community choice aggregation, the Joint Powers Act, competitive bidding, public notice, open meetings, election, referendum, or prior appropriation requirements, 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.
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46 (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, (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.
(f) Buyer is a “local public entity” as defined in Section 900.4 of the Government Code of the State of California.
(g) Buyer cannot assert sovereign immunity as a defense to the enforcement of its obligations under this Agreement.
13.3 General Covenants. Each Party covenants that commencing on the 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 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 necessary for it 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 Workforce Development. The Parties acknowledge that in connection with Buyer’s renewable energy procurement efforts, including entering into this Agreement, Buyer is committed to creating community benefits, which includes engaging a skilled and trained workforce and targeted hires. Accordingly, prior to the Guaranteed Construction Start Date, Seller shall ensure that work performed in connection with construction of the Facility will be conducted using a project labor agreement, community workforce agreement, work site agreement, collective bargaining agreement, or similar agreement providing for terms and conditions of employment with applicable labor organizations, and Seller shall remain compliant with such agreement in accordance with the terms thereof. Seller shall provide documentation reasonably satisfactory to Buyer demonstrating Seller’s compliance with the requirements of this Section 13.4.
ARTICLE 14
ASSIGNMENT
14.1 General Prohibition on Assignments. Except as provided below 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, conditioned, or delayed. Any Change of Control of Seller (whether voluntary or by operation of law) will be deemed an assignment and will require the prior written consent of Buyer, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed; provided, a Change of Control of Seller shall not require Buyer’s consent if the assignee or transferee is a Permitted Transferee. Any assignment made without the required written consent or in violation of the conditions to assignment set out below shall be null and void. Seller shall be
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47 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 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 by Seller, Buyer shall in good faith work with Seller and Lender to execute a consent to collateral assignment of this Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit O (“Consent to Collateral Assignment”).
14.3 Permitted Assignment by Seller. Seller may, without the prior written consent of Buyer, transfer or assign this Agreement to: (a) an Affiliate of Seller or (b) any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of the assets of Seller (whether voluntary or by operation of law), if, and only if:
(i) the assignee is a Permitted Transferee;
(ii) Seller has given Buyer Notice at least fifteen (15) Business Days before the date of such proposed assignment; and
(iii) Seller has provided Buyer a written agreement signed by the Person to which Seller wishes to assign its interests that (x) provides that such Person will assume all of Seller’s obligations and liabilities under this Agreement upon such transfer or assignment and (y) certifies that such Person meets the definition of a Permitted Transferee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any assignment by Seller, its successors or assigns under this Section 14.3 shall be of no force and effect unless and until such Notice and agreement by the assignee have been received and accepted by Buyer.
14.4 Shared Facilities; Portfolio Financing. Buyer agrees and acknowledges that Seller may elect to finance all or any portion of the Facility or the Interconnection Facilities or the Shared Facilities (1) utilizing tax equity or cash equity investment, and/or (2) through a Portfolio Financing, which may include cross-collateralization or similar arrangements. In connection with any financing or refinancing of the Facility, the Interconnection Facilities or the Shared Facilities by Seller or any Portfolio Financing, Buyer, Seller, Portfolio Financing Entity (if any), and Lender shall execute and deliver such further consents, approvals and acknowledgments as may be reasonable and necessary to facilitate such transactions; provided, Buyer shall not be required to agree to any terms or conditions which are reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on Buyer and all reasonable attorney’s fees incurred by Buyer in connection therewith shall be borne by Seller.
14.5 Sale or Transfer of Site. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Seller may, without the prior written consent of Buyer, assign or transfer this Agreement to any Person to whom the owner of the building on which the Facility is located has sold, conveyed, transferred, or assigned its interest in the building on which the Facility is located. In the event of an assignment of this Agreement in connection with the transfer or sale of the Facility, Seller shall provide Buyer Notice at least five (5) Business Days after the date of such transfer, which Notice shall include a written agreement signed by the Person to which Seller has sold or transferred its interests in the Facility following a sale or transfer of the building on which the Facility is located
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48 that provides that such Person has assumed all of Seller’s obligations and liabilities under this Agreement.
ARTICLE 15
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
15.1 Governing Law. This Agreement and the rights and duties of the Parties hereunder shall be governed by and construed, enforced and performed in accordance with the laws of the state of California, without regard to principles of conflicts of Law. To the extent enforceable at such time, each Party waives its respective right to any jury trial with respect to any litigation arising under or in connection with this Agreement. [STC 17, (Source: D.07-11-025, Attachment A.) D.08-04-009]
15.2 Dispute Resolution. In the event of any dispute arising under this Agreement, within ten (10) days following the receipt of a Notice from either Party identifying such dispute, the Parties shall meet, negotiate and attempt, in good faith, to resolve the dispute quickly, informally and inexpensively. If the Parties are unable to resolve a dispute arising hereunder within the earlier of either forty-five (45) days of initiating such discussions, or within sixty (60) days after Notice of the dispute, either Party may seek any and all remedies available to it at law or in equity, subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement.
15.3 Attorneys’ Fees. In any proceeding brought to enforce this Agreement or because of the breach by any Party of any covenant or condition herein contained, each Party shall bear its own respective costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees in connection with said action.
15.4 Venue. In the event of any legal action to enforce or interpret this Contract, the sole and exclusive venue shall be a court of competent jurisdiction located in Los Angeles County, California, and the Parties hereto agree to and do hereby submit to the jurisdiction of such court and waive any claim or defense that such forum is not convenient or proper.
ARTICLE 16
INDEMNIFICATION
16.1 Indemnification.
(a) Each Party (the “Indemnifying Party”) agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the other Party and its Affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents (collectively, the “Indemnified Party”) from and against all claims, demands, losses, liabilities, penalties, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) (i) 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, or (ii) for third-party claims resulting from the Indemnifying Party’s breach (including inaccuracy of any representation of warranty made hereunder), performance or non-performance of its obligations under this Agreement. (b) Seller shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Buyer and its Affiliates, directors, officers, employees from and against all claims, demands, losses, liabilities, penalties, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) in connection with any claims of infringement upon or violation of any trade secret, trademark, trade name, copyright, patent, or other intellectual
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49 property rights of any third party by equipment, software, applications or programs (or any portion of same) used in connection with the Facility (an “IP Indemnity Claim”). (c) Nothing in this Section 16.1 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 damagesresulting from itssole negligence, intentional acts or willful misconduct. These indemnity provisions shall not be construed to relieve any insurer of its obligation to pay claims consistent with the provisions of a valid insurance policy.
16.2 Claims. Promptly after receipt by a Party of any claim or Notice of the commencement of any action, administrative, or legal proceeding, or investigation as to which the indemnity provided for in this Article 16 may apply, the Indemnified Party shall notify the Indemnifying Party in writing of such fact. The Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof with counsel designated by the Indemnifying Party and satisfactory to the Indemnified Party; provided, if the defendants in any such action include both the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to, or inconsistent with, those available to the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to select and be represented by separate counsel, at the Indemnifying Party’s expense, unless a liability insurer is willing to pay such costs. If the Indemnifying Party fails to assume the defense of a claim meriting indemnification, the Indemnified Party may at the expense of the Indemnifying Party contest, settle, or pay such claim; provided, settlement or full payment of any such claim may be made only following consent of the Indemnifying Party or, absent such consent, written opinion of the Indemnified Party’s counsel that such claim is meritorious or warrants settlement. Except as otherwise provided in this Article 16, in the event that a Party is obligated to indemnify and hold the other Party and its successors and assigns harmless under this Article 16, the amount owing to the Indemnified Party will be the amount of the Indemnified Party’s damages net of any insurance proceeds received by the Indemnified Party following a reasonable effort by the Indemnified Party to obtain such insurance proceeds.
ARTICLE 17
INSURANCE
17.1 Insurance.
(a) General Liability. At all times during the Contract Term, Seller shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, at its sole expense, (i) commercial general liability insurance, including products and completed operations and personal injury insurance, in a minimum amount of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence, and an annual aggregate of not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000), endorsed to provide contractual liability in said amount, specifically covering Seller’s obligations under this Agreement and including Buyer as an additional insured; and (ii) an umbrella insurance policy in a minimum limit of liability of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000). Defense costs shall be provided as an additional benefit and not included within the limits of liability. Such insurance shall contain standard cross-liability and severability of interest provisions.
(b) Employer’s Liability Insurance. At all times during the Contract Term during which Seller has employees, Seller shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, at its sole
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50 expense employers’ liability insurance of not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) 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. (c) Workers Compensation Insurance. At all times during the Contract Term during which Seller has employees, Seller shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, at its sole expense workers’ compensation and employers’ liability insurance coverage in accordance with applicable requirements of Law.
(d) Business Auto Insurance. At all times during the Contract Term, Seller shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, at its sole expense business auto insurance for bodily injury and property damage with limits of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence. 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. During the construction of the Facility prior to the Commercial Operation Date, Seller shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, at its sole expense construction all-risk form property insurance covering the Facility during such construction periods, and naming Seller (and Lender if any) as the loss payee. (f) Subcontractor Insurance. At all times during the Contract Term during which Seller has subcontractors, Seller shall require its subcontractors to carry: (i) comprehensive general liability insurance with a combined single limit of coverage not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000); (ii) workers’ compensation insurance and employers’ liability coverage in accordance with applicable requirements of Law; and (iii) business auto insurance for bodily injury and property damage with limits of one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence. All subcontractors shall name Seller as an additional insured to insurance carried pursuant to clauses (f)(i) and (f)(iii). All subcontractors shall provide a primary endorsement and a waiver of subrogation to Seller for the required coverage pursuant to this Section 17.1(f). (g) Evidence of Insurance. Seller shall deliver to Buyer certificates of insurance evidencing such coverage within ten (10) days after the obligation to maintain each type of insurance specified in Section 17.1(a) through (f) arises and upon annual renewal thereafter. Such certificates shall specify that Buyer shall be given at least thirty (30) days prior Notice by Seller in the event of any material modification, cancellation or termination 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. The general liability, auto liability and worker’s compensation policies shall be endorsed with a waiver of subrogation in favor of Buyer for all work performed by Seller, its employees, agents and sub-contractors.
(h) Failure to Comply with Insurance Requirements. If Seller fails to comply with any of the provisions of this Article 17, Seller, among other things and without restricting Buyer’s remedies under the Law or otherwise, shall, at its own cost and expense, act as an insurer and provide insurance in accordance with the terms and conditions above. With respect to the required general liability, umbrella liability and commercial automobile liability insurance, Seller shall provide a current, full and complete defense to Buyer, its subsidiaries and Affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, shareholders, agents, employees, assigns, and successors in interest,
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51 in response to a third-party claim in the same manner that an insurer would have, had the insurance been maintained in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth above. In addition, alleged violations of the provisions of this Article 17 means that Seller has the initial burden of proof regarding any legal justification for refusing or withholding coverage and Seller shall face the same liability and damages as an insurer for wrongfully refusing or withholding coverage in accordance with the laws of California.
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. The Party receiving Confidential Information (the “Receiving Party”) from the other Party (the “Disclosing Party”) shall not disclose Confidential Information to a third party (other than the Party’s employees, lenders, counsel, accountants, directors or advisors, or any such representatives of a Party’s Affiliates, who have a need to know such information and have agreed to keep such terms confidential) except in order to comply with any applicable Law, regulation, or any exchange, control area or independent system operator rule or in connection with any court or regulatory proceeding applicable to such Party or any of its Affiliates; provided, each Party shall, to the extent practicable, use reasonable efforts to prevent or limit the disclosure. The Parties shall be entitled to all remedies available at law or in equity to enforce, or seek relief in connection with, this confidentiality obligation. The Parties agree and acknowledge that nothing in this Section 18.2 prohibits a Party from disclosing any one or more of the commercial terms of a transaction (other than the name of the other Party unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Parties) to any industry price source for the purpose of aggregating and reporting such information in the form of a published energy price index.
The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Agreement and any transactions entered into in connection herewith are subject to the requirements of the California Public Records Act (Government Code Section 6250 et seq.). In order to designate information as confidential, the Disclosing Party must clearly stamp and identify the specific portion of the material designated with the word “Confidential.” The Parties agree not to over-designate material as Confidential Information. Over-designation includes stamping whole agreements, entire pages or series of pages as “Confidential” that clearly contain information that is not Confidential Information.
Upon request or demand of any third person or entity not a Party hereto to Buyer pursuant
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52 to the California Public Records Act for production, inspection and/or copying of Confidential Information (“Requested Confidential Information”), Buyer shall as soon as practical notify Seller in writing via email that such request has been made. Seller shall be solely responsible for taking at its sole expense whatever legal steps are necessary to prevent release of the Requested Confidential Information to the third party by Buyer. If Seller takes no such action after receiving the foregoing notice from Buyer, Buyer shall, at its discretion, be permitted to comply with the third party’s request or demand and is not required to defend against it. If Seller does take or attempt to take such action, Buyer shall provide timely and reasonable cooperation to Seller, if requested by Seller, and Seller agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Buyer, its officers, employees and agents (“Buyer’s Indemnified Parties”), from any claims, liability, award of attorneys’ fees, or damages, and to defend any action, claim or lawsuit brought against any of Buyer’s Indemnified Parties for Buyer’s refusal to disclose any Requested Confidential Information.
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 herein. 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 Agreement or the continuation of any such breach, without the necessity of proving actual damages.
18.4 Further Permitted Disclosure. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 18, Confidential Information may be disclosed by the Receiving Party to any of its agents, consultants, contractors, trustees, or actual or potential financing parties (including, in the case of Seller, its Lender(s)), so long as such Person to whom Confidential Information is disclosed agrees in writing to be bound by confidentiality provisions that are at least as restrictive as 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 as
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53 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, 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) and/or, to the extent set forth herein, any Lender and/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 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. 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.
19.8 Electronic Delivery. This Agreement may be duly executed and delivered by a Party by electronic format (including portable document format (.pdf)) delivery of the signature page of a counterpart to the other Party.
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.
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54 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 Change in Electric Market Design. If a change in the CAISO Tariff renders this Agreement or any provisions hereof incapable of being performed or administered, then any Party may request that Buyer and Seller enter into negotiations to make the minimum changes to this Agreement necessary to make this Agreement capable of being performed and administered, while attempting to preserve to the maximum extent possible the benefits, burdens, and obligations set forth in this Agreement as of the Effective Date. Upon delivery of such a request, Buyer and Seller shall engage in such negotiations in good faith. If Buyer and Seller are unable, within sixty (60) days after delivery of such request, to agree upon changes to this Agreement or to resolve issues relating to changes to this Agreement, then any Party may submit issues pertaining to changes to this Agreement to the dispute resolution process set forth in Article 15. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) a change in cost shall not in and of itself be deemed to render this Agreement or any of the provisions hereof incapable of being performed or administered, and (ii) all of the unaffected provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect during any period of such negotiation or dispute resolution.
19.13 Further Assurances. Each of the Parties hereto agrees to provide such information, execute and deliver any instruments and documents and to take such other actions as may be 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.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the Effective Date.
ESCA-PLD-EAVES1, a Delaware Limited
Liability Company
By:
Name:
Title:
CLEAN POWER ALLIANCE OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA, a California joint powers authority
By:
Name:
Title:
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Exhibit A -1
EXHIBIT A
FACILITY DESCRIPTION
Site Name: Eaves 1
Site includes all or some of the following APNs: 6332017033 City: Commerce
County: Los Angeles
Zip Code: 90040
Latitude and Longitude: 33.9786588, -118.1518188
Facility Description: See Cover Sheet.
Delivery Point: Pnode
PNode: to be determined by CAISO
Transmission Provider: Southern California Edison
Additional Information: See Site diagram above.
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Exhibit B - 2
EXHIBIT B
FACILITY CONSTRUCTION AND COMMERCIAL OPERATION
1. Construction of the Facility.
a. “Construction Start” will occur upon Seller’s acquisition of all applicable regulatory authorizations, approvals and permitsfor the construction of the Facility, and once Seller has engaged all contractors and ordered all essential equipment and supplies as, in each case, can reasonably be considered necessary so that physical construction of the Facility may begin and proceed to completion without foreseeable interruption of material duration, and has executed an engineering, procurement, and construction contract and issued thereunder a final notice to proceed that authorizes the contractor to mobilize to Site and begin physical construction (including, at a minimum, excavation for foundations or the installation or erection of improvements) at the Site. The date of Construction Start will be evidenced by and subject to Seller’s delivery to Buyer of a certificate substantially in the form attached as Exhibit J hereto, and the date certified therein shall be the “Construction Start Date.” Seller shall cause Construction Start to occur no later than the Guaranteed Construction Start Date. b. Seller may extend the Guaranteed Construction Start Date by paying Daily Delay Damages to Buyer for each day Seller desires to extend the Guaranteed Construction Start Date, not to exceed a total of one hundred twenty (120) days of extensions by such payment of Daily Delay Damages,
. On or before the date that is ten (10) days prior to the then-current Guaranteed Construction Start Date Seller shall provide Notice and payment to Buyer of the Daily Delay Damages for the number of days of extension to the Guaranteed Construction Start Date. If Seller achieves Construction Start prior to the Guaranteed Construction Start Date, as extended by the payment of Daily Delay Damages, Buyer shall refund to Seller the Daily Delay Damages for each day Seller achieves Construction Start prior to the Guaranteed Construction Start Date times the Daily Delay Damages, not to exceed the total amount of Daily Delay Damages paid by Seller pursuant to this Section 1(b). Additionally, if Seller achieves Commercial Operation on or before the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date (not including any extensions to such date resulting from Seller’s payment of Commercial Operation Delay Damages, but as may be extended pursuant to a Development Cure Period), then Buyer shall refund to Seller all Daily Delay Damages paid by Seller and not previously refunded by Buyer.
2. Commercial Operation of the Facility. “Commercial Operation” means the condition existing when Seller has fulfilled all of the conditions precedent in Section 2.2 of the Agreement and provided Notice to Buyer substantially in the form of Exhibit H (the “COD Certificate”).
a. Seller shall cause Commercial Operation for the Facility to occur by the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date. Seller shall notify Buyer that it intends to achieve
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Exhibit B - 3
Commercial Operation at least sixty (60) days before the anticipated Commercial Operation Date.
b. Seller may extend the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date by paying Commercial Operation Delay Damages to Buyer for each day Seller desires to extend the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date, not to exceed a total of ninety (90) days of extensions by such payment of Commercial Operation Delay Damages,
On or before the date
that is ten (10) days prior to the then-current Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date Seller shall provide Notice and payment to Buyer of the Commercial Operation Delay Damages for the number of days of extension to the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date. If Seller achieves Commercial Operation prior to the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date as extended by the payment of Commercial Operation Delay Damages, Buyer shall refund to Seller the Commercial Operation Delay Damages for each day Seller achieves Commercial Operation prior to the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date times the Commercial Operation Delay Damages, not to exceed the total amount of Commercial Operation Delay Damages paid by Seller pursuant to this Section 2(b).
3. Termination for Failure to Achieve Commercial Operation. If the Facility has not achieved Commercial Operation on or before the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date (as may be extended hereunder), Buyer may elect to terminate this Agreement in accordance with Sections 11.1(b)(ii) and 11.2.
4. Extension of the Guaranteed Dates. The Guaranteed Construction Start Date and the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date shall, subject to Notice and documentation requirements set forth below, be extended on a day-for-day basis (the “Development Cure Period”) for the duration of any and all delays arising out of the following circumstances to the extent (i) the following circumstances are not the result of Seller’s failure to take all commercially reasonable actions to meet its requirements and deadlines, (ii) such delays could not be mitigated by Seller using commercially reasonable efforts to overcome the delays, and (iii) such delays do not run concurrently:
a. Seller has not acquired the Material Permits by the Guaranteed Construction Start Date, despite the exercise of diligent and commercially reasonable efforts by Seller; or
b. a Force Majeure Event occurs; or
c. the Interconnection Facilities or Reliability Network Upgrades are not complete and ready for the Facility to connect and sell Product at the Delivery Point by the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date, despite the exercise of diligent and commercially reasonable efforts by Seller; or
d. Buyer has not made all necessary arrangements to receive the Facility Energy at the Delivery Point by the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date.
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Exhibit B - 4
Seller shall submit any claim for Development Cure Period delays within (x) three (3) Business Days of the applicable milestone in the case of (a), (c) or (d) above, and (y) fourteen (14) days after the initial occurrence of the claimed Force Majeure Event in the case of (b) above, in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit Q. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the cumulative extensions granted under the Development Cure Period (other than the extensions granted pursuant to clause 4(d) above) shall not exceed one hundred eighty (180) days, for any reason, including a Force Majeure Event, and the cumulative extensions granted to the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date by the payment of Commercial Operation Delay Damages and any Development Cure Period(s) (other than the extensions granted pursuant to clause 4(d) above) shall not exceed two hundred seventy (270) days. 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 commercially reasonable actions.
5. Failure to Reach Guaranteed Capacity. If, at Commercial Operation, the Installed Capacity is less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Guaranteed Capacity, Seller shall have ninety (90) days after the Commercial Operation Date to install additional capacity and/or Network Upgrades such that the Installed 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 hereto specifying the new Installed Capacity. If Seller fails to construct the Guaranteed Capacity by such date, Seller shall pay “Capacity Damages” to Buyer, in an amount equal to Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) for each MW that the Guaranteed Capacity exceeds the Installed Capacity. Capacity Damages shall not be offset or reduced by the payment of Development Security, Performance Security, Delay Damages, or any other form of liquidated damages under this Agreement.
6. Buyer’s Right to Draw on Development Security. If Seller elects to extend the Guaranteed Construction Start Date pursuant to Section 1(b) of this Exhibit B and/or if Seller electsto extend the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date pursuant to Section 2(b) of this Exhibit B, but Seller fails to timely pay any Daily Delay Damages or Commercial Operation Delay Damages, then Buyer may draw upon the Development Security to satisfy Seller’s payment obligation thereof and Seller shall be required to replenish the Development Security in an amount equal to Buyer’s draw.
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Exhibit C - 1
EXHIBIT C
[RESERVED]
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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, Buyer shall be the Scheduling Coordinator or designate a qualified third party to provide Scheduling Coordinator services with the CAISO for the Facility for both the delivery and the receipt of Test Energy and the Product at the Delivery Point. 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 bids 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, real-time or other market basis that may develop after the Effective Date, as determined by Buyer. (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 updatesrequired 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 shall 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 by (in order of preference) telephonically or electronic mail 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 or revenues, and other charges) and shall be entitled to all CAISO revenues (including credits, Imbalance Energy revenues or costs, 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 resulting from any failure by Seller to abide by the CAISO Tariff 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 Seller and for Seller’s account and that any Non-Availability Charges (as defined in the CAISO Tariff) are the responsibility of Seller and for Seller’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
Agenda Page 561
Exhibit D - 2
the sanctions or penalties shall be 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 CAISO charges.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Seller acknowledges that the CAISO will issue additional invoices reflecting CAISO adjustments to such CAISO charges. Buyer shall 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 such 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. Seller agrees to pay Buyer’s costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) associated with its involvement with such CAISO disputes to the extent they relate to CAISO charges payable by Seller with respect to the Facility that Seller has directed Buyer to dispute.
(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 Data File and Resource Data Template. Seller shall provide the data to the CAISO (and to Buyer) that is required for the CAISO’s Master Data 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. (h) NERC Reliability Standards. Buyer (as Scheduling Coordinator) shall cooperate 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.
Agenda Page 562
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. Description of any material planned changes to the Facility or the site.
5. Gantt chart schedule showing progress on achieving each of the Milestones.
6. Summary of activities during the previous calendar quarter or month, as applicable, including any OSHA labor hour reports.
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 reasonably likely to 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. Progress and schedule of all material agreements, contracts, permits (including Material Permits), approvals, technical studies, financing agreements and major equipment purchase orders showing the start dates, completion dates, and completion percentages.
12. 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.
13. Workforce Development or Supplier Diversity Reporting (if applicable). Format to be provided by Buyer.
14. Any other documentation reasonably requested by Buyer.
Agenda Page 563
EXHIBIT F-1
ANNUAL EXPECTED FACILITY ENERGY
[MWh Per Hour] – [Insert 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 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.
Agenda Page 564
EXHIBIT F-2
MONTHLY EXPECTED FACILITY ENERGY
[MWh Per Hour] – [Insert 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 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.
Agenda Page 565
Exhibit G - 1
EXHIBIT G
GUARANTEED ENERGY PRODUCTION DAMAGES CALCULATION
In accordance with Section 4.6, if Seller fails to achieve the Guaranteed Energy Production during any Performance Measurement Period, a liquidated damages payment shall be due from Seller to Buyer, calculated as follows:
[(A – B) * (C – D)] – (E + F)
where:
A = the Guaranteed Energy Production amount for the Performance Measurement Period, in MWh
B = the Adjusted Energy Production amount for the Performance Measurement Period, in MWh
C = Replacement price for the Performance Measurement Period, in $/MWh, which is the sum of (a) the simple average of the Integrated Forward Market hourly price for all the hours in the Performance Measurement Period, as published by the CAISO, for the Existing Zone Generation Trading Hub (as defined in the CAISO Tariff) for the Delivery Point, plus (b) the market value of Replacement Green Attributes.
D = the Contract Price, in $/MWh
E = The amount of Energy Replacement Damages paid by Seller with respect to the immediately preceding Performance Measurement Period F = The product of (a) the amount of Replacement Product in MWhs delivered by Seller in the immediately preceding Contract Year and (b) the price which is (C – D)
“Adjusted Energy Production” shall mean the sum of the following: Facility Energy + Deemed Delivered Energy + Lost Output + Replacement Energy. “Replacement Energy” means electrical energy produced by a facility other than the Facility, that is provided by Seller to Buyer as Replacement Product, in an amount equal to the amount of Replacement Green Attributes provided by Seller as Replacement Product for the same Performance Measurement Period.
“Replacement Green Attributes” means Renewable Energy Credits of the same Portfolio Content Category (i.e., PCC1) as the Green Attributes portion of the Product and of the same year of production as the Renewable Energy Credits that would have been generated by the Facility.
Agenda Page 566
Exhibit G - 2
“Replacement Product” means (a) Replacement Energy, and (b) Replacement Green Attributes in an amount not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the Expected Energy for the previous Contract Year.
No payment shall be due if the calculation of (a) (A - B), (b) (C - D) or (c) [(A – B) * (C – D)] – (E + F), yields a negative number. In no event will Buyer owe any payment to Seller pursuant to this Exhibit G.
Within sixty (60) days after each Contract Year, Buyer shall 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; provided, the amount of damages owing shall be adjusted to account for Replacement Product, if any, delivered after each applicable Performance Measurement Period.
Agenda Page 567
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 Clean Power Alliance of Southern California, a California joint powers authority (“Buyer”) in accordance with the terms of that certain Renewable Power Purchase Agreement dated (“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.
As of [DATE] , Engineer hereby certifies and represents to Buyer the following:
1. The Facility is fully operational, reliable and interconnected, fully integrated and synchronized with the Transmission System.
2. Seller has installed equipment for the Facility with an Installed Capacity of no less than ninety-five percent (95%) of the Guaranteed Capacity.
3. Authorization to parallel the Facility was obtained by the Transmission Provider, [Name of Transmission Provider as appropriate] on [DATE]
4. The Transmission Provider has provided documentation supporting full unrestricted release for Commercial Operation by [Name of Transmission Provider as appropriate] on [DATE] .
5. The CAISO has provided notification supporting Commercial Operation, in accordance with the CAISO Tariff on [DATE] .
6. Seller has segregated and separately metered Station Use to the extent reasonably possible in accordance with Prudent Operating Practice, and any such meter(s) have the same or greater level of accuracy as is required for CAISO certified meters used for settlement purposes.
EXECUTED by [LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER]
this day of , 20 .
[LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER]
By:
Its:
Date:
Agenda Page 568
Exhibit I - 1
EXHIBIT I
FORM OF INSTALLED CAPACITY CERTIFICATE
This certification (“Certification”) of Installed Capacity is delivered by [licensed professional engineer] (“Engineer”) to Clean Power Alliance of Southern California, a California joint powers authority (“Buyer”) in accordance with the terms of that certain Renewable Power Purchase Agreement dated (“Agreement”) by and between [SELLER ENTITY] 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 following:
The installed nameplate capacity of the Facility is MW AC (“Installed Capacity”).
EXECUTED by [LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER]
this day of , 20 .
[LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER]
By:
Its:
Date:
Agenda Page 569
Exhibit J - 1
EXHIBIT J
FORM OF CONSTRUCTION START DATE CERTIFICATE
This certification of the Construction Start Date (“Certification”) is delivered by [SELLER ENTITY] (“Seller”) to Clean Power Alliance of Southern California, a California joint powers authority (“Buyer”) in accordance with the terms of that certain Renewable Power Purchase Agreement dated (“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 notice to proceed that Seller issued to its contractor as part of Construction Start is attached hereto.
(2) the Construction Start Date occurred on (the “Construction Start Date”); and
(3) the precise Site on which the Facility is located is, which must be within the boundaries of the previously identified Site:
(such description shall amend the description of the Site in Exhibit A of the Agreement).
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certification on behalf of Seller as of the day of .
[SELLER ENTITY]
By:
Its:
Date:
Agenda Page 570
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]
Beneficiary:
Clean Power Alliance of Southern California,
a California joint powers authority
801 S Grand, Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90017
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 Clean Power Alliance of Southern California, a California joint powers authority (“Beneficiary”), 801 S Grand, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90017, for an amount not to exceed the aggregate sum of U.S. $[XXXXXX] (United States Dollars [XXXXX] and 00/100) (the “Available Amount”), pursuant to that certain Renewable Power Purchase Agreement dated as of and as amended (the “Agreement”) between Applicant and Beneficiary. This Letter of Credit shall become effective immediately and shall be of no further force or effect at 5:00 p.m., California time, on [Date] or, if such day is not a Business Day (as hereinafter defined), on the next Business Day (as may be extended pursuant to the terms of this Letter of Credit, the “Expiration Date”).
For the purposes hereof, “Business Day” shall mean any day on which commercial banks are not authorized or required to close in Los Angeles, California.
Funds under this Letter of Credit are available to Beneficiary by valid presentation on or before 5:00 p.m. California time, on or before the Expiration Date of a copy of this Letter of Credit No. [XXXXXXX] and all amendments accompanied by Beneficiary’s dated statement purportedly signed by Beneficiary’s duly authorized representative, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, containing one of the two alternative paragraphs set forth in paragraph 2 therein.
Any full or partial drawing hereunder may be requested by transmitting copies of the requisite documents as described above to the Issuer by facsimile at [facsimile number for draws] or such
Agenda Page 571
Exhibit K - 2
other number as specified from time-to-time by the Issuer.
The facsimile transmittal shall be deemed delivered when received. Drawings made by facsimile transmittal are deemed to be the operative instrument without the need of originally signed documents.
Issuer hereby agrees that all drafts drawn under and in compliance with the terms of this Letter of Credit will be duly honored if presented to the Issuer before the Expiration Date. All correspondence and any drawings (other than those made by facsimile) hereunder are to be directed to [Issuer address/contact]. Issuer undertakes to make payment to Beneficiary under this Standby Letter of Credit within three (3) business days of receipt by Issuer of a properly presented Drawing Certificate. The Beneficiary shall receive payment from Issuer by wire transfer to the bank account of the Beneficiary designated in the 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; provided, the Available Amount shall be reduced by the amount of each such drawing.
It is a condition of this Letter of Credit that it shall be deemed automatically extended without an amendment for a one year period (or, if such period ends on a day that is not a Business Day, until the next Business Day thereafter) beginning on the present Expiration Date hereof and upon each anniversary for such date (or, if such period ends on a day that is not a Business Day, until the next Business Day thereafter), unless at least one hundred twenty (120) days prior to any such Expiration Date Issuer has sent Beneficiary written notice by overnight courier service at the address provided below that Issuer elects not to extend this Letter of Credit, in which case it will expire on its then current Expiration Date. 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.
Except so far as otherwise stated, this Letter of Credit is subject to the International Standby Practices ISP98 (also known as ICC Publication No. 590), or revision currently in effect (the “ISP”). As to matters not covered by the ISP, the laws of the State of California, without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws thereunder, shall govern all matters with respect to this Letter of Credit.
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.
All notices to Beneficiary shall be in writing and are required to be sent by certified letter, overnight courier, or delivered in person to: Clean Power Alliance of Southern California, a California joint powers authority, Chief Financial Officer, 801 S Grand, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90017. Only notices to Beneficiary meeting the requirements of this paragraph shall be
Agenda Page 572
Exhibit K - 3
considered valid. Any notice to Beneficiary which is not in accordance with this paragraph shall be void and of no force or effect.
[Bank Name]
[Insert officer name]
[Insert officer title]
Agenda Page 573
Exhibit K - 4
EXHIBIT A
(DRAW REQUEST SHOULD BE ON BENEFICIARY’S LETTERHEAD)
Drawing Certificate
[Insert Bank Name and Address]
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, a duly authorized representative of [ ], [ADDRESS], 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 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
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 [ ] 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 [ ] by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the following account:
[Specify account information]
[ ]
Name and Title of Authorized Representative
Date
Agenda Page 574
EXHIBIT L
[RESERVED]
Agenda Page 575
EXHIBIT M
[RESERVED]
Agenda Page 576
Exhibit N – 1
EXHIBIT N
NOTICES
All Notices:
Street: 10800 Wazee St., Suite 500
City: Denver, CO 80202
Attn: Global Energy
Phone: (800) 566-2706
Email:
All Notices:
Street: 801 S Grand, Suite 400
City: Los Angeles, CA 90017
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
Phone: (213) 269-5870
E-mail: [email protected]
Reference Numbers:
Duns: TBD
Federal Tax ID Number: TBD
Reference Numbers:
Duns:
Federal Tax ID Number:
Invoices:
Attn: Global Energy Asset Manager
Phone:
E-mail: [email protected]
Invoices:
Attn: CPA Settlements
Phone: (213) 269-5870
E-mail: [email protected]
Scheduling: N/A
Attn: N/A
Phone:
N/A
Email: N/A
Scheduling: TBD
Attn: Day Ahead Scheduling
Phone: (817) 303-1104
Email: [email protected]
Confirmations: N/A
Attn: N/A
Phone: N/A
Email: N/A
Confirmations:
Attn: Vice President, Power Supply
Phone: (213) 269-5870
E-mail: [email protected]
Payments:
Attn: Global Energy Asset Management
Phone:
E-mail: [email protected]
Payments:
Attn: Vice President, Power Supply
Phone: (213) 269-5870
E-mail: [email protected]
Wire Transfer:
BNK: Bank of America
ABA: 111000012
ACCT: XXXXXX8368
Wire Transfer:
BNK: River City Bank
ABA: 121133416
ACCT: XXXXXX8042
Agenda Page 577
Exhibit O – 1
EXHIBIT O
FORM OF CONSENT TO COLLATERAL ASSIGNMENT
This Consent to Collateral Assignment (this “Consent”) is entered into among (i) Clean Power Alliance of Southern California, a California joint powers authority (“CPA”), (ii) [Name of Seller], a [Legal Status of Seller] (the “Project Company”), and (iii) [Name of Collateral Agent], a [Legal Status of Collateral Agent], as Collateral Agent for the secured parties under the Financing Documents referred to below (such secured parties together with their successors permitted under this Consent in such capacity, the “Secured Parties”, and, such agent, together with its successors in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”). CPA, Project Company and Collateral Agent are hereinafter sometimes referred to individually as a “Party” and jointly as the “Parties”. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Consent shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the PPA (as defined below).
RECITALS
The Parties enter into this Consent with reference to the following facts:
A. Project Company and CPA have entered into that certain Renewable Power Purchase Agreement, dated as of [Date] [List all amendments as contemplated by Section 3.4] (“PPA”), pursuant to which Project Company will develop, construct, commission, test and operate the Storage Units (the “Project”) and sell the Product to CPA, and CPA will purchase the Product from Project Company;
B. As collateral for Project Company’s obligations under the PPA, Project Company has agreed to provide to CPA certain collateral, which may include Performance Security and Development Security and other collateral described in the PPA (collectively, the “PPA Collateral”);
C. Project Company has entered into that certain [Insert description of financing arrangements with Lender], dated as of [Date], among Project Company, the Lenders party thereto and the Collateral Agent (the “Financing Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Lenders have extended commitments to make loans to Project Company; D. As collateral security for Project Company’s obligations under the Financing Agreement and related agreements (collectively, the “Financing Documents”), Project Company has, among other things, assigned all of its right, title and interest in, to and under the PPA and Project’s Company’s owners have pledged their ownership interest in Project Company (collectively, the “Assigned Interest”) to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Financing Documents; and
E. It is a requirement under the Financing Agreement and the PPA that CPA and the other Parties hereto shall have executed and delivered this Consent.
AGREEMENT
Agenda Page 578
Exhibit O - 2
In consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound, the Parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT, ETC.
1.1 Consent and Agreement.
CPA hereby acknowledges:
(a) Notice of and consents to the assignment as collateral security to Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, of the Assigned Interest; and (b) The right (but not the obligation) of Collateral Agent in the exercise of its rights and remedies under the Financing Documents, to make all demands, give all notices, take all actions and exercise all rights of Project Company permitted under the PPA (subject to CPA’s rights and defenses under the PPA and the terms of this Consent) and accepts any such exercise; provided, insofar as the Collateral Agent exercises any such rights under the PPA or makes any claims with respect to payments or other obligations under the PPA, the terms and conditions of the PPA applicable to such exercise of rights or claims shall apply to Collateral Agent to the same extent as to Project Company.
1.2 Project Company’s Acknowledgement.
Each of Project Company and Collateral Agent hereby acknowledges and agrees that CPA is authorized to act in accordance with Collateral Agent’s instructions, and that CPA shall bear no liability to Project Company or Collateral Agent in connection therewith, including any liability for failing to act in accordance with Project Company’s instructions.
1.3 Right to Cure.
If Project Company defaults in the performance of any of its obligations under the PPA, or upon the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event or condition under the PPA which would immediately or with the passage of any applicable grace period or the giving of notice, or both, enable CPA to terminate or suspend its performance under the PPA (a “PPA Default”), CPA will not terminate or suspend its performance under the PPA until it first gives written notice of such PPA Default to Collateral Agent and affords Collateral Agent the right to cure such PPA Default within the applicable cure period under the PPA, which cure period shall run concurrently with that afforded Project Company under the PPA. In addition, if Collateral Agent gives CPA written notice prior to the expiration of the applicable cure period under the PPA of Collateral Agent’s intention to cure such PPA Default (which notice shall include a reasonable description of the time during which it anticipates to cure such PPA Default) and is diligently proceeding to cure such PPA Default, notwithstanding the applicable cure period under the PPA, Collateral Agent shall have a period of sixty (60) days (or, if such PPA Default is for failure by the Project Company to pay an amount to CPA which is due and payable under the PPA other than to provide PPA Collateral, thirty (30) days, or, if such PPA Default is for failure by Project Company to provide PPA Collateral, ten (10) Business Days) from the Collateral Agent’s receipt of the notice of such PPA Default from CPA to cure such PPA Default; provided, (a) if possession of the Project is
Agenda Page 579
Exhibit O - 3
necessary to cure any such non-monetary PPA Default and Collateral Agent has commenced foreclosure proceedings within sixty (60) days after notice of the PPA Default and is diligently pursuing such foreclosure proceedings, Collateral Agent will be allowed a reasonable time, not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days after the notice of the PPA Default, to complete such proceedings and cure such PPA Default, and (b) if Collateral Agent is prohibited from curing any such PPA Default by any process, stay or injunction issued by any Governmental Authority or pursuant to any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding or other similar proceeding involving Project Company, then the time periods specified herein for curing a PPA Default shall be extended for the period of such prohibition, so long as Collateral Agent has diligently pursued removal of such process, stay or injunction. Collateral Agent shall provide CPA with reports concerning the status of efforts to cure a PPA Default upon CPA’s reasonable request.
1.4 Substitute Owner.
Subject to Section 1.7, the Parties agree that if Collateral Agent notifies (such notice, a “Financing Document Default Notice”) CPA that an event of default has occurred and is continuing under the Financing Documents (a “Financing Document Event of Default”) then, upon a judicial foreclosure sale, non-judicial foreclosure sale, deed in lieu of foreclosure or other transfer following a Financing Document Event of Default, Collateral Agent (or its designee) shall be substituted for Project Company (the “Substitute Owner”) under the PPA, and, subject to Sections
1.7(b) and 1.7(c) below, CPA and Substitute Owner will recognize each other as counterparties under the PPA and will continue to perform their respective obligations (including those obligations accruing to CPA and the Project Company prior to the existence of the Substitute Owner) under the PPA in favor of each other in accordance with the termsthereof; provided, before CPA is required to recognize the Substitute Owner, the Substitute Owner must have demonstrated to CPA’s reasonable satisfaction that the Substitute Owner has financial qualifications and operating experience [TBD] (a “Permitted Transferee”). For purposes of the foregoing, CPA shall be entitled to assume that any such purported exercise of rights by Collateral Agent that results in substitution of a Substitute Owner under the PPA is in accordance with the Financing Documents without independent investigation thereof but shall have the right to require that the Collateral Agent and its designee (if applicable) provide reasonable evidence demonstrating the same.
1.5 Replacement Agreements.
Subject to Section 1.7, if the PPA is terminated, rejected or otherwise invalidated as a result of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar proceeding affecting Project Company, its owner(s) or guarantor(s), and if Collateral Agent or its designee directly or indirectly takes possession of, or title to, the Project (including possession by a receiver or title by foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure) (“Replacement Owner”), CPA shall, and Collateral Agent shall cause Replacement Owner to, enter into a new agreement with one another for the balance of the obligations under the PPA remaining to be performed having terms substantially the same as the terms of the PPA with respect to the remaining Term (“Replacement PPA”); provided, before CPA is required to enter into a Replacement PPA, the Replacement Owner must have demonstrated to CPA’s reasonable satisfaction that the Replacement Owner satisfies the requirements of a Permitted Transferee. For purposes of the foregoing, CPA is entitled to assume that any such purported exercise of rights by Collateral Agent that results in a Replacement Owner is in accordance with the Financing Documents without independent investigation thereof but shall
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Exhibit O - 4
have the right to require that the Collateral Agent and its designee (if applicable) provide reasonable evidence demonstrating the same. Notwithstanding the execution and delivery of a Replacement PPA, to the extent CPA is, or was otherwise prior to its termination as described in this Section 1.5, entitled under the PPA, CPA may suspend performance of its obligations under such Replacement PPA, unless and until all PPA Defaults of Project Company under the PPA or Replacement PPA have been cured.
1.6 Transfer.
Subject to Section 1.7, a Substitute Owner or a Replacement Owner may assign all of its interest in the Project and the PPA and a Replacement PPA to a natural person, corporation, trust, business trust, joint venture, joint stock company, association, company, limited liability company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity (a “Person”) to which the Project is transferred; provided, the proposed transferee shall have demonstrated to CPA’s reasonable satisfaction that such proposed transferee satisfies the requirements of a Permitted Transferee.
1.7 Assumption of Obligations.
(a) Transferee.
Any transferee under Section 1.6 shall expressly assume in a writing reasonably satisfactory to CPA all of the obligations of Project Company, Substitute Owner or Replacement Owner under the PPA or Replacement PPA, as applicable, including posting and collateral assignment of the PPA Collateral. Upon such assignment and the cure of any outstanding PPA Default, and payment of all other amounts due and payable to CPA in respect of the PPA or such Replacement PPA, the transferor shall be released from any further liability under the PPA or Replacement PPA, as applicable.
(b) Substitute Owner.
Subject to Section 1.7(c), any Substitute Owner pursuant to Section 1.4 shall be required to perform Project Company’s obligations under the PPA, including posting and collateral assignment of the PPA Collateral; provided, the obligations of such Substitute Owner shall be no more than those of Project Company under the PPA.
(c) No Liability.
CPA acknowledges and agrees that neither Collateral Agent nor any Secured Party shall have any liability or obligation under the PPA as a result of this Consent (except to the extent Collateral Agent or a Secured Party is a Substitute Owner or Replacement Owner) nor shall Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party be obligated or required to (i) perform any of Project Company’s obligations under the PPA, except as provided in Sections 1.7(a) and 1.7(b) and to the extent Collateral Agent or a Secured Party is a Substitute Owner or Replacement Owner, or (ii) take any action to collect or enforce any claim for payment assigned under the Financing Documents. If Collateral Agent becomes a Substitute Owner pursuant to Section 1.4 or enters into a Replacement PPA, Collateral Agent shall not have any personal liability to CPA under the PPA or Replacement PPA and the sole recourse of CPA in seeking enforcement of such obligations against Collateral Agent shall be to the aggregate interest of the Secured Parties in the Project;
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Exhibit O - 5
provided, such limited recourse shall not limit CPA’s right to seek equitable or injunctive relief against Collateral Agent, or CPA’s rights with respect to any offset rights expressly allowed under the PPA, a Replacement PPA or the PPA Collateral.
1.8 Delivery of Notices.
CPA shall deliver to Collateral Agent, concurrently with the delivery thereof to Project Company, a copy of each notice, request or demand given by CPA to Project Company pursuant to the PPA relating to (a) a PPA Default by Project Company under the PPA, (b) any claim regarding Force Majeure by CPA under the PPA, (c) any notice of dispute under the PPA, (d) any notice of intent to terminate or any termination notice, and (e) any matter that would require the consent of Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 1.11 or any other provision of this Consent. Collateral Agent acknowledges that delivery of such notice, request and demand shall satisfy CPA’s obligation to give Collateral Agent a notice of PPA Default under Section 1.3. Collateral Agent shall deliver to CPA, concurrently with delivery thereof to Project Company, a copy of each notice, request or demand given by Collateral Agent to Project Company pursuant to the Financing Documents relating to a default by Project Company under the Financing Documents.
1.9 Confirmations.
CPA will, as and when reasonably requested by Collateral Agent from time to time, confirm in writing matters relating to the PPA (including the performance of same by Project Company); provided, such confirmation may be limited to matters of which CPA is aware as of the time the confirmation is given and such confirmations shall be without prejudice to any rights of CPA under the PPA as between CPA and Project Company.
1.10 Exclusivity of Dealings.
Except as provided in Sections 1.3, 1.4, 1.8, 1.9 and 2.1, unless and until CPA receives a Financing Document Default Notice, CPA shall deal exclusively with Project Company in connection with the performance of CPA’s obligations under the PPA. From and after such time as CPA receives a Financing Document Default Notice and until a Substitute Owner is substituted for Project Company pursuant to Section 1.4, a Replacement PPA is entered into or the PPA is transferred to a Person to whom the Project is transferred pursuant to Section 1.6, CPA shall, until Collateral Agent confirms to CPA in writing that all obligations under the Financing Documents are no longer outstanding, deal exclusively with Collateral Agent in connection with the performance of CPA’s obligations under the PPA, and CPA may irrevocably rely on instructions provided by Collateral Agent in accordance therewith to the exclusion of those provided by any other Person.
1.11 No Amendments.
To the extent permitted by Laws, CPA agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of Collateral Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) (a) enter into any material supplement, restatement, novation, extension, amendment or modification of the PPA (b) terminate or suspend its performance under the PPA (except in accordance with Section 1.3) or (c) consent to or accept any termination or cancellation of the PPA by Project Company.
SECTION 2. PAYMENTS UNDER THE PPA
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Exhibit O - 6
2.1 Payments.
Unless and until CPA receives written notice to the contrary from Collateral Agent, CPA will make all payments to be made by it to Project Company under or by reason of the PPA directly to Project Company. CPA, Project Company, and Collateral Agent acknowledge that CPA will be deemed to be in compliance with the payment terms of the PPA to the extent that CPA makes payments in accordance with Collateral Agent’s instructions.
2.2 No Offset, Etc.
All payments required to be made by CPA under the PPA shall be made without any offset, recoupment, abatement, withholding, reduction or defense whatsoever, other than that expressly allowed by the terms of the PPA.
SECTION 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CPA
CPA makes the following representations and warranties as of the date hereof in favor of Collateral Agent:
3.1 Organization.
CPA is a joint powers authority and community choice aggregator duly organized and validly existing 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 . CPA has all requisite power and authority, corporate and otherwise, to enter into and to perform its obligations hereunder and under the PPA, and to carry out the terms hereof and thereof and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
3.2 Authorization.
The execution, delivery and performance by CPA of this Consent and the PPA have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action on the part of CPA and do not require any approval or consent of any holder (or any trustee for any holder) of any indebtedness or other obligation of CPA which, if not obtained, will prevent CPA from performing its obligations hereunder or under the PPA except approvals or consents which have previously been obtained and which are in full force and effect.
3.3 Execution and Delivery; Binding Agreements.
Each of this Consent and the PPA is in full force and effect, have been duly executed and delivered on behalf of CPA by the appropriate officers of CPA, and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of CPA, enforceable against CPA in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws of general application affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (b) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
3.4 No Default or Amendment.
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Exhibit O - 7
Except as set forth in Schedule A attached hereto: (a) Neither CPA nor, to CPA’s actual knowledge, Project Company, is in default of any of its obligations under the PPA; (b) CPA and, to CPA’s actual knowledge, Project Company, has complied with all conditions precedent to the effectiveness of its obligations under the PPA; (c) to CPA’s actual knowledge, no event or condition exists which would either immediately or with the passage of any applicable grace period or giving of notice, or both, enable either CPA or Project Company to terminate or suspend its obligations under the PPA; and (d) the PPA has not been amended, modified or supplemented in any manner except as set forth herein and in the recitals hereto.
3.5 No Previous Assignments.
CPA has no notice of, and has not consented to, any previous assignment by Project Company of all or any part of its rights under the PPA, except as previously disclosed in writing and consented to by CPA.
SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PROJECT COMPANY Project Company makes the following representations and warranties as of the date hereof in favor of the Collateral Agent and CPA:
4.1 Organization.
Project Company is a [Legal Status of Seller] duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the state of its organization, and is duly qualified, authorized to do business and in good standing in every jurisdiction in which it owns or leases real property or in which the nature of its business requires it to be so qualified, except where the failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, its ability to own its properties or its ability to transact its business. Project Company has all requisite power and authority, corporate and otherwise, to enter into and to perform its obligations hereunder and under the PPA, and to carry out the terms hereof and thereof and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
4.2 Authorization.
The execution, delivery and performance of this Consent by Project Company, and Project Company’s assignment of its right, title and interest in, to and under the PPA to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Financing Documents, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action on the part of Project Company.
4.3 Execution and Delivery; Binding Agreement.
This Consent is in full force and effect, has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of Project Company by the appropriate officers of Project Company, and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Project Company, enforceable against Project Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws of general application affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (b) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
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Exhibit O - 8
4.4 No Default or Amendment.
Except as set forth in Schedule B attached hereto: (a) neither Project Company nor, to Project Company’s actual knowledge, CPA, is in default of any of its obligations thereunder; (b) Project Company and, to Project Company’s actual knowledge, CPA, has complied with all conditions precedent to the effectiveness of its obligations under the PPA; (c) to Project Company’s actual knowledge, no event or condition exists which would either immediately or with the passage of any applicable grace period or giving of notice, or both, enable either CPA or Project Company to terminate or suspend its obligations under the PPA; and (d) the PPA has not been amended, modified or supplemented in any manner except as set forth herein and in the recitals hereto.
4.5 No Previous Assignments.
Project Company has not previously assigned all or any part of its rights under the PPA.
SECTION 5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COLLATERAL AGENT Collateral Agent makes the following representations and warranties as of the date hereof in favor of CPA and Project Company:
5.1 Authorization.
The execution, delivery and performance of this Consent by Collateral Agent have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action on the part of Collateral Agent and Secured Parties.
5.2 Execution and Delivery; Binding Agreement.
This Consent is in full force and effect, has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of Collateral Agent by the appropriate officers of Collateral Agent, and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Collateral Agent as Collateral Agent for the Secured Parties, enforceable against Collateral Agent (and the Secured Parties to the extent applicable) in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws of general application affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (b) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
SECTION 6. MICPALLANEOUS
6.1 Notices.
All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, shall be deemed given upon receipt thereof by the Party or Parties to whom such notice is addressed, shall refer on their face to the PPA (although failure to so refer shall not render any such notice or communication ineffective), shall be sent by first class mail, by personal delivery or by a nationally recognized courier service, and shall be directed (a) if to CPA or Project Company, in accordance with [Notice Section of the PPA] of the PPA, (b) if to Collateral Agent, to [Collateral Agent Name], [Collateral Agent Address], Attn: [Collateral Agent Contact Information], Telephone: [ ], Fax: [ ], and
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Exhibit O - 9
(c) to such other address or addressee as any such Party may designate by notice given pursuant hereto.
6.2 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction.
(a) THIS CONSENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND
THIS CONSENT AND ALL MATTERS ARISING OUT OF THIS CONSENT AND THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW OF
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY CONFLICTS OF LAWS
PROVISIONS THEREOF THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.
(b) All disputes, claims or controversies arising out of, relating to, concerning or pertaining to the terms of this Consent shall be governed by the dispute resolution provisions of the PPA. Subject to the foregoing, any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Consent and any action for enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof may be brought in the courts of the State of California or of the United States of America for the Central District of California, and, by execution and delivery of this Consent, each Party hereby accepts for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and appellate courts from any appeal thereof. Each Party further irrevocably consents to the service of process out of any of the aforementioned courts in any such action or proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to its notice address provided pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof. Each Party hereby irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any of the aforesaid actions or proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Consent brought in the courts referred to above and hereby further irrevocably waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Nothing herein shall affect the right of any Party to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
6.3 Headings Descriptive.
The headings of the several sections and subsections of this Consent are inserted for convenience only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Consent.
6.4 Severability.
In case any provision in or obligation under this Consent shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
6.5 Amendment, Waiver.
Neither this Consent nor any of the terms hereof may (a) be terminated, amended, supplemented or modified, except by an instrument in writing signed by CPA, Project Company and Collateral Agent or (b) waived, except by an instrument in writing signed by the waiving Party.
6.6 Termination.
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Exhibit O - 10
Each Party’s obligations hereunder are absolute and unconditional, and no Party has any right, and shall have no right, to terminate this Consent or to be released, relieved or discharged from any obligation or liability hereunder until CPA has been notified by Collateral Agent that all of the obligations under the Financing Documents shall have been satisfied in full (other than contingent indemnification obligations) or, with respect to the PPA or any Replacement PPA, its obligations under such PPA or Replacement PPA have been fully performed.
6.7 Successors and Assigns.
This Consent shall be binding upon each Party and its successors and assigns permitted under and in accordance with this Consent, and shall inure to the benefit of the other Parties and their respective successors and assignee permitted under and in accordance with this Consent. Each reference to a Person herein shall include such Person’s successors and assigns permitted under and in accordance with this Consent.
6.8 Further Assurances.
CPA hereby agrees to execute and deliver all such instruments and take all such action as may be necessary to effectuate fully the purposes of this Consent.
6.9 Waiver of Trial by Jury.
TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAWS, THE PARTIES HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ALL RIGHT OF TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION,
PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS CONSENT OR ANY MATTER ARISING HEREUNDER. EACH PARTY FURTHER
WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS
LEGAL COUNSEL, AND THAT IT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.
6.10 Entire Agreement.
This Consent and any agreement, document or instrument attached hereto or referred to herein integrate all the terms and conditions mentioned herein or incidental hereto and supersede all oral negotiations and prior writings in respect to the subject matter hereof. In the event of any conflict between the terms, conditions and provisions of this Consent and any such agreement, document or instrument, the terms, conditions and provisions of this Consent shall prevail.
6.11 Effective Date.
This Consent shall be deemed effective as of the date upon which the last Party executes this Consent.
6.12 Counterparts; Electronic Signatures.
This Consent may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original of this Consent and all of which, when taken together, will be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Consent and of signature pages by
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Exhibit O - 11
facsimile transmission, Portable Document Format (i.e., PDF), or by other electronic means shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Consent as to the Parties and may be used in lieu of the original Consent for all purposes.
[Remainder of Page Left Intentionally Blank.]
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Exhibit O - 12
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Consent to be duly executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers on the dates indicated below their respective signatures. [NAME OF PROJECT COMPANY],
[Legal Status of Project Company].
CLEAN POWER ALLIANCE OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA,
a California joint powers authority.
By:
[Name]
[Title]
Date:
By:
[Name]
[Title]
Date:
[NAME OF COLLATERAL AGENT],
[Legal Status of Collateral Agent].
By:
[Name]
[Title]
Date:
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Exhibit O - 13
SCHEDULE A
[Describe any disclosures relevant to representations and warranties made in Section 3.4]
Agenda Page 590
Exhibit P – 1
EXHIBIT P
MATERIAL PERMITS
No. Permits
1 City of Commerce Plan Check
2 City of Commerce Fire Plan Check
3 LA County Building Permit
4 LA County Electrical Permit
Agenda Page 591
Exhibit Q – 1
EXHIBIT Q
FORCE MAJEURE EVENT AND/OR DEVELOPMENT CURE PERIOD CLAIM FORM Instructions
A. Please review Article 10 and Exhibit B (if applicable) of the Power Purchase Agreement prior to filling out the form.
B. Fill out the form completely and return to your assigned Contract Manager at CPA.
Seller: [Name] Project: [Name]
Current Guaranteed Construction Start Date: [Date]
New Guaranteed Construction Start Date (if Seller’s claims are validated in full): [Date] Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date: [Date]
New Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date (if Seller’s claims are validated in full): [Date]
1. Please describe the claimed Force Majeure Event or other event giving rise to the claimed Development Cure Period delay(s) (the “Claimed Event”), including its cause, date of commencement and date it ended or is anticipated to end.
2. Please specify the extent of the delay or prevented performance caused by the Claimed Event, including the relief claimed thereby. Describe how the claimed relief was calculated/determined, accounting for individual developments causing such delay or prevented performance.
3. With respect to a Claimed Event other than a Force Majeure Event, please describe the commercially reasonable efforts taken by Seller to prevent such event.
4. Please describe the commercially reasonable efforts taken to mitigate the delays or nonperformance caused by the Claimed Event and specify how such efforts reduced the delay days or nonperformance that would otherwise have occurred absent such mitigation.
5. Please attach supporting documentation, including without limitation:
• Force Majeure notices or other correspondence received from suppliers and/or contractors that describe the basis for and extent of the Claimed Event. • Documentation, contracts, and/or correspondence with suppliers and/or contractors evidencing the claiming Party’s mitigation efforts.
• Project schedule and/or GANNT charts that demonstrate the effect of the Claimed Event
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Exhibit Q – 1
on the Guaranteed commercial Operation Date.
By signing this Claim form, I attest and affirm that I am authorized to sign this form on behalf of the Seller, that I have reviewed this Claim, including any attached documentation, and that the facts and statements made in this Claim are true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Signed:
Name:
Title:
Date:
Agenda Page 593
Exhibit R – 1
EXHIBIT R
METERING DIAGRAM
Agenda Page 594
Exhibit S – 1
EXHIBIT S
SUPPLY CHAIN CODE OF CONDUCT
Buyer is committed to ensuring that the fundamental human rights of workers are protected, including addressing the potential risks of forced labor, child labor, servitude, human trafficking and slavery across our portfolio.
Our requirements and expectations for Seller’s supply chain are detailed below in our Supply Chain Code of Conduct (“Supply Chain Code”). Seller must comply with all applicable Laws and this Supply Chain Code, even when this Supply Chain Code exceeds the requirements of applicable Law.
These standards are derived from the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the Core Conventions of the International Labour Organization (“ILO”), including the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Solar Energy Industries Association Solar Industry Commitment to Environmental & Social Responsibility, and the Responsible Business Alliance Code of Conduct.
1. Freely Chosen Employment
Forced, bonded (including debt bondage) or indentured labor, involuntary or exploitative prison labor, slavery or trafficking of persons is not permitted. This includes transporting, harboring, recruiting, transferring, or receiving persons by means of threat, force, coercion, abduction or fraud for labor or services. There shall be no unreasonable restrictions on workers’ freedom of movement in the facility in addition to unreasonable restrictions on entering or exiting company provided facilities including, if applicable, workers’ dormitories or living quarters. All work must be voluntary, and workers shall be free to leave work at any time or terminate their employment without penalty if reasonable notice is given as per worker’s contract. Employers, agents, and sub-agents’ may not hold or otherwise destroy, conceal, or confiscate identity or immigration documents, such as government-issued identification, passports, or work permits. Employers can only hold documentation if such holdings are required by law. In this case, at no time should workers be denied access to their documents. Workers shall not be required to pay employers’ agents or sub-agents’ recruitment fees or other related fees for their employment. If any such fees are found to have been paid by workers, such fees shall be repaid to the worker.
2. Young Workers
Child labor is not to be used in any stage of manufacturing. The term “child” refers to any person under the age of 15, or under the age for completing compulsory education, or under the minimum age for employment in the country, whichever is greatest. Suppliers shall implement an appropriate mechanism to verify the age of workers. The use of legitimate workplace learning programs, which comply with all laws and regulations, is supported.
Workers under the age of 18 shall not perform work that is likely to jeopardize their health or safety, including night shifts and overtime. Suppliers shall ensure proper management of student workers through proper maintenance of student records, rigorous due diligence of educational partners, and protection of students’ rights in accordance with applicable
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Exhibit S - 2
laws and regulations. Suppliers shall provide appropriate support and training to all student workers. In the absence of local law, the wage rate for student workers, interns, and apprentices shall be at least the same wage rate as other entry-level workers performing equal or similar tasks. If child labor is identified, assistance/remediation is provided.
3. Working Hours
Studies of business practices clearly link worker strain to reduced productivity, increased turnover, and increased injury and illness. Working hours are not to exceed the maximum set by local law. Further, a workweek should not be more than 60 hours per week, including overtime, except in emergency or unusual situations. All overtime must be voluntary.
Workers shall be allowed at least one day off every seven days.
4. Wages and Benefits
Compensation paid to workers shall comply with all applicable wage laws, including those relating to minimum wages, overtime hours and legally mandated benefits. In compliance with local laws, workers shall be compensated for overtime at pay rates greater than regular hourly rates. Deductions from wages as a disciplinary measure shall not be permitted. For each pay period, workers shall be provided with a timely and understandable wage statement that includes sufficient information to verify accurate compensation for work performed. All use of temporary, dispatch and outsourced labor will be within the limits of the local law.
5. Humane Treatment
There is to be no harsh or inhumane treatment including violence, gender-based violence, sexual harassment, sexual abuse, corporal punishment, mental or physical coercion, bullying, public shaming, or verbal abuse of workers; nor is there to be the threat of any such treatment. Disciplinary policies and procedures in support of these requirements shall be clearly defined and communicated to workers.
6. Non-Discrimination/Non-Harassment
Suppliers should be committed to a workplace free of harassment and unlawful discrimination. Companies shall not engage in discrimination or harassment based on race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ethnicity or national origin, disability, pregnancy, religion, political affiliation, union membership, covered veteran status, protected genetic information or marital status in hiring and employment practices such as wages, promotions, rewards, and access to training. Workers shall be provided with reasonable accommodation for religious practices. In addition, workers or potential workers should not be subjected to medical tests that could be used in a discriminatory way or otherwise in violation of applicable law. This was drafted in consideration of ILO Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention (No.111).
7. Freedom of Association
In conformance with local law, Suppliers shall respect the right of all workers to form and join trade unions of their own choosing, to bargain collectively, and to engage in peaceful assembly as well as respect the right of workers to refrain from such activities. Workers and/or their representatives shall be able to openly communicate and share ideas and concerns with management regarding working conditions and management practices
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Exhibit S - 3
without fear of discrimination, reprisal, intimidation, or harassment.
8. Restricted Jurisdictions
Supplier shall not manufacture or produce products in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, or knowingly procure goods and services mined, produced or manufactured in the same.
Agenda Page 597
RENEWABLE POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT
COVER SHEET
Seller: ESCA-PLD-EAVES2, a Delaware Limited Liability Company Buyer: Clean Power Alliance of Southern California, a California joint powers authority Description of Facility: A 0.67 MW photovoltaic generating facility located on the rooftop of a commercial industrial warehousing and logistics building located at 6201-6211 Randolph Street, Commerce, CA 90040.
Milestones:
Milestone Expected Date for Completion
Evidence of Site Control Completed
Documentation of Conditional Use Permit if required:
CEQA [ ] Cat Ex, [X] Neg Dec, [ ] Mitigated Neg Dec,
[X] EIR
08/01/2024
Executed Interconnection Agreement 11/03/2023
Financial Close
Expected Construction Start Date
Initial Synchronization 01/31/2025
Network Upgrades completed (evidenced by delivery of
permission to parallel letter from the Transmission
Provider or communication from the Transmission
Provider that Network Upgrades are not necessary)
09/01/2024
Expected Date of CAISO Commercial Operation 05/01/2025
Expected Commercial Operation Date 06/01/2025
Delivery Term: Twenty (20) Contract Years
Delivery Term Expected Energy:
Contract Year Expected Energy (MWh)
1 1,708
2 3
4 5
Agenda Page 598
6 7
8 9
10 11
12 13
14 15
16 17
18 19
20 Guaranteed Capacity: 0.67 MW of total Facility capacity Guaranteed Construction Start Date: September 1, 2024
Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date: June 1, 2025
Contract Price: The Contract Price shall be:
Contract Year Contract Price ($/MWh)
1 – 20 MWh (flat) with no
escalation
Low-Income Community Bonus Contract Price:
Contract Year Contract Price ($/MWh)
1 – 20 MWh (flat) with no
escalation
Product:
☒ Energy
☒ Green Attributes (if Renewable Energy Credit, please check the applicable box below):
☒ Portfolio Content Category 1
☐ Portfolio Content Category 2
☐ Portfolio Content Category 3
Scheduling Coordinator: Buyer
Development Security: $90/kW of Guaranteed Capacity
Agenda Page 599
Performance Security: $90/kW of Guaranteed Capacity
Agenda Page 600
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS.............................................................................................. 1
1.1 Contract Definitions............................................................................................ 1
1.2 Rules of Interpretation.......................................................................................17 ARTICLE 2 TERM; CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.........................................................18
2.1 Contract Term...................................................................................................18
2.2 Conditions Precedent.........................................................................................19
2.3 Development; Construction; Progress Reports ................................................... 20
2.4 Remedial Action Plan........................................................................................ 21
2.5 Low-Income Community Bonus .......................................................................21 ARTICLE 3 PURCHASE AND SALE ............................................................................ 21
3.1 Sale of Product .................................................................................................. 21
3.2 Sale of Green Attributes.................................................................................... 21
3.3 Compensation.................................................................................................... 21
3.4 Imbalance Energy.............................................................................................. 22
3.5 Ownership of Renewable Energy Incentives...................................................... 22
3.6 Future Environmental Attributes........................................................................ 22
3.7 Test Energy. ...................................................................................................... 23
3.8 [Reserved]......................................................................................................... 23
3.9 [Reserved]......................................................................................................... 23
3.10 [Reserved]......................................................................................................... 23
3.11 CEC Verification and Certification..................................................................... 23
3.12 Eligibility.......................................................................................................... 23
3.13 California Renewables Portfolio Standard......................................................... 24
3.14 Compliance Expenditure Cap. ........................................................................... 24
3.15 Project Configuration......................................................................................... 24 ARTICLE 4 OBLIGATIONS AND DELIVERIES.......................................................... 25
4.1 Delivery ............................................................................................................ 25
4.2 Title and Risk of Loss........................................................................................25
4.3 Forecasting ....................................................................................................... 26
4.4 Dispatch Down/Curtailment...............................................................................27
4.5 Reduction in Delivery Obligation. .....................................................................28
4.6 Guaranteed Energy Production ..........................................................................29
4.7 WREGIS...........................................................................................................29 ARTICLE 5 TAXES........................................................................................................ 31
5.1 Allocation of Taxes and Charges ....................................................................... 31
5.2 Cooperation ....................................................................................................... 31 ARTICLE 6 MAINTENANCE OF THE FACILITY ....................................................... 31
Agenda Page 601
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
6.1 Maintenance of the Facility ............................................................................... 31
6.2 Maintenance of Health and Safety ..................................................................... 31
6.3 Shared Facilities................................................................................................ 32 ARTICLE 7 METERING................................................................................................ 32
7.1 Metering............................................................................................................ 32
7.2 Meter Verification ............................................................................................. 32 ARTICLE 8 INVOICING AND PAYMENT; CREDIT ................................................... 33
8.1 Invoicing........................................................................................................... 33
8.2 Payment ............................................................................................................ 33
8.3 Books and Records............................................................................................ 33
8.4 Payment Adjustments; Billing Errors................................................................. 34
8.5 Billing Disputes................................................................................................. 34
8.6 Netting of Payments.......................................................................................... 34
8.7 Seller’s Development Security........................................................................... 34
8.8 Seller’s Performance Security............................................................................ 34
8.9 First Priority Security Interest in Cash or Cash Equivalent Collateral................. 35 ARTICLE 9 NOTICES....................................................................................................36
9.1 Addresses for the Delivery of Notices................................................................36
9.2 Acceptable Means of Delivering Notice.............................................................36 ARTICLE 10 FORCE MAJEURE.....................................................................................36
10.1 Definition..........................................................................................................36
10.2 No Liability If a Force Majeure Event Occurs ...................................................37
10.3 Notice ...............................................................................................................37
10.4 Termination Following Force Majeure Event.....................................................37 ARTICLE 11 DEFAULTS; REMEDIES; TERMINATION...............................................38
11.1 Events of Default...............................................................................................38
11.2 Remedies; Declaration of Early Termination Date ............................................. 40
11.3 Damage Payment; Termination Payment........................................................... 40
11.4 Notice of Payment of Termination Payment or Damage Payment ...................... 42
11.5 Disputes With Respect to Termination Payment or Damage Payment................ 42
11.6 Limitation on Seller’s Ability to Make or Agree to Third-Party Sales from the Facility after Early Termination Date........................................................... 42
11.7 Rights And Remedies Are Cumulative .............................................................. 42
11.8 Mitigation ......................................................................................................... 42 ARTICLE 12 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND EXCLUSION OF
WARRANTIES........................................................................................... 43
Agenda Page 602
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
12.1 No Consequential Damages............................................................................... 43
12.2 Waiver and Exclusion of Other Damages .......................................................... 43 ARTICLE 13 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; AUTHORITY..................... 44
13.1 Seller’s Representations and Warranties............................................................ 44
13.2 Buyer’s Representations and Warranties............................................................ 45
13.3 General Covenants ............................................................................................46
13.4 Workforce Development ...................................................................................46 ARTICLE 14 ASSIGNMENT...........................................................................................46
14.1 General Prohibition on Assignments..................................................................46
14.2 Collateral Assignment .......................................................................................46
14.3 Permitted Assignment by Seller.........................................................................47
14.4 Shared Facilities; Portfolio Financing ................................................................47
14.5 Sale or Transfer of Site......................................................................................47 ARTICLE 15 DISPUTE RESOLUTION ...........................................................................47
15.1 Governing Law ................................................................................................. 47
15.2 Dispute Resolution ............................................................................................48
15.3 Attorneys’ Fees................................................................................................. 48
15.4 Venue ...............................................................................................................48 ARTICLE 16 INDEMNIFICATION .................................................................................48
16.1 Indemnification ................................................................................................. 48
16.2 Claims...............................................................................................................48 ARTICLE 17 INSURANCE..............................................................................................49
17.1 Insurance ...........................................................................................................49 ARTICLE 18 CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ............................................................51
18.1 Definition of Confidential Information .............................................................. 51
18.2 Duty to Maintain Confidentiality ....................................................................... 51
18.3 Irreparable Injury; Remedies............................................................................. 52
18.4 Further Permitted Disclosure ............................................................................. 52
18.5 Press Releases................................................................................................... 52 ARTICLE 19 MISCELLANEOUS.................................................................................... 52
19.1 Entire Agreement; Integration; Exhibits ............................................................. 52
19.2 Amendments..................................................................................................... 52
19.3 No Waiver......................................................................................................... 52
19.4 No Agency, Partnership, Joint Venture or Lease ................................................ 53
19.5 Severability ....................................................................................................... 53
19.6 Mobile-Sierra .................................................................................................... 53
Agenda Page 603
iv
19.7 Counterparts...................................................................................................... 53
19.8 Electronic Delivery............................................................................................ 53
19.9 Binding Effect................................................................................................... 53
19.10 No Recourse to Members of Buyer .................................................................... 53
19.11 Forward Contract............................................................................................... 54
19.12 Changes in Electric Market Design .................................................................... 54
19.13 Further Assurances............................................................................................ 54 Exhibits:
Exhibit A Facility Description
Exhibit B Facility Construction and Commercial Operation Exhibit C Reserved
Exhibit D Scheduling Coordinator Responsibilities
Exhibit E Form of Progress Reporting Form
Exhibit F-1 Form of Annual Expected Facility Energy Report Exhibit F-2 Form of Monthly Expected Facility Energy Report Exhibit G Guaranteed Energy Production Damages Calculation Exhibit H Form of Commercial Operation Date Certificate Exhibit I Form of Installed Capacity Certificate
Exhibit J Form of Construction Start Date Certificate
Exhibit K Form of Letter of Credit
Exhibit L [Reserved]
Exhibit M [Reserved]
Exhibit N Notices
Exhibit O Form of Consent to Collateral Assignment
Exhibit P Material Permits
Exhibit Q Force Majeure Event and/or Development Cure Period Claim Form Exhibit R Metering Diagram
Exhibit S Supply Chain Code of Conduct
Agenda Page 604
1 RENEWABLE POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This Renewable Power Purchase Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into as of (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, construct, own, and operate the Facility; and
WHEREAS, Seller desires to sell, and Buyer desires to purchase, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Product;
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 agree to the following:
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 3.14(c). “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 and the definition of “Permitted Transferee”, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under 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. “Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble and includes the Cover Sheet and any Exhibits, schedules and any written supplements hereto. “Approval Application” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c). “Approved Forecast Vendor” means (x) any of the CAISO or (y) any other vendor reasonably acceptable to both Buyer and Seller for the purposes of providing or verifying the forecasts under Section 4.3(d).
Agenda Page 605
2 “Availability Incentive Payments” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “Available Capacity” means the capacity of the Facility, expressed in whole MWs, that is available to generate Energy.
“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.
“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” has the meaning set forth on the Cover Sheet.
“Buyer Bid Curtailment” means the occurrence of both of the following:
(a) the CAISO provides notice to a Party or the SC for the Facility, requiring the Party to deliver less Facility Energy than the full amount forecasted in accordance with Section 4.3 for a period of time; and
(b) for the same time period as referenced in (a), Buyer or the SC for the Facility did not submit a Self-Schedule for the MWhs subject to the reduction.
If the Facility is subject to a Planned Outage, Forced Facility Outage, Force Majeure Event and/or a Curtailment Period during the same time period as referenced in (a), then the calculation of Deemed Delivered Energy during such period shall not include any Facility Energy that was not generated due to such Planned Outage, Forced Facility Outage, Force Majeure Event or Curtailment Period.
“Buyer Curtailment Order” means the instruction from Buyer to Seller to reduce Facility Energy from the Facility by the amount, and for the period of time, set forth in such instruction for reasons unrelated to a Planned Outage, Forced Facility Outage, Force Majeure Event and/or Curtailment Order.
“Buyer Curtailment Period” means the period of time, as measured using relevant Settlement Intervals, during which Seller reduces Facility Energy from the Facility pursuant to or as a result of (a) a Buyer Bid Curtailment, (b) a Buyer Curtailment Order or (c) a Buyer Default, in each case that directly causes Seller to be unable to deliver Facility Energy to the Delivery Point; provided, the duration of any Buyer Curtailment Period shall be inclusive of the time required for the Facility to ramp down and ramp up.
“Buyer Default” means an Event of Default of Buyer.
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3 “Buyer’s Indemnified Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 18.2. “Buyer’s WREGIS Account” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(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 Facility Energy delivered to the Delivery Point.
“CAISO Charges Invoice” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit D. “CAISO Commercial Operation” has the meaning of “Commercial Operation” set forth in the CAISO Tariff.
“CAISO Costs” means the debits, costs, penalties and interest that are directly assigned by the CAISO to the CAISO Resource ID for the Facility for, or attributable to, Scheduling or deliveries from the Facility under this Agreement in each applicable Settlement Interval. “CAISO Grid” has the same meaning as “CAISO Controlled Grid” as defined in the CAISO Tariff.
“CAISO Resource ID” has the same meaning as “Resource ID” as defined in the CAISO Tariff.
“CAISO Revenues” means the credits and other payments incurred or received by Seller, as the Facility’s Scheduling Coordinator, as a result of Scheduling or Facility Energy from the Facility delivered by Seller to any CAISO administered market, including costs and revenues associated with CAISO dispatches, for each applicable Settlement Interval. “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 Damages” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit B. “CEC” means the California Energy Commission or its successor agency. “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
Agenda Page 607
4 Operation Date, that the CEC has pre-certified) that the Facility is an Eligible Renewable Energy Resource for purposes of the California Renewables Portfolio Standard and that all Facility 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.
“Change of Control” means, except in connection with public market transactions of equity interests or capital stock of Seller’s Ultimate Parent, any circumstance in which Ultimate Parent ceases to own, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediate entities, more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding equity interests in Seller; provided, 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) shall be excluded from the total outstanding equity interests in Seller. “COD Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit B. “Commercial Operation” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit B. “Commercial Operation Date” means the date Commercial Operation is achieved. “Commercial Operation Delay Damages” means an amount equal to (a) the Development Security amount required hereunder, divided by (b) ninety (90). “Compliance Actions” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.14(a). “Compliance Expenditure Cap” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.14. “Confidential Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 18.1. “Consent to Collateral Assignment” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.2. “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; provided, if the ITC or PTC rate for the Facility includes the Low-Income Community Bonus, then the Low-Income Community Bonus Contract Price shall apply as of the earliest date the Low-Income Community Bonus is in effect for Seller.
“Contract Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
Agenda Page 608
5 “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 successor entity. “CPUC Approval” means a final and non-appealable order, decision, or disposition of the CPUC, without conditions or modifications unacceptable to the Parties, or either of them, which approves this Agreement in its entirety, including payments to be made by Buyer, subject to CPUC review of Buyer’s administration of this Agreement. CPUC Approval will be deemed to have occurred on the date that a CPUC order, decision, or disposition containing such findings becomes final and non-appealable.
“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.
“Cure Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1(b)(iii). “Curtailed Energy” means the amount of energy expressed in MWh that the Facility would have produced and delivered to the Delivery Point, but that is not produced by the Facility and delivered to the Delivery Point during a Curtailment Period, which amount shall be equal to the Real-Time Forecast, expressed in MWh, applicable to the Curtailment Period, less the amount of Facility Energy delivered to the Delivery Point during the Curtailment Period; provided, if the Facility Energy is greater than the calculation of potential generation, then the Curtailed Energy shall be zero (0).
“Curtailment Order” means any of the following:
(a) CAISO orders, directs, alerts, or provides notice to a Party, including a CAISO Operating Order, to curtail deliveries of Facility Energy for the following reasons: (i) any System Emergency, or (ii) any warning of an anticipated System Emergency, or warning of an imminent condition or situation, which jeopardizes CAISO’s electric system integrity or the integrity of other systems to which CAISO is connected, or (iii) in response to an Energy oversupply or potential
Agenda Page 609
6 Energy oversupply, and Buyer or the SC for the Facility submitted a Self-Schedule for the MWhs curtailed corresponding to the MWhs in the VER forecast for the Facility during the relevant time period;
(b) a curtailment ordered by the Transmission Provider for reasons including, but not limited to, (i) any situation that affects normal function of the electric system including, but not limited to, any abnormal condition that requires action to prevent circumstances such as equipment damage, loss of load, or abnormal voltage conditions, or (ii) any warning, forecast or anticipation of conditions or situations that jeopardize the Transmission Provider’s electric system integrity or the integrity of other systems to which the Transmission Provider is connected; (c) a curtailment ordered by CAISO or the Transmission Provider due to a Transmission System Outage; or
(d) a curtailment in accordance with Seller’s obligations under its Interconnection Agreement with the Transmission Provider or distribution operator. “Curtailment Period” means the period of time, as measured using current Settlement Intervals, during which Seller reduces generation from the Facility pursuant to a Curtailment Order; provided, the Curtailment Period shall be inclusive of the time required for the Facility to ramp down and ramp up.
“Daily Delay Damages” means an amount equal to (a) the Development Security amount required hereunder, divided by (b) one hundred twenty (120). “Damage Payment” means the amount to be paid by the Defaulting Party to the Non-Defaulting Party after a Terminated Transaction occurring prior to the Commercial Operation Date, in a dollar amount as set forth in Section 11.3(a). “Day-Ahead Forecast” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(c). “Day-Ahead Market” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “Day-Ahead Schedule” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “Deemed Delivered Energy” means the amount of energy expressed in MWh that the Facility would have produced and delivered to the Delivery Point, but that is not produced by the Facility during a Buyer Curtailment Period, which amount shall be equal to the Real-Time Forecast, expressed in MWh, applicable to the Buyer Curtailment Period, as applicable, less the amount of Facility Energy delivered to the Delivery Point during the Buyer Curtailment Period, as applicable; provided, if the Facility Energy is greater than the calculation of potential generation, then the Deemed Delivered Energy shall be zero (0).
“Defaulting Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1(a). “Deficient Month” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(e). “Delay Damages” means Daily Delay Damages and Commercial Operation Delay Damages.
Agenda Page 610
7 “Delivery Point” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit A. “Delivery Term” shall mean the period of Contract Years set forth on the Cover Sheet beginning on the Commercial Operation Date, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
“Development Cure Period” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit B. “Development Security” means (i) cash, or (ii) a Letter of Credit in the amount set forth on the Cover Sheet.
“Disadvantaged Communities” or “DAC” has the meaning set forth in CPUC Decision 18-06-027 as communities that are defined in the CalEnviroScreen 4.0 (or any successor version) as among the top twenty-five percent (25%) of census tracts statewide, plus the census tracts in the highest five percent (5%) of CalEnviroScreen’s Pollution Burden that do not have an overall CalEnviroScreen score because of unreliable socioeconomic or health data. “Disclosing Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 18.2. “Early Termination Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2. “Effective Date” has the meaning set forth on the Preamble. “Electrical Losses” means all transmission or transformation losses between the Facility and the Delivery Point.
“Eligible Intermittent Resource Protocol” or “EIRP” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff or a successor CAISO program for intermittent resources. “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 electrical energy generated by the Facility, measured in kilowatt-hours or multiple units thereof.
“Energy Replacement Damages” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6. “Event of Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1. “Excess MWh” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(b). “Expected Commercial Operation Date” has the meaning set forth on the Cover Sheet. “Expected Construction Start Date” has the meaning set forth on the Cover Sheet. “Expected Energy” means the quantity of Energy that Seller expects to be able to deliver to Buyer from the Facility during each Contract Year in the quantity specified on the Cover Sheet. “Facility” means the solar photovoltaic generating facility described on the Cover Sheet
Agenda Page 611
8 and in Exhibit A, located at the Site and including mechanical equipment and associated facilities and equipment required to deliver Facility Energy to the Delivery Point. “Facility Energy” means the Energy during any Settlement Interval or Settlement Period, net of Electrical Losses and Station Use, as measured by the Facility Meter. “Facility Meter” means the CAISO approved revenue quality meter or meters (with a 0.3 accuracy class), 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 Facility Energy delivered to the Facility Metering Point for the purpose of invoicing in accordance with Section 8.1. For clarity, the Facility may contain multiple measurement devices that will make up the Facility Meter, and, unless otherwise indicated, references to the Facility Meter shall mean all such measurement devices and the aggregated data of all such measurement devices, taken together. “Facility Metering Point” means the location(s) of the Facility Meter(s) shown in Exhibit R. “FERC” means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or any successor government agency.
“Fifteen Minute Market” or “FMM” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “Financial Close” means Seller and/or one of its Affiliates has obtained debt and/or equity financing commitments from one or more Lenders sufficient to construct the Facility, including such financing commitments from Seller’s owner(s).
“Force Majeure Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1. “Forecasted Product” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(b). “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. “Forward Certificate Transfers” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(a). “Future Environmental Attributes” shall mean any and all Green Attributes that become recognized under applicable Law after the Effective Date (and not before the Effective Date), notwithstanding the last sentence of the definition of “Green Attributes” herein. Future Environmental Attributes do not include 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 quotations (either firm or indicative) of relevant rates, prices, yields,
Agenda Page 612
9 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. “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, “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 (including under the RPS regulations and/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)), 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; and (3) the reporting rights to such avoided emissions, such as Green Tag Reporting Rights. Green Attributes do not include (i) any energy, capacity, reliability or other power attributes from the Facility, (ii) 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, or (iii) emission reduction credits encumbered or used by the Facility for compliance with local, state, or federal operating and/or air quality permits. Green Attributes under the preceding definition are limited to Green Attributes that exist under applicable Law as of the Effective Date. “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. “Green Tags” means a unit accumulated on a MWh basis where one (1) represents the Green Attributes associated with one (1) MWh of Facility Energy. “Green-e Certified” means the Green Attributes provided to Buyer pursuant to this Agreement are certified under the Green-e Energy National Standard. “Green-e Energy National Standard” means the Green-e Renewable Energy Standard for Canada and the United States (formerly Green-e Energy National Standard) version 4.2,
Agenda Page 613
10 updated April 27, 2023, as may be further amended from time to time. “Guaranteed Capacity” means the generating capacity of the Facility, as measured in MW AC at the Delivery Point, that Seller commits to install pursuant to this Agreement, as set forth on the Cover Sheet.
“Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date” has the meaning set forth on the Cover Sheet, subject to extension pursuant to Exhibit B.
“Guaranteed Construction Start Date” has the meaning set forth on the Cover Sheet, subject to extension pursuant to Exhibit B.
“Guaranteed Energy Production” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6. “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.
“Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.1(a). “Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.1(a). “Initial Synchronization” means the commencement of Trial Operations (as defined in the CAISO Tariff).
“Installed Capacity” means the actual generating capacity of the Facility, as measured in MW AC at the Delivery Point, that achieves Commercial Operation, as evidenced by a certificate substantially in the form attached as Exhibit I hereto. “Inter-SC Trade” or “IST” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “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 Capacity Limit” means the maximum instantaneous amount of Energy that is permitted to be delivered to the Delivery Point under Seller’s Interconnection Agreement, in the amount of the Guaranteed Capacity.
“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. “IP Indemnity Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.1(b).
Agenda Page 614
11 “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 June 27, 2017, as amended from time to time, under which Buyer is organized as a Joint Powers Authority in accordance with the Joint Powers Act.
“kWh” means a kilowatt-hour measured in alternating current, unless expressly stated in terms of direct current.
“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, equity or tax equity financing or refinancing for or in connection with the development, construction, purchase, installation or operation of the Facility, whether that financing or refinancing takes the form of private debt (including back-leverage debt), equity (including tax equity), public debt or any other form (including financing or refinancing provided to a member or other direct or indirect owner of Seller), including any equity or tax equity investor directly or indirectly providing financing or refinancing for the Facility or purchasing equity ownership interests of Seller and/or its Affiliates, 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 and/or (iii) participating in a lease financing (including a sale leaseback or leveraged leasing structure) with respect to 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 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, 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. “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 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
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12 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 and Renewable Energy Incentives.
“Lost Output” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6. “Low-Income Community Bonus” has the meaning set forth in H.R. 5376 Section 13103. “Low-Income Community Bonus Contract Price” has the meaning set forth on the Cover Sheet.
“Material Permits” means all permits required for Seller to commence construction, as set forth on Exhibit P.
“Milestones” means the development activities for significant permitting, interconnection, financing and construction milestones set forth on the Cover Sheet. “Monthly Forecast” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(b). “Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or its successor. “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 Period or Settlement Interval, whether in the Day-Ahead Market or Real-Time Market, the LMP at the Facility’s Pnode is less than zero dollars ($0).
“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).
“Party” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Performance Measurement Period” means the prior 24-month period measured from the end of each Contract Year commencing in the second Contract Year. “Performance Security” means (i) cash or (ii) a Letter of Credit in the amount set forth on the Cover Sheet.
“Permitted Transferee” means (i) any Affiliate of Seller, or (ii) any entity that satisfies, or is controlled by another Person that satisfies, the following requirements:
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13 (a) A tangible net worth of not less than one hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) or a Credit Rating of at least BBB- from S&P, BBB- from Fitch, or Baa3 from Moody’s; and
(b) At least two (2) years of experience in the ownership and operations of power generation facilities similar to the Facility, or has retained a third-party with such experience to operate the Facility.
“Person” means any individual, sole proprietorship, corporation, limited liability company, limited or general partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, incorporated organization, institution, public benefit corporation, unincorporated organization, government entity or other entity.
“Planned Outage” means a period during which the Facility is either in whole or in part not capable of providing service due to planned maintenance that has been scheduled in advance in accordance with Section 4.5(a).
“Pnode” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff.
“Portfolio” means the single portfolio of electrical energy generating or other assets and entities, including the Facility (or the interests of Seller or Seller’s Affiliates or the interests of their respective direct or indirect parent companies), that is pledged as collateral security in connection with a Portfolio Financing.
“Portfolio Content Category” means PCC1, PCC2 or PCC3, as applicable. “Portfolio Content Category 1” or “PCC1” 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)(1), as may be amended from time to time or as further defined or supplemented by Law. “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. “Portfolio Financing” means any debt incurred by an Affiliate of Seller that is secured only by a Portfolio.
“Portfolio Financing Entity” means any Affiliate of Seller that incurs debt in connection with any Portfolio Financing.
“Product” has the meaning on the Cover Sheet.
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14 “Production Tax Credit” or “PTC” means the production tax credit for wind-powered electric generating facilities described in Section 45 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time.
“Progress Report” means a progress report including the items set forth in Exhibit E. “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 industry during the relevant time period with respect to grid-interconnected generating facilities 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, distributed-scale generating facilities in the Western United States. Prudent Operating Practice shall include compliance with applicable Laws, applicable reliability criteria, and the applicable 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.
“Real-Time Forecast” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(d). “Real-Time Market” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “Real-Time Price” means the Resource-Specific Settlement Interval LMP as defined in the CAISO Tariff. If there is more than one applicable Real-Time Price for the same period of time, Real-Time Price shall mean the price associated with the smallest time interval. “Receiving Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 18.2. “Reliability Network Upgrades” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “Remedial Action Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4. “Renewable Energy Credit” has the meaning set forth in California Public Utilities Code Section 399.12(h), as may be amended from time to time or as further defined or supplemented by Law.
“Renewable Energy Incentives” means: (a) all federal, state, or local Tax credits or other Tax benefits associated with the construction, ownership, or production of electricity from the Facility (including credits under Sections 38, 45, 46 and 48 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended); (b) any federal, state, or local grants, subsidies or other like benefits relating in any way to the Facility, including a cash grant available under Section 1603 of Division B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, in lieu of federal Tax credits or any similar or substitute payment available under subsequently enacted federal legislation; and (c) any other form of incentive relating in any way to the Facility that is not a Green Attribute or Future Environmental Attribute.
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15 “Replacement Energy” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit G. “Replacement Green Attributes” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit G. “Replacement Product” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit G. “Requested Confidential Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 18.2. “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, and/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.
“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 4.7(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. “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
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16 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, any such update to the Site that includes real property that was not originally contained within the Site boundaries described in Exhibit A shall be subject to Buyer’s approval of such updates in its sole discretion. “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.
“SP-15” means the Existing Zone Generation Trading Hub for Existing Zone region SP15 as set forth in the CAISO Tariff.
“Station Use” means the Energy (including Energy produced or discharged by the Facility) that is used within the Facility to power the lights, motors, temperature control systems, control systems and other electrical loads that are necessary for operation of the Facility. “Supply Chain Code” has the meaning in Exhibit S.
“System Emergency” means any condition that requires, as determined and declared by CAISO or the Transmission Provider, 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 and/or federal production tax credit, depreciation benefit, tax deduction and/or investment tax credit specific to the production of renewable energy and/or investments in renewable energy facilities. “Terminated Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2(a). “Termination Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.3(b). “Test Energy” means Facility Energy delivered (a) commencing on the later of (i) the first date that the CAISO informs Seller in writing that Seller may deliver Facility Energy to the CAISO and (ii) the first date that the Transmission Provider informs Seller in writing that Seller has conditional or temporary permission to operate in parallel with the CAISO Grid, and (b) ending upon the occurrence of the Commercial Operation Date.
“Test Energy Rate” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7. “Transmission Provider” means any entity that owns, operates and maintains transmission or distribution lines and associated facilities and/or has entitlements to use certain
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17 transmission or distribution lines and associated facilities for the purpose of transmitting or transporting the Facility Energy from the Delivery Point. “Transmission System” means the transmission facilities operated by the CAISO, now or hereafter in existence, which provide energy transmission service downstream from the Delivery Point.
“Transmission System Outage” means an outage on the Transmission System, other than a System Emergency, that is not caused by Seller’s actions or inactions and that prevents Buyer or the CAISO (as applicable) from receiving System Energy onto the Transmission System. “Ultimate Parent” means Prologis Inc., a Maryland Corporation. “Variable Energy Resource” or “VER” has the meaning set forth in the CAISO Tariff. “WECC” means the Western Electricity Coordinating Council or its successor. “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 4.7(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; (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 shall mean 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
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18 or this Agreement;
(f) a reference to a Person includes that Person’s successors and permitted assigns;
(g) the terms “include” and “including” mean “include or including (as applicable) without limitation” and any list of examples following such term shall in no way restrict or limit the generality of the word 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) the expression “and/or” when used as a conjunction shall connote “any or all of”;
(l) 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
(m) 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 (“Contract Term”); provided, 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
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19 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 shall remain in full force and effect for two (2) years following the termination of this Agreement, and all indemnity and audit rights shall remain in full force and effect for one (1) year following the termination of this Agreement. (c) Within one hundred eighty (180) days following Seller’s receipt of notification from Buyer that Seller was shortlisted by Buyer for negotiation of this Agreement, or such later timeframe as may be approved by the director of the CPUC Energy Division or his/her/their designee, Buyer will submit this Agreement to the CPUC via a Tier 2 advice letter seeking an order that, after issuance and the passage of time, would constitute a CPUC Approval (“Approval Application”). Seller agrees to cooperate with Buyer in preparing and filing the Approval Application and to actively support that application, as reasonably requested by Buyer.
If CPUC Approval of this Agreement is not obtained within one hundred eighty (180) days following the Effective Date, then either Party may terminate this Agreement upon written Notice to the other Party. Upon such termination, neither Party shall have any liability to the other Party, save and except for those obligations specified in Section 2.1(b), and Buyer shall promptly return to Seller any Development Security then held by Buyer, less any amounts drawn in accordance with this Agreement.
(d)
2.2 Conditions Precedent. The Delivery Term shall not commence until Seller completes to Buyer’s reasonable satisfaction each of the following conditions, which Buyer shall, if submitted by Seller within five (5) Business Days of the expected Commercial Operation Date, review and either accept or provide Notice stating in reasonably detail the basis for Buyer’s rejection thereof within five (5) Business Days of receipt thereof:
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20 (a) Seller shall have delivered to Buyer (i) a completion certificate from a Licensed Professional Engineer substantially in the form of Exhibit H and (ii) a certificate from a Licensed Professional Engineer substantially in the form of Exhibit I setting forth the Installed 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 Transmission Provider 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 for the operation of the Facility have been obtained and all 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 after the Commercial Operation Date); (f) Seller (with the reasonable participation of Buyer) shall have completed all applicable WREGIS registration requirements, including 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;
(h) Seller has taken all actions and executed all documents and instruments, required to authorize Buyer (or its designated agent) to act as Scheduling Coordinator under this Agreement, and Buyer (or its designated agent) is authorized to act as Scheduling Coordinator; (i) Seller has delivered to Buyer an officer’s certificate stating that Seller has not utilized any equipment or resources in connection with the construction, commissioning or testing of the Facility in violation of Section 2.3(b); and (j) Seller has paid Buyer for all amounts owing under this Agreement, if any, including Delay Damages.
2.3 Development; Construction; Progress Reports.
(a) 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 agree to regularly
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21 scheduled meetings between representatives of Buyer and Seller to review such reports and discuss Seller’s construction progress. The form of the Progress Report is set forth in Exhibit E. Seller shall also provide Buyer with any reasonably 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. Seller is solely responsible for the design and construction of the Facility, including the location of the Site, the Facility layout, and the selection and procurement of the equipment comprising the Facility.
(b) Seller shall ensure that all materials, products and components used in constructing, installing and operating the Facility throughout the Term shall be in compliance with the Supply Chain Code. Seller shall comprehensively implement due diligence procedures for its and its Affiliate’s suppliers, subcontractors and other participants in its supply chains, to comply with the Supply Chain Code. Seller shall notify Buyer as soon as it becomes aware of any breach, or potential breach, of its obligations under this Section 2.3(b). (c) Buyer shall have the right, at Buyer’s sole expense, to retain an independent auditor to audit Seller’s compliance with the requirements of Section 2.3(b).
2.4 Remedial Action Plan. If Seller misses a Milestone by more than thirty (30) days, except as the result of Force Majeure Event or Buyer Default, Seller shall submit to Buyer, within ten (10) Business Days of the end of such thirty (30)-day period following the Milestone completion date, 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 (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, 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 Low-Income Community Bonus. Seller shall make commercially reasonable efforts to qualify for and receive the Low-Income Community Bonus. Seller shall give Notice to Buyer within five (5) Business Days of Seller’sreceipt of notice from any Governmental Authority regarding the outcome of Seller’s request or application to receive such Low-Income Community Bonus. Buyer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide information reasonably requested by Seller in support of Seller’s obligations pursuant to this Section 2.5.
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 shall purchase all the Product produced by or associated with the Facility in accordance with Section 3.3, and Seller shall supply and deliver to Buyer all the Product produced by or associated with the Facility. At its sole discretion, Buyer may during the Delivery Term re-sell all or a portion of the Product; provided, no such resale shall
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22 relieve Buyer of any of its obligations under this Agreement. During the Delivery Term, Buyer shall have exclusive rights to offer, bid, or otherwise submit the Product, and/or any component thereof, from the Facility after the Delivery Point for resale in the market, and retain and receive any and all related revenues.
3.2 Sale of Green Attributes. During the Delivery Term, Seller shall sell and deliver to Buyer, and Buyer shall purchase from Seller, all Green Attributes attributable to the Facility Energy generated by the Facility. Upon request of Buyer, Seller shall use commercially reasonable effortsto (a) submit and receive approval from the Center for Resource Solutions (or any successor that administers the Green-e Certification process), for the Green-e tracking attestations and (b) support Buyer’s efforts to qualify the Green Attributes transferred by Seller as Green-e Certified.
3.3 Compensation.
(a) During the Delivery Term, Buyer shall pay Seller the Contract Price for each MWh of Facility Energy, plus Deemed Delivered Energy, if any, up to one hundred fifteen percent (115%) of the Expected Energy for each Contract Year. If at any point in any Contract Year, the amount of Facility Energy plus Deemed Delivered Energy exceeds one hundred fifteen percent (115%) of the Expected Energy for such Contract Year, the price to be paid for additional Facility Energy and/or Deemed Delivered Energy shall be $0.00/MWh. (b) If during any Settlement Interval, Seller delivers Facility Energy in excess of the product of the Guaranteed Capacity and the duration of the Settlement Interval, expressed in hours (“Excess MWh”), then the price applicable to all such Excess MWh in such Settlement Interval shall be zero dollars ($0), and if there is a Negative LMP during such Settlement Interval, Seller shall pay to Buyer an amount equal to the absolute value of the Negative LMP times such Excess MWh.
(c) During the Delivery Term, Seller shall receive no compensation from Buyer for Curtailed Energy or Facility Energy that is delivered in violation of a Curtailment Order. (d) Tax Credits. The Parties agree that the neither the Contract Price nor the Test Energy Rate are subject to adjustment or amendment if Seller fails to receive any Tax Credits, or if any Tax Credits expire, are repealed or otherwise cease to apply to Seller or the Facility in whole or in part, or Seller or its investors are unable to benefit from any Tax Credits. Seller shall bear all risks, financial and otherwise, throughout the Contract Term, associated with Seller’s or the Facility’s eligibility to receive Tax Credits or to qualify for accelerated depreciation for Seller’s accounting, reporting or Tax purposes. The obligations of the Parties hereunder, including those obligations set forth herein regarding the purchase and price for and Seller’s obligation to deliver Facility Energy and Product, shall be effective regardless of whether construction of the Facility (or any portion thereof) or the sale of Facility Energy is eligible for, or receives Tax Credits during the Contract Term.
3.4 Imbalance Energy. Buyer and Seller recognize that in any given Settlement Period the amount of Facility Energy delivered from the Facility may deviate from the amount of Scheduled Energy, and that to the extent there are such deviations, any costs, liabilities or revenues from such imbalances shall be solely for the account of Buyer, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement.
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23 3.5 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 requirements for any certification, registration, or reporting program relating to Renewable Energy Incentives.
3.6 Future Environmental Attributes.
(a) The Parties acknowledge and agree that as of the Effective Date, environmental attributes sold under this Agreement are restricted to Green Attributes; however, Future Environmental Attributes may be created by a Governmental Authority through Laws enacted after the Effective Date. Subject to the final sentence of this Section 3.6(a), and Section
3.6(b), in such event, Buyer shall bear all costs associated with the transfer, qualification, verification, registration and ongoing compliance for such Future Environmental Attributes, but there shall be no increase in the Contract Price. Upon Seller’s receipt of Notice from Buyer of Buyer’s intent to claim such Future Environmental Attributes, the Parties shall determine the necessary actions and additional costs associated with such Future Environmental Attributes.
Seller shall have no obligation to alter the Facility or the operation of the Facility unless the Parties have agreed on all necessary terms and conditions relating to such alteration or change in operation and Buyer has agreed to reimburse Seller for all costs, losses, and liabilities associated with such alteration or change in operation.
(b) If Buyer elects to receive Future Environmental Attributes pursuant to Section 3.6(a), the Parties agree to negotiate in good faith with respect to the development of further agreements and documentation necessary to effectuate the transfer of such Future Environmental Attributes, including agreement with respect to (i) appropriate transfer, delivery and risk of loss mechanisms, and (ii) appropriate allocation of any additional costs to Buyer, as set forth above; provided, the Parties acknowledge and agree that such terms are not intended to alter the other material terms of this Agreement.
3.7 Test Energy. No less than fourteen (14) days prior to the first day on which Test Energy is expected to be available from the Facility, Seller shall notify Buyer of the availability of the Test Energy. If and to the extent the Facility generates Test Energy, Seller shall sell and Buyer shall purchase from Seller all Test Energy and any associated Products from the Facility on an as-available basis for up to ninety (90) days from the first delivery of Test Energy. As compensation for such Test Energy and associated Product, Buyer shall pay Seller for each MWh of Test Energy an amount equal to (a) seventy percent (70%) of the Contract Price, and thereafter zero dollars ($0) per MWh (the “Test Energy Rate”). The conditions precedent in Section 2.2 are not applicable to the Parties’ obligations under this Section 3.7.
3.8 [Reserved].
3.9 [Reserved].
3.10 [Reserved].
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24 3.11 CEC Certification and Verification. Subject to Section 3.14, Seller shall take all necessary steps including making or supporting timely filings with the CEC to obtain and maintain CEC Certification and Verification for the Facility throughout the Delivery Term, including compliance with all applicable requirements for certified facilities set forth in the current version of the RPS Eligibility Guidebook (or its successor). Seller shall obtain CEC Precertification by the Commercial Operation Date. Within thirty (30) days after the Commercial Operation Date, Seller shall apply with the CEC for final CEC Certification and Verification. Within one hundred eighty (180) days after the Commercial Operation Date, Seller shall obtain and maintain throughout the remainder of the Delivery Term the final CEC Certification and Verification. Seller must promptly notify Buyer and the CEC of any changes to the information included in Seller’s application for CEC Certification and Verification for the Facility.
3.12 Eligibility. 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. [STC 6]
3.13 California Renewables Portfolio Standard. Subject to Section 3.14, Seller shall also take all other actions necessary to ensure that the Energy produced from the Facility is tracked for purposes of satisfying the California Renewables Portfolio Standard requirements, as may be amended or supplemented by the CPUC or CEC from time to time.
3.14 Compliance Expenditure Cap. If a change in Law occurring after the Effective Date has increased Seller’s cost to comply with Seller’s obligations under this Agreement that are made subject to this Section 3.14, including with respect to obtaining, maintaining, conveying or effectuating Buyer’s use of Green Attributes, then the Parties agree that the maximum aggregate amount of costs and expenses Seller shall be required to bear during the Delivery Term to comply with all of such obligations shall be capped at Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) per MW of Guaranteed Capacity (“Compliance Expenditure Cap”).
(a) Any actions required for Seller to comply with its obligations set forth in the first paragraph above, the cost of which will be included in the Compliance Expenditure Cap, shall be referred to collectively as the “Compliance Actions.” (b) If Seller reasonably anticipates the need to incur out-of-pocket expenses in excess of the Compliance Expenditure Cap in order to take any Compliance Action Seller shall provide Notice to Buyer of such anticipated out-of-pocket expenses. (c) 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 coststhat 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. If Buyer does not respond to a Notice given by
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25 Seller under this Section 3.14 within sixty (60) days after Buyer’s receipt of same, Buyer shall be deemed to have waived its rights to require Seller to take the Compliance Actions that are the subject of the Notice, and Seller shall have no further obligation to take, and no liability for any failure to take, such Compliance Actions until such time as Buyer agrees to pay such Accepted Compliance Costs.
(d) 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.
3.15 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 shall discuss in good faith potential reconfiguration of the Facility or Interconnection Facilities; provided, 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 as set forth in a written agreement.
ARTICLE 4
OBLIGATIONS AND DELIVERIES
4.1 Delivery.
(a) Energy. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, commencing on the Commercial Operation Date 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 shall 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 any operation and maintenance charges imposed 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 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) in accordance with Exhibit D. (b) Green Attributes. All Green Attributes associated with Test Energy and the Facility Energy during the Delivery Term are exclusively dedicated to and vested in Buyer. Seller represents and warrants that Seller holds the rights to all Green Attributes from the Facility, 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.
(c) Energy Products. If, at any time during the Contract Term, Buyer requests Seller to provide any new or different Energy related products that may become recognized from time to time in the CAISO market (including, for example, reactive power), and Seller is able to provide any such product from the Facility without material adverse effect (including for avoidance of doubt any obligation to incur more than de minimis costs or liabilities) on Seller or the Facility or Seller’s obligations or liabilities under this Agreement, then Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to coordinate with Buyer to provide such product. If provision of
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26 any such new product would have a material adverse effect (including for avoidance of doubt any obligation to incur more than de minimis costs or liabilities) on Seller or the Facility or Seller’s obligations or liabilities under this Agreement, then Seller shall be obligated to provide such product only if the Parties first execute an amendment to this Agreement with respect to such product that is mutually acceptable to both Parties.
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 shall be 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 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. Seller shall use commercially reasonable effortsto forecast accurately and to transmit such information in a format reasonably acceptable to Buyer (or Buyer’s designee).
(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) the beginning of each calendar year for every subsequent Contract Year during the Delivery Term, Seller shall provide to Buyer and Buyer’s SC (if applicable) a non-binding forecast of each month’s average-day expected Facility 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. 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 Buyer’s SC (if applicable) a non-binding forecast of (i) the available capacity of the Facility, and (ii) the hourly Facility Energy for each day of the following month (items (i)-(ii) collectively referred to as the “Forecasted Product”) in a form substantially similar to Exhibit F-2 (the “Monthly Forecast”). (c) Day-Ahead Forecast. By 5:30 AM Pacific Prevailing 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 and Buyer’s SC (if applicable) with a non-binding forecast of the hourly expected Forecasted Product, in each case, for each hour of the immediately succeeding day (the “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 hour, Seller’s best estimate of the hourly expected Forecasted Product. If Seller fails to provide Buyer with a Day-Ahead Forecast as required herein for any period, then for such unscheduled delivery period only Buyer shall rely on any Real-Time Forecast or the Monthly Forecast or Buyer’s best estimate based on information reasonably available to Buyer. (d) Real-Time Forecast. During the Delivery Term, Seller shall notify Buyer of any changes from the Day-Ahead Forecast of one (1) MW / one (1) MWh or more in the hourly expected Forecasted Product (the “Real-Time Forecast”), in each case, whether due to Forced
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27 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 Forecasted Product changes by at least one (1) MW / one (1) MWh as of a time that isless than one (1) hour prior to the Real-Time Market deadline, but before such deadline, then Seller must notify Buyer as soon as reasonably possible.
Such Real-Time Forecasts of Facility Energy shall be provided by an Approved Forecast Vendor and shall contain information regarding the beginning date and time of the event resulting in the change in any Forecasted Product, as applicable, the expected end date and time of such event, and any other information required by the CAISO or reasonably requested by Buyer. With respect to any Forced Facility Outage, Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to notify Buyer of such outage within ten (10) minutes of the commencement of the Forced Facility Outage. Seller shall inform Buyer of any developments that are reasonably likely to affect either the duration of such outage or the availability of the Facility during or after the end of such outage. Such Real-Time Forecasts shall be communicated in a method acceptable to Buyer, provided that Buyer specifies the method no later than sixty (60) days prior to the effective date of such requirement.
In the event Buyer fails to provide Notice of an acceptable method for communications under this Section 4.3(d), then Seller shall send such communications by telephone and e-mail to Buyer. (e) Forced Facility Outages. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Seller shall promptly notify Buyer’s SC 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 Forced Facility Outage. (f) Forecasting Penalties. In the event Seller does not in a given hour provide the Real-Time forecast required in Section 4.3(d), and Buyer incurs a loss or penalty resulting from its scheduling activities with respect to Facility Energy during such hour, Seller shall be responsible for a “Forecasting Penalty” for each such hour equal to the product of (A) the absolute difference (if any) between (i) the expected Facility Energy for such hour set forth in the Monthly Forecast, and (ii) the actual Facility Energy, multiplied by (B) the absolute value of the Real-Time Price in such hour. Settlement of Forecasting Penalties shall occur as set forth in Article 8 of this Agreement.
(g) CAISO Tariff Requirements. Seller shall comply with all applicable obligations for Variable Energy Resources under the CAISO Tariff and the Eligible Intermittent Resource Protocol, including providing 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 Facility Energy produced by the Facility, by the amount and for the period set forth in any Curtailment Order or Buyer Curtailment Order, or notice received from CAISO in respect of a Buyer Bid Curtailment. (b) Buyer Curtailment. Buyer shall have the right to order Seller to curtail deliveries of Facility Energy through Buyer Curtailment Orders; provided, Buyer shall compensate Seller for Deemed Delivered Energy in accordance with Section 3.3.
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28 (c) Failure to Comply. If Seller failsto 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 excess of 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, (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 Operating Instruction Communications.
Seller shall acquire, install, and maintain such facilities, communications links and other equipment, and implement such protocols and practices, as necessary to respond to and follow operating instructions from the CAISO and Buyer’s SC, including an electronic signal conveying real time and intra-day instructions, to operate the Facility as directed by Buyer from time to time in accordance with this Agreement and/or a Governmental Authority, including to implement a Buyer Curtailment Order, Buyer Bid Curtailment or Curtailment Order in accordance with the methodologies applicable to the Facility and used to transmit such instructions. If at any time during the Delivery Term Seller’s facilities, communications links or other equipment, protocols or practices are not in compliance with methodologies applicable to the Facility and directed by Buyer, Seller shall take the steps necessary to become compliant as soon as commercially 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 applicable methodologies. 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.
4.5 Reduction in Energy Delivery Obligation. Without limiting Section 3.1 or Exhibit G:
(a) Facility Maintenance.
(i) Seller shall provide to Buyer written schedules for Planned Outages for each Contract Year no later than thirty (30) days prior to the first day of the applicable Contract Year. Buyer may provide comments no later than ten (10) days after receiving any such schedule, and Seller shall in good faith take into account any such comments. Seller shall deliver to Buyer the final updated schedule of Planned Outages no later than ten (10) days after receiving Buyer’s comments. Seller shall be permitted to reduce deliveries of Product during any period of such Planned Outages.
(ii) If reasonably required in accordance with Prudent Operating Practices, Seller may perform maintenance at a different time than maintenance scheduled pursuant to Section 4.5(a)(i). Seller shall limit maintenance repairs performed pursuant to this Section 4.5(a) to periods when Buyer does not reasonably believe the Facility will be dispatched.
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29 (iii) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no Planned Outages of the Facility shall be scheduled or planned from each June 1 through October 31 during the Delivery Term, unless approved by Buyer in writing in its sole discretion. In the event that Seller has a previously Planned Outage that becomes coincident with a System Emergency, Seller shall make all reasonable efforts to reschedule such Planned Outage. (b) Forced Facility Outage. Seller shall be permitted to reduce deliveries of Product during any Forced Facility Outage. Seller shall provide Buyer with Notice and expected duration (if known) of any Forced Facility Outage.
(c) System Emergencies and other Interconnection Events. Seller shall be permitted to reduce deliveries of Product during any period of System Emergency, Transmission System Outage, Buyer Curtailment Period, or upon Notice of a Curtailment Order pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Interconnection Agreement or applicable tariff. (d) Force Majeure Event. Subject to Article 10, Seller shall be permitted to reduce deliveries of Product during any Force Majeure Event. (e) Health and Safety. Seller shall be permitted to reduce deliveries of Product as necessary to maintain health and safety pursuant to Section 6.2.
4.6 Guaranteed Energy Production. During each Performance Measurement Period, Seller shall deliver to Buyer an amount of Facility Energy, not including any Excess MWh, equal to no less than the Guaranteed Energy Production (as defined below). “Guaranteed Energy Production” means an amount of Facility Energy, as measured in MWh, equal to one hundred sixty percent (160%) of the average annual Expected Energy for the two (2) Contract Years constituting such Performance Measurement Period. Seller shall be excused from achieving the Guaranteed Energy Production during any Performance Measurement Period only to the extent of any Buyer Default or other Buyer failure to perform that directly prevents Seller from being able to deliver Facility Energy to the Delivery Point. For purposes of determining whether Seller has achieved the Guaranteed Energy Production, Seller shall be deemed to have delivered to Buyer the sum of: (a) any Deemed Delivered Energy plus (b) 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, Transmission System Outage, or Curtailment Periods (“Lost Output”). 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 (“Energy Replacement Damages”); provided, Seller may, as an alternative, provide Replacement Product (as defined in Exhibit G) delivered to Buyer at SP 15 EZ Gen Hub under a Day-Ahead Schedule as an IST within ninety (90) days after the conclusion of the applicable Performance Measurement Period in the event Seller fails to deliver the Guaranteed Energy Production during such Contract Years (i) upon a schedule reasonably acceptable to Buyer, (ii) provided that such deliveries do not impose additional costs upon Buyer for which Seller refuses to provide reimbursement, and (iii) not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the Expected Energy for the previous Contract Year.
4.7 WREGIS. Seller shall, at its sole expense, but subject to Section 3.14, 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 Facility Energy are issued and
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30 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 all 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 4.7(g), provided that Seller fulfills its obligations under Sections
4.7(a) through (g) below. In addition:
(a) Prior to the Commercial Operation Date, 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 WREGIS Certificates will only be created for whole MWh amounts of Facility 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 Facility 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 4.7. 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 Facility Energy for the same calendar month (“Deficient Month”) caused by an error or omission of Seller. If any WREGIS Certificate Deficit is caused by, or the result of any action or inaction of, Seller, then the amount of Facility Energy in the Deficient Month shall be reduced by three times (3x) 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, 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) 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 reimburse Buyer. Without limiting Seller’s
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31 obligations under this Section 4.7, 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) If WREGIS changes the WREGIS Operating Rules after the Effective Date or applies the WREGIS Operating Rules in a manner inconsistent with this Section 4.7 after the Effective Date, the Parties promptly shall modify this Section 4.7 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 Facility Energy in the same calendar month. (g) Seller warrants that all necessary steps to allow the Renewable Energy Credits transferred to Buyer to be tracked in WREGIS will be taken prior to the first delivery under this Agreement. [STC REC-2, Non-modifiable. D.11-01-025] (h) 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 CPUC Decision 08-08-028, and as may be modified by subsequent decision of the CPUC 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. [STC REC-1, Non-modifiable. D.11-01- 025]
ARTICLE 5
TAXES
5.1 Allocation of Taxes and Charges. Seller shall pay or cause to be paid all Taxes on or with respect to the Facility or on or with respect to the sale and making available of Product to Buyer, that are imposed on Product prior to its delivery to Buyer at the time and place contemplated under this Agreement. Buyer shall pay or cause to be paid all Taxes on or with respect to the delivery to and purchase by Buyer of Product that are imposed on Product at and after its delivery to Buyer at the time and place contemplated under this Agreement (other than withholding or other Taxes imposed on Seller’s income, revenue, receipts or employees). If a Party is required to remit or pay Taxes that are the other Party’s responsibility hereunder, such Party shall promptly pay the Taxes due and then seek and receive reimbursement from the other for such Taxes. In the event any sale of Product hereunder is exempt from or not subject to any particular Tax, Buyer shall provide Seller with all necessary documentation to evidence such exemption or exclusion within thirty (30) days after the date Buyer makes such claim. Buyer shall indemnify, defend, and hold Seller harmless from any liability with respect to Taxes for which Buyer is responsible hereunder and from which Buyer claims it is exempt.
5.2 Cooperation. Each Party shall use reasonable efforts to implement the provisions of and administer this Agreement in accordance with the intent of the Partiesto minimize all Taxes, so long as no Party is materially adversely affected by such efforts. The Parties shall cooperate to minimize Tax exposure; provided, neither Party shall be obligated to incur any financial or operational burden to reduce Taxes for which the other Party is responsible hereunder without receiving due compensation therefor from the other Party. All Product delivered by Seller to Buyer
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32 hereunder shall be a sale made at wholesale, with Buyer reselling such Product.
ARTICLE 6
MAINTENANCE OF THE FACILITY
6.1 Maintenance of the Facility. Seller shall, as between Seller and Buyer, be solely responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Facility and the delivery of the Product and 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 Buyer’s emergency contact identified on Exhibit N Notice of such condition. Such action may include disconnecting and removing all or a portion of the Facility, or suspending the supply of Facility Energy to the Delivery Point.
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 and/or co-tenancy agreements to be entered into among Seller, the Transmission Provider, Seller’s Affiliates, and/or third parties pursuant to which certain Interconnection Facilities may be subject to joint ownership and shared maintenance and operation arrangements; provided, such agreements shall (i) permit Seller to perform or satisfy, and shall not purport to limit, its obligations hereunder, including by reserving interconnection capacity under the Interconnection Agreements equal to the Interconnection Capacity Limit for Buyer’s sole use, (ii) provide for separate metering of the Facility, (iii) provide that any other generating or energy storage facilities not included in the Facility but using Shared Facilities shall not be included within the Facility’s CAISO Resource ID, and (iv) provide that in the event of any curtailment that is not specific to one or more CAISO Resources IDs of output from generating or energy storage facilities using the Shared Facilities shall not be allocated to the Facility more than its pro rata portion of the total capacity of all generating or energy storage facilities using the Shared Facilities. Seller shall not, and shall not permit any affiliate to, allocate to other parties a share of the total interconnection capacity under the Interconnection Agreements in excess of an amount equal to the total interconnection capacity under the Interconnection Agreements minus the Interconnection Capacity Limit.
ARTICLE 7
METERING
7.1 Metering. Seller shall measure the amount of Facility Energy using the Facility Meter. Seller shall separately meter all Station Use. The Facility Meter shall be operated pursuant to applicable CAISO-approved calculation methodologies and maintained as Seller’s cost. Subject to meeting any applicable CAISO requirements, the Facility Meter shall be programmed to adjust for all losses from the Facility Meter to the Delivery Point in a manner subject to Buyer’s prior written approval, not to be unreasonably withheld. Metering shall be consistent with the Metering Diagram set forth as Exhibit R. The Facility Meter shall be kept under seal, such seals to be broken only when the Facility Meter is to be tested, adjusted, modified or relocated. In the event Seller
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33 breaks a seal, Seller shall notify Buyer as soon as practicable. In addition, Seller hereby agrees to provide all Facility 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 the Scheduling Coordinator, shall cooperate to allow both Parties to retrieve the Facility Meter reads from the CAISO Market Results Interface-Settlements (MRI-S) web and/or directly from the Facility Meter.
7.2 Meter Verification. Annually, if Seller has reason to believe there may be a meter malfunction, or more frequently than annually 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. If a meter is inaccurate by more than one percent (1%) and it is not known when the meter inaccuracy commenced (if such evidence exists, then such date will be used to adjust prior invoices), then the invoices covering the period of time since the last meter test shall be adjusted for the amount of the inaccuracy on the assumption that the inaccuracy persisted during one-half of such period; provided, that (a) such period may not exceed twelve (12) months and (b) such adjustments are accepted by CAISO and WREGIS.
ARTICLE 8
INVOICING AND PAYMENT; CREDIT
8.1 Invoicing. Seller shall make good faith efforts to deliver an invoice to Buyer for Product no later than the tenth (10th) day of the subsequent month for Product delivered during the previous calendar month. Each invoice shall: (a) reflect 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 Product in MWh delivered during the prior billing period as set forth in CAISO T+12 settlement statements, the amount of Product in MWh produced by the Facility as read by the CAISO Approved Meter, deviations between the Scheduled Energy and the Facility Energy, and the applicable LMP prices at the Delivery Point for each Settlement Interval, the Contract Price applicable to such Product, the calculation of Deemed Delivered Energy, Adjusted Energy Production, and the amount of Replacement Product delivered during the preceding month; and (b) be in a format reasonably specified by Buyer, covering the Product provided in the preceding month determined in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement. Buyer shall provide Seller with reasonable access to any records, including invoices or settlement data from CAISO, necessary to verify the accuracy of any invoices.
8.2 Payment. Buyer shall make payment to Seller for Product (and any other amounts due) by wire transfer or ACH payment to the bank account provided on each monthly invoice.
Buyer shall pay undisputed invoice amounts by the later of (a) ten (10) Business Days after Buyer’s receipt of the invoice from Seller, and (b) the thirtieth (30th) day of the month after the operational month for which such invoice was rendered; provided, 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
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34 calculated based on an annual Interest Rate equal to 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 fifteen (15) 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, or there is determined to have been a meter inaccuracy sufficient to require a payment adjustment. If the required adjustment is in favor of Buyer, Buyer’s 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 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
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35 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 the Development Security to Buyer within thirty (30) days after the Effective Date. Seller shall maintain the Development Security in full force and effect. Upon the earlier of (i) Seller’s delivery of the Performance Security, or (ii) 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.
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.
Seller shall maintain the Performance Security in full force and effect, and Seller shall within ten (10) Business Days after any draw thereon replenish the Performance Security in the event Buyer collects or draws down any portion of the Performance Security for any reason permitted under this Agreement other than to satisfy a Termination Payment, until the following have occurred: (a) the Delivery Term has expired or terminated early; and (b) all payment obligations of Seller 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.
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 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
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36 (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 aftersuch application), subject to Buyer’s obligation to return any surplus proceeds remaining after such obligations are satisfied in full.
ARTICLE 9
NOTICES
9.1 Addresses for the Delivery of Notices. Any Notice required, permitted, or contemplated hereunder shall be in writing, shall be addressed to the Party to be notified at the address set forth in 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) at the time indicated by the time stamp upon delivery and, if after 5 pm, on the next Business Day; 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 commercially 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
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37 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 asjustification 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; 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 or changes in Law that render a Party’s performance of this Agreement at the Contract Price unprofitable or otherwise uneconomic (including an increase in component or compliance costs for any reason, including foreign or domestic tariffs, Buyer’s ability to buy Product 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 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, including the lack of wind, sun or other fuel source of an inherently intermittent nature, except to the extent such inability is caused by a Force Majeure Event; (vi) a strike, work stoppage or labor dispute limited only to any one or more of Seller, Seller’s Affiliates, Seller’s contractors, their subcontractors thereof or any other third party employed by Seller to work on the Facility; (vii) any equipment failure except if such equipment failure is caused by a Force Majeure Event; or (viii) any action or inaction by any third party, including Transmission Provider, that delays or prevents the approval, construction or placement in service of any Interconnection Facilities or Network Upgrades, except to the extent caused by a Force Majeure Event.
10.2 No Liability If a Force Majeure Event Occurs. Except as provided in Section 4 of Exhibit B, 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 with due speed and diligence. Nothing herein shall be construed as permitting that Party to continue to fail to perform after said cause has been removed. The obligation to use due speed and diligence shall not be interpreted to require resolution of labor disputes by acceding to demands of the opposition when such course is inadvisable in the discretion of the Party having such difficulty. 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. The occurrence and continuation of a Force Majeure Event shall not suspend or excuse the obligation of a Party to make any payments due hereunder.
10.3 Notice. In order to claim a Force Majeure Event, the claiming Party, within fourteen (14) days after the Party becomes aware, or should have become aware, of the initial occurrence of the claimed Force Majeure Event, must give the other Party Notice describing the particulars of the occurrence in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit Q, (b) provide timely evidence
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38 reasonably sufficient to establish that the occurrence constitutes Force Majeure as defined in this Agreement, and (c) 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 affected Party.
10.4 Termination Following Force Majeure Event or Development Cure Period. (a) If the cumulative extensions granted under the Development Cure Period (other than the extensions granted pursuant to clause 4(d) in Exhibit B) equal or exceed one hundred eighty (180) days, and Seller has demonstrated to Buyer’s reasonable satisfaction that such delays did not result from Seller’s actions or failure to take commercially reasonable actions, then Seller may terminate this Agreement upon written Notice to Buyer. Upon such termination, neither Party shall have any liability to the other Party, save and except for those obligations specified in Section 2.1, and Buyer shall promptly return to Seller any Development Security then held by Buyer, less any amounts drawn in accordance with this Agreement. (b) If a Force Majeure Event has occurred after the Commercial Operation Date that has caused either Party to be wholly or partially unable to perform its obligations hereunder in any material respect, and the impacted Party has claimed and received relief from performance of its obligations for a consecutive twelve (12) month period, then the non-claiming Party may terminate this Agreement upon Notice to the other Party. Upon any such termination, neither Party shall have any liability to the other Party, save and except for those obligations specified in Section 2.1(b), and Buyer shall promptly return to Seller any Performance Security then held by Buyer, less any amounts drawn in accordance with this Agreement.
ARTICLE 11
DEFAULTS; REMEDIES; TERMINATION
11.1 Events of Default. An “Event of Default” shall mean, (a) with respect to a Party (the “Defaulting Party”) that is subject to the Event of Default the occurrence of any of the following:
(i) the failure by such Party to make, when due, any payment required pursuant to this Agreement and such failure is not remedied within ten (10) Business Days after Notice thereof;
(ii) any representation or warranty made by such Party herein is false or misleading in any material respect when made or when deemed made or repeated, and such default is not remedied within thirty (30) days after Notice thereof (or such longer additional period, not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days, if the Defaulting Party is unable to remedy such default within such initial thirty (30)-day period despite exercising commercially reasonable efforts); (iii) the failure by such Party to perform any material covenant or obligation set forth in this Agreement (except to the extent constituting a separate Event of Default set forth in this Section 11.1; and except for failuresrelated to the Adjusted Energy Production that do not trigger the provisions of Section 11.1(b)(iii), the exclusive remedies for which are set forth in Section 4.7) and such failure is not remedied within thirty (30) days after Notice thereof (or such longer additional period, not to exceed an additional ninety (90) days, if the Defaulting Party is unable to remedy such default within such initial thirty (30) days period despite exercising
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39 commercially reasonable efforts);
(iv) such Party becomes Bankrupt;
(v) such Party assigns this Agreement or any of its rights hereunder other than in compliance with Article 14, if applicable; or (vi) such Party consolidates or amalgamates with, or merges with or into, or transfers all or substantially all of its assets to, another entity and, at the time of such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer, the resulting, surviving or transferee entity fails to assume all the obligations of such Party under this Agreement to which it or its predecessor was a party by operation of Law or pursuant to an agreement reasonably satisfactory to the other Party. (b) with respect to Seller as the Defaulting Party, the occurrence of any of the following:
(i) if at any time, Seller delivers or attempts to deliver Energy to the Delivery Point for sale under this Agreement that was not generated by the Facility, except for Replacement Product;
(ii) the failure by Seller to (A) achieve Construction Start on or before the Guaranteed Construction Start Date, as such date may be extended by Seller’s payment of Daily Delay Damages pursuant to Section 1(b) of Exhibit B and/or a Development Cure Period pursuant to Section 4 of Exhibit B, or (B) achieve Commercial Operation on or before the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date, as such date may be extended by Seller’s payment of Commercial Operation Delay Damages pursuant to Section 2 of Exhibit B and/or a Development Cure Period pursuant to Section 4 of Exhibit B;
(iii) if, in any consecutive six (6) month period, the Adjusted Energy Production amount (calculated in accordance with Exhibit G) for such period is not at least ten percent (10%) of the 6-month pro rata amount of Expected Energy for such period adjusted for seasonality proportionately to the monthly forecast provided annually by Seller under Section
4.3(a), and Seller fails to (x) deliver to Buyer within ten (10) Business Days after Notice from Buyer a plan or report developed by Seller that describes the cause of the failure to meet the ten percent (10%) threshold and the actions that Seller has taken, is taking, or proposes to take in an effort to cure such condition along with the written confirmation of a Licensed Professional Engineer that such plan or report is in accordance with Prudent Operating Practices and capable of cure within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days (“Cure Plan”) and (y) complete such Cure Plan in all material respects as set forth therein, including within the timeframe set forth therein;
(iv) failure by Seller to satisfy the collateral requirements pursuant to Sections 8.7 or 8.8, including the failure to replenish the Performance Security amount in accordance with this Agreement in the event Buyer draws against it for any reason other than to satisfy a Termination Payment;
(v) 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 either (1) cash, or (2) a Letter of Credit from a
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40 different issuer meeting the criteria set forth in the definition of Letter of Credit, 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;
(b) to accelerate all amounts owing between the Parties, and to collect as liquidated damages (i) the Damage Payment (if such termination occurs prior to or as of the Commercial Operation Date), or (ii) the Termination Payment (if such termination occurs following the Commercial Operation Date), as applicable, in each case calculated in accordance with Section 11.3 below;
(c) to withhold any payments due to the Defaulting Party under this Agreement; (d) to suspend performance; and
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41 (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, 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 any Terminated Transaction and the Event of Default related thereto.
11.3 Damage Payment; Termination Payment. If an Early Termination Date has been declared, the Non-Defaulting Party shall calculate, in a commercially reasonable manner, the Damage Payment or the Termination Payment, as applicable, in accordance with this Section 11.3. (a) Damage Payment Prior to Commercial Operation Date. If the Early Termination Date occurs before the Commercial Operation Date, then the Damage Payment shall be calculated in accordance with this Section 11.3(a).
(i) If Seller is the Defaulting Party, then the Damage Payment shall be owed to Buyer and shall be a dollar amount that equals the amount of the Development Security plus, if the Development Security is posted as cash, any interest accrued thereon. Buyer shall be entitled to immediately retain for its own benefit those funds held as Development Security and any interest accrued thereon if the Development Security is posted as cash, and any amount of Development Security that Seller has not yet posted with Buyer shall be immediately due and payable by Seller to Buyer. There will be no amounts owed to Seller. The Parties agree that Buyer’s damages in the event of an Early Termination Date prior to the Commercial Operation Date caused by Seller’s default would be difficult or impossible to determine and that the damages set forth in this Section 11.3(a)(i) are a reasonable approximation of Buyer’s harm or loss. (ii) If Buyer is the Defaulting Party, then the Damage Payment shall be owed to Seller and shall equal the sum of the actual, documented and verifiable costs incurred by Seller between the Effective Date and the Early Termination Date in connection with the Facility, less the fair market value (determined in a commercially reasonable manner after subtracting for the estimated costs of decommissioning and sale of assets) of (A) all Seller’s assets individually, or (B) the entire Facility, whichever is greater on the Early Termination Date, regardless of whether or not any Seller asset or the entire Facility is actually sold or disposed of. There will be no amount owed to Buyer. The Parties agree that Seller’s damages in the event of an Early Termination Date prior to the Commercial Operation Date caused by Buyer’s default would be difficult or impossible to determine and that the damages set forth in this Section 11.3(a)(ii) are a reasonable approximation of Seller’s harm or loss.
(b) Termination Payment On or After the Commercial Operation Date. The payment owed by the Defaulting Party to the Non-Defaulting Party for a Terminated Transaction occurring after the Commercial Operation Date (“Termination Payment”) shall be the aggregate of all Settlement Amounts plus any and all other amounts due to or from the Non-Defaulting Party (as of the Early Termination Date) netted into a single amount. 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, 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
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42 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 (i) the actual damages that the Non-Defaulting Party would incur in connection with a Terminated Transaction would be difficult or impossible to predict with certainty, (ii) the Termination Payment described in this Section 11.3(b) is a reasonable and appropriate approximation of such damages, and (iii) the Termination Payment described in this Section 11.3(b) is the exclusive remedy of the Non-Defaulting Party in connection with a 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 or Damage Payment. As soon as practicable after a Terminated Transaction, but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the Early Termination Date, Notice shall be given by the Non-Defaulting Party to the Defaulting Party of the amount of the Damage Payment or Termination Payment, as applicable, and whether the Termination Payment or Damage Payment, as applicable, 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. The Termination Payment or Damage Payment, as applicable, shall be made to or from the Non-Defaulting Party, as applicable, within ten (10) Business Days after such Notice is effective.
11.5 Disputes With Respect to Termination Payment or Damage Payment. If the Defaulting Party disputes the Non-Defaulting Party’s calculation of the Termination Payment or Damage Payment, as applicable, in whole or in part, the Defaulting Party shall, within five (5) Business Days of receipt of the Non-Defaulting Party’s calculation of the Termination Payment or Damage Payment, as applicable, provide to the Non-Defaulting Party a detailed written explanation of the basis for such dispute. Disputes regarding the Termination Payment or Damage Payment, as applicable, shall be determined in accordance with Article 15.
11.6 Limitation on Seller’s Ability to Make or Agree to Third-Party Sales from the Facility after Early Termination Date. If the Agreement is terminated prior to the Commercial Operation Date for any reason except due to Buyer’s Event of Default, neither Seller nor Seller’s Affiliates may sell, market or deliver any Product associated with or attributable to the Facility to a party other than Buyer for a period of two (2) years following such Early Termination Date, unless prior to selling, marketing or delivering such Product, or entering into the agreement to sell, market or deliver such Product to a party other than Buyer, Seller or Seller’s Affiliates provide Buyer with a written offer to sell the Product on terms and conditions materially similar to the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement (including price) and Buyer fails to accept such offer within forty-five (45) days of Buyer’s receipt thereof.
Neither Seller nor Seller’s Affiliates may sell or transfer the Facility, or any part thereof, or land rights or interests in the Site (including the interconnection queue position of the Facility) so long as the limitations contained in this Section 11.6 apply, unless the transferee agrees to be bound by the terms set forth in this Section 11.6 pursuant to a written agreement approved by Buyer.
Seller shall indemnify and hold Buyer harmless from all benefits lost and other damages sustained by Buyer as a result of any breach by Seller of its covenants contained within this Section 11.6.
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43 11.7 Rights And Remedies Are Cumulative. Except where liquidated damages or other remedy are explicitly provided as the exclusive remedy, the rights and remedies of a Party pursuant to this Article 11 shall be cumulative and in addition to the rights of the Parties otherwise provided in this Agreement.
11.8 Mitigation. Any Non-Defaulting Party shall be obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate its Costs, Losses and damages resulting from any Event of Default of the other Party under this Agreement.
ARTICLE 12
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND EXCLUSION OF WARRANTIES.
12.1 No Consequential Damages. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PART OF (A) AN
EXPRESS REMEDY OR MEASURE OF DAMAGES HEREIN, (B) AN IP INDEMNITY CLAIM, (C) AN ARTICLE 16 INDEMNITY CLAIM, (D) INCLUDED IN A LIQUIDATED DAMAGES CALCULATION, OR (E) RESULTING FROM A PARTY’S GROSS
NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE LIABLE TO
THE OTHER OR ITS INDEMNIFIED PERSONS FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE,
EXEMPLARY, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR LOSSES OR
DAMAGES FOR LOST REVENUE OR LOST PROFITS, WHETHER FORESEEABLE OR
NOT, ARISING OUT OF, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, BY STATUTE, IN TORT OR CONTRACT.
12.2 Waiver and Exclusion of Other Damages. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET
FORTH HEREIN, THERE IS NO WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR
A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND ANY AND ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARE DISCLAIMED. THE PARTIES CONFIRM THAT THE EXPRESS REMEDIES AND
MEASURES OF DAMAGES PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT SATISFY THE ESSENTIAL PURPOSES HEREOF. ALL LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING, THOSE PERTAINING TO SELLER’S LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND THE PARTIES’ WAIVER OF CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SHALL
APPLY EVEN IF THE REMEDIES FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT ARE DEEMED TO “FAIL OF THEIR ESSENTIAL PURPOSE” OR ARE OTHERWISE HELD TO BE INVALID OR UNENFORCEABLE.
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, DETERMINED ON AN AFTER-TAX BASIS, LOST DUE TO BUYER’S DEFAULT (WHICH SELLER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO MITIGATE AFTER
USE OF REASONABLE EFFORTS) AND AMOUNTS DUE IN CONNECTION WITH THE
RECAPTURE OF ANY RENEWABLE ENERGY INCENTIVES, IF ANY, SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE DIRECT DAMAGES.
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44 TO THE EXTENT ANY DAMAGES REQUIRED TO BE PAID HEREUNDER ARE LIQUIDATED, INCLUDING UNDER SECTIONS 4.6, 11.2 AND 11.3, AND AS PROVIDED
IN EXHIBIT B AND EXHIBIT G, 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 Effective Date, Seller represents and warrants as follows:
(a) Seller is a Delaware 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 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 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
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45 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 (i) will be located in and connected electrically to a circuit, load, or substation within Southern California Edison’s service territory, and (ii) is located within an eligible DAC.
(f) Neither Seller nor its Affiliates have received notice from or been advised by any existing or potential supplier or service provider that COVID-19 has caused, or is reasonably likely to cause, a delay in the construction of the Facility or the delivery of materials necessary to complete the Facility, in each case that would cause the Construction Start Date to be later than the Guaranteed Construction Start Date or the Commercial Operation Date to be later than the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date.
13.2 Buyer’s Representations and Warranties. As of the 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 presently in effect having applicability to Buyer, including community choice aggregation, the Joint Powers Act, competitive bidding, public notice, open meetings, election, referendum, or prior appropriation requirements, 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.
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46 (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, (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.
(f) Buyer is a “local public entity” as defined in Section 900.4 of the Government Code of the State of California.
(g) Buyer cannot assert sovereign immunity as a defense to the enforcement of its obligations under this Agreement.
13.3 General Covenants. Each Party covenants that commencing on the 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 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 necessary for it 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 Workforce Development. The Parties acknowledge that in connection with Buyer’s renewable energy procurement efforts, including entering into this Agreement, Buyer is committed to creating community benefits, which includes engaging a skilled and trained workforce and targeted hires. Accordingly, prior to the Guaranteed Construction Start Date, Seller shall ensure that work performed in connection with construction of the Facility will be conducted using a project labor agreement, community workforce agreement, work site agreement, collective bargaining agreement, or similar agreement providing for terms and conditions of employment with applicable labor organizations, and Seller shall remain compliant with such agreement in accordance with the terms thereof. Seller shall provide documentation reasonably satisfactory to Buyer demonstrating Seller’s compliance with the requirements of this Section 13.4.
ARTICLE 14
ASSIGNMENT
14.1 General Prohibition on Assignments. Except as provided below 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, conditioned, or delayed. Any Change of Control of Seller (whether voluntary or by operation of law) will be deemed an assignment and will require the prior written consent of Buyer, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed; provided, a Change of Control of Seller shall not require Buyer’s consent if the assignee or transferee is a Permitted Transferee. Any assignment made without the required written consent or in violation of the conditions to assignment set out below shall be null and void. Seller shall be
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47 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 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 by Seller, Buyer shall in good faith work with Seller and Lender to execute a consent to collateral assignment of this Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit O (“Consent to Collateral Assignment”).
14.3 Permitted Assignment by Seller. Seller may, without the prior written consent of Buyer, transfer or assign this Agreement to: (a) an Affiliate of Seller or (b) any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of the assets of Seller (whether voluntary or by operation of law), if, and only if:
(i) the assignee is a Permitted Transferee;
(ii) Seller has given Buyer Notice at least fifteen (15) Business Days before the date of such proposed assignment; and
(iii) Seller has provided Buyer a written agreement signed by the Person to which Seller wishes to assign its interests that (x) provides that such Person will assume all of Seller’s obligations and liabilities under this Agreement upon such transfer or assignment and (y) certifies that such Person meets the definition of a Permitted Transferee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any assignment by Seller, its successors or assigns under this Section 14.3 shall be of no force and effect unless and until such Notice and agreement by the assignee have been received and accepted by Buyer.
14.4 Shared Facilities; Portfolio Financing. Buyer agrees and acknowledges that Seller may elect to finance all or any portion of the Facility or the Interconnection Facilities or the Shared Facilities (1) utilizing tax equity or cash equity investment, and/or (2) through a Portfolio Financing, which may include cross-collateralization or similar arrangements. In connection with any financing or refinancing of the Facility, the Interconnection Facilities or the Shared Facilities by Seller or any Portfolio Financing, Buyer, Seller, Portfolio Financing Entity (if any), and Lender shall execute and deliver such further consents, approvals and acknowledgments as may be reasonable and necessary to facilitate such transactions; provided, Buyer shall not be required to agree to any terms or conditions which are reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on Buyer and all reasonable attorney’s fees incurred by Buyer in connection therewith shall be borne by Seller.
14.5 Sale or Transfer of Site. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Seller may, without the prior written consent of Buyer, assign or transfer this Agreement to any Person to whom the owner of the building on which the Facility is located has sold, conveyed, transferred, or assigned its interest in the building on which the Facility is located. In the event of an assignment of this Agreement in connection with the transfer or sale of the Facility, Seller shall provide Buyer Notice at least five (5) Business Days after the date of such transfer, which Notice shall include a written agreement signed by the Person to which Seller has sold or transferred its interests in the Facility following a sale or transfer of the building on which the Facility is located
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48 that provides that such Person has assumed all of Seller’s obligations and liabilities under this Agreement.
ARTICLE 15
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
15.1 Governing Law. This Agreement and the rights and duties of the Parties hereunder shall be governed by and construed, enforced and performed in accordance with the laws of the state of California, without regard to principles of conflicts of Law. To the extent enforceable at such time, each Party waives its respective right to any jury trial with respect to any litigation arising under or in connection with this Agreement. [STC 17, (Source: D.07-11-025, Attachment A.) D.08-04-009]
15.2 Dispute Resolution. In the event of any dispute arising under this Agreement, within ten (10) days following the receipt of a Notice from either Party identifying such dispute, the Parties shall meet, negotiate and attempt, in good faith, to resolve the dispute quickly, informally and inexpensively. If the Parties are unable to resolve a dispute arising hereunder within the earlier of either forty-five (45) days of initiating such discussions, or within sixty (60) days after Notice of the dispute, either Party may seek any and all remedies available to it at law or in equity, subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement.
15.3 Attorneys’ Fees. In any proceeding brought to enforce this Agreement or because of the breach by any Party of any covenant or condition herein contained, each Party shall bear its own respective costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees in connection with said action.
15.4 Venue. In the event of any legal action to enforce or interpret this Contract, the sole and exclusive venue shall be a court of competent jurisdiction located in Los Angeles County, California, and the Parties hereto agree to and do hereby submit to the jurisdiction of such court and waive any claim or defense that such forum is not convenient or proper.
ARTICLE 16
INDEMNIFICATION
16.1 Indemnification.
(a) Each Party (the “Indemnifying Party”) agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the other Party and its Affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents (collectively, the “Indemnified Party”) from and against all claims, demands, losses, liabilities, penalties, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) (i) 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, or (ii) for third-party claims resulting from the Indemnifying Party’s breach (including inaccuracy of any representation of warranty made hereunder), performance or non-performance of its obligations under this Agreement. (b) Seller shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Buyer and its Affiliates, directors, officers, employees from and against all claims, demands, losses, liabilities, penalties, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) in connection with any claims of infringement upon or violation of any trade secret, trademark, trade name, copyright, patent, or other intellectual
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49 property rights of any third party by equipment, software, applications or programs (or any portion of same) used in connection with the Facility (an “IP Indemnity Claim”). (c) Nothing in this Section 16.1 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 damagesresulting from itssole negligence, intentional acts or willful misconduct. These indemnity provisions shall not be construed to relieve any insurer of its obligation to pay claims consistent with the provisions of a valid insurance policy.
16.2 Claims. Promptly after receipt by a Party of any claim or Notice of the commencement of any action, administrative, or legal proceeding, or investigation as to which the indemnity provided for in this Article 16 may apply, the Indemnified Party shall notify the Indemnifying Party in writing of such fact. The Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof with counsel designated by the Indemnifying Party and satisfactory to the Indemnified Party; provided, if the defendants in any such action include both the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to, or inconsistent with, those available to the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to select and be represented by separate counsel, at the Indemnifying Party’s expense, unless a liability insurer is willing to pay such costs. If the Indemnifying Party fails to assume the defense of a claim meriting indemnification, the Indemnified Party may at the expense of the Indemnifying Party contest, settle, or pay such claim; provided, settlement or full payment of any such claim may be made only following consent of the Indemnifying Party or, absent such consent, written opinion of the Indemnified Party’s counsel that such claim is meritorious or warrants settlement. Except as otherwise provided in this Article 16, in the event that a Party is obligated to indemnify and hold the other Party and its successors and assigns harmless under this Article 16, the amount owing to the Indemnified Party will be the amount of the Indemnified Party’s damages net of any insurance proceeds received by the Indemnified Party following a reasonable effort by the Indemnified Party to obtain such insurance proceeds.
ARTICLE 17
INSURANCE
17.1 Insurance.
(a) General Liability. At all times during the Contract Term, Seller shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, at its sole expense, (i) commercial general liability insurance, including products and completed operations and personal injury insurance, in a minimum amount of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence, and an annual aggregate of not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000), endorsed to provide contractual liability in said amount, specifically covering Seller’s obligations under this Agreement and including Buyer as an additional insured; and (ii) an umbrella insurance policy in a minimum limit of liability of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000). Defense costs shall be provided as an additional benefit and not included within the limits of liability. Such insurance shall contain standard cross-liability and severability of interest provisions.
(b) Employer’s Liability Insurance. At all times during the Contract Term during which Seller has employees, Seller shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, at its sole
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50 expense employers’ liability insurance of not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) 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. (c) Workers Compensation Insurance. At all times during the Contract Term during which Seller has employees, Seller shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, at its sole expense workers’ compensation and employers’ liability insurance coverage in accordance with applicable requirements of Law.
(d) Business Auto Insurance. At all times during the Contract Term, Seller shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, at its sole expense business auto insurance for bodily injury and property damage with limits of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence. 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. During the construction of the Facility prior to the Commercial Operation Date, Seller shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, at its sole expense construction all-risk form property insurance covering the Facility during such construction periods, and naming Seller (and Lender if any) as the loss payee. (f) Subcontractor Insurance. At all times during the Contract Term during which Seller has subcontractors, Seller shall require its subcontractors to carry: (i) comprehensive general liability insurance with a combined single limit of coverage not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000); (ii) workers’ compensation insurance and employers’ liability coverage in accordance with applicable requirements of Law; and (iii) business auto insurance for bodily injury and property damage with limits of one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence. All subcontractors shall name Seller as an additional insured to insurance carried pursuant to clauses (f)(i) and (f)(iii). All subcontractors shall provide a primary endorsement and a waiver of subrogation to Seller for the required coverage pursuant to this Section 17.1(f). (g) Evidence of Insurance. Seller shall deliver to Buyer certificates of insurance evidencing such coverage within ten (10) days after the obligation to maintain each type of insurance specified in Section 17.1(a) through (f) arises and upon annual renewal thereafter. Such certificates shall specify that Buyer shall be given at least thirty (30) days prior Notice by Seller in the event of any material modification, cancellation or termination 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. The general liability, auto liability and worker’s compensation policies shall be endorsed with a waiver of subrogation in favor of Buyer for all work performed by Seller, its employees, agents and sub-contractors.
(h) Failure to Comply with Insurance Requirements. If Seller fails to comply with any of the provisions of this Article 17, Seller, among other things and without restricting Buyer’s remedies under the Law or otherwise, shall, at its own cost and expense, act as an insurer and provide insurance in accordance with the terms and conditions above. With respect to the required general liability, umbrella liability and commercial automobile liability insurance, Seller shall provide a current, full and complete defense to Buyer, its subsidiaries and Affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, shareholders, agents, employees, assigns, and successors in interest,
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51 in response to a third-party claim in the same manner that an insurer would have, had the insurance been maintained in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth above. In addition, alleged violations of the provisions of this Article 17 means that Seller has the initial burden of proof regarding any legal justification for refusing or withholding coverage and Seller shall face the same liability and damages as an insurer for wrongfully refusing or withholding coverage in accordance with the laws of California.
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. The Party receiving Confidential Information (the “Receiving Party”) from the other Party (the “Disclosing Party”) shall not disclose Confidential Information to a third party (other than the Party’s employees, lenders, counsel, accountants, directors or advisors, or any such representatives of a Party’s Affiliates, who have a need to know such information and have agreed to keep such terms confidential) except in order to comply with any applicable Law, regulation, or any exchange, control area or independent system operator rule or in connection with any court or regulatory proceeding applicable to such Party or any of its Affiliates; provided, each Party shall, to the extent practicable, use reasonable efforts to prevent or limit the disclosure. The Parties shall be entitled to all remedies available at law or in equity to enforce, or seek relief in connection with, this confidentiality obligation. The Parties agree and acknowledge that nothing in this Section 18.2 prohibits a Party from disclosing any one or more of the commercial terms of a transaction (other than the name of the other Party unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Parties) to any industry price source for the purpose of aggregating and reporting such information in the form of a published energy price index.
The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Agreement and any transactions entered into in connection herewith are subject to the requirements of the California Public Records Act (Government Code Section 6250 et seq.). In order to designate information as confidential, the Disclosing Party must clearly stamp and identify the specific portion of the material designated with the word “Confidential.” The Parties agree not to over-designate material as Confidential Information. Over-designation includes stamping whole agreements, entire pages or series of pages as “Confidential” that clearly contain information that is not Confidential Information.
Upon request or demand of any third person or entity not a Party hereto to Buyer pursuant
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52 to the California Public Records Act for production, inspection and/or copying of Confidential Information (“Requested Confidential Information”), Buyer shall as soon as practical notify Seller in writing via email that such request has been made. Seller shall be solely responsible for taking at its sole expense whatever legal steps are necessary to prevent release of the Requested Confidential Information to the third party by Buyer. If Seller takes no such action after receiving the foregoing notice from Buyer, Buyer shall, at its discretion, be permitted to comply with the third party’s request or demand and is not required to defend against it. If Seller does take or attempt to take such action, Buyer shall provide timely and reasonable cooperation to Seller, if requested by Seller, and Seller agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Buyer, its officers, employees and agents (“Buyer’s Indemnified Parties”), from any claims, liability, award of attorneys’ fees, or damages, and to defend any action, claim or lawsuit brought against any of Buyer’s Indemnified Parties for Buyer’s refusal to disclose any Requested Confidential Information.
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 herein. 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 Agreement or the continuation of any such breach, without the necessity of proving actual damages.
18.4 Further Permitted Disclosure. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 18, Confidential Information may be disclosed by the Receiving Party to any of its agents, consultants, contractors, trustees, or actual or potential financing parties (including, in the case of Seller, its Lender(s)), so long as such Person to whom Confidential Information is disclosed agrees in writing to be bound by confidentiality provisions that are at least as restrictive as 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 as
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53 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, 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) and/or, to the extent set forth herein, any Lender and/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 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. 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.
19.8 Electronic Delivery. This Agreement may be duly executed and delivered by a Party by electronic format (including portable document format (.pdf)) delivery of the signature page of a counterpart to the other Party.
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.
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54 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 Change in Electric Market Design. If a change in the CAISO Tariff renders this Agreement or any provisions hereof incapable of being performed or administered, then any Party may request that Buyer and Seller enter into negotiations to make the minimum changes to this Agreement necessary to make this Agreement capable of being performed and administered, while attempting to preserve to the maximum extent possible the benefits, burdens, and obligations set forth in this Agreement as of the Effective Date. Upon delivery of such a request, Buyer and Seller shall engage in such negotiations in good faith. If Buyer and Seller are unable, within sixty (60) days after delivery of such request, to agree upon changes to this Agreement or to resolve issues relating to changes to this Agreement, then any Party may submit issues pertaining to changes to this Agreement to the dispute resolution process set forth in Article 15. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) a change in cost shall not in and of itself be deemed to render this Agreement or any of the provisions hereof incapable of being performed or administered, and (ii) all of the unaffected provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect during any period of such negotiation or dispute resolution.
19.13 Further Assurances. Each of the Parties hereto agrees to provide such information, execute and deliver any instruments and documents and to take such other actions as may be 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.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the Effective Date.
ESCA-PLD-EAVES2, a Delaware Limited
Liability Company
By:
Name:
Title:
CLEAN POWER ALLIANCE OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA, a California joint powers authority
By:
Name:
Title:
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Exhibit A -1
EXHIBIT A
FACILITY DESCRIPTION
Site Name: Eaves 3
Site includes all or some of the following APNs: 6332017033 City: Commerce
County: Los Angeles
Zip Code: 90040
Latitude and Longitude: 33.9802891, -118.1523138
Facility Description: See Cover Sheet.
Delivery Point: PNode
PNode: to be determined by CAISO
Transmission Provider: Southern California Edison
Additional Information: See Site diagram above.
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Exhibit B - 2
EXHIBIT B
FACILITY CONSTRUCTION AND COMMERCIAL OPERATION
1. Construction of the Facility.
a. “Construction Start” will occur upon Seller’s acquisition of all applicable regulatory authorizations, approvals and permitsfor the construction of the Facility, and once Seller has engaged all contractors and ordered all essential equipment and supplies as, in each case, can reasonably be considered necessary so that physical construction of the Facility may begin and proceed to completion without foreseeable interruption of material duration, and has executed an engineering, procurement, and construction contract and issued thereunder a final notice to proceed that authorizes the contractor to mobilize to Site and begin physical construction (including, at a minimum, excavation for foundations or the installation or erection of improvements) at the Site. The date of Construction Start will be evidenced by and subject to Seller’s delivery to Buyer of a certificate substantially in the form attached as Exhibit J hereto, and the date certified therein shall be the “Construction Start Date.” Seller shall cause Construction Start to occur no later than the Guaranteed Construction Start Date. b. Seller may extend the Guaranteed Construction Start Date by paying Daily Delay Damages to Buyer for each day Seller desires to extend the Guaranteed Construction Start Date, not to exceed a total of one hundred twenty (120) days of extensions by such payment of Daily Delay Damages,
. On or before the date that is ten (10) days prior to the then-current Guaranteed Construction Start Date Seller shall provide Notice and payment to Buyer of the Daily Delay Damages for the number of days of extension to the Guaranteed Construction Start Date. If Seller achieves Construction Start prior to the Guaranteed Construction Start Date, as extended by the payment of Daily Delay Damages, Buyer shall refund to Seller the Daily Delay Damages for each day Seller achieves Construction Start prior to the Guaranteed Construction Start Date times the Daily Delay Damages, not to exceed the total amount of Daily Delay Damages paid by Seller pursuant to this Section 1(b). Additionally, if Seller achieves Commercial Operation on or before the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date (not including any extensions to such date resulting from Seller’s payment of Commercial Operation Delay Damages, but as may be extended pursuant to a Development Cure Period), then Buyer shall refund to Seller all Daily Delay Damages paid by Seller and not previously refunded by Buyer.
2. Commercial Operation of the Facility. “Commercial Operation” means the condition existing when Seller has fulfilled all of the conditions precedent in Section 2.2 of the Agreement and provided Notice to Buyer substantially in the form of Exhibit H (the “COD Certificate”).
a. Seller shall cause Commercial Operation for the Facility to occur by the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date. Seller shall notify Buyer that it intends to achieve
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Exhibit B - 3
Commercial Operation at least sixty (60) days before the anticipated Commercial Operation Date.
b. Seller may extend the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date by paying Commercial Operation Delay Damages to Buyer for each day Seller desires to extend the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date, not to exceed a total of ninety (90) days of extensions by such payment of Commercial Operation Delay Damages,
. On or before the date
that is ten (10) days prior to the then-current Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date Seller shall provide Notice and payment to Buyer of the Commercial Operation Delay Damages for the number of days of extension to the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date. If Seller achieves Commercial Operation prior to the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date as extended by the payment of Commercial Operation Delay Damages, Buyer shall refund to Seller the Commercial Operation Delay Damages for each day Seller achieves Commercial Operation prior to the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date times the Commercial Operation Delay Damages, not to exceed the total amount of Commercial Operation Delay Damages paid by Seller pursuant to this Section 2(b).
3. Termination for Failure to Achieve Commercial Operation. If the Facility has not achieved Commercial Operation on or before the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date (as may be extended hereunder), Buyer may elect to terminate this Agreement in accordance with Sections 11.1(b)(ii) and 11.2.
4. Extension of the Guaranteed Dates. The Guaranteed Construction Start Date and the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date shall, subject to Notice and documentation requirements set forth below, be extended on a day-for-day basis (the “Development Cure Period”) for the duration of any and all delays arising out of the following circumstances to the extent (i) the following circumstances are not the result of Seller’s failure to take all commercially reasonable actions to meet its requirements and deadlines, (ii) such delays could not be mitigated by Seller using commercially reasonable efforts to overcome the delays, and (iii) such delays do not run concurrently:
a. Seller has not acquired the Material Permits by the Guaranteed Construction Start Date, despite the exercise of diligent and commercially reasonable efforts by Seller; or
b. a Force Majeure Event occurs; or
c. the Interconnection Facilities or Reliability Network Upgrades are not complete and ready for the Facility to connect and sell Product at the Delivery Point by the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date, despite the exercise of diligent and commercially reasonable efforts by Seller; or
d. Buyer has not made all necessary arrangements to receive the Facility Energy at the Delivery Point by the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date.
Agenda Page 662
Exhibit B - 4
Seller shall submit any claim for Development Cure Period delays within (x) three (3) Business Days of the applicable milestone in the case of (a), (c) or (d) above, and (y) fourteen (14) days after the initial occurrence of the claimed Force Majeure Event in the case of (b) above, in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit Q. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the cumulative extensions granted under the Development Cure Period (other than the extensions granted pursuant to clause 4(d) above) shall not exceed one hundred eighty (180) days, for any reason, including a Force Majeure Event, and the cumulative extensions granted to the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date by the payment of Commercial Operation Delay Damages and any Development Cure Period(s) (other than the extensions granted pursuant to clause 4(d) above) shall not exceed two hundred seventy (270) days. 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 commercially reasonable actions.
5. Failure to Reach Guaranteed Capacity. If, at Commercial Operation, the Installed Capacity is less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Guaranteed Capacity, Seller shall have ninety (90) days after the Commercial Operation Date to install additional capacity and/or Network Upgrades such that the Installed 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 hereto specifying the new Installed Capacity. If Seller fails to construct the Guaranteed Capacity by such date, Seller shall pay “Capacity Damages” to Buyer, in an amount equal to Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) for each MW that the Guaranteed Capacity exceeds the Installed Capacity. Capacity Damages shall not be offset or reduced by the payment of Development Security, Performance Security, Delay Damages, or any other form of liquidated damages under this Agreement.
6. Buyer’s Right to Draw on Development Security. If Seller elects to extend the Guaranteed Construction Start Date pursuant to Section 1(b) of this Exhibit B and/or if Seller electsto extend the Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date pursuant to Section 2(b) of this Exhibit B, but Seller fails to timely pay any Daily Delay Damages or Commercial Operation Delay Damages, then Buyer may draw upon the Development Security to satisfy Seller’s payment obligation thereof and Seller shall be required to replenish the Development Security in an amount equal to Buyer’s draw.
Agenda Page 663
Exhibit C - 1
EXHIBIT C
[RESERVED]
Agenda Page 664
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, Buyer shall be the Scheduling Coordinator or designate a qualified third party to provide Scheduling Coordinator services with the CAISO for the Facility for both the delivery and the receipt of Test Energy and the Product at the Delivery Point. 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 bids 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, real-time or other market basis that may develop after the Effective Date, as determined by Buyer. (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 updatesrequired 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 shall 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 by (in order of preference) telephonically or electronic mail 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 or revenues, and other charges) and shall be entitled to all CAISO revenues (including credits, Imbalance Energy revenues or costs, 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 resulting from any failure by Seller to abide by the CAISO Tariff 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 Seller and for Seller’s account and that any Non-Availability Charges (as defined in the CAISO Tariff) are the responsibility of Seller and for Seller’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
Agenda Page 665
Exhibit D - 2
the sanctions or penalties shall be 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 CAISO charges.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Seller acknowledges that the CAISO will issue additional invoices reflecting CAISO adjustments to such CAISO charges. Buyer shall 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 such 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. Seller agrees to pay Buyer’s costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) associated with its involvement with such CAISO disputes to the extent they relate to CAISO charges payable by Seller with respect to the Facility that Seller has directed Buyer to dispute.
(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 Data File and Resource Data Template. Seller shall provide the data to the CAISO (and to Buyer) that is required for the CAISO’s Master Data 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. (h) NERC Reliability Standards. Buyer (as Scheduling Coordinator) shall cooperate 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.
Agenda Page 666
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. Description of any material planned changes to the Facility or the site.
5. Gantt chart schedule showing progress on achieving each of the Milestones.
6. Summary of activities during the previous calendar quarter or month, as applicable, including any OSHA labor hour reports.
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 reasonably likely to 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. Progress and schedule of all material agreements, contracts, permits (including Material Permits), approvals, technical studies, financing agreements and major equipment purchase orders showing the start dates, completion dates, and completion percentages.
12. 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.
13. Workforce Development or Supplier Diversity Reporting (if applicable). Format to be provided by Buyer.
14. Any other documentation reasonably requested by Buyer.
Agenda Page 667
EXHIBIT F-1
ANNUAL EXPECTED FACILITY ENERGY
[MWh Per Hour] – [Insert 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 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.
Agenda Page 668
EXHIBIT F-2
MONTHLY EXPECTED FACILITY ENERGY
[MWh Per Hour] – [Insert 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 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.
Agenda Page 669
Exhibit G - 1
EXHIBIT G
GUARANTEED ENERGY PRODUCTION DAMAGES CALCULATION
In accordance with Section 4.6, if Seller fails to achieve the Guaranteed Energy Production during any Performance Measurement Period, a liquidated damages payment shall be due from Seller to Buyer, calculated as follows:
[(A – B) * (C – D)] – (E + F)
where:
A = the Guaranteed Energy Production amount for the Performance Measurement Period, in MWh
B = the Adjusted Energy Production amount for the Performance Measurement Period, in MWh
C = Replacement price for the Performance Measurement Period, in $/MWh, which is the sum of (a) the simple average of the Integrated Forward Market hourly price for all the hours in the Performance Measurement Period, as published by the CAISO, for the Existing Zone Generation Trading Hub (as defined in the CAISO Tariff) for the Delivery Point, plus (b) the market value of Replacement Green Attributes.
D = the Contract Price, in $/MWh
E = The amount of Energy Replacement Damages paid by Seller with respect to the immediately preceding Performance Measurement Period F = The product of (a) the amount of Replacement Product in MWhs delivered by Seller in the immediately preceding Contract Year and (b) the price which is (C – D)
“Adjusted Energy Production” shall mean the sum of the following: Facility Energy + Deemed Delivered Energy + Lost Output + Replacement Energy. “Replacement Energy” means electrical energy produced by a facility other than the Facility, that is provided by Seller to Buyer as Replacement Product, in an amount equal to the amount of Replacement Green Attributes provided by Seller as Replacement Product for the same Performance Measurement Period.
“Replacement Green Attributes” means Renewable Energy Credits of the same Portfolio Content Category (i.e., PCC1) as the Green Attributes portion of the Product and of the same year of production as the Renewable Energy Credits that would have been generated by the Facility.
Agenda Page 670
Exhibit G - 2
“Replacement Product” means (a) Replacement Energy, and (b) Replacement Green Attributes in an amount not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the Expected Energy for the previous Contract Year.
No payment shall be due if the calculation of (a) (A - B), (b) (C - D) or (c) [(A – B) * (C – D)] – (E + F), yields a negative number. In no event will Buyer owe any payment to Seller pursuant to this Exhibit G.
Within sixty (60) days after each Contract Year, Buyer shall 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; provided, the amount of damages owing shall be adjusted to account for Replacement Product, if any, delivered after each applicable Performance Measurement Period.
Agenda Page 671
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 Clean Power Alliance of Southern California, a California joint powers authority (“Buyer”) in accordance with the terms of that certain Renewable Power Purchase Agreement dated (“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.
As of [DATE] , Engineer hereby certifies and represents to Buyer the following:
1. The Facility is fully operational, reliable and interconnected, fully integrated and synchronized with the Transmission System.
2. Seller has installed equipment for the Facility with an Installed Capacity of no less than ninety-five percent (95%) of the Guaranteed Capacity.
3. Authorization to parallel the Facility was obtained by the Transmission Provider, [Name of Transmission Provider as appropriate] on [DATE]
4. The Transmission Provider has provided documentation supporting full unrestricted release for Commercial Operation by [Name of Transmission Provider as appropriate] on [DATE] .
5. The CAISO has provided notification supporting Commercial Operation, in accordance with the CAISO Tariff on [DATE] .
6. Seller has segregated and separately metered Station Use to the extent reasonably possible in accordance with Prudent Operating Practice, and any such meter(s) have the same or greater level of accuracy as is required for CAISO certified meters used for settlement purposes.
EXECUTED by [LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER]
this day of , 20 .
[LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER]
By:
Its:
Date:
Agenda Page 672
Exhibit I - 1
EXHIBIT I
FORM OF INSTALLED CAPACITY CERTIFICATE
This certification (“Certification”) of Installed Capacity is delivered by [licensed professional engineer] (“Engineer”) to Clean Power Alliance of Southern California, a California joint powers authority (“Buyer”) in accordance with the terms of that certain Renewable Power Purchase Agreement dated (“Agreement”) by and between [SELLER ENTITY] 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 following:
The installed nameplate capacity of the Facility is MW AC (“Installed Capacity”).
EXECUTED by [LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER]
this day of , 20 .
[LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER]
By:
Its:
Date:
Agenda Page 673
Exhibit J - 1
EXHIBIT J
FORM OF CONSTRUCTION START DATE CERTIFICATE
This certification of the Construction Start Date (“Certification”) is delivered by [SELLER ENTITY] (“Seller”) to Clean Power Alliance of Southern California, a California joint powers authority (“Buyer”) in accordance with the terms of that certain Renewable Power Purchase Agreement dated (“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 notice to proceed that Seller issued to its contractor as part of Construction Start is attached hereto.
(2) the Construction Start Date occurred on (the “Construction Start Date”); and
(3) the precise Site on which the Facility is located is, which must be within the boundaries of the previously identified Site:
(such description shall amend the description of the Site in Exhibit A of the Agreement).
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certification on behalf of Seller as of the day of .
[SELLER ENTITY]
By:
Its:
Date:
Agenda Page 674
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]
Beneficiary:
Clean Power Alliance of Southern California,
a California joint powers authority
801 S Grand, Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90017
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 Clean Power Alliance of Southern California, a California joint powers authority (“Beneficiary”), 801 S Grand, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90017, for an amount not to exceed the aggregate sum of U.S. $[XXXXXX] (United States Dollars [XXXXX] and 00/100) (the “Available Amount”), pursuant to that certain Renewable Power Purchase Agreement dated as of and as amended (the “Agreement”) between Applicant and Beneficiary. This Letter of Credit shall become effective immediately and shall be of no further force or effect at 5:00 p.m., California time, on [Date] or, if such day is not a Business Day (as hereinafter defined), on the next Business Day (as may be extended pursuant to the terms of this Letter of Credit, the “Expiration Date”).
For the purposes hereof, “Business Day” shall mean any day on which commercial banks are not authorized or required to close in Los Angeles, California.
Funds under this Letter of Credit are available to Beneficiary by valid presentation on or before 5:00 p.m. California time, on or before the Expiration Date of a copy of this Letter of Credit No. [XXXXXXX] and all amendments accompanied by Beneficiary’s dated statement purportedly signed by Beneficiary’s duly authorized representative, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, containing one of the two alternative paragraphs set forth in paragraph 2 therein.
Any full or partial drawing hereunder may be requested by transmitting copies of the requisite documents as described above to the Issuer by facsimile at [facsimile number for draws] or such
Agenda Page 675
Exhibit K - 2
other number as specified from time-to-time by the Issuer.
The facsimile transmittal shall be deemed delivered when received. Drawings made by facsimile transmittal are deemed to be the operative instrument without the need of originally signed documents.
Issuer hereby agrees that all drafts drawn under and in compliance with the terms of this Letter of Credit will be duly honored if presented to the Issuer before the Expiration Date. All correspondence and any drawings (other than those made by facsimile) hereunder are to be directed to [Issuer address/contact]. Issuer undertakes to make payment to Beneficiary under this Standby Letter of Credit within three (3) business days of receipt by Issuer of a properly presented Drawing Certificate. The Beneficiary shall receive payment from Issuer by wire transfer to the bank account of the Beneficiary designated in the 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; provided, the Available Amount shall be reduced by the amount of each such drawing.
It is a condition of this Letter of Credit that it shall be deemed automatically extended without an amendment for a one year period (or, if such period ends on a day that is not a Business Day, until the next Business Day thereafter) beginning on the present Expiration Date hereof and upon each anniversary for such date (or, if such period ends on a day that is not a Business Day, until the next Business Day thereafter), unless at least one hundred twenty (120) days prior to any such Expiration Date Issuer has sent Beneficiary written notice by overnight courier service at the address provided below that Issuer elects not to extend this Letter of Credit, in which case it will expire on its then current Expiration Date. 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.
Except so far as otherwise stated, this Letter of Credit is subject to the International Standby Practices ISP98 (also known as ICC Publication No. 590), or revision currently in effect (the “ISP”). As to matters not covered by the ISP, the laws of the State of California, without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws thereunder, shall govern all matters with respect to this Letter of Credit.
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.
All notices to Beneficiary shall be in writing and are required to be sent by certified letter, overnight courier, or delivered in person to: Clean Power Alliance of Southern California, a California joint powers authority, Chief Financial Officer, 801 S Grand, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90017. Only notices to Beneficiary meeting the requirements of this paragraph shall be
Agenda Page 676
Exhibit K - 3
considered valid. Any notice to Beneficiary which is not in accordance with this paragraph shall be void and of no force or effect.
[Bank Name]
[Insert officer name]
[Insert officer title]
Agenda Page 677
Exhibit K - 4
EXHIBIT A
(DRAW REQUEST SHOULD BE ON BENEFICIARY’S LETTERHEAD)
Drawing Certificate
[Insert Bank Name and Address]
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, a duly authorized representative of [ ], [ADDRESS], 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 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
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 [ ] 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 [ ] by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the following account:
[Specify account information]
[ ]
Name and Title of Authorized Representative
Date
Agenda Page 678
EXHIBIT L
[RESERVED]
Agenda Page 679
EXHIBIT M
[RESERVED]
Agenda Page 680
Exhibit N – 1
EXHIBIT N
NOTICES
All Notices:
Street: 10800 Wazee St., Suite 500
City: Denver, CO 80202
Attn: Global Energy
Phone: (800) 566-2706
Email:
All Notices:
Street: 801 S Grand, Suite 400
City: Los Angeles, CA 90017
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
Phone: (213) 269-5870
E-mail: [email protected]
Reference Numbers:
Duns: TBD
Federal Tax ID Number: TBD
Reference Numbers:
Duns:
Federal Tax ID Number:
Invoices:
Attn: Global Energy Asset Manager
Phone:
E-mail: [email protected]
Invoices:
Attn: CPA Settlements
Phone: (213) 269-5870
E-mail: [email protected]
Scheduling: N/A
Attn: N/A
Phone:
N/A
Email: N/A
Scheduling: TBD
Attn: Day Ahead Scheduling
Phone: (817) 303-1104
Email: [email protected]
Confirmations: N/A
Attn: N/A
Phone: N/A
Email: N/A
Confirmations:
Attn: Vice President, Power Supply
Phone: (213) 269-5870
E-mail: [email protected]
Payments:
Attn: Global Energy Asset Management
Phone:
E-mail: [email protected]
Payments:
Attn: Vice President, Power Supply
Phone: (213) 269-5870
E-mail: [email protected]
Wire Transfer:
BNK: Bank of America
ABA: 111000012
ACCT: XXXXXX8368
Wire Transfer:
BNK: River City Bank
ABA: 121133416
ACCT: XXXXXX8042
Agenda Page 681
Exhibit O – 1
EXHIBIT O
FORM OF CONSENT TO COLLATERAL ASSIGNMENT
This Consent to Collateral Assignment (this “Consent”) is entered into among (i) Clean Power Alliance of Southern California, a California joint powers authority (“CPA”), (ii) [Name of Seller], a [Legal Status of Seller] (the “Project Company”), and (iii) [Name of Collateral Agent], a [Legal Status of Collateral Agent], as Collateral Agent for the secured parties under the Financing Documents referred to below (such secured parties together with their successors permitted under this Consent in such capacity, the “Secured Parties”, and, such agent, together with its successors in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”). CPA, Project Company and Collateral Agent are hereinafter sometimes referred to individually as a “Party” and jointly as the “Parties”. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Consent shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the PPA (as defined below).
RECITALS
The Parties enter into this Consent with reference to the following facts:
A. Project Company and CPA have entered into that certain Renewable Power Purchase Agreement, dated as of [Date] [List all amendments as contemplated by Section 3.4] (“PPA”), pursuant to which Project Company will develop, construct, commission, test and operate the Storage Units (the “Project”) and sell the Product to CPA, and CPA will purchase the Product from Project Company;
B. As collateral for Project Company’s obligations under the PPA, Project Company has agreed to provide to CPA certain collateral, which may include Performance Security and Development Security and other collateral described in the PPA (collectively, the “PPA Collateral”);
C. Project Company has entered into that certain [Insert description of financing arrangements with Lender], dated as of [Date], among Project Company, the Lenders party thereto and the Collateral Agent (the “Financing Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Lenders have extended commitments to make loans to Project Company; D. As collateral security for Project Company’s obligations under the Financing Agreement and related agreements (collectively, the “Financing Documents”), Project Company has, among other things, assigned all of its right, title and interest in, to and under the PPA and Project’s Company’s owners have pledged their ownership interest in Project Company (collectively, the “Assigned Interest”) to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Financing Documents; and
E. It is a requirement under the Financing Agreement and the PPA that CPA and the other Parties hereto shall have executed and delivered this Consent.
AGREEMENT
Agenda Page 682
Exhibit O - 2
In consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound, the Parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT, ETC.
1.1 Consent and Agreement.
CPA hereby acknowledges:
(a) Notice of and consents to the assignment as collateral security to Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, of the Assigned Interest; and (b) The right (but not the obligation) of Collateral Agent in the exercise of its rights and remedies under the Financing Documents, to make all demands, give all notices, take all actions and exercise all rights of Project Company permitted under the PPA (subject to CPA’s rights and defenses under the PPA and the terms of this Consent) and accepts any such exercise; provided, insofar as the Collateral Agent exercises any such rights under the PPA or makes any claims with respect to payments or other obligations under the PPA, the terms and conditions of the PPA applicable to such exercise of rights or claims shall apply to Collateral Agent to the same extent as to Project Company.
1.2 Project Company’s Acknowledgement.
Each of Project Company and Collateral Agent hereby acknowledges and agrees that CPA is authorized to act in accordance with Collateral Agent’s instructions, and that CPA shall bear no liability to Project Company or Collateral Agent in connection therewith, including any liability for failing to act in accordance with Project Company’s instructions.
1.3 Right to Cure.
If Project Company defaults in the performance of any of its obligations under the PPA, or upon the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event or condition under the PPA which would immediately or with the passage of any applicable grace period or the giving of notice, or both, enable CPA to terminate or suspend its performance under the PPA (a “PPA Default”), CPA will not terminate or suspend its performance under the PPA until it first gives written notice of such PPA Default to Collateral Agent and affords Collateral Agent the right to cure such PPA Default within the applicable cure period under the PPA, which cure period shall run concurrently with that afforded Project Company under the PPA. In addition, if Collateral Agent gives CPA written notice prior to the expiration of the applicable cure period under the PPA of Collateral Agent’s intention to cure such PPA Default (which notice shall include a reasonable description of the time during which it anticipates to cure such PPA Default) and is diligently proceeding to cure such PPA Default, notwithstanding the applicable cure period under the PPA, Collateral Agent shall have a period of sixty (60) days (or, if such PPA Default is for failure by the Project Company to pay an amount to CPA which is due and payable under the PPA other than to provide PPA Collateral, thirty (30) days, or, if such PPA Default is for failure by Project Company to provide PPA Collateral, ten (10) Business Days) from the Collateral Agent’s receipt of the notice of such PPA Default from CPA to cure such PPA Default; provided, (a) if possession of the Project is
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necessary to cure any such non-monetary PPA Default and Collateral Agent has commenced foreclosure proceedings within sixty (60) days after notice of the PPA Default and is diligently pursuing such foreclosure proceedings, Collateral Agent will be allowed a reasonable time, not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days after the notice of the PPA Default, to complete such proceedings and cure such PPA Default, and (b) if Collateral Agent is prohibited from curing any such PPA Default by any process, stay or injunction issued by any Governmental Authority or pursuant to any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding or other similar proceeding involving Project Company, then the time periods specified herein for curing a PPA Default shall be extended for the period of such prohibition, so long as Collateral Agent has diligently pursued removal of such process, stay or injunction. Collateral Agent shall provide CPA with reports concerning the status of efforts to cure a PPA Default upon CPA’s reasonable request.
1.4 Substitute Owner.
Subject to Section 1.7, the Parties agree that if Collateral Agent notifies (such notice, a “Financing Document Default Notice”) CPA that an event of default has occurred and is continuing under the Financing Documents (a “Financing Document Event of Default”) then, upon a judicial foreclosure sale, non-judicial foreclosure sale, deed in lieu of foreclosure or other transfer following a Financing Document Event of Default, Collateral Agent (or its designee) shall be substituted for Project Company (the “Substitute Owner”) under the PPA, and, subject to Sections
1.7(b) and 1.7(c) below, CPA and Substitute Owner will recognize each other as counterparties under the PPA and will continue to perform their respective obligations (including those obligations accruing to CPA and the Project Company prior to the existence of the Substitute Owner) under the PPA in favor of each other in accordance with the termsthereof; provided, before CPA is required to recognize the Substitute Owner, the Substitute Owner must have demonstrated to CPA’s reasonable satisfaction that the Substitute Owner has financial qualifications and operating experience [TBD] (a “Permitted Transferee”). For purposes of the foregoing, CPA shall be entitled to assume that any such purported exercise of rights by Collateral Agent that results in substitution of a Substitute Owner under the PPA is in accordance with the Financing Documents without independent investigation thereof but shall have the right to require that the Collateral Agent and its designee (if applicable) provide reasonable evidence demonstrating the same.
1.5 Replacement Agreements.
Subject to Section 1.7, if the PPA is terminated, rejected or otherwise invalidated as a result of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar proceeding affecting Project Company, its owner(s) or guarantor(s), and if Collateral Agent or its designee directly or indirectly takes possession of, or title to, the Project (including possession by a receiver or title by foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure) (“Replacement Owner”), CPA shall, and Collateral Agent shall cause Replacement Owner to, enter into a new agreement with one another for the balance of the obligations under the PPA remaining to be performed having terms substantially the same as the terms of the PPA with respect to the remaining Term (“Replacement PPA”); provided, before CPA is required to enter into a Replacement PPA, the Replacement Owner must have demonstrated to CPA’s reasonable satisfaction that the Replacement Owner satisfies the requirements of a Permitted Transferee. For purposes of the foregoing, CPA is entitled to assume that any such purported exercise of rights by Collateral Agent that results in a Replacement Owner is in accordance with the Financing Documents without independent investigation thereof but shall
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have the right to require that the Collateral Agent and its designee (if applicable) provide reasonable evidence demonstrating the same. Notwithstanding the execution and delivery of a Replacement PPA, to the extent CPA is, or was otherwise prior to its termination as described in this Section 1.5, entitled under the PPA, CPA may suspend performance of its obligations under such Replacement PPA, unless and until all PPA Defaults of Project Company under the PPA or Replacement PPA have been cured.
1.6 Transfer.
Subject to Section 1.7, a Substitute Owner or a Replacement Owner may assign all of its interest in the Project and the PPA and a Replacement PPA to a natural person, corporation, trust, business trust, joint venture, joint stock company, association, company, limited liability company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity (a “Person”) to which the Project is transferred; provided, the proposed transferee shall have demonstrated to CPA’s reasonable satisfaction that such proposed transferee satisfies the requirements of a Permitted Transferee.
1.7 Assumption of Obligations.
(a) Transferee.
Any transferee under Section 1.6 shall expressly assume in a writing reasonably satisfactory to CPA all of the obligations of Project Company, Substitute Owner or Replacement Owner under the PPA or Replacement PPA, as applicable, including posting and collateral assignment of the PPA Collateral. Upon such assignment and the cure of any outstanding PPA Default, and payment of all other amounts due and payable to CPA in respect of the PPA or such Replacement PPA, the transferor shall be released from any further liability under the PPA or Replacement PPA, as applicable.
(b) Substitute Owner.
Subject to Section 1.7(c), any Substitute Owner pursuant to Section 1.4 shall be required to perform Project Company’s obligations under the PPA, including posting and collateral assignment of the PPA Collateral; provided, the obligations of such Substitute Owner shall be no more than those of Project Company under the PPA.
(c) No Liability.
CPA acknowledges and agrees that neither Collateral Agent nor any Secured Party shall have any liability or obligation under the PPA as a result of this Consent (except to the extent Collateral Agent or a Secured Party is a Substitute Owner or Replacement Owner) nor shall Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party be obligated or required to (i) perform any of Project Company’s obligations under the PPA, except as provided in Sections 1.7(a) and 1.7(b) and to the extent Collateral Agent or a Secured Party is a Substitute Owner or Replacement Owner, or (ii) take any action to collect or enforce any claim for payment assigned under the Financing Documents. If Collateral Agent becomes a Substitute Owner pursuant to Section 1.4 or enters into a Replacement PPA, Collateral Agent shall not have any personal liability to CPA under the PPA or Replacement PPA and the sole recourse of CPA in seeking enforcement of such obligations against Collateral Agent shall be to the aggregate interest of the Secured Parties in the Project;
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provided, such limited recourse shall not limit CPA’s right to seek equitable or injunctive relief against Collateral Agent, or CPA’s rights with respect to any offset rights expressly allowed under the PPA, a Replacement PPA or the PPA Collateral.
1.8 Delivery of Notices.
CPA shall deliver to Collateral Agent, concurrently with the delivery thereof to Project Company, a copy of each notice, request or demand given by CPA to Project Company pursuant to the PPA relating to (a) a PPA Default by Project Company under the PPA, (b) any claim regarding Force Majeure by CPA under the PPA, (c) any notice of dispute under the PPA, (d) any notice of intent to terminate or any termination notice, and (e) any matter that would require the consent of Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 1.11 or any other provision of this Consent. Collateral Agent acknowledges that delivery of such notice, request and demand shall satisfy CPA’s obligation to give Collateral Agent a notice of PPA Default under Section 1.3. Collateral Agent shall deliver to CPA, concurrently with delivery thereof to Project Company, a copy of each notice, request or demand given by Collateral Agent to Project Company pursuant to the Financing Documents relating to a default by Project Company under the Financing Documents.
1.9 Confirmations.
CPA will, as and when reasonably requested by Collateral Agent from time to time, confirm in writing matters relating to the PPA (including the performance of same by Project Company); provided, such confirmation may be limited to matters of which CPA is aware as of the time the confirmation is given and such confirmations shall be without prejudice to any rights of CPA under the PPA as between CPA and Project Company.
1.10 Exclusivity of Dealings.
Except as provided in Sections 1.3, 1.4, 1.8, 1.9 and 2.1, unless and until CPA receives a Financing Document Default Notice, CPA shall deal exclusively with Project Company in connection with the performance of CPA’s obligations under the PPA. From and after such time as CPA receives a Financing Document Default Notice and until a Substitute Owner is substituted for Project Company pursuant to Section 1.4, a Replacement PPA is entered into or the PPA is transferred to a Person to whom the Project is transferred pursuant to Section 1.6, CPA shall, until Collateral Agent confirms to CPA in writing that all obligations under the Financing Documents are no longer outstanding, deal exclusively with Collateral Agent in connection with the performance of CPA’s obligations under the PPA, and CPA may irrevocably rely on instructions provided by Collateral Agent in accordance therewith to the exclusion of those provided by any other Person.
1.11 No Amendments.
To the extent permitted by Laws, CPA agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of Collateral Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) (a) enter into any material supplement, restatement, novation, extension, amendment or modification of the PPA (b) terminate or suspend its performance under the PPA (except in accordance with Section 1.3) or (c) consent to or accept any termination or cancellation of the PPA by Project Company.
SECTION 2. PAYMENTS UNDER THE PPA
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2.1 Payments.
Unless and until CPA receives written notice to the contrary from Collateral Agent, CPA will make all payments to be made by it to Project Company under or by reason of the PPA directly to Project Company. CPA, Project Company, and Collateral Agent acknowledge that CPA will be deemed to be in compliance with the payment terms of the PPA to the extent that CPA makes payments in accordance with Collateral Agent’s instructions.
2.2 No Offset, Etc.
All payments required to be made by CPA under the PPA shall be made without any offset, recoupment, abatement, withholding, reduction or defense whatsoever, other than that expressly allowed by the terms of the PPA.
SECTION 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CPA
CPA makes the following representations and warranties as of the date hereof in favor of Collateral Agent:
3.1 Organization.
CPA is a joint powers authority and community choice aggregator duly organized and validly existing 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 . CPA has all requisite power and authority, corporate and otherwise, to enter into and to perform its obligations hereunder and under the PPA, and to carry out the terms hereof and thereof and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
3.2 Authorization.
The execution, delivery and performance by CPA of this Consent and the PPA have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action on the part of CPA and do not require any approval or consent of any holder (or any trustee for any holder) of any indebtedness or other obligation of CPA which, if not obtained, will prevent CPA from performing its obligations hereunder or under the PPA except approvals or consents which have previously been obtained and which are in full force and effect.
3.3 Execution and Delivery; Binding Agreements.
Each of this Consent and the PPA is in full force and effect, have been duly executed and delivered on behalf of CPA by the appropriate officers of CPA, and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of CPA, enforceable against CPA in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws of general application affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (b) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
3.4 No Default or Amendment.
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Except as set forth in Schedule A attached hereto: (a) Neither CPA nor, to CPA’s actual knowledge, Project Company, is in default of any of its obligations under the PPA; (b) CPA and, to CPA’s actual knowledge, Project Company, has complied with all conditions precedent to the effectiveness of its obligations under the PPA; (c) to CPA’s actual knowledge, no event or condition exists which would either immediately or with the passage of any applicable grace period or giving of notice, or both, enable either CPA or Project Company to terminate or suspend its obligations under the PPA; and (d) the PPA has not been amended, modified or supplemented in any manner except as set forth herein and in the recitals hereto.
3.5 No Previous Assignments.
CPA has no notice of, and has not consented to, any previous assignment by Project Company of all or any part of its rights under the PPA, except as previously disclosed in writing and consented to by CPA.
SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PROJECT COMPANY Project Company makes the following representations and warranties as of the date hereof in favor of the Collateral Agent and CPA:
4.1 Organization.
Project Company is a [Legal Status of Seller] duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the state of its organization, and is duly qualified, authorized to do business and in good standing in every jurisdiction in which it owns or leases real property or in which the nature of its business requires it to be so qualified, except where the failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, its ability to own its properties or its ability to transact its business. Project Company has all requisite power and authority, corporate and otherwise, to enter into and to perform its obligations hereunder and under the PPA, and to carry out the terms hereof and thereof and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
4.2 Authorization.
The execution, delivery and performance of this Consent by Project Company, and Project Company’s assignment of its right, title and interest in, to and under the PPA to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Financing Documents, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action on the part of Project Company.
4.3 Execution and Delivery; Binding Agreement.
This Consent is in full force and effect, has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of Project Company by the appropriate officers of Project Company, and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Project Company, enforceable against Project Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws of general application affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (b) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
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4.4 No Default or Amendment.
Except as set forth in Schedule B attached hereto: (a) neither Project Company nor, to Project Company’s actual knowledge, CPA, is in default of any of its obligations thereunder; (b) Project Company and, to Project Company’s actual knowledge, CPA, has complied with all conditions precedent to the effectiveness of its obligations under the PPA; (c) to Project Company’s actual knowledge, no event or condition exists which would either immediately or with the passage of any applicable grace period or giving of notice, or both, enable either CPA or Project Company to terminate or suspend its obligations under the PPA; and (d) the PPA has not been amended, modified or supplemented in any manner except as set forth herein and in the recitals hereto.
4.5 No Previous Assignments.
Project Company has not previously assigned all or any part of its rights under the PPA.
SECTION 5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COLLATERAL AGENT Collateral Agent makes the following representations and warranties as of the date hereof in favor of CPA and Project Company:
5.1 Authorization.
The execution, delivery and performance of this Consent by Collateral Agent have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action on the part of Collateral Agent and Secured Parties.
5.2 Execution and Delivery; Binding Agreement.
This Consent is in full force and effect, has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of Collateral Agent by the appropriate officers of Collateral Agent, and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Collateral Agent as Collateral Agent for the Secured Parties, enforceable against Collateral Agent (and the Secured Parties to the extent applicable) in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws of general application affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (b) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
SECTION 6. MICPALLANEOUS
6.1 Notices.
All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, shall be deemed given upon receipt thereof by the Party or Parties to whom such notice is addressed, shall refer on their face to the PPA (although failure to so refer shall not render any such notice or communication ineffective), shall be sent by first class mail, by personal delivery or by a nationally recognized courier service, and shall be directed (a) if to CPA or Project Company, in accordance with [Notice Section of the PPA] of the PPA, (b) if to Collateral Agent, to [Collateral Agent Name], [Collateral Agent Address], Attn: [Collateral Agent Contact Information], Telephone: [ ], Fax: [ ], and
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(c) to such other address or addressee as any such Party may designate by notice given pursuant hereto.
6.2 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction.
(a) THIS CONSENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND
THIS CONSENT AND ALL MATTERS ARISING OUT OF THIS CONSENT AND THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW OF
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY CONFLICTS OF LAWS
PROVISIONS THEREOF THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.
(b) All disputes, claims or controversies arising out of, relating to, concerning or pertaining to the terms of this Consent shall be governed by the dispute resolution provisions of the PPA. Subject to the foregoing, any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Consent and any action for enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof may be brought in the courts of the State of California or of the United States of America for the Central District of California, and, by execution and delivery of this Consent, each Party hereby accepts for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and appellate courts from any appeal thereof. Each Party further irrevocably consents to the service of process out of any of the aforementioned courts in any such action or proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to its notice address provided pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof. Each Party hereby irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any of the aforesaid actions or proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Consent brought in the courts referred to above and hereby further irrevocably waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Nothing herein shall affect the right of any Party to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
6.3 Headings Descriptive.
The headings of the several sections and subsections of this Consent are inserted for convenience only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Consent.
6.4 Severability.
In case any provision in or obligation under this Consent shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
6.5 Amendment, Waiver.
Neither this Consent nor any of the terms hereof may (a) be terminated, amended, supplemented or modified, except by an instrument in writing signed by CPA, Project Company and Collateral Agent or (b) waived, except by an instrument in writing signed by the waiving Party.
6.6 Termination.
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Each Party’s obligations hereunder are absolute and unconditional, and no Party has any right, and shall have no right, to terminate this Consent or to be released, relieved or discharged from any obligation or liability hereunder until CPA has been notified by Collateral Agent that all of the obligations under the Financing Documents shall have been satisfied in full (other than contingent indemnification obligations) or, with respect to the PPA or any Replacement PPA, its obligations under such PPA or Replacement PPA have been fully performed.
6.7 Successors and Assigns.
This Consent shall be binding upon each Party and its successors and assigns permitted under and in accordance with this Consent, and shall inure to the benefit of the other Parties and their respective successors and assignee permitted under and in accordance with this Consent. Each reference to a Person herein shall include such Person’s successors and assigns permitted under and in accordance with this Consent.
6.8 Further Assurances.
CPA hereby agrees to execute and deliver all such instruments and take all such action as may be necessary to effectuate fully the purposes of this Consent.
6.9 Waiver of Trial by Jury.
TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAWS, THE PARTIES HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ALL RIGHT OF TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION,
PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS CONSENT OR ANY MATTER ARISING HEREUNDER. EACH PARTY FURTHER
WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS
LEGAL COUNSEL, AND THAT IT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.
6.10 Entire Agreement.
This Consent and any agreement, document or instrument attached hereto or referred to herein integrate all the terms and conditions mentioned herein or incidental hereto and supersede all oral negotiations and prior writings in respect to the subject matter hereof. In the event of any conflict between the terms, conditions and provisions of this Consent and any such agreement, document or instrument, the terms, conditions and provisions of this Consent shall prevail.
6.11 Effective Date.
This Consent shall be deemed effective as of the date upon which the last Party executes this Consent.
6.12 Counterparts; Electronic Signatures.
This Consent may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original of this Consent and all of which, when taken together, will be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Consent and of signature pages by
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facsimile transmission, Portable Document Format (i.e., PDF), or by other electronic means shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Consent as to the Parties and may be used in lieu of the original Consent for all purposes.
[Remainder of Page Left Intentionally Blank.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Consent to be duly executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers on the dates indicated below their respective signatures. [NAME OF PROJECT COMPANY],
[Legal Status of Project Company].
CLEAN POWER ALLIANCE OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA,
a California joint powers authority.
By:
[Name]
[Title]
Date:
By:
[Name]
[Title]
Date:
[NAME OF COLLATERAL AGENT],
[Legal Status of Collateral Agent].
By:
[Name]
[Title]
Date:
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Exhibit O - 13
SCHEDULE A
[Describe any disclosures relevant to representations and warranties made in Section 3.4]
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Exhibit P – 1
EXHIBIT P
MATERIAL PERMITS
No. Permits
1 City of Commerce Plan Check
2 City of Commerce Fire Plan Check
3 LA County Building Permit
4 LA County Electrical Permit
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Exhibit Q – 1
EXHIBIT Q
FORCE MAJEURE EVENT AND/OR DEVELOPMENT CURE PERIOD CLAIM FORM Instructions
A. Please review Article 10 and Exhibit B (if applicable) of the Power Purchase Agreement prior to filling out the form.
B. Fill out the form completely and return to your assigned Contract Manager at CPA.
Seller: [Name] Project: [Name]
Current Guaranteed Construction Start Date: [Date]
New Guaranteed Construction Start Date (if Seller’s claims are validated in full): [Date] Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date: [Date]
New Guaranteed Commercial Operation Date (if Seller’s claims are validated in full): [Date]
1. Please describe the claimed Force Majeure Event or other event giving rise to the claimed Development Cure Period delay(s) (the “Claimed Event”), including its cause, date of commencement and date it ended or is anticipated to end.
2. Please specify the extent of the delay or prevented performance caused by the Claimed Event, including the relief claimed thereby. Describe how the claimed relief was calculated/determined, accounting for individual developments causing such delay or prevented performance.
3. With respect to a Claimed Event other than a Force Majeure Event, please describe the commercially reasonable efforts taken by Seller to prevent such event.
4. Please describe the commercially reasonable efforts taken to mitigate the delays or nonperformance caused by the Claimed Event and specify how such efforts reduced the delay days or nonperformance that would otherwise have occurred absent such mitigation.
5. Please attach supporting documentation, including without limitation:
• Force Majeure notices or other correspondence received from suppliers and/or contractors that describe the basis for and extent of the Claimed Event. • Documentation, contracts, and/or correspondence with suppliers and/or contractors evidencing the claiming Party’s mitigation efforts.
• Project schedule and/or GANNT charts that demonstrate the effect of the Claimed Event
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on the Guaranteed commercial Operation Date.
By signing this Claim form, I attest and affirm that I am authorized to sign this form on behalf of the Seller, that I have reviewed this Claim, including any attached documentation, and that the facts and statements made in this Claim are true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Signed:
Name:
Title:
Date:
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Exhibit R – 1
EXHIBIT R
METERING DIAGRAM
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Exhibit S – 1
EXHIBIT S
SUPPLY CHAIN CODE OF CONDUCT
Buyer is committed to ensuring that the fundamental human rights of workers are protected, including addressing the potential risks of forced labor, child labor, servitude, human trafficking and slavery across our portfolio.
Our requirements and expectations for Seller’s supply chain are detailed below in our Supply Chain Code of Conduct (“Supply Chain Code”). Seller must comply with all applicable Laws and this Supply Chain Code, even when this Supply Chain Code exceeds the requirements of applicable Law.
These standards are derived from the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the Core Conventions of the International Labour Organization (“ILO”), including the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Solar Energy Industries Association Solar Industry Commitment to Environmental & Social Responsibility, and the Responsible Business Alliance Code of Conduct.
1. Freely Chosen Employment
Forced, bonded (including debt bondage) or indentured labor, involuntary or exploitative prison labor, slavery or trafficking of persons is not permitted. This includes transporting, harboring, recruiting, transferring, or receiving persons by means of threat, force, coercion, abduction or fraud for labor or services. There shall be no unreasonable restrictions on workers’ freedom of movement in the facility in addition to unreasonable restrictions on entering or exiting company provided facilities including, if applicable, workers’ dormitories or living quarters. All work must be voluntary, and workers shall be free to leave work at any time or terminate their employment without penalty if reasonable notice is given as per worker’s contract. Employers, agents, and sub-agents’ may not hold or otherwise destroy, conceal, or confiscate identity or immigration documents, such as government-issued identification, passports, or work permits. Employers can only hold documentation if such holdings are required by law. In this case, at no time should workers be denied access to their documents. Workers shall not be required to pay employers’ agents or sub-agents’ recruitment fees or other related fees for their employment. If any such fees are found to have been paid by workers, such fees shall be repaid to the worker.
2. Young Workers
Child labor is not to be used in any stage of manufacturing. The term “child” refers to any person under the age of 15, or under the age for completing compulsory education, or under the minimum age for employment in the country, whichever is greatest. Suppliers shall implement an appropriate mechanism to verify the age of workers. The use of legitimate workplace learning programs, which comply with all laws and regulations, is supported.
Workers under the age of 18 shall not perform work that is likely to jeopardize their health or safety, including night shifts and overtime. Suppliers shall ensure proper management of student workers through proper maintenance of student records, rigorous due diligence of educational partners, and protection of students’ rights in accordance with applicable
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laws and regulations. Suppliers shall provide appropriate support and training to all student workers. In the absence of local law, the wage rate for student workers, interns, and apprentices shall be at least the same wage rate as other entry-level workers performing equal or similar tasks. If child labor is identified, assistance/remediation is provided.
3. Working Hours
Studies of business practices clearly link worker strain to reduced productivity, increased turnover, and increased injury and illness. Working hours are not to exceed the maximum set by local law. Further, a workweek should not be more than 60 hours per week, including overtime, except in emergency or unusual situations. All overtime must be voluntary.
Workers shall be allowed at least one day off every seven days.
4. Wages and Benefits
Compensation paid to workers shall comply with all applicable wage laws, including those relating to minimum wages, overtime hours and legally mandated benefits. In compliance with local laws, workers shall be compensated for overtime at pay rates greater than regular hourly rates. Deductions from wages as a disciplinary measure shall not be permitted. For each pay period, workers shall be provided with a timely and understandable wage statement that includes sufficient information to verify accurate compensation for work performed. All use of temporary, dispatch and outsourced labor will be within the limits of the local law.
5. Humane Treatment
There is to be no harsh or inhumane treatment including violence, gender-based violence, sexual harassment, sexual abuse, corporal punishment, mental or physical coercion, bullying, public shaming, or verbal abuse of workers; nor is there to be the threat of any such treatment. Disciplinary policies and procedures in support of these requirements shall be clearly defined and communicated to workers.
6. Non-Discrimination/Non-Harassment
Suppliers should be committed to a workplace free of harassment and unlawful discrimination. Companies shall not engage in discrimination or harassment based on race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ethnicity or national origin, disability, pregnancy, religion, political affiliation, union membership, covered veteran status, protected genetic information or marital status in hiring and employment practices such as wages, promotions, rewards, and access to training. Workers shall be provided with reasonable accommodation for religious practices. In addition, workers or potential workers should not be subjected to medical tests that could be used in a discriminatory way or otherwise in violation of applicable law. This was drafted in consideration of ILO Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention (No.111).
7. Freedom of Association
In conformance with local law, Suppliers shall respect the right of all workers to form and join trade unions of their own choosing, to bargain collectively, and to engage in peaceful assembly as well as respect the right of workers to refrain from such activities. Workers and/or their representatives shall be able to openly communicate and share ideas and concerns with management regarding working conditions and management practices
Agenda Page 700
Exhibit S - 3
without fear of discrimination, reprisal, intimidation, or harassment.
8. Restricted Jurisdictions
Supplier shall not manufacture or produce products in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, or knowingly procure goods and services mined, produced or manufactured in the same.
Agenda Page 701
Staff Report – Agenda Item 10
To: Board of Directors
From: Dr. Monique Edwards-Greer, Chief Administrative Officer Approved by: Ted Bardacke, Chief Executive Officer
Subject: CPA Employee Retention Incentive Program
Date: September 7, 2023
RECOMMENDATION
a) Adopt Employee Retention Incentive Program (Policy), as contained in Attachment 1 b) Approve and Authorize the Board Chair to Execute the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with the Chief Executive Officer to include the Retention Incentive as a benefit with the terms as specified in Attachment 2 c) Approve and Authorize the Board Chair to Execute the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with the General Counsel to include the Retention Incentive as a benefit with the terms as specified in Attachment 3 The recommended actions are in accordance with direction provided by the CPA Executive Committee and consistent with the Board adopted FY 2023/24 budget.
BACKGROUND
CPA operates in a unique and specialized labor market and competes for talent across many sectors, including the private sector, other CCAs, and both public and private utilities. Competition for Executive and Management level (and equivalent) positions with technical and market expertise is particularly acute, and while CPA overall turnover rates have stabilized, turnover for these senior positions has been disproportionately high.
Agenda Page 702
Board of Directors Item 10
In December 2022, the Board approved a package of updates to salary grades, benefits, and the Employee Handbook. At that time, staff were also directed to develop a retention incentive program.
Staff and Mercer, CPA’s HR/Compensation Consultant, developed retention incentive program options that were presented to the Executive Committee in May 2023. The Executive Committee recommended key program parameters that had impact on the FY23/24 budget, such as incentive levels (20% of base salary), eligibility (Executive and Management), and payout timing (2 years). The Executive Committee also endorsed the concept of tying a portion of the Retention Incentive to the achievement of organizational performance metrics and provided feedback on other details.
Based on this direction, $1.1 million for Retention Incentives was included in the Board approved FY 23/24 budget. On August 16, staff presented a draft policy to the Executive Committee that incorporated Executive Committee and Board feedback from previous discussions. The Executive Committee suggested further program refinements, which are now included in the draft policy (Attachment 1), and directed staff to present the item to the full Board for consideration.
RETENTION INCENTIVE PROGRAM STRUCTURE OVERVIEW
The design of the Retention Incentive Program is centered on five criteria: (i) eligibility, (ii) budget and payout, (iii) termination, (iv) fixed and contingent amounts, and (v) Board flexibility. Each of these criteria is defined as follows:
• Eligibility: Full-time Executive, Management track-level, and Professional/Technical Level 5.1
Employees at these levels who are subject to
disciplinary action or who are on a Performance Improvement Plan are not eligible.
1 Under this criterion, 20 of CPA’s 79 budgeted positions would be eligible for the Retention Incentive. CPA currently has zero employees at the Professional/Technical Level 5 (the highest “Individual Contributor” level) but may hire or promote into that level in the future.
Agenda Page 703
Board of Directors Item 10
• Budget and Pay Out: Amount is budgeted and set aside each year but is not paid out until some years later (“Earn Out Date”).
• Termination: If a staff member departs CPA voluntarily or involuntarily for cause before the Earn Out Date, they forfeit the incentive, and the amount remains with CPA.
• Fixed Amount and Contingent Amount: A percentage of the retention incentive is fixed and paid out if an employee remains employed with CPA on the Earn Out Date; a percentage of the retention incentive is contingent on meeting certain organizational performance metrics.
• Flexibility: Retention incentive amounts will be budgeted for every year.
Program parameters can be altered with Board approval to adjust to labor market conditions, internal staffing goals, and compensation approaches; however the intention is that the parameters would remain relatively stable year-over-year.
FY 2023/24 PARAMETERS AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE METRICS Within the overall recommended program structure and the amount budgeted for in the FY 2023/24 budget, the following parameters for FY 2023/24 are recommended:
• Retention Incentive: 20% of an eligible employee’s salary as of June 30, 2023, or if the employment start date is on or after July 1, 2023, the incentive will be prorated according to the number of full months of employment within the Performance Period.
• Waiting Period: Two years from July 1, 2023
• Earn Out Date: June 30, 2025
• Fixed Amount: 70% of the Retention Incentive total
• Contingent Amount: 30% of the Retention Incentive total (10% for each individual Organizational Performance Metric) as measured during the Performance Period • Performance Period: July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024
Agenda Page 704
Board of Directors Item 10
Organizational Performance Metrics
• Financial Performance: Achieving and/or maintaining an Investment Grade credit rating during the Performance Period
• Renewable Energy Procurement: Achievement of the target renewable energy procurement levels for each of CPA’s rate products in effect as of July 1 of the calendar year of the Performance Period
• Participation Rate: Achieving a Participation Rate in the last week of the Performance Period that is no less than 1% below the Participation Rate in the first week of the Performance Period
CONTRACT AMENDEMENTS FOR CEO AND GENERAL COUNSEL
Two of CPA’s executives, the CEO and General Counsel, have 5-year contracts with the Board that were amended and restated effective January of 2023. Those contracts currently state that these employees “shall be entitled to all benefits offered to CPA employees, including but not limited to vacation, group insurance plans, incentive or retirement programs…”
To clarify that this provision includes the proposed Retention Incentive Program, the Executive Committee recommended that the CEO and General Counsel’s employment contracts be amended to explicitly call out eligibility for the Retention Incentive Program.
In addition, due to the time-bound nature of those contracts with expiry at the end of 2026, the Executive Committee recommended that the CEO and General Counsel be entitled to the Contingent Amount of the Retention Incentive if their Agreement expires and is not renewed or extended by mutual consent after the Performance Period but prior to the end of the Waiting Period. These clarifications and provisions are detailed in Attachments 2 and 3 which are Amendments to the CEO and GC’s employment contracts.
Agenda Page 705
Board of Directors Item 10
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact of the proposed action to adopt the Retention Incentive Program (Policy) is approximately $1.1 million and is already included in the Board approved FY 23/24 budget. Assuming some staff turnover, actual payouts would be less than this budgeted amount. Retention Incentive amounts for future fiscal years (i.e. FY 2024/25 and beyond) would be included in future budgets subject to adjustments based on labor market conditions, internal staffing goals, and compensation levels and approaches.
ATTACHMENTS
1. CPA Employee Retention Incentive Program (Policy)
2. Amended CEO Employment Contract (Redline)
3. Amended General Counsel Employment Contract (Redline)
Agenda Page 706
DRAFT
Clean Power Alliance Retention Incentive Program (Policy) I. Purpose
Clean Power Alliance (CPA) operates in a unique and specialized labor market and competes for talent across many sectors, including the private sector, other CCAs, and both public and private utilities. Many middle and senior management level employees are highly specialized and have broad responsibility for multiple functions within CPA operations. To retain management-level (and equivalent) employees and to promote high performance, CPA has implemented a retention incentive program to incentivize employees to remain employed with CPA.
II. Overview
The CPA retention incentive program supports staff retention and high performance by:
• Budgeting for and setting aside each fiscal year an additional cash payment comprised of fixed and contingent amounts (the “Retention Incentive”) that eligible employees could earn at the end of a Waiting Period in addition to their regular salary. • Providing the Retention Incentive as a cash payment, less applicable withholdings and taxes, to “Eligible Employees” who remain employed with CPA at the end of a multi-year “Waiting Period”, thus triggering an “Earn Out Date”.
• Making a portion of the Retention Incentive a “Contingent Amount” payable upon certain “Organizational Performance Metrics” being met during a “Performance Period”.
III. Definitions
A. Contingent Amount – One of the two parts of the Retention Incentive. The Contingent Amount is a percentage that is earned when specific Organizational Performance Metrics are achieved during the relevant Performance Period.
B. Earn Out Date – The last day of the Waiting Period, when eligible employees earn their Retention Incentive.
C. Eligible Employees – Full-time executive, management track-level, and Professional/Technical Level 51 employees who remain employed by Clean Power Alliance on the Earn Out Date and are not subject to written disciplinary action or on a performance improvement plan at any point during the Waiting Period.
D. Fixed Amount – One of the two parts of the Retention Incentive. The Fixed Amount is earned at the relevant Earn Out Date and not dependent on achievement of Organizational Performance Metrics.
E. Organizational Performance Metrics – Metrics used to calculate the Contingent Amount of the Retention Incentive as specified in Section IV.A.1-3.
F. Pay Out Date – The pay cycle in which earned Retention Incentive is paid to the Eligible Employee.
G. Performance Period – The time within the Waiting Period in which the Organizational Performance Metrics are measured.
1 Professional/Technical Level 5 is CPA’s highest category of non-management or individual contributor employees and with experience equivalent to or greater than management track-level employees.
Agenda Page 707
H. Retention Incentive – A cash payment budgeted for and set aside that eligible employees could earn in addition to their regular salary at a later date. Retention Incentive consists of the (1) Fixed Amount and (2) the Contingent Amount. Applicable withholdings and taxes will be deducted from the cash payment made on the Earn Out Date.
I. Waiting Period - A multi-year period that begins July 1, which includes the Performance Period and additional year(s) following the end of the Performance Period.
IV. Retention Incentive Description
At the beginning of each fiscal year, CPA sets aside funds equivalent to a percentage of each eligible employee’s salary as of June 30th (the end of the prior fiscal year) as a Retention Incentive. Eligible Employees that begin employment after July 1st (the start of then-current fiscal year) or are promoted to an eligible position will have their Retention Incentive prorated according to the number of full months of employment within the Performance Period. A portion of the Retention Incentive will be fixed (the Fixed Amount), and a portion will be based on achieving Organization Performance Metrics during the Performance Period (the Contingent Amount), as described below. Continuation of the retention incentive program year to year is dependent on budget approval by CPA’s Board of Directors.
Retention Incentives will be earned by Eligible Employees who remain employed with CPA on the Earn Out Date. Organizational Performance Metrics will be measured at the end of the Performance Period to determine the Contingent Amount that any employee may earn. For example, as depicted in the chart below, a Retention Incentive set aside on July 1, 2023, would be earned on June 30, 2025.
A. Organizational Performance Metrics
Earning the Contingent Amount depends on achieving certain Organizational Performance Metrics during the Performance Period. The Organizational Performance Metrics are:
1. Financial Performance: Achieving and/or maintaining an Investment Grade credit rating during the Performance Period.
2. Renewable Energy Procurement: Achievement of the target renewable energy procurement levels for each of CPA’s rate products in effect as of July 1 of the calendar year of the Performance Period.
3. Participation Rate: Achieving a customer Participation Rate in the last week of the Performance Period that is no less than 1% below the Participation Rate in the first week of the Performance Period.
Agenda Page 708
Each of the Organizational Performance Metrics accounts for a portion of the Contingent Amount. For example, in the case where CPA sets aside a Retention Incentive of $20,000 for an Eligible Employee with a salary of $100,000 and each Organizational Performance Metric represents a Contingent Amount of 10%, the employee will earn a Fixed Amount of $14,000 if they remain employed as of the Earn Out Date and an additional $2,000 for each of the Organizational Performance Metrics that are achieved during the Performance Period provided the conditions outlined in this Policy are met.
V. Fiscal Year 2023/24 Parameters
1. Retention Incentive: up to 20% of an eligible employee’s salary as of June 30, 2023, or for new employees whose employment starts on or after July 1, 2023, the amount is prorated according to the number of full months of employment within the Performance Period. The Retention Incentive consists of both of the following:
a. Fixed Amount: up to 70% of the Retention Incentive amount b. Contingent Amount: up to 30% of the Retention Incentive amount; 10% for each Organizational Performance Metric.
2. Waiting Period: Two years from July 1, 2023
3. Earn Out Date: June 30, 2025
4. Performance Period: July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024
The Parameters established in this Section V will apply in future Fiscal Years unless altered by the Board of Directors.
VI. Termination of Employment
If an employee voluntarily terminates employment at any time during the Waiting Period or is involuntarily terminated for cause before the Earn Out Date, the Retention Incentive amount is not earned. No pro rata portion of the Retention Incentive (including the Contingent Amount) will be earned by the employee.
If an involuntary termination not for cause (e.g., death, disability) occurs during the Waiting Period and not past the Earn Out Date, then the employee may earn any amount of the Incentive Retention calculated after the Performance Period. Such amount will be paid on the final paycheck made payable to the employee or their designated beneficiary in accordance with the Company’s then-current payroll practices. If involuntary termination not for cause (i.e., death, disability) occurs within a Performance Period, the Retention Incentive will be earned in a prorated amount from July 1 to the involuntary termination date. Such amount will be paid on the final paycheck made payable to the employee or their designated beneficiary in accordance with the Company’s then-current payroll practices.
VII. Interest, Taxes, and Conditions
The Retention Incentive is only earned by Eligible Employees as set forth in this Policy on the Earn Out Date. As a result, Eligible Employees will not earn interest on the budgeted and set-aside Retention Incentives during the Waiting Period.
Agenda Page 709
Retention Incentives are taxable income to the employee and will be added to the employee’s compensation in the calendar year corresponding to the Pay Out Date. Employees are encouraged to seek advice from a tax professional.
Retention Incentives are not portable to other employers or agencies.
The Retention Incentive program may be altered, limited, restricted, or terminated at any time with Board action to adjust to changing labor market conditions, internal staffing goals, overall compensation approaches, CPA’s fiscal health, or other considerations. Nothing in this program creates an expectation of employment or modifies the at-will nature of an Eligible Employee’s employment.
The Retention Incentive program is conditioned upon sufficient appropriation of funds by the Board. If the Board does not appropriate sufficient funds for this program, this Program may be terminated or reduced to reflect any reduction in funding.
VIII. Severability
If any section, subsection, sentence, or clause of this Policy is determined to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable, such illegality, invalidity, or unenforceability shall not affect the legality, validity, or enforceability of this Policy as a whole or of any section, subsection, sentence, or clause herein that is not so determined.
Agenda Page 710
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AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT - CLEAN
POWER ALLIANCE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER TED BARDACKE
This Amendment Number One (“Amendment”) to the Employment Agreement is made by and between Clean Power Alliance of Southern California (“CPA”) and Ted Bardacke, an individual (“Employee”) on September 7, 2023. CPA and Employee may individually be referred to herein as a “Party,” or collectively as the “Parties.”
RECITALS
This Employment Agreement is entered into based on the following facts, understandings, and intentions of the Parties:
A. WHEREAS, CPA is a Community Choice Aggregation Program (“CCA Program”) established pursuant to California Public Utilities Code Section 366.2(c)(12) with 32 member counties and cities (“Member Agencies”). These Member Agencies are signatories to the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California Joint Powers Agreement (the “JPA Agreement”) which serves as the operative document in the implementation, administration, and operation of the CCA Program;
B. WHEREAS, Section 5.5 of the JPA Agreement provides that the CPA Board of Directors (“Board”) shall appoint a Chief Executive Officer for the CPA, who shall be responsible for the day-to-day operation and management of the CPA and the CCA Program and provides for the exercise of powers and authority by the Chief Executive Officer; C. WHEREAS, on December 1, 2022, the Board of Directors of CPA (“Board”) approved an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between CPA and Employee (“Agreement”) with an effective date of January 1, 2023; D. WHEREAS, the Agreement details the Benefits that Employee is entitled to receive, including eligibility to receive incentives that the Board offers to CPA employees generally; and,
E. WHEREAS, the Board intends to clarify that Employee is entitled to receive retention incentives under any Board-adopted authorized Retention Incentive Program subject to certain adjustments specified in this Amendment.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is mutually agreed by and between the Parties hereto to amend the Agreement as follows:
1. Benefits: Paragraph 5 of the Agreement shall be amended as follows:
Benefits. During the Term of this Agreement, Employee shall be entitled to all benefits offered to CPA employees, including but not limited to vacation, group insurance plans, incentive or retirement programs, including any Retention Incentives in conformance with a Board-adopted Retention Incentive Program, paid time off, sick leave, and expense reimbursement.
Employee acknowledges that CPA may establish additional benefit programs
Agenda Page 711
-2-
or may be modify, reduce, or eliminate any benefit plan or program at the discretion of the Board, in accordance with applicable law. Notwithstanding the provisions of the Retention Incentive Program, Employee shall be entitled to the Contingent Amount of the Retention Incentive if the Agreement expires after the end of the applicable Performance Period but prior to end of the Waiting Period. Capitalized terms not defined herein related to the Retention Incentive Program shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Board-adopted Retention Incentive Program.
2. Except as specifically amended hereby, all other terms and conditions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed as of the Effective Date.
CLEAN POWER ALLIANCE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
By______________________________ ____________________
Julian Gold, Board Chair Date
By______________________________ ____________________
Ted Bardacke Date
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
By______________________________ ____________________
Nancy Whang, General Counsel Date
Agenda Page 712
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AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT - CLEAN
POWER ALLIANCE
GENERAL COUNSEL NANCY WHANG
This Amendment Number One (“Amendment”) to the Employment Agreement is made by and between Clean Power Alliance of Southern California (“CPA”) and Nancy Whang, an individual (“Employee”) on September 7, 2023 (“Effective Date”). CPA and Employee may individually be referred to herein as a “Party,” or collectively as the “Parties.”
RECITALS
This Employment Agreement is entered into based on the following facts, understandings, and intentions of the Parties:
A. WHEREAS, CPA is a Community Choice Aggregation Program (“CCA Program”) established pursuant to California Public Utilities Code Section 366.2(c)(12) with 32 member counties and cities (“Member Agencies”). These Member Agencies are signatories to the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California Joint Powers Agreement (the “JPA Agreement”) which serves as the operative document in the implementation, administration, and operation of the CCA Program;
B. WHEREAS, Section 4.4 of the JPA Agreement authorizes the Board to retain legal counsel and Article III, Section 7 of the Board-adopted Bylaws designate the General Counsel as the attorney for and legal advisor to the Board and CPA; C. WHEREAS, on December 1, 2022, the Board of Directors of CPA (“Board”) approved an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between CPA and Employee (“Agreement”) with an effective date of January 1, 2023; D. WHEREAS, the Agreement details the Benefits that Employee is entitled to receive, including eligibility to receive incentives that the Board offers to CPA employees generally; and,
E. WHEREAS, the Board intends to clarify that Employee is entitled to receive any retention incentives under any Board-adopted Retention Incentive Program subject to certain adjustments specified in this Amendment.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is mutually agreed by and between the Parties hereto to amend the Agreement as follows:
1. Benefits: Paragraph 4 of the Agreement shall be amended as follows:
Benefits. During the Term of this Agreement, Employee shall be entitled to all benefits offered to CPA employees, including but not limited to group insurance plans, incentive or retirement programs, including any Retention Incentives in conformance with a Board-adopted Retention Incentive
Agenda Page 713
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Program, vacation, paid time off, sick leave, and expense reimbursement.
Notwithstanding the provisions of the Retention Incentive Program, Employee shall be entitled to the Contingent Amount of the Retention Incentive if the Agreement expires after the end of the applicable Performance Period but prior to end of the Waiting Period. Capitalized terms not defined herein related to the Retention Incentive Program shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Board-adopted Retention Incentive Program.
CPA may establish additional benefit programs and may modify, reduce, or eliminate any benefit plan or program in its discretion, in accordance with applicable law.
2. Except as specifically amended hereby, all other terms and conditions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed as of the Effective Date.
CLEAN POWER ALLIANCE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
By______________________________ ____________________
Julian Gold, Board Chair Date
By______________________________ ____________________
Nancy Whang Date
Agenda Page 714
Management Report
To: Board of Directors
From: Ted Bardacke, Chief Executive Officer
Subject: September Management Report
Date: September 7, 2023
Fall Customer Communications
Over the course of the next three months, CPA is sending out several required mass customer communications, including:
1) Annual Joint Rate Comparison. This mailer/email, required by the California Public Utilities Commission and a joint product of CPA and Southern California Edison (SCE), goes to all CPA customers. It provides rate and energy content comparisons between CPA and SCE for the most common customer rates (i.e.
Domestic, Small Business, and CARE) at a single point in time. Of note this year is that each of CPA’s three rate products – Lean, Clean, and 100% Green – is currently either cheaper or at parity with SCE. In addition, SCE’s “Green Rates” are not included in the annual comparison because the SCE program that offers those rates is fully subscribed and SCE is maintaining a substantial waiting list; CPA’s three rate products are available to all customers at any time. 2) Annual Power Content Label (PCL). This mailer/email, required by the California Energy Commission, goes to all current CPA customers and anyone who was a CPA customer in 2022. It provides a breakdown of Power Sources and Greenhouse Gas Emissions intensity for each of CPA’s rate products in 2022 compared to the statewide average. CPA messaging about customer programs and overall environmental performance will also be included.
Agenda Page 715
Board of Directors Management Report
3) Notifications of Changes to Preferred Energy Option (Default Rate). In October, the preferred energy option in Alhambra and Unincorporated Los Angeles County (non-residential customers only)1 in will change from Clean to 100% Green and Paramount’s preferred energy option will change from Lean to Clean. Notices informing customers of the changes are being sent out in September and then again in the later part of October after the change has occurred. Customers always maintain their ability to change rates or opt-out of CPA service at any time.
Interactive CPA Community Map
Over the summer, CPA enhanced its web homepage with an interactive community map, highlighting data about each member community’s energy use, environmental impact, program enrollments, and information on Board and Community Advisory Committee representatives. CPA staff invites Board members to provide suggestions for further enhancements to this map. A password protected members section of CPA’s website is under development.
CPA earned $30.5 million in the month of May, $5.8 million below budgeted earnings of $36.4 million. May results were impacted by cooler than normal temperatures in the month, which lowered revenue 12% below budget, while weather-dependent energy prices were only 9% below budget. At the end of the first eleven months of FY 2022/23, CPA recorded net operating income of $31.2 million, in line with a budgeted gain of $31.7 million. The monthly financial dashboard is provided as Attachment 1 to this report.
CPA is in the process of producing its full fiscal year results and going through its annual independent audit process. FY 2022/23 audited financial statements will be published in October. CPA remains on track to contribute approximately $80 million to the net position consistent with the FY 2022/23 Amended Budget. Cashflow and liquidity over the summer has remained strong.
1 The preferred energy option for standard residential customers in Unincorporated Los Angeles County changed to 100% Green in 2022. Customers on CARE/FERA/Medical Baseline with see their preferred energy option change in 2024.
_Monthly Financial Performance __________________________ Agenda Page 716
Board of Directors Management Report
Customer Participation Rate and Opt Actions
As of August 28, 2023, CPA’s overall participation rate was 93%, unchanged from the previous month. CPA had 1,005,437 active customers, up 200 customers since July. Opt-out levels for the month – 641 accounts through the last week of August – are up from July and lower than historical norms of 875 opt-outs per month during the third quarter of the year. New accounts (“move-ins”) were lower than closed accounts (“move-outs”) by 1,732 customers in August, typical for a summer month. Participation rates and active accounts by jurisdiction are provided in Attachment 2 of this report.
Customer Service Center Performance
Incoming calls to CPA’s Customer Service Center during August were up compared to the previous month but lower than typical months in the third quarter of the year. Through August 29, CPA received 2,575 calls compared to 1,852 calls in July and an average of 3,081 calls per month in the third quarter of previous years. 84% of calls were answered within 45 seconds, down from 94% in the previous month, and the average wait time was 25 seconds, up from 9 seconds in the previous month. CPA staff is working closely with our call center vendor to ensure that this slight deterioration in call center performance stabilizes and does not continue on a downward trajectory.
Contracts Executed Under the Chief Executive Officer’s Authority A list of non-energy contracts executed under the CEO’s signing authority is provided in Attachment 3. The list includes all open contracts as well as all contracts, open or completed, executed in the past 12 months.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Monthly Financial Dashboard – April 2023
2. Participation Rates by Jurisdiction
3. Non-Energy Contracts Executed under CEO’s Authority
Agenda Page 717
CUSTOMERS
Summary of Financial Results
Definitions:
Accounts: Active Accounts represents customer accounts of active customers served by CPA per Calpine Invoice.
Participation Rate %: Participation Rate represents active accounts divided by eligible CPA accounts YTD Sales Volume: Year-to-date sales volume represents the amount of energy (in gigawatt hours) sold to retail customers Revenues: Retail energy sales less allowance for doubtful accounts Cost of energy: Cost of energy includes direct costs incurred to serve CPA’s load Operating expenses: Operating expenditures include general, administrative, consulting, payroll, and other costs required to fund operations Net operating income represents the difference between revenues and expenditures before interest income and expense, and capital expenditures
Cash and Cash Equivalents: Includes bank accounts and marketable securities with maturities of less than 90 days.
Year to date (YTD): Represents the fiscal period beginning July 1, 2022 YTD
May
2023
Financial Dashboard
Note: Numbers may not sum up due to rounding.
Active Accounts
1,005,435
Participation Rate
93.2%
YTD Sales Volume
10,121 GWh
May Sales Volume
789 GWh
In May 2023 CPA recorded an operating income of $30.5 million, $5.8 million less than the budgeted operating income of $36.4 million provided in the FY 2022/23 Amended Budget. May 2023 revenues and cost of energy were 12% and 9% lower than budget respectively as a result of cooler than normal temperatures and lower than budgeted electricity consumption and wholesale electricity prices. The net impact was revenue less energy cost that was $6.4 million or 16% below budget. For the fiscal year to date (YTD), CPA recorded an operating income of $31.2 million, 1% less than the budgeted operating income of $31.7 million.
YTD revenue was $1.038 billion, and the cost of energy was $976 million, in line with the Amended Budget. YTD results were positively impacted by a rate increase that went into effect in April 2023 and were negatively impacted by the September 2022 heat wave, gas and energy price shocks in December 2022 and January 2023, higher than budgeted renewable energy costs, and an accrued but yet to be assessed Resource Adequacy compliance penalty. Operating costs were 24% below budget for the YTD mainly due to lower spending on general and administrative expenses, customer programs and other services, and the non-utilization of contingencies.
As of May 31, 2023, CPA had $95.2 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and $79.853 million available in its bank line of credit. In June 2023, CPA and JP Morgan executed an amendment to CPA’s credit agreement, increasing the line of credit from $80 million to $160 million and extending the term of the agreement to March 31, 2024.
CPA is financially sound and in compliance with its bank and other credit covenants. CPA remains on track to meet its financial objectives in FY 2022/23.
Agenda Page 718
Preferred Energy Option Participation %
100% Green 93.1%
Clean 94.3%
Lean 92.6%
Total 93.3%
OVERALL CUSTOMER STATUS REPORT
August 28, 2023
PARTICIPATION BY CITY AND COUNTY
Preferred Energy Option Active Accounts Participation % Lean % Clean % 100% Green % Agoura Hills 100% Green 8,088 90.3% 2.6% 0.4% 97.1%
Alhambra Clean 34,038 95.4% 1.6% 98.3% 0.2%
Arcadia Lean 22,564 95.3% 99.8% 0.1% 0.1%
Beverly Hills 100% Green 18,613 97.4% 1.9% 0.1% 98.0%
Calabasas 100% Green 9,719 93.8% 2.3% 0.3% 97.4%
Camarillo 100% Green 28,341 89.8% 1.3% 0.1% 98.6%
Carson Clean 29,366 96.3% 1.4% 98.4% 0.2%
Claremont 100% Green 12,676 91.7% 2.9% 0.2% 96.8%
Culver City 100% Green 19,177 94.9% 4.1% 1.2% 94.8%
Downey Clean 36,723 95.0% 1.6% 98.3% 0.1%
Hawaiian Gardens Clean 3,628 95.3% 1.2% 98.6% 0.3%
Hawthorne 100% Green 28,436 97.1% 0.4% 1.4% 98.2%
Los Angeles County 100% Green 298,878 94.7% 2.0% 38.1% 60.0% Malibu 100% Green 7,002 93.2% 3.0% 0.4% 96.6%
Manhattan Beach 100% Green 15,430 95.7% 2.8% 0.2% 97.0% Moorpark Clean 11,387 85.6% 3.1% 96.3% 0.6%
Ojai 100% Green 3,510 89.1% 6.0% 1.2% 92.8%
Oxnard 100% Green 55,351 92.9% 4.0% 0.9% 95.1%
Paramount Lean 15,766 96.7% 96.5% 2.6% 0.9%
Redondo Beach 100% Green 33,207 96.2% 2.0% 0.1% 97.9%
Rolling Hills Estates 100% Green 3,494 91.9% 7.2% 1.6% 91.2% Santa Monica 100% Green 54,633 95.3% 3.4% 0.8% 95.9%
Sierra Madre 100% Green 4,954 92.1% 5.7% 1.6% 92.8%
Simi Valley Lean 43,284 89.5% 99.6% 0.1% 0.2%
South Pasadena 100% Green 11,620 95.0% 3.9% 0.7% 95.5%
Temple City Lean 12,557 95.7% 99.8% 0.1% 0.2%
Thousand Oaks 100% Green 44,378 83.6% 8.0% 1.5% 90.5%
Ventura 100% Green 43,844 89.1% 4.8% 1.5% 93.7%
Ventura County 100% Green 33,316 86.9% 6.5% 1.5% 92.1%
West Hollywood 100% Green 26,492 97.0% 2.5% 0.4% 97.1%
Westlake Village Lean 3,732 88.3% 99.5% 0.1% 0.5%
Whittier Clean 31,233 94.0% 1.9% 98.0% 0.1%
Total 1,005,437 93.3%
Energy Option Active Accounts Participation %
100% Green 620,724 61.7%
Clean 261,745 26.0%
Lean 122,968 12.2%
Total 1,005,437 100.0%
OVERALL PARTICIPATION BY ENERGY OPTION
Agenda Page 719
Vendor Purpose Month NTE Amount Status Notes
Windstream Services, LLC Office Telephone Service September 2023 $12,924 Active Bloom Ads Media Buying July 2023 $50,000 Active
Nextgrid Strategies Staff Augmentation for 2023 Clean Energy RFO Evaluation and Contract Negotiations July 2023 $100,000 Active Advance Dev. LLC Website Maintenance Services July 2023 $75,000 Active Workable Job applicant tracking system July 2023 $13,308 Active Lexis Nexis Legal Research Online Platform July 2023 $2,492 Active Hall Energy Law PC Energy Procurement Counsel July 2023 $125,000 Active Renewal Burke, Williams, Sorenson, LLP
Legal Services Agreement (Brown Act,
public entity governance issues and other
legal services)
July 2023 $100,000 Active Renewal
Elite Edge Financial reporting services July 2023 $93,600 Active Salesforce
Additional licenses for Stakeholder
Relationship Management application
subscription
July 2023 $714 Active
MBI Green Leader PR Campaign July 2023 $24,853 Active
Snowflake Inc.
Cloud-Native Elastic Data Warehouse
Service June 2023 $25,000 Active
Adobe Inc. AdobeSign Secure Electronic Signature
Service June 2023 $3,200 Active
Baker Tilly Financial audit services June 2023 $50,000 Active Renewal IHS Market Subscription for CAISO forecasts June 2023 $17,000 Active Renewal Fraser Marketing contract (final renewal) June 2023 ($83,297) Active 14% decrease to Board approved NTE upon renewal
Swanson Martin Bell Legal Services Agreement (general liability) May 2023 $75,000 Active LinkedIn Subscription for recruiting platform April 2023 $20,250 Active Lattice
Renewal for Performance management
software April 2023 $9,000 Active
AN Catering Fifth anniversary lunch venue April 2023 $17,444 Completed Polsinelli, LLP
Legal Service Agreement (Employment,
Compliance, General Legal Support related
to Commercial Liability, Risk, and
Mitigation issues)
April 2023 $75,000 Active Renewal
Chapman & Cutler, LLP Legal Services (CPA's Credit Agreement) April 2023 $55,000 Active Renewal Salesforce
Additional licenses for Stakeholder
Relationship Management application
subscription
April 2023 $723 Active
Accuweather Weather forecasting March 2023 $10,176 Active goodpr. Event planning services March 2023 $16,000 Active Clean Power Alliance
Non-energy contracts executed under Chief Executive Officer authority Rolling 12 months -- Open contracts shown in Bold
Agenda Page 720
Vendor Purpose Month NTE Amount Status Notes
Clean Power Alliance
Non-energy contracts executed under Chief Executive Officer authority Rolling 12 months -- Open contracts shown in Bold
Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger, LLP
Legal Service Agreement (Regulatory,
Administrative, Environmental, Energy
Procurement, Public Contracting, Public
Entity Governance Laws, Issues and/or
Proceedings)
March 2023 $65,000 Active Renewal
Davis Wright Tremaine Legal services (regulatory) March 2023 $125,000 Active Renewal Ntooitive Website development March 2023 $20,000 Active Municipal Capital Markets GIC brokerage services February 2023 $38,900 Active Amendment for GIC brokerage services - paid out of Energy Prepay Bond proceeds
Clear Language Company Minute transciption for board meetings January 2023 $20,000 Active Renewal Mercer Retention incentive program development January 2023 $50,000 Active SBCCOG Satellite Board meeting venue January 2023 $50/hr Active Wrike Project management software January 2023 $5,814 Active Ironclad Contract lifecycle management platform January 2023 $16,000 Active PrimeGov Board and committee meeting agenda
management software December 2022 $16,000 Active Renewal DERNetSoft, Inc. Business customer engagement reporting tool December 2022 $53,000 Active
Ion Objects, Inc. IT consulting December 2022 $4,000 Completed Amendment for updated project scope AiQueous, LLC Salesforce implementation December 2022 $7,395 Completed Amendment to update scope for project completion
ZGlobal Engineering services December 2022 $50,000 Active Pinnacle Advocacy Lobbying services December 2022 $66,652 Active Omni Government Relations Lobbying services December 2022 $82,492 Active Museum of Ventura County Event space rental for City Manager Lunch December 2022 $825 Completed S&P Credit assessment December 2022 $37,500 Active
Meltwater Media analytics and monitoring services November 2022 $13,750 Active Cision Media/PR wire distribution services November 2022 $2,240 Active Sigma Data analytics tool October 2022 $13,000 Active
Language Line Translation services October 2022 $50,000 Active Langan GIS services October 2022 $78,500 Active Second renewal term Pickit Digital asset library September 2022 $2,900 Active Salesforce Stakeholder Relationship Management
application subscription August 2022 $15,300 Active
OpenPath New Office Keycard Access Control
System January 2021 $1,500 Active
Crown Castle Fiber LLC New Office Dedicated Internet Access Service September 2020 $ 18,600 Active
NextLevel Internet, Inc. New Office High Speed Internet Service September 2020 $ 6,936 Active
Agenda Page 721
Vendor Purpose Month NTE Amount Status Notes
Clean Power Alliance
Non-energy contracts executed under Chief Executive Officer authority Rolling 12 months -- Open contracts shown in Bold
Zero Outages New Office Security, Firewall, & Wi-Fi
Service September 2020 $ 7,608 Active
Agenda Page 722