The Trustee shall not be responsible for any recital in this Indenture or on the Bonds (except with respect to the certificate of the Trustee endorsed on the Bonds) or for insuring any property conveyed or collecting any insurance monies, or for the validity of the execution by the Issuer of this Indenture or of any supplements hereto, or instruments of further assurance, or for the sufficiency of the security for the Bonds, or for the investment of monies as herein permitted, or for investment decisions as herein permitted (except that no investment shall be made except in compliance with Section 6.2 and Section 6.3 hereof), or for the recording or re-recording, filing or re-filing of this Indenture, or any supplement or amendment thereto, or of any security for the Bonds issued hereunder or intended to be secured hereby, or for the value or title of the property herein conveyed or otherwise as to the maintenance of the security hereof. Except as specifically provided in this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be bound to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any covenants, conditions, or agreements on the part of the Issuer, but the Trustee may require of the Issuer full information and advice as to the performance of such covenants.
(b) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the execution of the said trusts and powers. The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In case an Event of Default has occurred (which has not been cured) the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs. Any provision of this Indenture relating to action taken or to be taken by the Trustee or to evidence upon which the Trustee may rely shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 9.3 and Section 9.4.
(c) The Trustee shall not be considered in breach of or in default in its obligations hereunder or progress in respect thereto in the event of enforced delay (“unavoidable delay”) in connection with the performance of such obligations due to unforeseeable causes beyond its control and without its fault or negligence, including, but not limited to, Acts of God or of the public enemy or terrorists, acts of a government, acts of the other party, fires, floods, epidemics, quarantine restrictions, strikes, freight embargoes, earthquakes, explosion, mob violence, riot, inability to procure or general sabotage or rationing of labor, equipment, facilities, sources of energy, material or supplies in the open market, litigation or arbitration involving a party or others relating to zoning or other governmental action or inaction pertaining to the project, malicious mischief, condemnation, and unusually severe weather or delays of suppliers or subcontractors due to such causes.
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(d) The Trustee shall have no responsibility with respect to any information, statement, or recital in any official statement, offering memorandum, or other disclosure material prepared or distributed with respect to the Bonds.
Section 9.4 Evidence on Which Fiduciaries May Act.
(a) Each Fiduciary, upon receipt of any notice, direction, resolution, request, consent, order, certificate, report, opinion, bond or other paper or document furnished to it pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, shall examine such instrument to determine whether it conforms to the requirements of this Indenture and shall be protected in acting upon any such instrument believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
Each Fiduciary may consult with any consultant, accountant, or counsel, who may or may not be counsel to the Issuer, and the opinion of such consultant, accountant, or counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered by it under this Indenture in good faith and in accordance therewith, and the Trustee shall be under no duty to make any investigation or inquiry into any statements contained or matters referred to in any such instrument.
(b) Whenever any Fiduciary shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering any action under this Indenture, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be therein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a Written Certificate of the Issuer, and such certificate shall be full warrant for any action taken or suffered in good faith under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof; but in its discretion the Fiduciary may in lieu thereof accept other evidence of such fact or matter or may require such further or additional evidence as it may deem reasonable. Neither the Trustee, the Bond Registrar nor the Paying Agent shall be bound to recognize any Person as a Bondholder or to take any action at its request unless its Bond shall be deposited with such entity or satisfactory evidence of the ownership of such Bond shall be furnished to such entity.
(c) The Trustee shall have the right to accept and act upon directions given pursuant to this Indenture, or any other document reasonably relating to the Bonds and delivered using Electronic Means; provided, however, that the Issuer shall provide to the Trustee a Written Certificate of the Issuer listing Authorized Officers with the authority to provide such directions and containing specimen signatures of such Authorized Officers, which Written Certificate of the Issuer shall be amended whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Issuer elects to give the Trustee directions using Electronic Means and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such directions, the Trustee’s understanding of such directions shall be deemed controlling. The Issuer understands and agrees that the Trustee cannot determine the identity of the actual sender of such directions and that the Trustee shall conclusively presume that directions that purport to have been sent by an Authorized Officer listed on the Written Certificate of the Issuer provided to the Trustee have been sent by such Authorized Officer. The Issuer shall be responsible for ensuring that only Authorized Officers transmit such directions to the Trustee and that all Authorized Officers treat applicable user and authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys as confidential and with extreme care. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such directions notwithstanding such directions conflict or are inconsistent with 100
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a subsequent written direction. The Issuer agrees: (i) to assume all risks arising out of the use of Electronic Means to submit directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized directions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties; (ii) that it is fully informed of the protections and risks associated with the various methods of transmitting directions to the Trustee and that there may be more secure methods of transmitting directions, (iii) that the security procedures (if any) to be followed in connection with its transmission of directions provide to it a commercially reasonable degree of protection in light of its particular needs and circumstances and (iv) to notify the Trustee immediately upon learning of any compromise or unauthorized use of the security procedures. (d) Paper copies or “printouts” of any document, if introduced as evidence in any judicial, arbitral, mediation or other administrative proceeding, will be admissible as between the Issuer and the Trustee to the same extent and under the same conditions as other original business records created and maintained in documentary form. Neither party shall contest the admissibility of true and accurate copies of Electronically Signed Documents on the basis of the best evidence rule or as not satisfying the business records exception to the hearsay rule.
Section 9.5 Compensation. The Issuer shall pay or cause to be paid to each Fiduciary from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered under this Indenture, and also all reasonable expenses, charges, legal fees and other disbursements, including those of its attorneys, agents and employees, incurred in and about the performance of their powers and duties under this Indenture, in accordance with the agreements made from time to time between the Issuer and the Fiduciary. Subject to the provisions of Section 9.3, the Issuer further agrees, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to indemnify and save each Fiduciary harmless against any liabilities that it may incur in the exercise and performance of its powers and duties hereunder and that are not due to such Fiduciary’s negligence or willful misconduct.
Section 9.6 Certain Permitted Acts. Any Fiduciary, individually or otherwise, may become the owner of any Bonds, with the same rights it would have if it were not a Fiduciary. To the extent permitted by law, any Fiduciary may act as depository for, and permit any of its officers or directors to act as a member of, or in any other capacity with respect to, any committee formed to protect the rights of Bondholders or to effect or aid in any reorganization growing out of the enforcement of the Bonds or this Indenture, whether or not any such committee shall represent the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Bonds then Outstanding. Nothing herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Bondholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, or composition affecting the Bonds or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Bondholder in any such proceeding without the approval of the Bondholders so affected.
Section 9.7 Resignation of Trustee. The Trustee may at any time resign and be discharged of the duties created by this Indenture by giving not less than 60 days’ written notice to the Issuer and mailing notice thereof to the Holders of Bonds then Outstanding, specifying the date when such resignation shall take effect, and such resignation shall take effect upon the day specified in such notice unless (a) previously a successor shall have been appointed by the Issuer or the Bondholders as provided in Section 9.9, in which event such resignation shall take effect immediately on the appointment of such successor, or (b) a successor shall not have been 101
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appointed by the Issuer or the Bondholders as provided in Section 9.9 on such date, in which event such resignation shall not take effect until a successor is appointed.
Section 9.8 Removal of the Trustee. The Trustee may be removed with 30 days’ prior notice with or without cause by an instrument or concurrent instruments in writing, filed with the Trustee, and signed by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Bonds then Outstanding or their attorneys-in-fact duly authorized, excluding any Bonds held by or for the account of the Issuer. So long as no Event of Default, or an event which, with notice or passage of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing, the Trustee may be removed at any time, with or without cause, upon 30 days’ notice by delivery of a Written Certificate of the Issuer to the Trustee with respect to the foregoing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such removal of the Trustee shall not be effective until a successor Trustee has been appointed pursuant to Section 9.9. The Trustee’s rights under this Indenture to indemnity and any amounts due and payable to such Trustee shall survive any such removal.
Section 9.9 Appointment of Successor Trustee.
(a) In case at any time the Trustee shall resign or shall be removed or shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or if a receiver, liquidator or conservator of the Trustee, or of its property, shall be appointed, or if any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee, or of its property or affairs, a successor Trustee may be appointed by the Issuer by a duly executed written instrument signed by an Authorized Officer. (b) If no appointment of a successor Trustee shall be made pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.9 within 60 days after the Trustee shall have given to the Issuer written notice as provided in Section 9.7 or after a vacancy in the office of the Trustee shall have occurred by reason of its inability to act, removal, or for any other reason whatsoever, the Trustee or the Holder of any Bond (in any case) may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor Trustee. Said court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as such court may deem proper, appoint a successor Trustee.
(c) Any Trustee appointed under the provisions of this Section 9.9 in succession to the Trustee shall be a bank or trust company organized under the laws of any state or a national banking association and shall have capital stock, surplus and undivided earnings aggregating at least $100,000,000 if there be such a bank with trust powers or trust company or national banking association willing and able to accept the office on reasonable and customary terms and authorized by law to perform all the duties imposed upon it by this Indenture.
Section 9.10 Transfer of Rights and Property to Successor Trustee. Any successor trustee appointed under this Indenture shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to its predecessor Trustee, and also to the Issuer, an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become fully vested with all moneys, estates, properties, rights, powers, duties and obligations of such predecessor Trustee, with like effect as if originally named as Trustee; but the Trustee ceasing to act shall nevertheless, on the Written Request of the Issuer or of the successor Trustee, at the cost and expense of the Issuer, execute, acknowledge and deliver such instrument of conveyance and further assurance and do such other things as may reasonably be required for more fully and certainly vesting and 102
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confirming in such successor Trustee all the right, title and interest of the predecessor Trustee in and to any property, rights, interests and estates held by it under this Indenture, and shall pay over, assign and deliver to the successor Trustee any money or other property subject to the trusts and conditions herein set forth. Should any deed, conveyance or instrument in writing from the Issuer be required by such successor Trustee for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee any such estates, rights, powers and duties, any and all such deeds, conveyances and instruments in writing shall, on request, and so far as may be authorized by law, be executed, acknowledged and delivered by the Issuer. Any such successor Trustee shall promptly notify the Paying Agent of its appointment as Trustee.
Section 9.11 Merger or Consolidation. Any company into which any Fiduciary may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated or any company resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which it shall be a party or any company to which any Fiduciary may sell or transfer all or substantially all of its corporate trust business, provided such company shall be a bank with trust powers or trust company organized under the laws of any state of the United States or a national banking association and shall be authorized by law to perform all the duties imposed upon it by this Indenture and shall meet the qualifications set forth in Section 9.9(c), shall be the successor to such Fiduciary without the execution or filing of any paper or the performance of any further act.
Section 9.12 Adoption of Authentication. In case any of the Bonds contemplated to be issued under this Indenture shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any successor Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee so authenticating such Bonds and deliver such Bonds so authenticated; and in case any of the said Bonds shall not have been authenticated, any successor Trustee may authenticate such Bonds in the name of the successor Trustee, and in all such cases such certificate shall have the full force which it is provided, anywhere in said Bonds or in this Indenture, that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.
Section 9.13 Resignation or Removal of Paying Agent and Appointment of Successor.
(a) Any Paying Agent may at any time resign and be discharged of the duties and obligations created by this Indenture by giving at least 60 days’ written notice to the Issuer, the Trustee and the other Paying Agents. Any Paying Agent may be removed with at any time, upon 30 days’ notice, by an instrument filed with such Paying Agent and the Trustee and signed by an Authorized Officer. Any successor Paying Agent shall be appointed by the Issuer and shall be a bank or trust company organized under the laws of any state of the United States or a national banking association, having capital stock, surplus and undivided earnings aggregating at least $50,000,000, and willing and able to accept the office on reasonable and customary terms and authorized by law to perform all the duties imposed upon it by this Indenture. (b) In the event of the resignation or removal of any Paying Agent, such Paying Agent shall pay over, assign and deliver any moneys held by it as Paying Agent to its successor, or if there be no successor, to the Trustee. In the event that for any reason there shall be a vacancy in the office of any Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such Paying Agent. 103
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Section 9.14 Trustee’s Reliance. In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, and shall be protected in acting, upon any notice, direction, certificate, opinion, request, consent, order, certificate, opinion, bond, statement, affidavit, facsimile transmission, electronic mail or other instrument or statement furnished to the Trustee pursuant to any provision of this Indenture and that is believed by the Trustee to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties and in conformity with the procedural requirements of this Indenture.
The Trustee may consult with any consultant, account, or counsel, who may or may not be counsel to the Issuer, and the opinion of such consultant, accountant, or counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered by Trustee under this Indenture in good faith and in accordance therewith. The Trustee shall be under no duty to make any investigation or inquiry into any statements contained or matters referred to in any such instrument. Any request, direction, authority or consent given by the Holders of any Bond shall be conclusive and binding upon all Holders of the same Bond and any Bond issued in its place.
Section 9.15 Trustee’s Liability.
(a) The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Bonds, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or, except for its negligence or willful misconduct, exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Bonds. In no event shall the Trustee be liable for incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages or penalties (including, but not limited to, list profits).
(b) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of an Event of Default except for those Events of Default in Section 8.1(a) and Section 8.1(b) unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have actual knowledge of such Event of Default. As used herein, “actual knowledge” shall mean the actual fact or statement of knowing without any independent duty to make any investigation with regard thereto.
(c) The Trustee’s rights to immunities and protection from liability hereunder and its rights to payment of its fees and expenses shall survive its resignation or removal and final payment or defeasance of the Bonds. All rights, benefits, indemnifications and releases from liability granted herein to the Trustee shall extend to the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Trustee.
(d) Whenever in the administration of the trusts imposed upon it by this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a Written Certificate of the Issuer, and such Written Certificate shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken or suffered in good faith under the provisions of this Indenture in reliance upon such Written Instrument, but in its discretion the Trustee may, in lieu thereof, accept other evidence of such matter or may require such additional evidence as it may deem reasonable.
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(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in connection with the performance or exercise of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers hereunder, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. (f) Under no circumstances shall the Trustee in any of its capacities hereunder be liable in its individual capacity for the obligations evidenced by the Bonds or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance of this Bond or in respect of any undertakings by the Trustee under this Indenture. In accepting the trust hereby created, the Trustee acts solely as Trustee for the holders of the Bonds and not in its individual capacity, and all persons, including without limitation the holders of the Bonds and the Issuer, having any claim against the Trustee arising from this Indenture shall look only to the Funds and Accounts held by the Trustee hereunder for payment except as otherwise provided herein. (g) To the extent permitted by law, the Issuer shall indemnify the Trustee for, and hold it harmless against, any loss, damage, claim, liability or expense incurred by it, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Indenture or the trusts hereunder or the performance of any of its duties hereunder, except to the extent that any such loss, damage, claim, liability or expense was due to the Trustee’s own negligence or willful misconduct. (h) In no event shall the Trustee be liable for indirect, consequential, special or punitive damages (including, but not limited to lost profits), regardless of (i) whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage or (ii) the form of action.
Section 9.16 Trustee’s Agents or Attorneys. The Trustee may execute any of its trusts or powers under this Indenture or perform any of its duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, attorneys, custodians or nominees appointed with due care, and shall not be responsible for any willful misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent, attorney, custodian or nominee so appointed.
Section 9.17 Lien Filings. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be responsible for any initial filings of any financing statements or the information contained therein (including the exhibits thereto), the perfection of any such security interests, or the accuracy or sufficiency of any description of collateral in such initial filings or for filing any modifications or amendments to the initial filings required by any amendments to ARTICLE IX of the Uniform Commercial Code, if applicable. In addition, unless the Trustee shall have received Written Notice from the Issuer that any such initial filing or description of collateral was or has become defective, the Trustee shall be fully protected (i) in relying on such initial filing and descriptions in filing any financing or continuation statements or modifications thereto pursuant to this Section 9.17 and (ii) in filing any continuation statements in the same filing offices as the initial filings were made. If applicable, the Trustee shall cause to be filed a continuation statement with respect to each Uniform Commercial Code financing statement relating to the Bonds which was filed at the time of the issuance thereof, in such manner and in such places as the initial filings were made, provided that a copy of the filed original financing statement is timely delivered to the Trustee. The Issuer shall be responsible for the reasonable costs incurred by the Trustee in the preparation and filing of all continuation statements hereunder, 105
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including payment of any filing fees, and shall give the Trustee any assistance it reasonably requests in order to enable the Trustee to file continuation statements for the lien established by this Indenture.
ARTICLE X
Modification, amendment or supplement of the INDENTURE
Section 10.1 Amendments Permitted.
(a) Subject to Section 10.2(e), this Indenture and the rights and obligations of the Issuer and of the Holders of the Bonds and of the Trustee may be modified or amended from time to time and at any time by a Supplemental Indenture or Indentures, which the Issuer and the Trustee may enter into when the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Bonds then Outstanding shall have been filed with the Trustee. No such modification or amendment shall (1) extend the stated maturity of any Bond, or reduce the amount of principal thereof, or extend the time for payment or reduce the amount of any Sinking Fund Installment therefor, or extend the time of payment or change the method of computing the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any Redemption Price upon the redemption thereof or change the Purchase Price to be paid to Holders tendering their Bonds, without the consent of the Holder of each Bond so affected, or (2) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Bonds, the consent of the Holders of which is required to effect any such modification or amendment, or permit the creation of any lien on the Trust Estate pledged under this Indenture prior to or on a parity with the lien created by this Indenture, or deprive the Holders of the Bonds of the lien created by this Indenture on such Trust Estate and other assets (except as expressly provided in this Indenture), without the consent of the Holders of all Bonds then Outstanding. It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders to approve the particular form of any Supplemental Indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof. Promptly after the execution by the Issuer and the Trustee of any Supplemental Indenture pursuant to this subsection (a), the Trustee shall mail a notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such Supplemental Indenture to the Holders at the addresses shown on the registration books maintained by the Bond Registrar. Any failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such Supplemental Indenture.
(b) Subject to Section 10.2(e), this Indenture and the rights and obligations of the Issuer, of the Trustee and of the Holders of the Bonds may also be modified or amended from time to time and at any time by a Supplemental Indenture or Indentures, which the Issuer and the Trustee may enter into without the necessity of obtaining the consent of any Holders, only to the extent permitted by law and only for any one or more of the following purposes:
(i) To cure any ambiguity, supply any omission, or cure or correct any defect or inconsistent provision in this Indenture;
(ii) To insert such provisions clarifying matters or questions arising under this Indenture as are necessary or desirable and are not contrary to or inconsistent with this Indenture as theretofore in effect;
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(iii) To make any other modification or amendment of this Indenture which the Trustee shall in its sole discretion determine will not have a material adverse effect on the Holders or the Interest Rate Swap Counterparty; and in making such a determination, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely conclusively upon an Opinion of Counsel and/or certificates of investment bankers or other financial professionals or consultants; (iv) To add to the covenants and agreements of the Issuer in this Indenture, other covenants and agreements to be observed by the Issuer which are not contrary to or inconsistent with this Indenture as theretofore in effect; (v) To add to the limitations and restrictions in this Indenture, other limitations and restrictions to be observed by the Issuer which are not contrary to or inconsistent with this Indenture as theretofore in effect;
(vi) To pledge or assign additional security for the Bonds (or any portion thereof);
(vii) To authorize the issuance of Refunding Bonds;
(viii) To provide for the execution of a Commodity Swap in accordance with the provisions hereof;
(ix) To provide for a Liquidity Facility and Liquidity Facility Provider in accordance with the provisions hereof;
(x) To confirm, as further assurance, any security interest, pledge or assignment under, and the subjection to any security interest, pledge or assignment created or to be created by, this Indenture of the Trust Estate;
(xi) To add to the Events of Default in this Indenture additional Events of Default;
(xii) To add to this Indenture any provisions relating to the application of interest earnings on any Fund or Account under this Indenture required by law (xiii) To preserve the exclusion of interest on Bonds issued from gross income for federal income tax purposes;
(xiv) To evidence the appointment of a successor Trustee; or (xv) If the Bonds affected by such change are rated by a Rating Agency, to make any change upon receipt of a Rating Confirmation with respect to the Bonds so affected.
Each Supplemental Indenture authorized by this Section 10.1 shall become effective as of the date of its execution and delivery by the Issuer and the Trustee or such later date as shall be specified in such Supplemental Indenture.
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A Supplemental Indenture will be deemed to not materially adversely affect the Holders of any Bonds that are subject to mandatory tender on or before the effective date of the Supplemental Indenture.
Section 10.2 General Provisions.
(a) This Indenture shall not be modified or amended in any respect except as provided in and in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this ARTICLE X. Nothing contained in this ARTICLE X shall affect or limit the right or obligation of the Issuer to adopt, make, do, execute, acknowledge or deliver any resolution, act or other instrument pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.4 or the right or obligation of the Issuer to execute and deliver to any Fiduciary any instrument which elsewhere in this Indenture it is provided shall be delivered to said Fiduciary.
(b) Any Supplemental Indenture referred to and permitted or authorized By Section 10.1(b) may be entered into between the Issuer and the Trustee without the consent of any of the Bondholders, but shall become effective only on the conditions, to the extent and at the time provided in said Supplemental Indenture. A copy of every Supplemental Indenture shall be accompanied by (i) an Opinion of Counsel addressed to the Trustee (or upon which the Trustee is expressly permitted to rely) stating that such Supplemental Indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and is valid and binding upon the Issuer and (ii) a Written Certificate of the Issuer to the effect that all conditions precedent in the Indenture applicable to the execution and delivery of such Supplemental Indenture have been satisfied.
(c) The Trustee is hereby authorized to enter into any Supplemental Indenture referred to and permitted or authorized by Section 10.1 and to make all further agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained, and the Trustee, in taking such action, shall be fully protected in relying on an Opinion of Counsel that such Supplemental Indenture is authorized or permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this ARTICLE X to the contrary, no Supplemental Indenture shall change or modify any of the rights or obligations of any Fiduciary without its written assent thereto; provided, however this Section 10.2(d) shall not affect the rights of the Holders or the Issuer to remove the Trustee or any other Fiduciary as provided in ARTICLE IX of this Indenture.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this ARTICLE X to the contrary, no Supplemental Indenture (or other amendment to this Indenture) shall change or modify (i) the order of priority of deposits to the Operating Fund or the Commodity Reserve Account as set forth in clauses (i) and (iii) of Section 5.5(a), respectively, (ii) the provisions of Section 5.6 on the priority of the distribution of payments from the Operating Fund, (iii) the Minimum Amount to be maintained in the Commodity Reserve Account, or the purposes to which amounts on deposit in such Commodity Reserve Account may be applied, as set forth in Section 5.3(b), (iv) the priority of the application of funds following an Event of Default as set forth in Section 8.3, (v) the definition of Operating Expenses, (vi) the security for payments to be made pursuant to this Indenture to the Commodity Swap Counterparty, the Interest Rate Swap Counterparty and the Product Supplier, as purchaser under the Receivables Purchase Provisions, (vii) any of the rights 108
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or interests of the Commodity Swap Counterparty, the Interest Rate Swap Counterparty (if any) or the Product Supplier, as purchaser under the Receivables Purchase Provisions, granted herein or in the Commodity Swap, the Interest Rate Swap or the Receivables Purchase Provisions, as the case may be, (viii) the provisions of Section 5.3(c), Section 5.7(h) or Section 5.7(b) regarding the sale by the Trustee of Call Receivables or Put Receivables, respectively, in respect of a Swap Payment Deficiency, or (ix) the provisions of this Section 10.2(e), unless, in each case, the prior written consent of the Interest Rate Swap Counterparty, the Product Supplier and each Commodity Swap Counterparty has been obtained to the extent such change or modification would have an adverse effect upon their rights, protections, priority or security of payment hereunder. (f) If any modification or amendment will, by its terms, not take effect so long as any Bonds of a specified like maturity remain Outstanding (or will not take effect until such Bonds are subject to mandatory purchase or at least 30 days after all such Bonds are subject to tender at the option of Holders) the consent of the Holders of such Bonds shall not be required and such Bonds shall not be deemed to be Outstanding for the purpose of any calculation of Outstanding Bonds under this Article.
(g) If any modification or amendment would adversely affect the Interest Rate Swap Counterparty, such modification or amendment shall be subject to the prior written consent of the Interest Rate Swap Counterparty.
Section 10.3 Effect of Supplemental Indenture. Upon the execution of any Supplemental Indenture pursuant to this Article, this Indenture shall be deemed to be modified, supplemented and amended in accordance therewith, and the respective rights, duties and obligations under this Indenture of the Issuer, the Trustee and all Holders of Bonds Outstanding shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modification and amendment, and all the terms and conditions of any such Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
Section 10.4 Endorsement of Bonds; Preparation of New Bonds. Bonds delivered after the execution of any Supplemental Indenture pursuant to this Article may, and if the Issuer so determines shall, bear a notation by endorsement or otherwise in form approved by the Issuer and the Trustee as to any modification, supplement or amendment provided for in such Supplemental Indenture, and, in that case, upon demand of the Holder of any Bond Outstanding at the time of such execution and presentation of such Holder’s Bond for the purpose at the designated corporate trust office of the Trustee or at such additional offices as the Trustee may select and designate for that purpose, a suitable notation shall be made on such Bond. If the Supplemental Indenture shall so provide, new Bonds so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Issuer, to any modification or amendment contained in such Supplemental Indenture, shall be prepared by the Trustee at the expense of the Issuer, executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee, and upon demand of the Holders of any Bonds then Outstanding shall be exchanged by the Trustee, without cost to any Bondholder, for Bonds then Outstanding, upon surrender for cancellation of such Bonds at the designated corporate trust office of the Trustee or at such additional offices as the Trustee may select and designate for that purpose, in equal aggregate principal amounts of the same Series and maturity.
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Section 10.5 Amendment of Particular Bonds. The provisions of this Article shall not prevent any Holder from accepting any amendment as to the particular Bonds held by such Holder, provided that due notation thereof is made on such Bonds.
ARTICLE XI
Defeasance
Section 11.1 Discharge of Indenture. The Bonds may be paid by the Issuer or the Representatives on behalf of the Issuer in any of the following ways:
(a) by paying or causing to be paid the principal or Redemption Price of and interest on all Bonds Outstanding, as and when the same become due and payable; (b) by depositing with the Trustee, in trust, at or before maturity, moneys or securities in the necessary amount (as provided in Section 11.3) to pay when due or redeem all Bonds then Outstanding; or
(c) by delivering to the Trustee, for cancellation by it, all Bonds then Outstanding.
If the Issuer shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable by the Issuer hereunder, under the Interest Rate Swap and under the Commodity Swap, then and in that case at the election of the Issuer (evidenced by a Written Certificate of the Issuer filed with the Trustee signifying the intention of the Issuer to discharge all such indebtedness and this Indenture), and notwithstanding that any Bonds shall not have been surrendered for payment, this Indenture and the pledge of the Trust Estate and other assets made under this Indenture and all covenants, agreements and other obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture (except as otherwise provided in Section 7.17 and except for covenants, agreements and other obligations that expressly survive the discharge of the Bonds or this Indenture) shall cease, terminate, become void and be completely discharged and satisfied. In such event, upon the request of the Issuer, the Trustee shall cause an accounting for such period or periods as may be requested by the Issuer to be prepared and filed with the Issuer and shall execute and deliver to the Issuer such instruments as the Issuer may reasonably request and be necessary to evidence such discharge and satisfaction, and the Trustee shall pay over, transfer, assign or deliver to the Issuer all moneys or securities or other property held by it pursuant to this Indenture which are not required for the payment or redemption of Bonds not theretofore surrendered for such payment or redemption, for the payment of Interest Rate Swap Payments, for the payment of Commodity Swap Payments or for the payment of other amounts under and pursuant to the terms of this Indenture; provided that in all events moneys held for Rebate Payments shall be subject to the provisions of Section 7.17.
Section 11.2 Discharge of Liability on Bonds. Upon the deposit with the Trustee, in trust, at or before maturity, of moneys or securities in the necessary amount (as provided in Section 11.3) to pay or redeem any Outstanding Bond (whether upon or prior to its maturity or the redemption date of such Bond), provided that, if such Bond is to be redeemed prior to maturity, notice of such redemption shall have been given as in ARTICLE IV provided or provision reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for the giving of such notice, then all 110
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liability of the Issuer in respect of such Bond shall cease, terminate and be completely discharged, except only that thereafter the Holder thereof shall be entitled to payment of the principal of and interest on such Bond by the Issuer, and the Issuer shall remain liable for such payments, but only out of such money or securities deposited with the Trustee as aforesaid for their payment, subject, however, to the provisions of Section 11.4.
Section 11.3 Deposit of Money or Securities with Trustee. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided or permitted that there be deposited with or held in trust by the Trustee money or securities in the necessary amount to pay or redeem any Bonds, the money or securities to be so deposited or held may include money or securities held by the Trustee in the Funds and Accounts established pursuant to this Indenture (other than moneys held for Rebate Payments) and shall be:
(a) lawful money of the United States of in an amount equal to the principal amount and all unpaid interest thereon to maturity (based on an assumed interest rate equal to the Maximum Rate for periods for which the actual interest rate on such Bonds cannot be determined), except that, in the case of Bonds which are to be redeemed prior to maturity and in respect of which notice of such redemption shall have been given as in ARTICLE IV provided or provision reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for the giving of such notice, the amount to be deposited or held shall be the principal amount or Redemption Price of such Bonds and all unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date thereof; or (b) Defeasance Securities, not callable by the issuer thereof prior to maturity, the principal of and interest on which when due (without any income from the reinvestment thereof) will provide money, together with money, if any, deposited with the Trustee at the same time, sufficient, in the opinion of an independent certified public accountant or firm of independent certified public accountants (which shall be confirmed by delivery by the Issuer to the Trustee of a written verification to such effect from such accountant or firm of accountants), to pay the principal or Redemption Price of and all unpaid interest to maturity (based on an assumed interest rate equal to the Maximum Rate for periods for which the actual interest rate on the Bonds cannot be determined), or to the redemption date, as the case may be, on the Bonds to be paid or redeemed, as such principal or Redemption Price and interest become due; provided that, in the case of Bonds which are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as in ARTICLE IV provided or provision reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for the giving of such notice;
provided further, in the case of (b) above, that the Trustee shall have received a Rating Confirmation and, in each case, that (i) to the extent such Bonds were subject to optional or mandatory tender pursuant to this Indenture prior to the deposit of any such money or Defeasance Securities, such Bonds shall remain subject to optional and mandatory tender on the same terms after such deposit; and (ii) the Trustee shall have been irrevocably instructed to apply such money to the payment of such principal or Redemption Price of and interest with respect to such Bonds.
Section 11.4 Payment of Bonds After Discharge of Indenture. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Indenture to the contrary, any moneys held by the Trustee in trust for the payment of the principal or Redemption Price of or interest on, any Bonds and remaining unclaimed for two years (or, if shorter, one day before such moneys would escheat to the State under then applicable State law) after such principal or interest, as the case may be, has become due and payable (whether 111
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at maturity or upon call for redemption or by acceleration as provided in this Indenture), if such moneys were so held at such date, or two years (or, if shorter, one day before such moneys would escheat to the State under then applicable State law) after the date of deposit of such moneys if deposited after said date when all of the Bonds became due and payable, shall be repaid to the Issuer free from the trusts created by this Indenture, and all liability of the Trustee with respect to such moneys shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that before the repayment of such moneys to the Issuer as aforesaid, the Trustee may (at the cost and direction of the Issuer) first mail to the Holders of Bonds which have not yet been paid, at the addresses shown on the registration books maintained by the Bond Registrar, a notice, in such form as may be provided by the Issuer to the Trustee with respect to the Bonds so payable and not presented and with respect to the provisions relating to the repayment to the Issuer of the moneys held for the payment thereof.
ARTICLE XII
Miscellaneous
Section 12.1 Disqualified Bonds. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Bonds have concurred in any demand, request, direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, Bonds which are owned or held by or for the account of the Issuer or the Project Participant, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, the Issuer or the Project Participant, shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination. Bonds so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding for the purposes of this Section 12.1 if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to vote such Bonds and that the pledgee is not a Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, the Issuer or the Project Participant.
In case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon an Opinion of Counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.
Section 12.2 Evidence of Signatures of Bondholders and Ownership of Bonds. (a) Any request, consent, revocation of consent or other instrument which this Indenture may require or permit to be signed and executed by the Bondholders may be in one or more instruments of similar tenor, and shall be signed or executed by such Bondholders in person or by their attorneys appointed in writing. Proof of (1) the execution of any such instrument, or of an instrument appointing any such attorney, or (2) the holding by any Person of the Bonds shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture (except as otherwise therein expressly provided) if made in the following manner, or in any other manner satisfactory to the Trustee, which may nevertheless in its discretion require further or other proof in cases where it deems the same desirable:
(i) The fact and date of the execution by any Bondholder or its attorney of such instruments may be proved by a guarantee of the signature thereon by a bank or trust company or by the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized to take acknowledgments of deeds, that the Person signing such request or other instrument acknowledged to him the execution thereof, or by an affidavit of a witness of such execution, duly sworn to before such notary public or other officer. Where such execution is by an officer of a corporation or 112
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association or a member of a partnership, on behalf of such corporation, association or partnership, such signature, guarantee, certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of its authority.
(ii) The amount of Bonds transferable by delivery held by any Person executing any instrument as a Bondholder, the date of holding such Bonds, and the numbers and other identification thereof, may be proved by a certificate, which need not be acknowledged or verified, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, executed by the Trustee or by a member of a financial firm or by an officer of a bank, trust company, insurance company, or financial corporation or other depository wherever situated, showing at the date therein mentioned that such Person exhibited to such member or officer or had on deposit with such depository the Bonds described in such certificate. Such certificate may be given by a member of a financial firm or by an officer of any bank, trust company, insurance company or financial corporation or depository with respect to Bonds owned by it, if acceptable to the Trustee. In addition to the foregoing provisions, the Trustee may from time to time make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable permitting other proof of holding of Bonds transferable by delivery. (b) The ownership of Bonds registered other than to bearer and the amount, numbers and other identification, and date of holding the same shall be proved by the registry books.
(c) Any request or consent by the owner of any Bond shall bind all future owners of such Bond in respect of anything done or suffered to be done by Issuer or any Fiduciary in accordance therewith.
Section 12.3 Moneys Held for Particular Bonds. The amounts held by any Fiduciary for the payment of the interest, principal or Redemption Price due on any date with respect to particular Bonds shall, on and after such date and pending such payment, be set aside on its books and held in trust by it for the Holders of the Bonds entitled thereto.
Section 12.4 Preservation and Inspection of Documents. All documents received by any Fiduciary under the provisions of this Indenture shall be retained in its possession and shall be subject at all reasonable times (upon prior written notice) to the inspection of the Issuer, any other Fiduciary, and any Bondholder and their agents and their representatives, any of whom may make copies thereof, subject to such reasonable regulations as such Fiduciary may from time to time determine in good faith to be required by law.
Section 12.5 Parties Interested Herein. Nothing in this Indenture expressed or implied, except for the rights and interests of the Commodity Swap Counterparty, the Interest Rate Swap Counterparty (if any) and the Product Supplier, as purchaser under the Receivables Purchase Provisions, as described in Section 10.2(e), and the pledge of the Commodity Reserve Account granted to the Commodity Swap Counterparty and the Project Participant, is intended or shall be construed to confer upon, or to give to, any Person, other than the Issuer, the Fiduciaries and the Holders of the Bonds, any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Indenture or any covenant, condition or stipulation thereof; and, other than the pledge of the Commodity Reserve Account granted to the Commodity Swap Counterparty and the Project Participant, except as provided in Section 10.2(e), all the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this 113
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Indenture contained by and on behalf of the Issuer shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Issuer, the Fiduciaries and the Holders of the Bonds.
Section 12.6 No Recourse on the Bonds; Non-Liability of Issuer. No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or interest on the Bonds or for any claim based thereon or on this Indenture against any source other than the Trust Estate as provided in this Indenture, including against any member of the board or officer of Issuer, the Project Participant or any Person executing the Bonds. The Issuer shall not be obligated to pay the principal or Redemption Price or Purchase Price of or interest on the Bonds, the Interest Rate Swap Payments or the Commodity Swap Payments, except from the Trust Estate as provided in this Indenture. Neither the faith and credit nor the taxing power of the State or any political subdivision thereof, including the Issuer, is pledged to the payment of the principal or Redemption Price of or interest on the Bonds, the Interest Rate Swap Payments or Commodity Swap Payments. The Issuer shall not be liable for any costs, expenses, losses, damages, claims or actions, of any conceivable kind on any conceivable theory, under or by reason of or in connection with the Bonds, this Indenture, the Interest Rate Swap or the Commodity Swap except only to the extent of the Trust Estate as provided in this Indenture.
Section 12.7 Waiver of Personal Liability. No member, officer, agent or employee of the Issuer shall be individually or personally liable for the payment of any principal or Redemption Price or Purchase Price of or interest on the Bonds, the Interest Rate Swap Payments or the Commodity Swap Payments, or any sum hereunder or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the execution and delivery of this Indenture; but nothing herein contained shall relieve any such member, officer, agent or employee from the performance of any official duty provided by law or by this Indenture.
Section 12.8 Severability of Invalid Provisions. If any one or more of the covenants or agreements provided in this Indenture on the part of the Issuer or any Fiduciary to be performed should be contrary to law, then such covenant or covenants or agreement or agreements shall be deemed severable from the remaining covenants and agreements, and shall in no way affect the validity of the other provisions of this Indenture.
Section 12.9 Holidays. If the date for making any payment or the last date for performance of any act or the exercising of any right, as provided in this Indenture, shall not be a Business Day, such payment may be made or act performed or right exercised on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if done on the nominal date provided in this Indenture, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such nominal date.
Section 12.10 Notices.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests, demands and other communications required or permitted under this Indenture shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered or mailed, first class, postage prepaid (or sent by Electronic Means, confirmed by mail, as aforesaid), as follows:
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(i) If to the Issuer:
California Community Choice Financing Authority
1125 Tamalpais Avenue
San Rafael, California 94901
Attention: Treasurer/Controller
Telephone: (415) 464-6037
Email: [email protected]; [email protected] and
[email protected]
With a copy to:
Marin Clean Energy
1125 Tamalpais Ave.
San Rafael, CA 94901
Email: __________
(ii) If to the Trustee, the Bond Registrar, the Paying Agent, the Custodian or the Calculation Agent:
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
2 Concourse Parkway, Suite 800
Atlanta, Georgia 30328
Attention: Mark Hallam
Telephone: (404) 898-2463
Facsimile: (404) 365-7946
Email: [email protected]
(iii) If to the Project Participant:
Marin Clean Energy
1125 Tamalpais Ave.
San Rafael, CA 94901
Email: __________
or to such other Person or addresses as the respective party hereafter designates in writing to the Issuer and the Trustee.
(b) The Issuer may, by Written Direction to the Trustee, permit the Project Participant to deliver to the Trustee on behalf of the Issuer any notices, requests, demands and other communications required or permitted to be delivered by the Issuer under this Indenture.
Such Written Direction shall contain a certificate identifying the Authorized Officers of such Project Participant for purposes of delivery of notices under this Indenture. The Trustee shall treat all such notices received from the Project Participant as if they were delivered by the Issuer, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture or the Trustee has received notice or has actual knowledge that a Purchaser Default has occurred and is continuing under the Clean Energy Purchase Contract, in which case any notices from such Project Participant shall be disregarded by the Trustee and of no force or effect. The Issuer may at any time rescind and annul 115
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the Written Direction permitting such Project Participant to deliver notices hereunder on behalf of the Issuer by delivering a Written Direction to the Trustee stating that such permission has been rescinded and annulled.
Section 12.11 Notices to Rating Agencies. The Issuer shall provide to each Rating Agency rating the Bonds at the time notice of any amendment to this Indenture, the Master Power Supply Agreement, any Commodity Swap, any Clean Energy Purchase Contract or any other document relating to the Bonds or the Clean Energy Project.
Section 12.12 Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be regarded for all purposes as an original; and such counterparts shall constitute but one and the same instrument.
Section 12.13 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HEREBY KNOWINGLY,
VOLUNTARILY, AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY
IN RESPECT OF ANY PROCEEDING INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY
MATTER IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO OR CONNECTED WITH THIS
INDENTURE OR ANY OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY, OR THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED
HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER, AND AGREES THAT ANY SUCH PROCEEDING SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A JUDGE SITTING WITHOUT A JURY.
Section 12.14 Electronic Signatures. Each of the parties hereto agrees that the transaction consisting of this agreement may be conducted by electronic means. Each party agrees, and acknowledges that it is such party’s intent, that if such party signs this agreement using an electronic signature, it is signing, adopting, and accepting this agreement and that signing this agreement using an electronic signature is the legal equivalent of having placed its handwritten signature on this agreement on paper. Each party acknowledges that it is being provided with an electronic or paper copy of this agreement in a usable format. [Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this Indenture to be signed in its own name and on its behalf by an Authorized Officer, and as evidence of its acceptance of the trusts hereby created, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, the duly authorized Trustee, has caused this Indenture to be signed in its name and on its behalf by one of its officers duly authorized and its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed, attested by another of its officers duly authorized, all as of the date first above written.
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY CHOICE
FINANCING AUTHORITY
By:
ATTEST
By:
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By:
Authorized Officer
[Seal]
ATTEST
By:
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EXHIBIT A
Form of Series 2025__ Bond
Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to the Issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC),
ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.
REGISTERED REGISTERED
No. __ $__________
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY CHOICE FINANCING AUTHORITY
CLEAN ENERGY PROJECT REVENUE BOND,
SERIES 2025__ (TERM RATE)
MATURITY
DATE
ISSUE
DATE CUSIP
INTEREST
RATE
_____, ____ ________, 2025 ______ ______%
REGISTERED OWNER: CEDE & CO.
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT: ____________ DOLLARS
California Community Choice Financing Authority (the “Issuer”), a joint powers authority, organized and existing pursuant to the Joint Exercise of Powers Act, Title 1, Division 7, Chapter 5 of the Government Code of the State of California (the “Act”), and the Joint Powers Agreement, dated June 25, 2021, as amended from time to time, acknowledges itself indebted and for value received hereby promises to pay, in the manner and from the source hereinafter provided, to the registered owner identified above, or registered assigns, on the Maturity Date stated above, unless this Bond shall have been called for redemption and payment of the Redemption Price shall have been duly made or provided for, upon presentation and surrender hereof, the principal amount identified above, and to pay, in the manner and from the source hereinafter provided, to the A-2
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registered owner hereof interest on the balance of said principal amount from time to time remaining unpaid at the rate set forth above, until payment in full of such principal amount.
If the Bonds bear interest at the Term Rate, the following paragraph shall be inserted, and the Term Rate interest rate shall be inserted under the caption “Interest Rate” immediately below the title of such Bond:
This Bond bears interest from the Issue Date specified above, or from the most recent interest payment date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, at the rate per annum set forth above, computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of 12 thirty day months, payable on __________ 1 and __________ 1 of each year, commencing __________1, 202[5]. [Add Increased Interest Rate Provisions]
If the Bonds bear interest at the SOFR Index Rate, the following paragraph shall be inserted, and the phrase “SOFR Index Rate” shall be inserted under the caption “Interest Rate” immediately below the title of such Bond:
This Bond bears interest from the Issue Date specified above, or from the most recent interest payment date to which interest hereon has been paid or duly provided for, at a SOFR Index Rate equal to the sum of (a) the Applicable Spread of [____] basis points ([__]%) plus (b) the product of (i) the One-Month SOFR Index as of the day of determination multiplied by (ii) the Applicable Factor of [__]% (but not more than the Maximum Rate of 12% per annum), computed on the basis of a 365-or 366-day year, as applicable, for the actual number of days elapsed and payable on the first Business Day of each Month, commencing on the first Business Day of [____].[Add Increased Interest Rate Provisions]
If the Bonds bear interest the SIFMA Index Rate, the following paragraph shall be inserted, and the phrase “SIFMA Index Rate” shall be inserted under the caption “Interest Rate” immediately below the title of such Bond:
This Bond bears interest from the Issue Date specified above, or from the most recent interest payment date to which interest hereon has been paid or duly provided for, at a SIFMA Index Rate equal to the sum of (a) the SIFMA Index as of the day of determination plus (b) the Applicable Spread of [____] basis points ([__]%) (but not more than the Maximum Rate of 12% per annum), computed on the basis of a 365-or 366-day year, as applicable, for the actual number of days elapsed and payable on the first Business Day of each Month, commencing on the first Business Day of [____].[Add Increased Interest Rate Provisions]
The Issuer is obligated to pay the principal, Redemption Price of, and interest on this Bond solely from the Trust Estate as defined in and in accordance with the provisions of the Trust Indenture, dated as of __________ 1, 2025, between the Issuer and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (said trustee and any successor thereto under the Indenture being herein referred to as the “Trustee”), as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time (the “Indenture”).
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This Bond is one of the Clean Energy Project Revenue Bonds of the Issuer (the “Bonds”) under and by virtue of the Act and under and pursuant to the Indenture for the purpose of providing funds to pay the Cost of Acquisition of the Issuer’s Clean Energy Project. The aggregate principal amount of Bonds issued pursuant to the Indenture is limited to $__________. This Bond is one of the Series of Bonds designated as “Clean Energy Project Revenue Bonds, Series 2025__ (Term Rate),” dated as of the Issue Date identified above.
All Bonds are and will be equally and ratably secured by the pledge and covenants made in the Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or permitted in or pursuant to the Indenture.
This Bond is a limited obligation of the Issuer and the principal and Redemption Price of, and interest on, this Bond are payable solely from the Trust Estate. THE BONDS DO NOT
CONSTITUTE A DEBT OR LIABILITY OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA OR OF ANY
POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THEREOF, OTHER THAN THE ISSUER, BUT SHALL BE
PAYABLE SOLELY FROM THE FUNDS PROVIDED THEREFOR UNDER THE INDENTURE. THE ISSUER SHALL NOT BE OBLIGATED TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL OR
THE REDEMPTION PRICE OF OR INTEREST ON THE BONDS EXCEPT FROM THE
FUNDS PROVIDED THEREFOR UNDER THE INDENTURE AND NEITHER THE FAITH
AND CREDIT NOR THE TAXING POWER OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA OR OF ANY
POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THEREOF IS PLEDGED TO THE PAYMENT OF THE PRINCIPAL OR REDEMPTION PRICE OF OR INTEREST ON THE BONDS. THE
ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS SHALL NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY OR
CONTINGENTLY OBLIGATE THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA OR ANY POLITICAL
SUBDIVISION THEREOF TO LEVY OR TO PLEDGE ANY FORM OF TAXATION OR TO MAKE ANY APPROPRIATION FOR THEIR PAYMENT. THE ISSUER HAS NO TAXING POWER.
Copies of the Indenture are on file at the office of the Issuer in San Rafael, California, and at the designated corporate trust office of Trustee, in __________, __________, and reference to the Indenture and the Act is made for a description of the pledge and covenants securing the Bonds, the nature, manner and extent of enforcement of such pledge and covenants, the terms and conditions upon which the Bonds are issued, and a statement of the rights, duties, immunities and obligations of the Issuer and of the Trustee. Such pledge and other obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture may be discharged at or prior to the maturity or redemption of the Bonds upon the making of provision for the payment thereof on the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture.
Except as otherwise provided herein and unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, words and phrases used herein shall have the same meanings as such words and phrases in the Indenture.
The Issuer has established a book-entry system of registration for the Bonds. Except as specifically provided otherwise in the Indenture, a Securities Depository (or its nominee) will be the registered owner of this Bond. By acceptance of a confirmation of purchase, delivery or transfer, the Beneficial Owner of this Bond shall be deemed to have agreed to this arrangement.
The Securities Depository, as registered owner of this Bond, shall be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
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The Issuer will pay the principal, Purchase Price and Redemption Price of and interest on this Bond solely from the Trust Estate in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture. Interest will accrue on the unpaid portion of the principal of this Bond from the last Interest Payment Date for which interest was paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for, from the Issue Date of this Bond, until the entire principal amount of this Bond is paid or duly provided for, and such interest shall be paid in the manner and on the Interest Payment Dates specified in the Indenture.
The Bonds are subject to acceleration, redemption and purchase prior to maturity upon the circumstances, at the times, in the amounts, upon payment of the amounts, with the notice, upon the other terms and provisions and with the effect set forth in the Indenture.
This Bond may be transferred or exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Issuer and the Trustee may treat and consider the person in whose name this Bond is registered as the Holder and the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment of, or on account of, the principal, purchase price or Redemption Price hereof and interest due hereon and for all other purposes whatsoever.
To the extent and in the respects permitted by the Indenture, the Indenture may be modified or amended by action on behalf of the Issuer taken in the manner and subject to the conditions and exceptions prescribed in the Indenture. Certain such modifications and amendments may be made without the consent of the Owners of the Bonds to the extent provided in the Indenture.
The Owner or Beneficial Owner of this Bond shall have no right to enforce the provisions of the Indenture or to institute action to enforce the pledge or covenants made therein or to take any action with respect to an Event of Default under the Indenture or to institute, appear in, or defend any suit or other proceeding with respect thereto, except as provided in the Indenture.
No director, officer, agent or employee of the Issuer shall be individually or personally liable for the payment of any principal or Redemption Price of or interest on the Bonds or any sum hereunder or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the execution and delivery of the Indenture.
It is hereby certified and recited that all conditions, acts and things required by the Constitution or statutes of the State of California or by the Act or the Indenture to exist, to have happened or to have been performed precedent to or in the issuance of this Bond exist, have happened and have been performed in due time, form and manner, and that the issue of Bonds, together with all other indebtedness of the Issuer, is within every debt and other limit prescribed by said Constitution and statutes.
This Bond shall not be valid until the Certificate of Authentication hereon shall have been signed by the Trustee.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the California Community Choice Financing Authority has caused this Bond to be signed in its name and on its behalf by the manual or facsimile signature of its Chair, and attested by the manual or facsimile signature of its Secretary, all as of the Issue Date specified above.
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY CHOICE
FINANCING AUTHORITY
By:
Chair
ATTEST
By:
Secretary
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[FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION]
This Bond is one of the Bonds described in the within mentioned Indenture and is one of the Clean Energy Project Revenue Bonds, Series 2025__, of California Community Choice Financing Authority.
Date of authentication: _____________, 2025.
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By:
Authorized Officer
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[FORM OF ASSIGNMENT]
For Value Received, the undersigned sells, assigns and transfers unto________________ Please Insert Social Security or
Other Identifying Number of Assignee
(Name and Address of Assignee)
the within Bond of the California Community Choice Financing Authority, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints _______________ attorney to transfer the said Bond on the books kept for registration thereof with full power of substitution in the premises.
Date: ______________________________
SIGNATURE GUARANTEED:
___________________________________
NOTICE: Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Trustee, which requirements include membership or participation in STAMP or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Trustee in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as it appears upon the face of the within Bond in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.
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EXHIBIT B
FORM OF INDEX RATE DETERMINATION CERTIFICATE/CONTINUATION NOTICE
Re: California Community Choice Financing Authority Clean Energy Project Revenue Bonds, Series 2025__ (the “Bonds”)
Reference is made to Section 2.9 of the Trust Indenture, dated as of __________ 1, 2025 (the “Indenture”), between California Community Choice Financing Authority (the “Issuer”) and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), relating to the above captioned Bonds. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
The undersigned Authorized Officer of the Issuer hereby notifies the Trustee, the other notice parties and the Rating Agencies as follows with respect to the Index Rate Period of the Bonds commencing on the date hereof:
(i) the Index Rate shall be the SOFR Index Rate and the Index Rate Period shall be the SOFR Index Rate Period;
(ii) (A) the SOFR Index shall be the “Secured Overnight Financing Rate” reported on the NY Federal Reserve’s Website, or reported by any successor to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as administrator of such Secured Overnight Financing Rate, as of 3:00 p.m. on each SOFR Publish Date representing the SOFR Index as of the third Business Day preceding the Initial Issue Date, which will be used to calculate interest for the SOFR Effective Period beginning on such Initial Issue Date (the “SOFR Effective Date”) (for example, for purposes of determining the SOFR Index for a SOFR Effective Date of Thursday, August 4, 2022, the Calculation Agent uses SOFR published on the SOFR Publish Date of Tuesday, August 2, 2022, which is the SOFR Index for the SOFR Lookback Date of Monday, August 1, 2022), and (B) the Applicable Factor, as determined by the Underwriter, shall be ___% of SOFR. (iii) the Applicable Spread, as determined by the Underwriter, shall be as follows:
MATURITY DATE APPLICABLE SPREAD
__________ 1, 20__ ___ basis points (_.__%)
(iv) if, during any SOFR Index Rate Period, the SOFR Index Rate is not reported by, or otherwise ceases to be available from, the relevant source, the substitute or replacement Index Rate, as determined by the Issuer, for the Index Rate Period shall be the substitute determined in writing by the Issuer;
(v) the Index Rate Tender Date shall be __________ 1, 20__; (vi) the Interest Payment Date shall be the first Business Day of each month, commencing the first Business Day of __________, 20__; B-2
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(vii) the SOFR Effective Date shall be __________, 20__, the Initial Issue Date; and
(viii) the SOFR Lookback Date shall be __________, 2__.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set forth my hand this ____ day of __________ 20__.
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY CHOICE FINANCING
AUTHORITY
By:
Name:
Title:
Please sign below to signify your acknowledgement of receipt of this Certificate and, as to the Underwriter or the Remarketing Agreement, as the case may be, your agreement with the terms set forth herein.
ACKNOWLEDGED AND RECEIVED:
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By:
Name:
Title:
ACKNOWLEDGED, RECEIVED AND AGREED TO:
GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC,
as Representative of the Underwriter
By:
Name:
Title:
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SCHEDULE I
Scheduled Debt Service Deposits
Date
Scheduled Monthly
Deposit
Minimum Interest
Earnings Accrual
Cumulative
Scheduled Balance
$ $ $
I-2
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Date
Scheduled Monthly
Deposit
Minimum Interest
Earnings Accrual
Cumulative
Scheduled Balance
$ $ $
I-3
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Date
Scheduled Monthly
Deposit
Minimum Interest
Earnings Accrual
Cumulative
Scheduled Balance
$ $ $
II-1
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SCHEDULE II
Terms of Commodity Swap
For each Month, if any, during the Delivery Period (as defined in the Master Power Supply Agreement) in which Product Supplier delivers Base Quantities (as defined in the Master Power Supply Agreement) to the Issuer, the Issuer will determine for each “Primary Delivery Point” as set forth on Exhibit A to the Master Power Supply Agreement, (i) the price under the “Day-Ahead Market Price” (as set forth on such Exhibit A), (ii) the difference (which may be positive or negative) between such Day-Ahead Market Price and the fixed price set forth in the Commodity Swap, and (iii) the product of such difference and the Monthly Base Quantity for such Primary Delivery Point as set forth on Exhibit A to the Master Power Supply Agreement.
The Issuer will then calculate a net settlement amount for all Primary Delivery Points for such Month due by or to the Issuer under the Commodity Swap that aggregates the amounts determined under clause (iii) above.
All payments from the Issuer or the Commodity Swap Counterparty will be due on each “Payment Date” under the Commodity Swap (which shall be the 25th day of the first Month following the Month of Product deliveries or, if such day is not a Business Day under the Commodity Swap, then the next following Business Day).
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SCHEDULE III
Amortized Value of the Series 2025__ Bonds
Redemption Date Amortized Value
$
III-2
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Redemption Date Amortized Value
$
III-3
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Redemption Date Amortized Value
$
SM Draft 20 March 2025
Relates to Clean Energy Purchase Contract with Marin Clean Energy
MASTER POWER SUPPLY AGREEMENT
between
ARON ENERGY PREPAY [__] LLC
and
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY CHOICE FINANCING AUTHORITY
Dated as of [_____], 2025
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS ....................................................................................................... 1 Section 1.1 Defined Terms ................................................................................................... 1 Section 1.2 Definitions; Interpretation ............................................................................... 13 ARTICLE II. EXECUTION DATE; DELIVERY PERIOD; J. ARON AS AGENT .......... 14 Section 2.1 Execution Date; Delivery Period. .................................................................... 14 Section 2.2 Termination by Seller Prior to Prepayment ..................................................... 14 ARTICLE III. SALE AND PURCHASE.................................................................................. 14 Section 3.1 Sale and Purchase of Product .......................................................................... 14 Section 3.2 Limited Obligation to Take Base Quantities ................................................... 15 Section 3.3 Prepayment ...................................................................................................... 15 Section 3.4 Other Amounts Payable with Respect to Assigned Products .......................... 15 ARTICLE IV. FAILURE TO SCHEDULE PRODUCT ........................................................ 15 Section 4.1 Seller’s Failure to Schedule or Deliver Base Quantity (Not Due to Force Majeure) ......................................................................................................................... 15 Section 4.2 Buyer’s Failure to Schedule or Receive Base Quantities (Not Due to Force Majeure) ......................................................................................................................... 16 Section 4.3 Failure to Deliver or Take Due to Force Majeure ........................................... 16 Section 4.4 Assigned Product ............................................................................................. 17 Section 4.5 Sole Remedies ................................................................................................. 17 ARTICLE V. DELIVERY POINTS; SCHEDULING ............................................................ 17 Section 5.1 Delivery Points ................................................................................................ 17 Section 5.2 Transmission and Scheduling .......................................................................... 18 Section 5.3 Title and Risk of Loss ...................................................................................... 18 Section 5.4 PCC1 Product and Long-Term PCC1 Product ................................................ 18 Section 5.5 Communications Protocol ............................................................................... 21 Section 5.6 Deliveries Within CAISO or Another Balancing Authority ........................... 21 Section 5.7 Assigned Products ........................................................................................... 21 ARTICLE VI. ASSIGNMENT OF POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS ....................... 22 Section 6.1 Assignments Generally .................................................................................... 22 Section 6.2 Failure to Obtain EPS Compliant Energy ........................................................ 22 Section 6.3 Adjustments to Swaps ..................................................................................... 22 ii
Section 6.4 Adjustments to Base Quantities....................................................................... 22 Section 6.5 APC Party Make-Whole.................................................................................. 23 ARTICLE VII. PRODUCT REMARKETING ....................................................................... 23 Section 7.1 Product Remarketing ....................................................................................... 23 Section 7.2 Delegation of Authority................................................................................... 23 ARTICLE VIII. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES ............................................ 23 Section 8.1 Representations and Warranties...................................................................... 23 Section 8.2 Additional Representations and Warranties of Buyer..................................... 25 Section 8.3 Funding Agreement......................................................................................... 25 Section 8.4 Notice of CEPC Remarketing Election ........................................................... 25 Section 8.5 Warranty of Title ............................................................................................. 25 Section 8.6 Disclaimer of Warranties................................................................................. 26 ARTICLE IX. TAXES................................................................................................................ 26 ARTICLE X. JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .............................................. 26 Section 10.1 Consent to Jurisdiction .................................................................................... 26 Section 10.2 Waiver of Jury Trial ........................................................................................ 26 ARTICLE XI. FORCE MAJEURE.......................................................................................... 27 Section 11.1 Applicability of Force Majeure ....................................................................... 27 Section 11.2 Settlement of Labor Disputes.......................................................................... 27 ARTICLE XII. GOVERNMENTAL RULES AND REGULATIONS.................................. 27 Section 12.1 Compliance with Laws.................................................................................... 27 Section 12.2 Contests ........................................................................................................... 28 Section 12.3 Defense of Agreement..................................................................................... 28 ARTICLE XIII. ASSIGNMENT............................................................................................... 28 ARTICLE XIV. PAYMENTS.................................................................................................... 29 Section 14.1 Monthly Statements......................................................................................... 29 Section 14.2 Payment ........................................................................................................... 30 Section 14.3 Payment of Disputed Amounts........................................................................ 31 Section 14.4 Late Payment................................................................................................... 31 Section 14.5 Audit; Adjustments.......................................................................................... 31 Section 14.6 Netting ............................................................................................................. 32 ARTICLE XV. RECEIVABLES PURCHASES...................................................................... 32 ARTICLE XVI. NOTICES........................................................................................................ 32 ARTICLE XVII. DEFAULT; REMEDIES; TERMINATION.............................................. 33 iii
Section 17.1 Product Delivery Termination Events and Termination Payment Events....... 33 Section 17.2 Payments Following a Ledger Event............................................................... 38 Section 17.3 Reserved .......................................................................................................... 38 Section 17.4 Remedies and Termination.............................................................................. 38 Section 17.5 Replacement of Swaps..................................................................................... 39 Section 17.6 Present Assignment and Waiver of Right to Swap Termination Payments.... 42 Section 17.7 Limitation on Damages ................................................................................... 42 Section 17.8 Termination Payment Adjustment Schedule ................................................... 43 ARTICLE XVIII. MISCELLANEOUS.................................................................................... 43 Section 18.1 Indemnification Procedure .............................................................................. 43 Section 18.2 Deliveries......................................................................................................... 43 Section 18.3 Entirety; Amendments..................................................................................... 44 Section 18.4 Governing Law................................................................................................ 44 Section 18.5 Non-Waiver ..................................................................................................... 44 Section 18.6 Severability...................................................................................................... 45 Section 18.7 Exhibits............................................................................................................ 45 Section 18.8 Winding Up Arrangements.............................................................................. 45 Section 18.9 Relationships of Parties; Beneficiaries............................................................ 45 Section 18.10 Immunity ......................................................................................................... 45 Section 18.11 Rates and Indices............................................................................................. 45 Section 18.12 Limitation of Liability ..................................................................................... 46 Section 18.13 Counterparts..................................................................................................... 46 Section 18.14 Rights of Trustee ............................................................................................. 47 Section 18.15 Operational Services Agreement..................................................................... 47 Section 18.16 Waiver of Defenses ......................................................................................... 47 Section 18.17 U.S. Resolution Stay Provisions...................................................................... 47 Section 18.18 Seller Tariff...................................................................................................... 47 Section 18.19 No Recourse .................................................................................................... 47 Section 18.20 Rate Changes................................................................................................... 47 Exhibit A-1 — Base Quantities; Base Delivery Point; Commodity Reference Prices Exhibit A-2 — Assigned Rights and Obligations
Exhibit B — Notices
iv
Exhibit C — Product Remarketing
Exhibit D-1 — Termination Payment Schedule
Exhibit D-2 — Termination Payment Adjustment Schedule
Exhibit D-3 — Post-Termination Payment Schedule
Exhibit E — Receivables Purchase Exhibit
Exhibit F — Pricing and Other Terms
Exhibit G — Communications Protocol
1 MASTER POWER SUPPLY AGREEMENT
This Master Power Supply Agreement (hereinafter, this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [_____], 2025 (the “Execution Date”), by and between Aron Energy Prepay [__] LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Seller”), and California Community Choice Financing Authority, a joint powers authority and a public entity of the State of California established pursuant to the provisions of the Joint Exercise of Powers Act (Article 1, Chapter 5, Division 7, Title 1, Section 6500 et seq. of the California Government Code, as amended) (“Buyer”). Each of Seller and Buyer is sometimes individually referred to herein as a “Party”, and collectively as the “Parties”.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Seller desires to sell Product to Buyer, and Buyer desires to purchase Product from Seller, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; WHEREAS, in connection with the execution of this Agreement, Seller shall enter into that certain Electricity Purchase, Sale and Service Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Electricity Sale and Service Agreement”), with J. Aron & Company LLC, a New York limited liability company (“J. Aron”), pursuant to which (a) Seller shall acquire Product for sale under this Agreement and (b) J. Aron shall act as Seller’s agent hereunder and the other agreements entered into by Seller in connection with the Clean Energy Project (as defined below); and WHEREAS, concurrently with Buyer’s execution of the Clean Energy Purchase Contract (as defined below), the Project Participant (as defined below) under such Clean Energy Purchase Contract shall assign to J. Aron certain Assigned Rights and Obligations, including the right to receive Assigned Product, which Assigned Product will be resold to Seller under the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement, then resold to Buyer hereunder and then resold to the Project Participant under the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises above and the mutual covenants and agreements herein set forth, the Parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Defined Terms. The following terms, when used in this Agreement (including the preamble or recitals to this Agreement) and identified by the capitalization of the first letter thereof, have the respective meanings set forth below, unless the context otherwise requires:
“Additional Termination Payment” means, with respect to a Product Delivery Termination Date that results from a Termination Payment Event where the Additional Termination Payment is designated in Exhibit F as applying, the net present value sum as of such Early Termination Payment Date of a stream of Monthly values for each Month that would have remained in the then-current Reset Period had such Early Termination Payment Date not occurred, 2 with each such Monthly value equal to (A) the quantity of Energy (in MWh) that Seller would have been required to deliver during such Month if Seller was delivering only Base Quantities, multiplied by (B) $0.50/MWh. The net present value sum shall be calculated (i) assuming each such future Monthly value would have been realized on the last day of the Month, (ii) using a 30/360 day basis, and (iii) using the standard present value formula (present value = future value / (1 + i)^n) for each such Monthly value, where “i” is the SOFR Discount Rate for such Month plus the Discount Rate Spread (the sum expressed as an annual rate) and “n” is the number of years, including any fractional portion of a year, between such Month and the Early Termination Payment Termination Date. The “SOFR Discount Rate” for each Month is the fixed interest rate determined by Seller in a Commercially Reasonable manner and in accordance with standard market practices for such Month based on otherwise receiving/paying Simple Average SOFR with a designated maturity of one Month. “Simple Average SOFR” means the simple average of SOFRs for the applicable tenor, with the determination of this rate (which will be in arrears with a lookback) being established by Seller or its designee in accordance with (a) the conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the relevant Governmental Agency for determining Simple Average SOFR; and (b) to the extent that the Seller or its designee determines that Simple Average SOFR cannot be determined in accordance with clause (a) above, then the conventions for this rate that have been selected by the Seller or its designee giving due consideration to industry-accepted market practices for U.S. dollar denominated floating rate notes at such time. “Administrative Fee” means the amount per MWh specified as such in Exhibit F. “Affiliate” means, with respect to either Party, any entity which is a direct or indirect parent or subsidiary of such Party or which directly or indirectly (i) owns or controls such Party, (ii) is owned or controlled by such Party, or (iii) is under common ownership or control with such Party. For purposes of this definition, “control” of an entity means the power, directly or indirectly, either to (a) vote 50% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or Persons performing similar functions or (b) direct or cause the direction of the management and policies, whether by contract or otherwise. “Agreement” has the meaning specified in the preamble and shall include exhibits, recitals and attachments referenced herein and attached hereto. “Alternate Delivery Point” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1(a). “APC Contract Price” means (i) the fixed prices specified in Exhibit A-2 as of the date hereof with respect to the Assigned Prepay Quantities for the Initial Assignment Periods and (ii) the Day-Ahead Average Price with respect to the Assigned Prepay Quantities for any Assignment Period outside of the Initial Assignment Periods. “APC Party” means the seller under an Assignable Power Contract (as defined in the Clean Energy Purchase Contract).
“Applicable Project” has the meaning specified in the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
3 “Assigned Delivery Point” means, with respect to any Assigned Energy, the Assigned Delivery Point as set forth in the applicable Assignment Schedule for such Assigned Energy.
“Assigned Energy” means any Energy, including Energy associated with PCC1 Product and Long-Term PCC1 Product, to be delivered to J. Aron pursuant to any Assigned Rights and Obligations and re-delivered by J. Aron to Seller under the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement.
“Assigned PAYGO Product” has the meaning specified in the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
“Assigned PPA” has the meaning specified in the Clean Energy Purchase Contract. “Assigned Prepay Quantity” has the meaning specified in the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
“Assigned Product” means, as applicable, PCC1 Product, Long-Term PCC1 Product, Assigned Energy, Assigned RECs and any other Product included on an Assignment Schedule, subject to the limitations for such other Product set forth in Exhibit F of the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
“Assigned Quantity” has the meaning specified in the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
“Assigned RECs” means any RECs associated with PCC1 Product or Long-Term PCC1 Product to be delivered to J. Aron pursuant to any Assigned Rights and Obligations and re-delivered by J. Aron to Seller under the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement. “Assigned Rights and Obligations” has the meaning specified in the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
“Assignment Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
“Assignment Period” has the meaning specified in the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
“Assignment Schedule” has the meaning specified in Exhibit F of the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
“Automatic Product Delivery Termination Event” has the meaning specified in Section 17.1.
“Balancing Authority” has the meaning specified in the CAISO Tariff. “Base Delivery Point” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1(a). 4 “Base Product” means Firm (LD) Energy delivered to the Base Delivery Point. “Base Quantity” means, with respect to each Delivery Hour during the Delivery Period, the Base Unadjusted Quantity for such Delivery Hour less the Base Quantity Reduction for such Delivery Hour, each as set forth on Exhibit A-1, as Exhibit A-1 may be revised pursuant to Article VI.
“Base Quantity Reduction” means, with respect to each Delivery Hour during the Delivery Period, the “Base Quantity Reduction” of Base Product (in MWh) set forth for such Delivery Hour on Exhibit A-1, as Exhibit A-1 may be revised pursuant to Article VI. “Base Unadjusted Quantity” means, with respect to each Delivery Hour during the Delivery Period, the “Base Unadjusted Quantity” of Base Product (in MWh) set forth for such Delivery Hour on Exhibit A-1.
“Billing Statement” has the meaning specified in Section 14.1(b). “Bond Closing Date” means the first date on which the Bonds are issued pursuant to the Trust Indenture.
“Bonds” means the bonds issued pursuant to the Trust Indenture. “Business Day” means any day other than (i) a Saturday or Sunday, (ii) a Federal Reserve Bank Holiday, (iii) any other day on which commercial banks generally in either New York, New York or the State of California are authorized or required by Law to close, or (iv) any day excluded from a “Business Day,” as therein defined, pursuant to the Trust Indenture. “Buyer” has the meaning specified in the preamble.
“Buyer Swap” means (i) the transaction confirmation entered into under the ISDA Master Agreement, [dated as of the date hereof], between Buyer and the Swap Counterparty, and (ii) each replacement Buyer Swap entered into pursuant to Section 17.5. “Buyer Swap Custodial Agreement” means the Custodial Agreement, dated as of the Bond Closing Date, by and among Buyer, the Trustee, the Custodian, and the Swap Counterparty, and any replacement thereof entered into in connection with Buyer’s entry into a replacement Buyer Swap pursuant to Section 17.5.
“Buyer’s Statement” has the meaning specified in Section 14.1(a). “CAISO” means California Independent System Operator or its successor. “CAISO Tariff” means CAISO’s FERC-approved tariff, as modified, amended or supplemented from time to time.
“California Long-Term Contracting Requirements” means the long-term contracting requirement set forth in the Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act of 2015 (SB 350), California Public Utilities Code Section 399.13(b), and CPUC Decision 17-06-026 and 5 CPUC Decision 18-05-026, as may be modified by subsequent decision of the California Public Utilities Commission or by other Law.
“CEC” means California’s State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, also known as the California Energy Commission, and any successor agency thereto. “CEPC Remarketing Election” means, for any Reset Period, issuance of a Remarketing Election Notice other than a Voided Remarketing Election Notice (each as defined under the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
“Claiming Party” has the meaning specified in Section 11.1. “Claims” means all third party claims or actions, threatened or filed and, whether groundless, false, fraudulent, or otherwise, that directly or indirectly relate to the subject matter of the indemnities provided herein, and the resulting losses, damages, expenses, attorneys’ fees, experts’ fees, and court costs, whether incurred by settlement or otherwise, and whether such claims or actions are threatened or filed prior to or after the termination of this Agreement. “Clean Energy Project” has the meaning specified in the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
“Clean Energy Purchase Contract” means that certain Clean Energy Purchase Contract between Buyer and Project Participant to be entered into in connection with the Clean Energy Project.
“Commercially Reasonable” or “Commercially Reasonable Efforts” means, with respect to any purchase or sale or other action required to be made, attempted or taken by a Party under this Agreement, such efforts as a reasonably prudent Person would undertake for the protection of its own interest under the conditions affecting such purchase or sale or other action, including without limitation, the amount of notice of the need to take such action, the duration and type of the purchase or sale or other action, the competitive environment in which such purchase or sale or other action occurs, and the risk to the Party required to take such action. “Commodity Reference Price” means either (i) the Day-Ahead Market Price, or (ii) the Real-Time Market Price, as applicable.
“Contract Price” has the meaning specified in the Clean Energy Purchase Contract. “Custodian” means initially U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, as custodian under each of the Swap Custodial Agreements. “Day” means each period of 24 consecutive Hours commencing at the Hour ending at 01:00 (LPT) through the Hour ending at 24:00 (LPT).
“Day-Ahead Average Price” means, for any Assigned Products after the Initial Assignment Periods, the result of (i) (x) the sum of the Day-Ahead Market Prices for each Pricing Interval in a Month, divided by (y) the number of Pricing Intervals in such Month; plus (ii) 6 $[____]/MWh. As used in this definition, “Pricing Interval” means the unit of time for which CAISO establishes a separate price.
“Day-Ahead Market Price” has the meaning specified on Exhibit A-1 for the Primary Delivery Point.
“Deemed Remarketing Notice” has the meaning specified in Exhibit C. “Default Rate” means, as of any date of determination, the lesser of (a) the sum of (i) the rate of interest per annum quoted in The Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition) under the “Money Rates” section as the “Prime Rate” for such date of determination, plus (ii) one percent per annum, or (b) if a lower maximum rate is imposed by applicable Law, such maximum lawful rate.
“Delivery Hour” has the meaning specified in Exhibit A-1. “Delivery Period” means the period specified in Exhibit F. “Delivery Point” means the Base Delivery Point or an Assigned Delivery Point, as applicable.
“Discount Rate Spread” has the meaning specified in Exhibit F. “Early Termination Payment Date” means the last Business Day of the first Month that commences after a Termination Payment Event; provided that, in the case of a Termination Payment Event due to a Failed Remarketing, the Early Termination Payment Date shall be the last Business Day of the then-current Interest Rate Period.
“Electricity Sale and Service Agreement” has the meaning specified in the recitals. “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 three-phase, 60-cycle alternating current electric energy, expressed in MWh.
“EPS” means California’s Emissions Performance Standards, as set forth in Sections 8340 and 8341 of the California Public Utilities Code, as implemented and amended from time to time, and any successor Law.
“EPS Compliant Energy” has the meaning specified in the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
“EPS Energy Period” has the meaning specified in the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
“Execution Date” has the meaning specified in the preamble. 7 “Failed Remarketing” has the meaning specified in the Trust Indenture. “FERC” means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or any successor thereto.
“Firm (LD)” means, with respect to a Party’s obligation to sell and deliver or purchase and receive, that such Party’s liability for the failure to meet such obligation shall only be excused to the extent that, and for the period during which, such performance is prevented by Force Majeure, and that in the absence of Force Majeure, the Party to which performance of such obligation is owed shall be entitled to receive from the Party which failed to deliver/receive an amount determined pursuant to Section 4.1 or Section 4.2. “Force Majeure” means an event or circumstance which prevents one Party from performing its obligations under this Agreement, which event or circumstance was not anticipated as of the Execution Date, which is not within the reasonable control of, or the result of the negligence of, the Claiming Party, and which, by the exercise of due diligence, the Claiming Party is unable to overcome or avoid or cause to be avoided. Force Majeure shall include, provided the criteria in the first sentence are met, riot, insurrection, war, labor dispute, natural disaster, vandalism, terrorism, and sabotage. Force Majeure shall not be based on (i) the loss of Buyer’s markets; (ii) Buyer’s inability economically to use or resell the Product purchased hereunder; (iii) the delay, loss or failure of Seller’s supply; or (iv) Seller’s ability to sell the Product at a higher price. Neither Party may raise a claim of Force Majeure based in whole or in part on curtailment by a Transmission Provider unless (x) such Party has contracted for firm transmission with such Transmission Provider for the Product to be delivered to or received at the applicable Delivery Point and (y) such curtailment is due to “force majeure” or “uncontrollable force” or a similar term as defined under the Transmission Provider’s tariff; provided, however, that existence of the foregoing factors shall not be sufficient to conclusively or presumptively prove the existence of Force Majeure absent a showing of other facts and circumstances which in the aggregate with such factors establish that Force Majeure as defined in the first sentence hereof has occurred. For the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (I) the declaration of force majeure by an APC Party under a PPA (as defined in an Assignment Agreement) or the declaration of “Force Majeure” by the Project Participant under the Clean Energy Purchase Contract shall each constitute Force Majeure hereunder, and (II) to the extent that an Assignment Agreement is terminated early, such termination shall constitute Force Majeure with respect to Seller hereunder until the earlier of (A) the commencement of an “Assignment Period” under a replacement Assignment Agreement, (B) the commencement of a J. Aron EPS Energy Period (as defined in the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement) or (C) the end of the second Month following the Month in which such early termination occurs. “Funding Agreement” means initially [____], dated as of [____], by and between Seller and the Funding Recipient, and any replacement agreement entered into for a subsequent Reset Period.
8 “Funding Recipient” means initially [____], or its successors to or permitted assignees of the Funding Agreement, and any other Person that becomes counterparty to Seller under a Funding Agreement for a subsequent Reset Period. 1 [“Funding Recipient Acceleration Option” means the exercise by Funding Recipient of any right it may have to prepay the outstanding amounts on the Funding Agreement following the designation of a Product Delivery Termination Date.] “Government Agency” means the United States of America, any state thereof, any municipality, or any local jurisdiction, or any political subdivision of any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, courts, administrative bodies, departments, commissions, boards, bureaus, agencies, or instrumentalities.
“Governmental Approval” means any authorization, consent, approval, license, ruling, permit, exemption, variance, order, judgment, registration, filing, giving of notice to, decree, declaration of or regulation by any Government Agency relating to the valid execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
“Hour” means the 60-minute period commencing at 00:00 (LPT) on the first Day of the Delivery Period and ending at 01:00 (LPT) on the first Day of the Delivery Period, and each 60-minute interval thereafter.
“Initial Assigned Rights and Obligations” means the Assigned Rights and Obligations set forth in Exhibit A-2 hereto as of the date hereof. “Initial Assignment Periods” means the Assignment Periods for the Initial Assigned Rights and Obligations specified in Exhibit A-2 hereto as of the date hereof. “Interest Rate Period” has the meaning specified in the Trust Indenture. “ISTs” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1(a).
“J. Aron” has the meaning specified in the recitals.
“J. Aron Acceleration Option” means the exercise by J. Aron of its right under the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement to pay the Termination Payment to Seller following the occurrence of a Ledger Event, which shall be subject to Seller’s prior consent thereto as provided in the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement.
“J. Aron Fixed Payment” has the meaning specified in the PPA Custodial Agreement.
1 NTD: Funding Recipient provisions are subject to review and revision to reflect final terms agreed upon with Funding Recipient.
9 “J. Aron Prepay Payment” has the meaning specified in the PPA Custodial Agreement.
“Law” means any statute, law, rule or regulation or any written judicial or administrative decision, ruling or interpretation with respect thereto or thereof having the effect of the foregoing enacted, promulgated, or issued by a Government Agency whether in effect as of the Execution Date or at any time during the term of this Agreement. “Ledger Event” has the meaning specified in Exhibit C.
“Long-Term PCC1 Product” means bundled renewable energy and RECs meeting the requirements of Portfolio Content Category 1, and the California Long-Term Contracting Requirements, to be delivered to J. Aron or any successor thereto pursuant to any Assigned Rights and Obligations.
“LPT” means the local prevailing time then in effect in the State of California. “Mandatory Purchase Date” has the meaning specified in the Trust Indenture. “MCE Gross Payment” has the meaning specified in the PPA Custodial Agreement. “Minimum Discount Percentage” has the meaning specified in the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
“Month” means a period beginning on the first Day of a calendar month and ending immediately prior to the commencement of the first Day of the next calendar month. The term “Monthly” shall be construed accordingly.
“MWh” means megawatt-hour.
“Net Participant Price” means, for any Product and Delivery Hour, the Contract Price (as defined in the Clean Energy Purchase Contract) for such Product and Delivery Hour under the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
“Optional Product Delivery Termination Event” has the meaning specified in Section 17.1.
“Party” has the meaning specified in the preamble.
“PCC1 Product” means bundled renewable energy and RECs meeting the requirements of Portfolio Content Category 1 to be delivered to J. Aron or any successor thereto pursuant to any Assigned Rights and Obligations.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or Government Agency.
“Portfolio Content Category 1” or “PCC1” means any Renewable Energy Credit associated with the generation of electricity from an Eligible Renewable Energy Resource 10 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. “PPA Custodial Agreement” means that certain PPA Custodial Agreement, dated as of the Bond Closing Date, by and among the Project Participant, Buyer, J. Aron and the PPA Custodian.
“PPA Custodian” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, and its successors as custodian under the PPA Custodial Agreement. “Prepayment” means the amount specified as such in Exhibit F. “Prepayment Outside Date” means the date specified as such in Exhibit F. “Primary Delivery Point” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1(a). “Product” means Energy and, to the extent included on an Assignment Schedule, associated RECs or other products related to the foregoing; provided that the inclusion of any Product on an Assignment Schedule is subject to the limitation set forth in Exhibit F of the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
“Product Delivery Termination Date” means a date that occurs automatically pursuant to Section 17.1 or that is designated pursuant to Section 17.4(b) upon which the Delivery Period will end and Buyer’s and Seller’s respective obligations to receive and deliver Product under this Agreement will terminate.
“Product Delivery Termination Event” has the meaning specified in Section 17.1. “Project Participant” means Marin Clean Energy, a public agency formed under the provisions of the Joint Exercise of Powers Act of the State of California, Government Code Section 6500 et seq.
“Rating Confirmation” has the meaning specified in the Trust Indenture. “Re-Pricing Agreement” means the Re-Pricing Agreement, dated as of the Bond Closing Date, by and between Buyer and Seller.
“Real-Time Market Price” has the meaning specified on Exhibit A-1 for each Delivery Point.
“Remarketing Fee” means the amount specified in Exhibit F. “Remarketing Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 1 of Exhibit C. “Renewable Energy Credit” or “REC” has the meaning specified for “Renewable Energy Credit” 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. 11 “Replacement Assigned Rights and Obligations” has the meaning specified in the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
“Replacement Price” means, with respect to any Shortfall Quantity of Base Quantities and Delivery Hour, (a) the price at which Buyer or Project Participant, acting in a Commercially Reasonable manner, purchases at the applicable Delivery Point Replacement Product for such Shortfall Quantity, plus (i) costs reasonably incurred by Buyer or Project Participant in purchasing Replacement Product for such Delivery Hour, and (ii) additional transmission charges, if any, reasonably incurred by Buyer or the Project Participant to the applicable Delivery Point, or at (b) Buyer’s option, the market price at such Delivery Point and for such Delivery Hour for Product not delivered as Replacement Product as determined by Buyer in a Commercially Reasonable manner. The Replacement Price for any Shortfall Quantity shall not include any administrative or other internal costs incurred by Buyer or the Project Participant and shall be limited to a price that is Commercially Reasonable with respect to the timing and manner of purchase. In no event shall the Replacement Price include any penalties, ratcheted demand or similar charges, nor shall Buyer or the Project Participant be required to utilize or change its utilization of its owned or controlled assets or market positions to minimize Seller’s liability. “Replacement Product” means any Energy purchased by Buyer or the Project Participant to replace any Shortfall Quantity at the Delivery Point where such Shortfall Quantity occurred; provided that such Energy is purchased for delivery in the Delivery Hour to which such Shortfall Quantity relates.
“Reset Period” means each “Reset Period” under the Re-Pricing Agreement. “RPS Law” means the California Renewable Energy Resources Act, including the California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program, Article 16 of Chapter 2.3, Division 1 of the California Public Utilities Code, as implemented and amended from time to time, and any successor Law.
“Schedule”, “Scheduled” or “Scheduling” means the actions of Seller, Buyer and/or their designated representatives, including each Party’s Transmission Providers, if applicable, of notifying, requesting and confirming to each other the quantity and type of Product to be delivered during any given portion of the Delivery Period at a specified Delivery Point. “Seller” has the meaning specified in the preamble.
“Seller Swap” means (i) the transaction confirmation entered into under the ISDA Master Agreement, [dated as of the date hereof], between Seller and the Swap Counterparty, and (ii) each replacement Seller Swap entered into pursuant to Section 17.5. “Seller Swap Custodial Agreement” means the Custodial Agreement, dated as of the Bond Closing Date, by and among Seller, the Trustee, the Custodian, and the Swap Counterparty, and any replacement thereof entered into in connection with Seller’s entry into a replacement Seller Swap pursuant to Section 17.5.
“Seller Tariff” means the tariff that Seller has received from FERC, as may be modified, amended or supplemented from time to time.
12 “Shortfall Quantity” has the meaning specified in Section 4.1. “SOFR” means the Secured Overnight Financing Rate reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
“SPE Master Custodial Agreement” means that certain SPE Master Custodial Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Seller, J. Aron, Buyer and the SPE Master Custodian.
“SPE Master Custodian” means initially The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation as custodian under the SPE Master Custodial Agreement. “Special Tax Counsel” has the meaning specified in the Trust Indenture. “Specified Fixed Price” means the amount specified in Exhibit F. “Specified Investment Agreement” means a guaranteed investment contract between the Trustee and a provider concerning the investment of funds in the Commodity Reserve Account, the Debt Service Reserve Account and/or the Debt Service Account (each as defined in the Trust Indenture).
“Swap Counterparty” means (i) [____], and (ii) and any other Person that becomes counterparty to Buyer under a Buyer Swap or to Seller under a Seller Swap, in each case pursuant to Section 17.5.
“Swap Custodial Agreements” means the Buyer Swap Custodial Agreement and the Seller Swap Custodial Agreement.
“Swap Replacement Period” has the meaning specified in Section 17.5(c). “Terminating Party” means any Party that has the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Article XVII.
“Termination Payment” means, with respect to any Early Termination Payment Date, the amount specified on Exhibit D-1 for the Month in which such Early Termination Payment Date occurs (as increased or decreased (as applicable) by any applicable Termination Payment Adjustment Amount) without any set-off or netting of amounts then due from Buyer. “Termination Payment Adjustment Amount” means, with respect to any Early Termination Payment Date, the amount, if any, specified on Exhibit D-2 for the Month in which such Early Termination Payment Date occurs. For the avoidance of doubt, the Termination Payment Adjustment Amount is initially zero.
“Termination Payment Adjustment Schedule” means the schedule of Termination Payment Adjustment Amounts set forth in Exhibit D-2, as such exhibit may be populated and amended from time to time in accordance with Section 17.8. 13 “Termination Payment Event” means a Product Delivery Termination Event specified as a Termination Payment Event in Section 17.1, (ii) a Funding Recipient Acceleration Option, or (iii) [a J. Aron Acceleration Option]2.
“Transaction Documents” has the meaning specified in Article XIII. “Transmission Provider” means any entity or entities transmitting or transporting the Product on behalf of Seller or Buyer to or from the applicable Delivery Point. “Trust Indenture” means (i) the Trust Indenture to be entered into prior to the commencement of the Delivery Period between Buyer and the Trustee, and (ii) any trust indenture entered into in connection with the commencement of any Interest Rate Period after the initial Interest Rate Period between Buyer and the Trustee containing substantially the same terms as the indenture described in clause (i) and which is intended to replace the indenture described in clause (i) as of the commencement of such Interest Rate Period. “Trustee” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, and its successors as trustee under the Trust Indenture, and its successors as Trustee under the Trust Indenture.
“Western EIM” has the meaning ascribed to “Energy Imbalance Market (EIM)” under the CAISO Tariff.
“WREGIS” means the Western Renewable Energy Generation Information System or its successor.
Section 1.2 Definitions; Interpretation. References to “Articles,” “Sections,” “Schedules” and “Exhibits” shall be to Articles, Sections, Schedules and Exhibits, as the case may be, of this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided. Section headings in this Agreement are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement for any other purpose or be given any substantive effect. Any of the terms defined herein may, unless the context otherwise requires, be used in the singular or the plural, depending on the reference. The use herein of the word “include” or “including”, when following any general statement, term or matter, shall not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not nonlimiting language (such as “without limitation” or “but not limited to” or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but rather shall be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that fall within the broadest scope of such general statement, term or matter.
Except where expressly provided otherwise, any reference herein to any agreement or document includes all amendments, supplements or restatements to and of such agreement or document as may occur from time to time in accordance with its terms and the terms hereof, and any reference to a party to any such agreement includes all successors and assigns of such party thereunder permitted by the terms hereof and thereof.
2 SM NTD: Subject to review and revision based on Funding Recipient selection. 14 ARTICLE II.
EXECUTION DATE; DELIVERY PERIOD; J. ARON AS AGENT
Section 2.1 Execution Date; Delivery Period. This Agreement shall become effective upon the Execution Date and, unless this Agreement is terminated early pursuant to Section 2.2, all of Seller’s and Buyer’s obligations under this Agreement shall be deemed to have been incurred upon the Execution Date. Unless this Agreement is sooner terminated pursuant to Section 2.2, the delivery of Product under this Agreement shall commence at the beginning of and continue for the Delivery Period.
Section 2.2 Termination by Seller Prior to Prepayment. Seller shall have no obligation to perform under this Agreement unless and until it has received the Prepayment from Buyer pursuant to Section 3.3. In the event Seller has not received the Prepayment prior to 24:00 LPT on the Prepayment Outside Date, Seller shall have the right, until such Prepayment has been paid, to terminate this Agreement without any further obligation or liability of either Party, it being understood and agreed that in the event Seller so terminates, such termination shall be effective as of Hour ending 24:00 LPT on the Prepayment Outside Date, regardless of whether Buyer tenders the Prepayment prior to such termination. For the avoidance of doubt, no Termination Payment or Additional Termination Payment shall be payable under any circumstances if this Agreement terminates pursuant to this Section 2.2; provided furthermore that, to the extent J. Aron designates a termination of the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement pursuant to Section 2.2 thereof, Seller shall be deemed to have designated a termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 2.2.
Section 2.3 J. Aron as Agent. Pursuant to the terms of the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement, Seller has irrevocably appointed J. Aron as its agent to issue notices and, as set forth therein, to take any other actions that Seller is required or permitted to take under this Agreement and the other agreements entered into by Seller in connection with the Clean Energy Project so long as the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement remains in effect. Buyer may rely on notices or other actions taken by J. Aron on Seller’s behalf; provided that, if (a) the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement is terminated and (b) Seller notifies Buyer that it has removed J. Aron as its agent, Buyer may no longer rely on notices or other actions taken by J. Aron.
ARTICLE III.
SALE AND PURCHASE
Section 3.1 Sale and Purchase of Product.
(a) Seller shall sell and deliver, or cause to be delivered, to Buyer, and Buyer hereby purchases and shall receive, or cause to be received, from Seller, the applicable Product in the quantities and at the times and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
The quantities of Product to be sold and purchased and delivered and received pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement shall be equal to (a) the Base Quantity, if any, for each Delivery Hour and (b) the Assigned Quantity delivered to J. Aron in each Month of the Delivery Period pursuant to the Assignment Agreements. Any such sale is made pursuant to and in accordance with the Seller Tariff.
15 (b) In recognition that Seller will have increased floating price payment obligations to the Swap Counterparty under the Seller Swap with respect to negatively priced Energy and the Swap Counterparty will have increased floating price payment obligations to Buyer under the Buyer Swap with respect to negatively priced Energy, the Parties acknowledge and agree that Seller shall have no payment obligations to Buyer with respect to negatively priced Energy.
Furthermore, with respect to any negatively priced Energy remarketed pursuant to this Agreement, Seller’s payment obligations under Exhibit C shall be reduced to the extent that such Energy is negatively priced.
Section 3.2 Limited Obligation to Take Base Quantities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Buyer shall not be required to purchase and receive any Base Quantities hereunder, and Seller will remarket any Base Quantities that otherwise would be delivered hereunder pursuant to the provisions of Exhibit C.
Section 3.3 Prepayment. Prior to the commencement of the Delivery Period and subject to Buyer’s issuance of the Bonds, Buyer shall pay an amount equal to the Prepayment as payment to Seller for all Product (other than Assigned PAYGO Product) to be delivered during the Delivery Period, and Seller shall accept the Prepayment as payment in full for all Product to be delivered hereunder. Buyer shall pay the Prepayment in a single lump sum payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by Seller. In no event shall Buyer be entitled to any rebate or refund of the Prepayment, but nothing in this Section 3.3 shall limit Buyer’s rights under (i) Article IV for Seller’s failure to Schedule or deliver Product (whether or not excused), (ii) Article XVII upon early termination of this Agreement or deliveries of Product or (iii) Exhibit C with respect to remarketing of Product in accordance therewith.
Section 3.4 Other Amounts Payable with Respect to Assigned Products. With respect to Assigned PAYGO Product delivered hereunder, Buyer shall pay Seller an amount equal to the quantity of such Assigned PAYGO Product multiplied by the contract price then in effect under the applicable Assigned PPA for such Assigned PAYGO Product; provided that the Parties acknowledge and agree that the portion of any MCE Gross Payment paid pursuant to the PPA Custodial Agreement and attributable to such Assigned PAYGO Product shall be deemed to satisfy Buyer’s payment obligation hereunder with respect to such Assigned PAYGO Product.
ARTICLE IV.
FAILURE TO SCHEDULE PRODUCT
Section 4.1 Seller’s Failure to Schedule or Deliver Base Quantity (Not Due to Force Majeure).
(a) If, for any Delivery Hour during the Delivery Period:
(i) Seller breaches its obligation to Schedule or deliver all or any portion of the Base Quantity at any Delivery Point pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; and
(ii) such failure is not due to either (A) the actions or inactions of Buyer (including Buyer’s breach of subsection (c) of this Section 4.1) or (B) Force Majeure, 16 then the portion of the Base Quantity that Seller failed to Schedule or deliver shall be a “Shortfall Quantity”.
(b) Seller shall pay to Buyer for each Shortfall Quantity in each Delivery Hour the result determined by the following formula:
P = Q x (HP + AF)
Where:
P = The amount payable by Seller under this Section 4.1(b); Q = Such Shortfall Quantity;
HP = The higher of (i) the Replacement Price, as applicable or (ii) the Day-Ahead Market Price applicable to the Delivery Hour and the Delivery Point for which the Shortfall Quantity arose; and AF = The Administrative Fee
(c) Buyer shall cause Project Participant to comply with its obligations under Section 4.1(c) of the Clean Energy Purchase Contract to mitigate damages paid by Seller hereunder.
Section 4.2 Buyer’s Failure to Schedule or Receive Base Quantities (Not Due to Force Majeure). If, for any Delivery Hour during the Delivery Period, Buyer breaches its obligation to Schedule or receive, or cause to be Scheduled and received, all or any portion of the Base Quantity at any Delivery Point pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and such failure is not due to Force Majeure, the actions or inactions of Seller or is not with respect to any portion of the Base Quantity for which Buyer has previously issued a Remarketing Notice in accordance with Section 3 of Exhibit C, then Buyer shall be deemed to have issued a Deemed Remarketing Notice with respect to the portion not Scheduled or received.
Section 4.3 Failure to Deliver or Take Due to Force Majeure. If with respect to all or any portion of Base Quantities or Assigned Prepay Quantities and subject to Section 12 of Exhibit C:
(a) Buyer fails to Schedule or receive, or cause to be Scheduled and received, or Seller fails to Schedule or deliver, or cause to be Scheduled and delivered, all or any portion of such quantities at any Delivery Point pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; and (b) such failure is due to Force Majeure claimed by either Party, then Seller shall pay to Buyer the result determined by the following formula with respect to each such Delivery Point:
P = Q x IP
17 Where:
P = The amount payable by Seller under this Section 4.3; Q = The quantity of Energy described in the lead-in to this Section 4.3; and
IP = (i) The Day-Ahead Market Price applicable to the Delivery Hour and the Delivery Point with respect to any such Base Quantities and (ii) the applicable APC Contract Price with respect any such Assigned Prepay Quantities.
Section 4.4 Assigned Product. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither Buyer nor Seller shall have any liability or other obligation to one another for any failure to Schedule, receive, or deliver Assigned Product, except as expressly set forth in Section 4.3 and Section 12 of Exhibit C.
Section 4.5 Sole Remedies. Except with respect to (i) termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 17.4 and (ii) the obligations of Seller under Section 8(b) of Exhibit C, the remedies set forth in this Article IV shall be each Party’s sole and exclusive remedies for any failure by the other Party to Schedule, deliver or receive Product, as applicable, pursuant to this Agreement.
ARTICLE V.
DELIVERY POINTS; SCHEDULING
Section 5.1 Delivery Points.
(a) Base Delivery Points. All Base Product delivered under this Agreement shall be Scheduled for delivery to and receipt at (i) the CAISO delivery point set forth in Exhibit A-1 (the “Primary Delivery Point”) or (ii) any other CAISO delivery point (an “Alternate Delivery Point”) that has been mutually agreed by Buyer, the Project Participant, and Seller (the Primary Delivery Point or, to the extent specified, any Alternate Delivery Point being the “Base Delivery Point”). Delivery of Energy to Seller at the Primary Delivery Point shall be facilitated through submission of Inter-SC Trades, as defined in the CAISO Tariff (“ISTs”). Seller shall designate a scheduling coordinator in the CAISO market for this purpose as specified in Exhibit G. (b) Alternate Base Market Prices. The Day-Ahead Market Price and Real-Time Market Price for each Alternate Delivery Point, as applicable, shall be the price mutually agreed and identified by the Parties, or if no such price is identified for such Alternate Delivery Point, the price shall be the Day-Ahead Market Price and Real-Time Market Price, as applicable, specified on Exhibit A-1 for the Primary Delivery Point from which quantities are being shifted to such Alternate Delivery Point.
(c) Assigned Energy Delivery Points. Assigned Energy delivered under this Agreement shall be Scheduled for delivery to and receipt at the applicable Assigned Delivery Point 18 specified in the applicable Assignment Schedule. All other Assigned Product shall be delivered consistent with the terms of the applicable Assignment Agreement. (d) Updates to Swap Exhibits. If the Parties at any time amend Exhibit A-1 and/or Exhibit A-2, the Parties shall promptly notify the Swap Counterparty of any such amendment and furthermore shall update the corresponding exhibits to the Buyer Swap and the Seller Swap in accordance with the terms thereof.
Section 5.2 Transmission and Scheduling. Seller shall Schedule or arrange for Scheduling services with CAISO in accordance with the CAISO Tariff, to deliver the Base Product to the Base Delivery Point. Buyer shall Schedule or arrange for Scheduling services with CAISO in accordance with the CAISO Tariff, to receive the Base Product at the Base Delivery Point. If the J. Aron Schedules or arranges for Scheduling services for the delivery of the Base Product at the Base Delivery Point, then Seller’s obligations under this Section shall be relieved pro tanto. If the Project Participant Schedules or arranges for Scheduling services to receive the Base Product at the Base Delivery Point, then Buyer’s obligations under this Section shall be relieved pro tanto.
Scheduling of Assigned Energy shall be in accordance with the applicable Assignment Schedule.
Section 5.3 Title and Risk of Loss. Title to and risk of loss of the Energy delivered under this Agreement shall pass from Seller to Buyer at the applicable Delivery Point.
The transfer of title and risk of loss for all Assigned Product shall be in accordance with the applicable Assignment Agreement; provided that all Assignment Agreements shall provide for the transfer of Renewable Energy Credits in accordance with WREGIS. Seller warrants that it will deliver to Buyer the Base Quantity of Product free and clear of all liens, security interests, claims and encumbrances or any interest therein or thereto by any person arising prior to the Delivery Point. Subject to Section 18.1, each Party shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the other Party from and against any Claims made by a third party arising from or out of any event, circumstance, act or incident related to the Energy delivered hereunder first occurring or existing during the period when control and title to Base Product or Assigned Product is vested in the indemnifying Party as provided in this Section 5.3; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) Seller shall have no obligations to indemnify, defend or hold harmless Buyer for any such Claims relating to replacement costs, cover damages or similar liabilities that are payable to the Project Participant or other Person because of Buyer’s failure to deliver any Product to the Project Participant or other Person through no fault of Seller and (b) no obligation to indemnify, defend or hold harmless shall supplant or control the provisions of this Agreement relating to Force Majeure. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Party shall have any obligations to indemnify, defend or hold harmless the other Party in respect of any Claims relating to any Assigned Product.
Section 5.4 PCC1 Product and Long-Term PCC1 Product. To the extent that any Assigned Product is PCC1 Product or Long-Term PCC1 Product, the following provisions apply:
(a) 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 19 399.16; 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, Non-Modifiable. (Source: D.07-11-025, Attachment A.) D.08-04-009]. As used above, any capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning specified in the Assigned PPA. (b) Transfer of Renewable Energy Credits. Seller and, if applicable, its successors, represents and warrants that throughout the Delivery Term of this Agreement the Renewable Energy Credits transferred to Buyer conform to the definition and attributes required for compliance with the California Renewables Portfolio Standard, as set forth in California Public Utilities Commission Decision 08-08-028, and as may be modified by subsequent decision of the California Public Utilities Commission or by subsequent legislation. To the extent a change in law occurs after execution of this Agreement that causes this representation and warranty to be materially false or misleading, it shall not be an Event of Default if Seller has used commercially reasonable efforts to comply with such change in law. [STC REC-1, Non-modifiable. D.11-01-025]. As used above, any capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning specified in the Assigned PPA.
(c) Tracking of RECs in WREGIS. Seller warrants that all necessary steps to allow the Renewable Energy Credits transferred to Buyer to be tracked in the Western Renewable Energy Generation Information System will be taken prior to the first delivery under the contract. [STC REC-2, Non-modifiable. D.11-01- 025]. As used above, any capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning specified in the Assigned PPA.
(d) 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, Non-Modifiable. (Source: D.07-11- 025, Attachment A) D.08-04-009]
(e) Seller Representations and Warranties.
Seller represents and warrants:
(i) Seller has the right to sell the Assigned Product from the Applicable Project;
(ii) Seller has not sold the Assigned Product or any REC or other attributes of the Assigned Product to be transferred to Buyer to any other person or entity;
20 (iii) The Energy component of the Assigned Product produced by the Applicable Project and purchased by Seller for resale to Buyer hereunder is not being sold by Seller back to the Applicable Project or APC Party;
(iv) Assigned Product to be purchased and sold pursuant to this Agreement has not been committed to another party;
(v) The Assigned Product is free and clear of all liens or other encumbrances;
(vi) Seller will deliver to Buyer all Assigned Energy and associated RECs generated by the Applicable Project for Long-Term PCC1 Product in compliance with the California Long-Term Contracting Requirements, if applicable
(vii) The Assigned Product supplied to Buyer under this Agreement that is Long-Term PCC1 Product will be sourced solely from Applicable Projects that have an Assignment Period of ten years or more in length, or otherwise in compliance with the California Long Term Contracting Requirements; and
(viii) Seller will cooperate and work with Buyer, the CEC, and/or the CPUC to provide any documentation required by the CPUC or CEC to support the Product’s classification as a Portfolio Content Category 1 Product as set forth in California Public Utilities Code Section 399.16(b)(1) or, if applicable, or compliance with the California Long-Term Contracting Requirements.
Seller further represents and warrants to Buyer that, to the extent that the Product sold by Seller is a resale of part or all of a contract between Seller and one or more third parties, Seller represents, warrants and covenants that the resale complies with the following conditions in (i) through (iv) below throughout the Assignment Period:
(i) The original upstream third-party contract(s) meets the criteria of California Public Utilities Code Section 399.16(b)(1);
(ii) This Agreement transfers only electricity and RECs that have not yet been generated prior to the Assignment Period;
(iii) The electricity transferred by this Agreement is transferred to Buyer in real time; and
(iv) If the Applicable Project has an agreement to dynamically transfer electricity to a California balancing authority, the transactions implemented under this Agreement are not contrary to any condition imposed by a balancing authority participating in the dynamic transfer arrangement.
21 (f) Subsequent Changes in Law. In the event that the qualifications or requirements of the RPS program, PCC1 Product or the California Long-Term Contracting Requirements change, Seller shall take commercially reasonable actions to meet the amended qualifications or requirements of the RPS Law, PCC1 Product or the California Long-Term Contracting Requirements but will not be required to incur any unreimbursed costs to comply with the RPS Law, PCC1 or the California Long- Term Contracting Requirements, collectively. (g) Limitations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Parties acknowledge and agree as follows:
(i) Seller has relied exclusively upon the representations and warranties of each respective APC Party set forth in the Assigned PPAs in making the representations and warranties set forth in this Section 5.4 and has not performed any independent investigation with respect thereto; (ii) J. Aron has agreed under the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement to terminate the applicable Assignment Period in the event that any representation or warranty in this Section 5.4 proves to be incorrect in any respect;
(iii)Buyer agrees that its sole recourse for any breach of the provisions of this Section 5.4 shall be the termination of the applicable Assignment Period and Buyer shall have no other recourse against Seller or remedies under this Agreement; and
(iv)Section 5.4(d) shall only apply to the provisions of this Section 5.4 and all other provisions of this Agreement shall remain subject to and interpreted in accordance with Section 18.4.
Section 5.5 Communications Protocol. With respect to the Scheduling and delivery of Base Quantities, Buyer and Seller shall comply with the communications protocol set forth in Exhibit G. Scheduling and transmission of Assigned Energy shall be in accordance with the applicable Assignment Agreement pursuant to which the Project Participant shall act as scheduling agent for each of J. Aron, Seller and Buyer.
Section 5.6 Deliveries Within CAISO or Another Balancing Authority. The Parties acknowledge that Energy delivered by Seller at a Delivery Point within CAISO or another Balancing Authority (including a Balancing Authority operating within the Western EIM) will be delivered in accordance with the CAISO Tariff and rules of the Balancing Authority as applicable.
Scheduling such Energy in accordance with the requirements of the applicable Product into the applicable Balancing Authority shall constitute delivery of such Product to Buyer hereunder, provided that any associated Renewable Energy Credits and other Assigned Products associated with the Energy are also delivered to Buyer.
Section 5.7 Assigned Products. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Seller shall have no liability under this Article V with respect to any Assigned Products. 22 ARTICLE VI.
ASSIGNMENT OF POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS
Section 6.1 Assignments Generally. The Project Participant and the Buyer have agreed pursuant to Article VI of the Clean Energy Purchase Contract that (a) prior to the commencement of the Delivery Period, the Project Participant will exercise Commercially Reasonable Efforts to assign the Initial Assigned Rights and Obligations to J. Aron, and (b) in the event of (i) any expiration, termination or anticipated termination of the Assignment Period for the Initial Assigned Rights and Obligations or any subsequent EPS Energy Period or (ii) a failure to assign any portion of the Initial Assigned Rights and Obligations, the Project Participant is obligated to exercise Commercially Reasonable Efforts and cooperate with J. Aron in good faith to assign certain Replacement Assigned Rights and Obligations to J. Aron and, under certain circumstances specified in the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement, J. Aron shall have the ability to procure EPS Compliant Energy for ultimate redelivery to the Project Participant under the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement. Following the effectiveness of any Assignment Agreement and Assignment Schedule executed in connection with any Replacement Assigned Rights and Obligations or J. Aron’s procurement of EPS Compliant Energy consistent with Section
6.1(c) of the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement, the Base Quantities shall be reduced as provided by Article VI and Exhibit F of the Clean Energy Purchase Contract. References to Article VI and Exhibit F of the Clean Energy Purchase Contract mean such provisions of the Clean Energy Purchase Contract (including any embedded definitions or cross-referenced provisions) as they originally exist, as modified, amended, supplemented or waived with the consent of J. Aron.
Section 6.2 Failure to Obtain EPS Compliant Energy. To the extent an EPS Energy Period terminates or expires and EPS Compliant Energy is not available for delivery hereunder upon such termination or expiration, then Seller shall remarket the Base Quantities pursuant to the provisions of Exhibit C until EPS Compliant Energy is available for delivery hereunder.
Section 6.3 Adjustments to Swaps. The Parties agree to issue appropriate notices to cause the Buyer Swap and the Seller Swap to be revised in connection with the commencement or termination of any Assignment Period such that the notional quantities under such swaps will be adjusted to be consistent with any changes to the Base Quantity determined pursuant to Section 6.4.
Section 6.4 Adjustments to Base Quantities. The Base Quantity Reductions set forth on Exhibit A-1 hereto have been calculated to reflect the Initial Assigned Rights and Obligations using the methodology described in Exhibit F of the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
Effective on the first day of the third Month following the early termination of an EPS Energy Period for any reason, Seller shall revise Exhibits A-1 and A-2 (i) as provided by Article VI and Exhibit F to the Clean Energy Purchase Contract to the extent a subsequent EPS Energy Period will commence on such date or (ii) to reverse such Base Quantity Reductions associated with the EPS Energy Period that terminated for all remaining Hours in the Delivery Period to the extent a replacement EPS Energy Period will not commence on such date. In the case of any other commencement of a subsequent EPS Energy Period, Seller shall revise (a) the Base Quantity 23 Reductions in Exhibit A-1 as provided by Article VI and Exhibit F of the Clean Energy Purchase Contract and (b) Exhibit A-2 to reflect the details for such EPS Energy Period.
Section 6.5 APC Party Make-Whole. Seller shall reimburse Buyer for any amounts owed by Buyer to the Project Participant pursuant to [Section 6.4] of the Clean Energy Purchase Contract due to J. Aron’s failure to pay when due any J. Aron Prepay Payment under the PPA Custodial Agreement.
ARTICLE VII.
PRODUCT REMARKETING
Section 7.1 Product Remarketing. If the Project Participant is in default under the Clean Energy Purchase Contract or is unable to receive all or any portion of the Product purchased by Buyer under this Agreement due to (a) insufficient demand by the Project Participant’s retail customers, (b) the existence of an Assigned Prepay Shortfall Amount from any prior Month or the occurrence of an Assigned PPA FM Remarketing Event (as defined in Exhibit F), (c) a change in Law, or (d) the application of Section 3.2 requiring the remarketing of Base Quantities, and the Project Participant requests (or in the case of clauses (b) and (d), is deemed to have requested) remarketing services from Seller pursuant to the provisions of Exhibit C; provided that any remarketing request delivered under clause (c) above shall constitute a “Structural Remarketing Notice” and any Structural Remarketing Notice (i) must be provided at least six Months in advance of the requested remarketing services and (ii) shall be subject to Seller’s consent in its reasonable discretion. If Buyer requests remarketing of any Assigned Product under any of the circumstances described in the preceding sentence other than clause (b) thereof, then J.
Aron will have the right to terminate the Assignment Period applicable to such Assigned Product effective as of the first Delivery Hour to which such remarketing applies. If J. Aron does not elect to terminate the Assignment Period, Buyer and Seller shall negotiate in good faith to adjust the provisions of Exhibit C to reflect pricing, delivery and other terms related to such Assigned Product, and Seller shall have no obligation to remarket such Assigned Product unless and until Buyer and Seller have mutually agreed to such adjustments to Exhibit C. Seller shall observe and perform its obligations set forth in Exhibit C.
Section 7.2 Delegation of Authority. Buyer hereby acknowledges and agrees that Seller shall delegate its rights and obligations under Exhibit C to J. Aron pursuant to the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement subject to Section 10 of Exhibit C.
ARTICLE VIII.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 8.1 Representations and Warranties. As a material inducement to entering into this Agreement, each Party, with respect to itself, hereby represents and warrants to the other Party as of the Execution Date as follows:
(a) for Buyer as the representing Party, Buyer is a joint powers authority duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of California; 24 (b) for Seller as the representing Party, it is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the state in which it is organized and in good standing in the State of California;
(c) it has all requisite power and authority, corporate or otherwise, to own its material properties, carry on its material business as now being conducted, enter into, deliver and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to carry out the terms and conditions hereof and the transactions contemplated hereby;
(d) there is no litigation, action, suit, proceeding with service of process accomplished with respect to such Party or investigation pending or, to the best of such Party’s knowledge, threatened, in each case before or by any Government Agency and, in each case, which could reasonably be anticipated to materially and adversely affect such Party’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or that questions the validity, binding effect or enforceability hereof, any action taken or to be taken by such Party pursuant hereto, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby;
(e) the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement by such Party have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of such Party and do not require any approval or consent of any security holder of such Party or any holder (or any trustee for any holder) of any indebtedness or other obligation of such Party; (f) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Party by an appropriate officer or authorized Person of such Party and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Party, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity; (g) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Party shall not violate any provision of any Law, order, writ, judgment, decree or other legal or regulatory determination applicable to it;
(h) the execution, delivery and performance by such Party of this Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the incurrence by such Party of its financial obligations under this Agreement, shall not result in any violation of any term of any material contract or agreement applicable to it, or any of its charter or bylaws or of any license, permit, franchise, judgment, writ, injunction or regulation, decree, order, charter, Law or ordinance applicable to it or any of its properties or to any obligations incurred by it or by which it or any of its properties or obligations are bound or affected, or of any determination or award of any arbitrator applicable to it, and shall not conflict with, or cause a breach of, or default under, any such term or result in the creation of any lien upon any of its properties or assets, except with respect to Buyer, the lien of the Trust Indenture;
(i) to the best of the knowledge and belief of such Party, no Governmental Approval is required in connection with the valid authorization, execution, delivery and performance by such Party of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby other than those Governmental Approvals that have been obtained; and 25 (j) it enters this Agreement as a bona-fide, arm’s-length transaction involving the mutual exchange of consideration and, once executed by both Parties, considers this Agreement a legally enforceable contract.
Section 8.2 Additional Representations and Warranties of Buyer. As a material inducement to entering into this Agreement, Buyer hereby represents and warrants to Seller as of the Execution Date as follows:
(a) Buyer is entering into this Agreement for the purpose of acquiring Product for sale to the Project Participant pursuant to the Clean Energy Purchase Contract; and (b) any amounts payable by Buyer under this Agreement shall (i) other than the Prepayment, be payable as an item of Operating Expense under (and as defined in) the Trust Indenture, and (ii) not constitute an indebtedness or liability of Buyer within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory limitation or restriction applicable to Buyer.
Section 8.3 Funding Agreement.
(a) Except (i) to cure any ambiguity, supply any omission, or cure or correct any defect or inconsistent provision in a Funding Agreement, (ii) to insert such provisions clarifying matters or questions arising under a Funding Agreement as are necessary or desirable and are not contrary to or inconsistent therewith or (iii) to convert or supplement any provision in a manner consistent with the intent of a Funding Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, Seller agrees that it shall not (x) agree to any amendment, alteration, assignment or modification to any Funding Agreement or any guaranty of Funding Recipient’s obligations thereunder or (y) enter into any agreements with the initial Funding Recipient other than the Funding Agreement without receipt of (A) a Rating Confirmation and (B) the prior written consent of Buyer; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, no such consent of Buyer shall be required in connection with (I) the replacement, refinancing or re-pricing of a Funding Agreement at the end of any Interest Rate Period or (II) Seller’s assignment of its interest in a Funding Agreement or consent to Funding Recipient’s assignment of its interest in a Funding Agreement by Funding Recipient to the extent Seller provides a Rating Confirmation to Buyer with respect to any such assignment. (b) [To the extent an Early Termination Payment Date is designated hereunder, Seller agrees that it shall promptly withdraw the Final Payment Amount under the Funding Agreement (as such term is defined therein).] 3
Section 8.4 Notice of CEPC Remarketing Election. Seller covenants and agrees that it shall provide prompt notice to J. Aron if the Project Participant makes a CEPC Remarketing Election for any Reset Period.
Section 8.5 Warranty of Title. Seller warrants that it will deliver to Buyer (a) all Base Product free and clear of all liens, security interests, claims and encumbrances or any interest therein or thereto by any Person arising prior to the Delivery Point, and (b) all Assigned Product free and clear of all liens, security interests, claims and encumbrances or any interest therein or 3 SM NTD: Subject to review and revision based on the terms agreed upon with the Funding Recipient. 26 thereto by any Person that are imposed on such Assigned Product solely as a result of Seller’s actions.
Section 8.6 Disclaimer of Warranties. EXCEPT FOR THE WARRANTIES
EXPRESSLY MADE BY SELLER IN THIS ARTICLE VIII, SELLER HEREBY DISCLAIMS
ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
ARTICLE IX.
TAXES
As between Seller and Buyer, Seller shall (i) be responsible for, and pay or cause to be paid, all ad valorem, excise, severance, production and other taxes assessed with respect to Product (other than any Assigned Product) delivered pursuant to this Agreement arising prior to the applicable Delivery Point and (ii) indemnify Buyer and its Affiliates for any such taxes paid by Buyer or its Affiliates. As between Seller and Buyer, Buyer shall (i) be responsible for all taxes with respect to Product received pursuant to this Agreement assessed at or from the applicable Delivery Point, and (ii) indemnify Seller and its Affiliates for any such taxes paid by Seller or its Affiliates. Nothing shall obligate or cause a Party to pay or be liable for any tax for which it is exempt under Law.
ARTICLE X.
JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
Section 10.1 Consent to Jurisdiction. ALL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS
BROUGHT AGAINST EITHER PARTY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING HERETO
SHALL BE BROUGHT EXCLUSIVELY IN THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA SITTING IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO. BY EXECUTING AND DELIVERING
THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ALL PROCESS IN ANY
SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED OR
CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO THE PARTY AT ITS ADDRESS PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE XVI; AND AGREES THAT SERVICE AS
PROVIDED ABOVE IS SUFFICIENT TO CONFER PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER
THE PARTY IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT, AND OTHERWISE CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT.
Section 10.2 Waiver of Jury Trial. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW,
EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY AGREES TO WAIVE ITS RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A
JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT
AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING
CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT
THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER INTO A BUSINESS 27 RELATIONSHIP, THAT EACH HAS ALREADY RELIED ON THIS WAIVER IN
ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT, AND THAT EACH WILL CONTINUE TO RELY ON THIS WAIVER IN ITS RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS. 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. THIS
WAIVER IS IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER
ORALLY OR IN WRITING (OTHER THAN BY MUTUAL WRITTEN WAIVER SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO THIS SECTION 10.2 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF
THE PARTIES), AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS HERETO. IN THE
EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY A COURT.
ARTICLE XI.
FORCE MAJEURE
Section 11.1 Applicability of Force Majeure. To the extent either Party is prevented by Force Majeure from carrying out, in whole or part, its obligations under this Agreement and such Party (the “Claiming Party”) gives notice and details of the Force Majeure to the other Party as soon as practicable, then the Claiming Party shall be excused from the performance of its obligations with respect to this Agreement (other than the obligation to make payments then due or becoming due with respect to performance prior to the Force Majeure and as provided in Section 4.3 and Section 17.4). The Claiming Party shall remedy the Force Majeure with all reasonable dispatch. For the duration of the Claiming Party’s non-performance (and only for such period), the non-Claiming Party shall not be required to perform or resume performance of its obligations to the Claiming Party corresponding to the obligations of the Claiming Party excused by Force Majeure.
Section 11.2 Settlement of Labor Disputes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Parties agree that the settlement of strikes, lockouts or other industrial disturbances shall be within the sole discretion of the Party experiencing such disturbance, and the failure of a Party to settle such strikes, lockouts or other industrial disturbances shall not prevent the existence of Force Majeure or of reasonable dispatch to remedy the same.
ARTICLE XII.
GOVERNMENTAL RULES AND REGULATIONS
Section 12.1 Compliance with Laws. This Agreement shall be subject to all present and future Laws of any Government Agency having jurisdiction over this Agreement or the transactions to be undertaken hereunder, and neither Party has knowingly undertaken or will knowingly undertake or knowingly cause to be undertaken any activity that would conflict with such Laws; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed to restrict or limit either Party’s right to object to or contest any such Law, or its application to this Agreement or the 28 transactions undertaken hereunder, and neither acquiescence therein or compliance therewith for any period of time shall be construed as a waiver of such right.
Section 12.2 Contests. Excluding all matters involving a contractual dispute between the Parties, no Party shall contest, cause to be contested or in any way actively support the contest of the equity, fairness, reasonableness or lawfulness of any terms or conditions set forth or established pursuant to this Agreement, as those terms or conditions may be at issue before any Government Agency in any proceeding, if the successful result of such contest would be to preclude or excuse the performance by either Party of this Agreement or any provision hereunder.
Section 12.3 Defense of Agreement. Excluding all matters involving a contractual dispute between the Parties, each Party shall hereafter exercise Commercially Reasonable Efforts to defend and support this Agreement before any Government Agency in any proceeding, if the substance, validity or enforceability of all or any part of this Agreement is hereafter directly challenged or if any proposed changes in regulatory practices or procedures would have the effect of making this Agreement invalid or unenforceable or would subject either Party to any greater or different regulation or jurisdiction that materially affects the rights or obligations of the Parties under this Agreement.
ARTICLE XIII.
ASSIGNMENT
Neither Party shall assign this Agreement or any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Party; provided, however, that:
(a) pursuant to the Trust Indenture, Buyer may, without the consent of Seller, transfer, sell, pledge, encumber or assign this Agreement to the Trustee in connection with any financing or other financial arrangements; provided that Buyer shall not assign this Agreement unless, contemporaneously with the effectiveness of such assignment, Buyer also assigns the Buyer Swap (and the Buyer Swap Custodial Agreement) to the same assignee; (b) upon written notice to Buyer, Seller may, without Buyer’s consent, assign this Agreement to an Affiliate of Seller, which assignment shall constitute a novation; provided that the assignee shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and Seller shall not assign this Agreement unless (i) Seller delivers a Rating Confirmation to Buyer with respect to such assignment, (ii) contemporaneously with the effectiveness of such assignment, Seller also assigns the Seller Swap, the Seller Swap Custodial Agreement and the SPE Master Custodial Agreement to the same assignee and either (A) Seller assigns the Funding Agreement and Electricity Sale and Service Agreement to the same assignee or (B) the assignee provides to Buyer a guarantee of its obligations by GSG (as defined in the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement) and GSG continues to guarantee J. Aron’s performance under the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement, and (iii) the assignee is a special purpose entity approved by Buyer or its obligations under this Agreement are guaranteed by Funding Recipient to the satisfaction of Buyer; and
29 (c) if (i) Seller notifies Buyer that the Funding Agreement will not be replaced, refinanced or re-priced as of the end of any Interest Rate Period or (ii) Seller is unable to provide, under the Re-Pricing Agreement, an estimated Available Discount Percentage (as defined in the Re-Pricing Agreement) that is equal to or greater than the applicable Minimum Discount Percentage under the Clean Energy Purchase Contract, then, at the request of Buyer, Seller will reasonably cooperate with Buyer to cause Seller’s (or Seller’s Affiliate’s, if applicable) interest in this Agreement, the Re-Pricing Agreement, the Seller Swap, the Seller Swap Custodial Agreement, the SPE Master Custodial Agreement and any Specified Investment Agreement with a term that extends past the then-current Interest Rate Period to which Seller or any Affiliate is a party and all agreements related to any of the foregoing (the “Transaction Documents”) to be novated to a replacement seller; provided that (x) a Rating Confirmation is obtained for any Bonds required to be redeemed on the first Mandatory Purchase Date following the effective date of such novation, (y) the Swap Counterparty shall have provided its prior written consent to such novation in accordance with the terms of the Seller Swap to which it is a party, and (z) after giving effect to such novation, Seller will have no obligations (contingent or otherwise, including any obligation to make or repeat any representations or warranties other than basic representations on authority and the right to transfer its interests under this Agreement without encumbrances) or be required to make any payment under any Transaction Document or otherwise in connection with or following such novation other than any obligations that would have existed or payments that would have been required had this Agreement terminated as of the end of the last Reset Period that commenced prior to such novation.
ARTICLE XIV.
PAYMENTS
Section 14.1 Monthly Statements.
(a) Buyer’s Statements. No later than the 5th day of each Month during the Delivery Period (excluding the first Month of the Delivery Period) and the first Month following the end of the Delivery Period, Buyer shall deliver to Seller a statement (a “Buyer’s Statement”) listing (i) in respect of any Shortfall Quantity in the prior Month, the Replacement Price applicable to such Shortfall Quantity, and (ii) any other amounts due to Buyer in connection with this Agreement with respect to the prior Months.
(b) Billing Statements.
(i) No later than the 20th day of each Month during the Delivery Period (excluding the first Month of the Delivery Period) and the first Month following the end of the Delivery Period (the “Billing Date”), Seller shall deliver a statement (a “Billing Statement”) to Buyer and the Project Participant indicating (i) the total amount due to Buyer, if any, under Article IV, Article V, Article VI, Article VII and Exhibit C with respect to the prior Months, (ii) any amounts due to Seller in connection with this Agreement with respect to the prior Months, and (iii) the net amount due to Buyer or Seller; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, invoicing for all Assigned PAYGO Products shall occur under the PPA Custodial Agreement. The Parties acknowledge and agree that Seller may consolidate Billing Statements under this Agreement with billing statements 30 delivered by Affiliates of Seller under other master power supply agreements between Buyer and Affiliates of Seller.
(ii) For each Month of any Assignment Period, the Billing Statement prepared by Seller shall assume that all Assigned Prepay Quantities under each Assigned PPA were actually delivered for such Month. To the extent that a Monthly Statement for an Assigned PPA delivered under the PPA Custodial Agreement reflects that less than the Assigned Prepay Quantities were actually delivered under any such Assigned PPA, then (A) the previously delivered Billing Statement shall be deemed to be updated in accordance with such Monthly Statement, (B) subject to the application of Section 12(b) of Exhibit C regarding remediation by Assigned PAYGO Product delivered under any other Assigned PPA in the Month in which an Assigned Prepay Shortfall Amount (as defined in the PPA Custodial Agreement) occurs, Seller shall be deemed to remarket and purchase such undelivered portion of the Assigned Prepay Quantities for its own account resulting in a Ledger Entry (as defined in the Master Power Supply Agreement) and (C) Seller shall owe a resettlement payment to Buyer in an amount equal to the product of (x) the applicable APC Contract Price multiplied by (y) the portion of the Assigned Prepay Quantities not delivered in such Month. The Parties acknowledge and agree that J. Aron shall have a separate resettlement payment obligation under the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement with respect to the amounts described in clause (C) of the preceding sentence, and J. Aron’s payment of the J. Aron Resettlement Payment as defined in and pursuant to the PPA Custodial Agreement shall satisfy the corresponding obligations of the respective parties under each of the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement, this Agreement and the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
(c) Supporting Documentation. Upon request by either Party, the other Party shall deliver such supporting documentation of the foregoing statements and information described in this Section 14.1 as such requesting Party may reasonably request.
Section 14.2 Payment.
(a) Payments Due. If the Billing Statement indicates an amount due from Buyer, then Buyer shall remit such amount to Seller by wire transfer (pursuant to the instructions set forth in the SPE Master Custodial Agreement), in immediately available funds, on or before the 25th day of the Month following the most recent Month to which such Billing Statement relates, or if such day is not a Business Day, the following Business Day. If the Billing Statement indicates an amount due from Seller, then Seller shall remit such amount to Buyer by wire transfer (pursuant to Buyer’s instructions), in immediately available funds, on or before the 24th day of the Month following the most recent Month to which such Billing Statement relates, or if such day is not a Business Day, the preceding Business Day. Notwithstanding the foregoing, payments due from Buyer for Assigned PAYGO Product shall be due one Business Day preceding the payment date specified in the PPA (as defined in the applicable Assignment Agreement); provided that, as set forth in Section 3.4, such payment obligation will be satisfied to the extent such amounts are paid by the Project Participant pursuant to the PPA Custodial Agreement. (b) No Duty to Estimate. If Buyer fails to issue a Buyer’s Statement with respect to any Month, Seller shall not be required to estimate any amounts due to Buyer for such 31 Month, provided that Buyer may include any such amount on subsequent Buyer’s Statements issued within the next sixty (60) days. The sixty (60)-day deadline in this subsection (b) replaces the two (2) year deadline in Section 14.5 with respect to any claim by any non-delivering Party of inaccuracy in any estimated invoice issued or payment made pursuant to this subsection (b).
Section 14.3 Payment of Disputed Amounts. If Seller disputes any amounts included in a Buyer’s Statement, Seller shall (a) (except in the case of manifest error) nonetheless calculate the Billing Statement based on the amounts included in Buyer’s Statement and (b) pay any amount required by the Billing Statement in accordance with Section 14.2 without regard to any right of set-off, counterclaim, recoupment or other defenses to payment that Seller may have; provided, however, that Seller shall have the right, after payment, to dispute any amounts included in a Buyer’s Statement or otherwise used to calculate payments due under this Agreement pursuant to Section 14.5. If Buyer disputes any amounts included in the Billing Statement, Buyer may withhold payment to the extent of the disputed amount; provided, however, that interest shall be due at the Default Rate for any withheld amount later found to have been properly due.
Section 14.4 Late Payment. If a Party owing a net payment under Section 14.2 fails to remit the full amount payable within one Business Day of when due, interest on the unpaid portion shall accrue from the date due until the date of payment at the Default Rate.
Section 14.5 Audit; Adjustments.
(a) Right To Audit. A Party shall have the right, at its own expense, upon reasonable notice to the other Party and at reasonable times, to examine and audit and to obtain copies of the relevant portion of the books, records, and telephone recordings of the other Party to the extent reasonably necessary, but only to such extent, to verify the accuracy of any statement, charge, payment, or computation made under this Agreement. This right to examine, audit, and obtain copies shall not be available with respect to proprietary information not directly relevant to transactions under this Agreement; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent any such examination and audit reveals any material discrepancy in the other Party’s books and records, the examining Party shall have a right to be reimbursed by the other Party for costs reasonably incurred with such examination and audit.
(b) Deadline for Objections. Each Buyer’s Statement and each Billing Statement shall be conclusively presumed final and accurate and all associated claims for under-or overpayments shall be deemed waived unless such Buyer’s Statement or Billing Statement is objected to in writing, with adequate explanation and/or documentation, within two (2) years after the applicable Month of Product delivery.
(c) Payment of Adjustments. All retroactive adjustments shall be paid in full by the Party owing payment within 30 days of notice and substantiation of such inaccuracy. If the Parties are unable to agree upon any retroactive adjustments requested by either Party within the time period specified in Section 14.5(a), then either Party may pursue any remedies available with respect to such adjustments at law or in equity. Retroactive adjustments for payments made based on incorrect Buyer’s Statements or Billing Statements shall bear interest at the Default Rate from the date such payment was made. To the extent necessary to allow Seller to verify any amounts due under this Agreement, Buyer shall cause the Project Participant to comply with the provisions 32 of Section 14.5(a) to the extent necessary to allow Seller to verify any amounts due under this Agreement.
Section 14.6 Netting. The Parties shall net all amounts due and owing, including any past due amounts (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include any accrued interest), arising under this Agreement such that the Party owing the greater amount shall make a single payment of the net amount to the other Party in accordance with this Article XIV. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Party shall be entitled to net (i) any amounts that are in dispute or (ii) any payments due to Seller against (A) the Termination Payment if it becomes due or (B) any payments due from Seller pursuant to Article IV, Article V or Exhibit C.
ARTICLE XV.
RECEIVABLES PURCHASES
Subject to the terms set forth in Exhibit E, Seller has the obligation to purchase Put Receivables (as defined in Exhibit E) and the option to purchase Elective Call Receivables and Swap Deficiency Receivables (each as defined in Exhibit E). The Parties acknowledge and agree that (a) any Elective Call Receivables and Swap Deficiency Call Receivables purchased by Seller under Exhibit E shall be re-purchased by J. Aron from Seller to the extent the conditions set forth in Exhibit C of the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement are satisfied (provided that any Elective Call Receivables purchased by Seller pursuant to Section 2.3(c) of Exhibit E shall be transferred by Seller to J. Aron as a credit against amounts due from Seller to J. Aron under the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement); and (b) the purchase of any Put Receivables by Seller will be funded solely from amounts available, if any, under the SPE Master Custodial Agreement for such purpose.
ARTICLE XVI.
NOTICES
Any notice, demand, statement or request required or authorized by this Agreement to be given by one Party to the other Party (or to any third party) shall be in writing and shall either be sent by email transmission, courier, or personal delivery (including overnight delivery service) to each of the notice recipients and addresses specified in Exhibit B for the receiving Party. Any such notice, demand, or request shall be deemed to be given (i) when delivered by email transmission, or (ii) when actually received if delivered by courier or personal delivery (including overnight delivery service). Each Party shall have the right, upon 10 days’ prior written notice to the other Party, to change its list of notice recipients and addresses in Exhibit B. The Parties may mutually agree in writing at any time to deliver notices, demands or requests through alternate or additional methods, such as electronic mail. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either Party may at any time notify the other that any notice, demand, statement or request to it must be provided by email transmission for a specified period of time or until further notice, and any communications delivered by means other than email transmission during the specified period of time shall be ineffective.
33 ARTICLE XVII.
DEFAULT; REMEDIES; TERMINATION
Section 17.1 Product Delivery Termination Events and Termination Payment Events. Each event listed on the table below constitutes a “Product Delivery Termination Event”.
This table also specifies the potential Terminating Party for each Product Delivery Termination and identifies which Product Delivery Termination Events are also “Termination Payment Events” and the potential Terminating Party for each Product Delivery Termination Event. For each Product Delivery Termination Event where the potential Terminating Party is listed as “Automatic”, such event is an “Automatic Product Delivery Termination Event” and each other Product Delivery Termination Event is an “Optional Product Delivery Termination Event.” [Table on following page.]
34 Event Related to:
Product Delivery
Termination Event:
Potential
Terminating
Party:
Termination
Payment
Event?
a) Failure of Seller to
pay Buyer due to
Funding Recipient
failure to pay
Seller
Seller fails to pay when due any amounts owed to Buyer pursuant to this Agreement because of a failure by Funding Recipient to pay when due any amounts owed to Seller pursuant to the Funding Agreement and such failure continues for 30 days after receipt by Seller and Funding Recipient of notice thereof from Buyer.
Automatic Yes
b) Failure of bond
remarketing or re-pricing
As of one week prior to the beginning of the first Month following a Reset Period, either:
(i) Buyer has not entered into a bond purchase agreement, firm remarketing agreement or similar agreement with respect to the remarketing or refunding of the existing Bonds; or
(ii) The initial Funding Recipient or successor Funding Recipient and Seller are unable to replace, refinance or re-price the Funding Agreement for a subsequent Reset Period.
Automatic Yes
c) Failure to
remarket
A Failed Remarketing occurs. Automatic Yes
d) Ledger Event The occurrence of a Ledger Event. Seller No e) Failure to
purchase
Identified
Receivables (as
defined in Exhibit
E)
Both:
(i) Seller has received a Swap Deficiency Call Receivables Offer (as defined in Exhibit E) pursuant to Section 2.2(a) of the Exhibit E and
(ii) Seller has not exercised or is deemed not to have exercised its related option to purchase the Identified Receivables described in such Swap Deficiency Call Receivable Offer.
Automatic No
f) Designation of an
Early Termination
Date as defined
and under the
Electricity Sale
and Service
Agreement
J. Aron designates an Early Termination Date (as defined in the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement) under the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement due to a CEPC Remarketing Election by the Project Participant for any Reset Period.
Automatic Yes
35 Event Related to:
Product Delivery
Termination Event:
Potential
Terminating
Party:
Termination
Payment
Event?
g) Termination of
Electricity Sale
and Service
Agreement and
Failure to Replace
J. Aron
Both:
(i) an Early Termination Date occurs due to a J. Aron Default (as each such term is defined under the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement) under the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement, and
(ii) Seller is unable to enter into a replacement Electricity Sale and Service Agreement with substantially the same terms or terms approved by Buyer by the date that is 120 days following such Early Termination Date as defined and occurs under the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement.
For the avoidance of doubt, Seller may only enter into such a replacement Electricity Sale and Service Agreement if (I) the GSG Guaranty (as defined in the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement) applies to the obligations of the replacement seller thereunder or (II) Seller delivers a Rating Confirmation to Buyer with respect to its entry into such replacement Electricity Sale and Service Agreement.
Automatic No
h) Termination of
Electricity Sale
and Service
Agreement and
Failure to Replace
J. Aron
Both:
(i) an Early Termination Date (as defined under the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement) occurs under the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement for any reason other than as specified in clauses (f) and (g) above, and (ii) Seller is unable to enter into a replacement Electricity Sale and Service Agreement with substantially the same terms or terms approved by Buyer by the date that is 120 days following such Early Termination Date as defined and occurs under the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement.
Seller shall not enter into such a replacement Electricity Sale and Service Agreement unless (I) the GSG Guaranty (as defined in the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement) applies to the obligations of the replacement seller thereunder or (II) Seller delivers a Rating Confirmation to Buyer with respect to its entry into such replacement Electricity Sale and Service Agreement.
Automatic No
i) Termination of a
Buyer Swap
Except in the case where an Automatic Product Delivery Termination Event has occurred under Sections 17.1(e) [Failure to Purchase Identified Call Receivables],
17.1(f)-(h) [Termination of Electricity Sale and Service Agreement], 17.1(j) Seller No
36 Event Related to:
Product Delivery
Termination Event:
Potential
Terminating
Party:
Termination
Payment
Event?
[Termination of a Buyer Swap for Certain Buyer Defaults], 17.1(k) [Termination of Seller Swap for Seller Defaults] or 17.(l) [Dissolution or Bankruptcy of Buyer], both:
(i) an Early Termination Date (as defined in a Buyer Swap) is designated by a Swap Counterparty pursuant to the terms of a Buyer Swap or occurs automatically pursuant to the terms of a Buyer Swap based on a Termination Event where Buyer is the sole Affected Party (as each term is defined in the Buyer Swap), and (ii) either the corresponding Seller Swap or such Buyer Swap is not replaced within the Swap Replacement Period.
j) Termination of a
Buyer Swap for
Certain Buyer
Defaults and
Termination
Events
An Early Termination Date (as defined in the Buyer Swap) is designated by a Swap Counterparty pursuant to the terms of a Buyer Swap based on an Event of Default under Section 5(a)(vii) (Bankruptcy) of a Buyer Swap where Buyer is the Defaulting Party (as each term is defined in the Buyer Swap).
Automatic No
k) Termination of a
Seller Swap for
Seller Defaults
and Termination
Events
Both:
(i) an Early Termination Date (as defined in the Seller Swap) is designated by a Swap Counterparty pursuant to the terms of a Seller Swap based on an Event of Default where Seller is the Defaulting Party or a Termination Event where Seller is the sole Affected Party (as each term is defined in the Seller Swap) or otherwise occurs automatically pursuant to the terms of a Seller Swap, but excluding any termination as a result of the termination of this Agreement based on a Product Delivery Termination Event under Section 17.1(d) [Ledger Event] or Section 17.1(h) [Termination of a Buyer Swap], and (ii) such Seller Swap or the corresponding Buyer Swap is not replaced within the Swap Replacement Period.
Automatic No
l) Dissolution or
Bankruptcy of
Buyer
If (i) an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against Buyer seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to it or its debts under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of it or any substantial part of its property, and such involuntary case or Automatic No
37 Event Related to:
Product Delivery
Termination Event:
Potential
Terminating
Party:
Termination
Payment
Event?
other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed, or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered and continued unstayed and in effect, in any such event, for a period of 60 days; or (ii) if Buyer shall commence a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar law or any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or shall consent to the entry of a decree or order for relief in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or if it shall file a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Federal or State law, or consent to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of Buyer or any substantial part of its property, or shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or shall take corporate action in furtherance of any such action.
38 Section 17.2 Payments Following a Ledger Event. Following the occurrence of a Ledger Event, Seller shall pay to Buyer any amounts that become payable from J. Aron to Seller pursuant to Section 17.6 of the Electricity Sale and Service Agreement.
Section 17.3 Reserved.
Section 17.4 Remedies and Termination.
(a) Automatic Product Delivery Termination Event. Upon the occurrence of any Automatic Product Delivery Termination Event, a Product Delivery Termination Date shall be deemed to be designated as of the end of the Month in which such Automatic Product Delivery Termination Event occurs.
(b) Optional Product Delivery Termination Event. If at any time an Optional Product Delivery Termination Event has occurred and is continuing, then the Terminating Party, by notice to the other Party specifying the relevant Optional Product Delivery Termination Event, may designate a day not earlier than the last day of the Month in which such notice is deemed given under Article XVI as the Product Delivery Termination Date; provided, however, that with respect to an Optional Product Delivery Termination Event related to a Buyer Swap or Seller Swap, the Terminating Party may, at any time after the commencement of the Swap Replacement Period, conditionally designate a Product Delivery Termination Date, with such designation being conditioned upon (i) the termination and failure to replace either the corresponding Seller Swap or such Buyer Swap and (ii) the Product Delivery Termination Date occurring no earlier than the last day of the Month in which the Swap Replacement Period ends. (c) Effect of Product Delivery Termination Date. As of the Product Delivery Termination Date, (i) the Delivery Period shall end, (ii) the obligation of Buyer to Schedule or receive deliveries of Product from Seller under this Agreement shall terminate, and (iii) the obligation of Seller to Schedule or make any further deliveries of Product to Buyer under this Agreement shall terminate and, unless such Product Delivery Termination Date resulted from a Termination Payment Event, such obligation to deliver Product shall be replaced with a continuing obligation to make payment of the amounts set forth in Exhibit D-3 to Buyer until the earlier of (A) the Month in which a Termination Payment Event occurs and (B) the last due date for such payments under Exhibit D-3. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) except as set forth in this Section
17.4(c) and in Section 17.4(d), this Agreement will continue past a Product Delivery Termination Date, and (ii) a Termination Payment Event may arise contemporaneously with a Product Delivery Termination Date or at any time thereafter and the occurrence of a Product Delivery Termination Date shall not prevent the occurrence of a Termination Payment Event. (d) Early Termination Payment Date. A Termination Payment Event shall occur upon (i) a Product Delivery Termination Event that is specified as a Termination Payment Event in Section 17.1, (ii) a Funding Recipient Acceleration Option, or (iii) a J. Aron Acceleration Option. Following a Termination Payment Event, Seller on the Early Termination Payment Date shall (A) pay the Termination Payment and (B) if applicable, pay the Additional Termination Payment, in each case, to the Trustee pursuant to payment instructions issued by Buyer or, in the absence of such instructions, by wire transfer. Such amounts shall be paid together with interest thereon (before as well as after judgment) from (and including) the Early Termination Payment 39 Date to (but excluding) the date such amount is paid, at the Default Rate. The obligation of Seller to pay the Termination Payment and, if applicable, the Additional Termination Payment on the Early Termination Payment Date is unconditional, irrespective of the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby, any waiver or consent by Buyer, or any other circumstances that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of Seller or a defense of Seller to pay the Termination Payment and, if applicable, the Additional Termination Payment. Seller waives all rights to set-off, counterclaim, recoupment and any other defenses that might otherwise be available to Seller with regard to Seller’s obligation to pay the Termination Payment and, if applicable, the Additional Termination Payment on the Early Termination Payment Date.
(e) Acknowledgement of Parties. The Parties acknowledge that it is impractical and difficult to assess actual damages as a result of a termination of the Delivery Period under this Agreement, and the Parties therefore agree that the payment of the Termination Payment and any applicable Additional Termination Payment or the continued payment of amounts specified in Exhibit D-3, as applicable, is a fair and reasonable pre-estimate of the actual damages that would be incurred by Buyer as a result of termination of the Delivery Period under this Agreement for any reason and is not a penalty.
(f) Exclusive Termination Rights. Neither this Agreement nor the Delivery Period may be terminated for any reason except as specified in this Article XVII and in Section
2.2. Except with respect to amounts due for periods prior to the Product Delivery Termination Date, the continued payment of amounts required to be made under Section 17.4(c), and, as applicable, the payment of the Termination Payment and any Additional Termination Payment shall be the sole and exclusive remedy for each Party upon the termination of the Delivery Period and this Agreement for any reason, including as a result of rejection of this Agreement by either Party in any bankruptcy proceedings.
(g) Payment of Investment Agreement Breakage Costs. In the event that a payment in respect of breakage costs becomes due from Buyer under a Specified Investment Agreement due to the occurrence of an Early Termination Payment Date, Seller shall pay to Buyer an amount equal to the amount of such payment no later than the later of (A) one (1) Business Day prior to the date such payment is required to be paid by Buyer pursuant to such Specified Investment Agreement and (B) one (1) Business Day following receipt by Seller of a statement setting forth in reasonable detail the amount of such payment. In the event that a payment in respect of breakage costs becomes payable to Buyer under a Specified Investment Agreement due to the occurrence of an Early Termination Payment Date, Buyer shall pay to Seller an amount equal to the amount of such payment no later than one (1) Business Day following receipt of such payment by Buyer.
Section 17.5 Replacement of Swaps.
(a) Neither Party shall exercise any optional right it may have to terminate this Agreement as a result of the termination of any Seller Swap or any Buyer Swap without first complying with this Section 17.5. Each of Buyer and Seller agrees that it will not replace any Buyer Swap or Seller Swap, as applicable, unless the other Party is replacing its Buyer Swap or Seller Swap, as applicable, with the same replacement Swap Counterparty. 40 (b) If:
(i) any Buyer Swap or any Seller Swap terminates,
(ii) Buyer or Seller delivers a termination notice under a Buyer Swap or Seller Swap,
(iii) a Swap Counterparty delivers a termination notice under a Buyer Swap or Seller Swap, or
(iv) any Buyer Swap or any Seller Swap is otherwise reasonably anticipated to become subject to immediate termination, then each Party whose swap is affected shall notify the other Party of the existence of such circumstances and identify the affected Buyer Swap or Seller Swap (the “Affected Swap”). (c) Following receipt of a notice under Section 17.5(b), the Parties shall attempt to replace both the Affected Swap and the corresponding unaffected Seller Swap or Buyer Swap with the same Swap Counterparty (the “Unaffected Swap”) by:
(i) if a Buyer Swap and a Seller Swap with another Swap Counterparty are in effect and otherwise are not subject to termination, (A) exercise any rights they may have to increase their notional quantities under such Buyer Swap and Seller Swap in order to effect a replacement upon termination of the Affected Swap (which increase shall be deemed to be a replacement of both the Buyer Swap and Seller Swap for purposes of Section 17.5 if the full notional quantities of the Affected Swap are thereby replaced), and (B) subsequent to such a replacement, Seller and Buyer shall cooperate in good faith to locate replacement agreements with a second Swap Counterparty and, upon locating a second Swap Counterparty, Seller and Buyer shall reduce their notional quantities under the remaining Seller Swap and Buyer Swap to their original levels and enter into a replacement Seller Swap and Buyer Swap with the replacement Swap Counterparty for the remaining notional quantities; or
(ii) to the extent Seller or Buyer cannot increase their notional quantities under another Buyer Swap and Seller Swap as contemplated by clause (i), cooperate in good faith to locate replacement agreements with an alternate Swap Counterparty to replace both the relevant Seller Swap and relevant Buyer Swap within the Swap Replacement Period.
(d) The “Swap Replacement Period” is a period (i) commencing on the earlier of the date of (x) any termination of a Buyer Swap or Seller Swap designated by a Swap Counterparty, and (y) delivery of a notice of anticipated termination of a Buyer Swap or Seller Swap by a Swap Counterparty, and (ii) ending 60 days after either (A) the commencement of the Swap Replacement Period if Base Quantities are above zero MWhs upon the commencement of such period or otherwise (B) any date on which Base Quantities are increased above zero MWhs, provided that:
41 (i) the Swap Replacement Period will end immediately once it starts if such Buyer Swap or Seller Swap is subject to termination due to the insolvency or bankruptcy of Buyer or Seller;
(ii) the Swap Replacement Period will end five Business Days after it starts if such Seller Swap is subject to termination due to Seller’s failure to pay amounts due or post credit support, other than where (A) any such failure to pay or post credit support was caused solely by error or omission of an administrative or operational nature; (B) funds were available to enable Seller to make such payment when due; and (C) such payment is made within two (2) Business Days of Seller’s receipt of written notice of its failure to pay or post credit support;
(iii) if (A) the Unaffected Swap has been terminated on or prior to the last day of the Month in which the Affected Swap is terminated and (B) the Parties continue to make payments under the Swap Custodial Agreement consistent with Section 17.5(f) hereof, the Swap Replacement Period will end on the last day of the Month in which the 120th day following (1) the commencement of the Swap Replacement Period if Base Quantities are above zero MWhs upon the commencement of such period or otherwise (2) any date on which Base Quantities are increased above zero MWhs; and (iv) if Buyer or Seller delivers a Reset Termination Exercise Notice or Optional Termination Notice (as each term is defined in the Buyer Swap and the Seller Swap), then the Swap Replacement Period shall be the notice period specified under the applicable Buyer Swap or Seller Swap.
(e) If during a Swap Replacement Period Seller:
(i) presents to Buyer a proposed alternate Swap Counterparty, (ii) requests in writing that Buyer enter into a replacement swap with such alternate Swap Counterparty, and
(iii) agrees to pay Buyer’s reasonable expenses in connection therewith, then, to the extent permitted by the Buyer Swap and the Trust Indenture and as requested by Seller, Buyer shall: (A) enter into a master agreement with such alternate Swap Counterparty and (B) either (1) terminate the Buyer Swap when permitted thereby and enter into a replacement transaction under such new master agreement to the same effect as the terminated Buyer Swap, or (2) cause such Buyer Swap to be novated to such replacement Swap Counterparty. (f) If a Seller Swap terminates or is no longer in effect and a Prepay LLC Payments Period (as defined in the Seller Swap Custodial Agreement) is in effect, then, during such Prepay LLC Payments Period, Seller in connection with the delivery of Product hereunder shall comply with the terms of the applicable Seller Swap Custodial Agreement and make all payments as and when required under such Seller Swap Custodial Agreement. If a Buyer Swap terminates or is no longer in effect and an Issuer Payments Period (as defined in the Buyer Swap Custodial Agreement) is in effect, then, during such Issuer Payments Period, Buyer in connection with the delivery of Product hereunder shall comply with the terms of the applicable Buyer Swap 42 Custodial Agreement and make all payments as and when required under such Buyer Swap Custodial Agreement. The Parties agree that during any Prepay LLC Payments Period and during any Issuer Payments Period, Seller shall act as calculation agent under an applicable Seller Swap Custodial Agreement or an applicable Buyer Swap Custodial Agreement with respect to any terminated Seller Swap or Buyer Swap. Seller agrees not to permit any amendment or other modification to a Seller Swap Custodial Agreement that could adversely affect the right of Buyer to receive payments pursuant such Seller Swap Custodial Agreement. Buyer agrees not to permit any amendment or other modification to a Buyer Swap Custodial Agreement that could adversely affect the right of Seller to receive payments pursuant to such Buyer Swap Custodial Agreement.
Section 17.6 Present Assignment and Waiver of Right to Swap Termination Payments.
(a) Assignment of Seller MTM Payment. The Parties hereto acknowledge that (i) the terms of the Buyer Swap do not entitle Buyer to any payments in respect of any termination of the Buyer Swap other than for Unpaid Amounts (as therein defined), (ii) the terms of the Seller Swap do not entitle the Swap Counterparty to any payments in respect of any termination of a Seller Swap other than in respect of Unpaid Amounts (as defined therein), and (iii) pursuant to the terms of the Buyer Swap, the Swap Counterparty have assigned to Buyer all rights to any payments and rights to receive payments that such Swap Counterparty receives or becomes entitled to receive in the future arising as a result of or otherwise in respect of any early termination of a Seller Swap, excluding only any right for the Swap Counterparty to receive Unpaid Amounts (as defined therein) (any such payment under clause (iii), excluding any such Unpaid Amounts, a “Seller Swap MTM Payment”). As additional consideration hereunder, Buyer hereby transfers and assigns to Seller all of Buyer’s right, title, and interest to all payments and rights to receive payments, if any, that Buyer receives or becomes entitled to receive in the future arising as a result of or otherwise in respect of a Seller Swap MTM Payment. Buyer agrees that it will not take any steps to enforce any right to receive any payments that it has assigned to Seller pursuant to this Section 17.6(a). (b) Assignment of Swap Counterparty MTM Payment. The Parties further acknowledge that the terms of the Seller Swap do not entitle Seller to any payments in respect of any termination of a Seller Swap other than for Unpaid Amounts (as defined therein). Nonetheless, Seller hereby presently transfers and assigns to Buyer all of Seller’s right, title and interest to any payments and rights to receive payments that Seller receives or becomes entitled to receive in the future arising as a result of or otherwise in respect of any early termination of a Seller Swap, excluding only any right for Seller to receive Unpaid Amounts thereunder.
Section 17.7 Limitation on Damages. THE PARTIES CONFIRM THAT THE
EXPRESS REMEDIES AND MEASURES OF DAMAGES PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT SATISFY THE ESSENTIAL PURPOSES HEREOF. FOR BREACH OF ANY
PROVISION FOR WHICH AN EXPRESS REMEDY OR MEASURE OF DAMAGES IS
HEREIN 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. NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE
LIABLE FOR CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, OR INDIRECT
DAMAGES, LOST PROFITS OR OTHER BUSINESS INTERRUPTION DAMAGES, BY 43 STATUTE, IN TORT OR CONTRACT, UNDER ANY INDEMNITY PROVISION, OR OTHERWISE. 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 WITHOUT LIMITATION
THE NEGLIGENCE OF EITHER PARTY, WHETHER SUCH NEGLIGENCE BE SOLE, JOINT OR CONCURRENT, OR ACTIVE OR PASSIVE. TO THE EXTENT ANY DAMAGES
REQUIRED TO BE PAID UNDER THIS AGREEMENT ARE LIQUIDATED, THE PARTIES
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE DAMAGES ARE DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO
DETERMINE, OTHERWISE OBTAINING AN ADEQUATE REMEDY IS INCONVENIENT,
AND THE LIQUIDATED DAMAGES CONSTITUTE A REASONABLE APPROXIMATION OF THE HARM OR LOSS. IN DETERMINING THE APPROPRIATE MEASURE OF
DAMAGES THAT WOULD MAKE THE PARTIES WHOLE, THE PARTIES HAVE
THOROUGHLY CONSIDERED, INTER ALIA, THE UNCERTAINTY OF FLUCTUATIONS
IN PRODUCT PRICES, THE ABILITY AND INTENTION OF THE PARTIES TO HEDGE
SUCH FLUCTUATIONS, THE BARGAINED-FOR ALLOCATION OF RISK, THE
KNOWLEDGE, SOPHISTICATION AND EQUAL BARGAINING POWER OF THE PARTIES, THE ARM’S-LENGTH NATURE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS, THE SPECIAL
CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS TRANSACTION, THE ACCOUNTING AND TAX
TREATMENT OF THE TRANSACTION BY THE PARTIES, AND THE ENTERING INTO OF
OTHER TRANSACTIONS IN RELIANCE ON THE ENFORCEABILITY OF THE LIQUIDATED DAMAGES PROVISIONS CONTAINED HEREIN.
Section 17.8 Termination Payment Adjustment Schedule. Seller shall prepare revisions to the then-current Exhibit D-2 (Termination Payment Adjustment Schedule) in connection with each successive Interest Rate Period pursuant to the terms of the Re-Pricing Agreement by delivering a revised Exhibit D-2 to Buyer no later than the last day of the applicable Reset Period, in which case such amendments will be effective as of the first day of the next Interest Rate Period.
ARTICLE XVIII.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 18.1 Indemnification Procedure. With respect to each indemnification included in this Agreement, the indemnity is given to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law and the following provisions shall be applicable. The indemnified Party shall promptly notify the indemnifying Party in writing of any Claim and the indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume its investigation and defense, including employment of counsel, and shall be obligated to pay related court costs, attorneys’ fees and experts’ fees and to post any related appeals bonds; provided, however, that the indemnified Party shall have the right to employ at its expense separate counsel and participate in the defense of any Claim. The indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of a Claim without its express written consent thereto. In order to prevent double recovery, the indemnified Party shall reimburse the indemnifying Party for payments or costs incurred in respect of an indemnity with the proceeds of any judgment, insurance, bond, surety or other recovery made by the indemnified Party with respect to a covered event.
Section 18.2 Deliveries. No later than delivery of the Prepayment, Buyer will deliver to Seller a copy of the Trust Indenture. The following documents shall be executed and 44 delivered by the Parties contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement (unless otherwise specified):
(a) by Seller no later than the date of issuance of the Bonds, the Funding Agreement;
(b) by Buyer, a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of Buyer setting forth (i) the resolutions of its governing body with respect to the authorization of Buyer to execute and deliver this Agreement, the Trust Indenture and the Clean Energy Purchase Contract, (ii) the appropriate individuals who are authorized to sign such agreements, (iii) specimen signatures of such authorized individuals, and (iv) the organization documents of Buyer, certified as being true and complete;
(c) by Seller, evidence reasonably satisfactory to Buyer of (i) Seller’s authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and (ii) the appropriate individuals who are authorized to sign this Agreement; and
(d) by Buyer, on or prior to the Execution Date a valid sales tax exemption certificate and any other required exemption or resale certificate in jurisdictions where sales of Product occur under this Agreement to the extent such a certificate is necessary under applicable law for exemption from any relevant state taxes that may be levied against the Parties in relation to the transactions under, or pursuant, to this Agreement.
Section 18.3 Entirety; Amendments. This Agreement and the Re-Pricing Agreement, including the exhibits and attachments hereto and thereto and the Seller Tariff, constitute the entire agreement between the Parties and supersede all prior discussions and agreements between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. There are no prior or contemporaneous agreements or representations affecting the same subject matter other than those expressed herein (including the Exhibits hereto) and the Re-Pricing Agreement. Except for any matters that, in accordance with the express provisions of this Agreement, may be resolved by oral agreement between the Parties, no amendment, modification, supplement, or change hereto shall be enforceable unless reduced to writing and executed by both Parties.
Section 18.4 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND
DUTIES OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED, ENFORCED AND PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLE THAT WOULD DIRECT THE APPLICATION OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION’S LAW; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE AUTHORITY OF BUYER TO ENTER INTO
AND PERFORM ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
Section 18.5 Non-Waiver. No waiver of any breach of any of the terms of this Agreement shall be effective unless such waiver is in writing and signed by the Party against whom such waiver is claimed. No waiver of any breach or breaches shall be deemed a waiver of any other subsequent breach.
45 Section 18.6 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof, shall for any reason be invalid or unenforceable, then to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby, but rather shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible under applicable Law, so long as the economic and legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any materially adverse manner as to either Party.
Section 18.7 Exhibits. Any and all Exhibits referenced in this Agreement are hereby incorporated herein by reference and shall be deemed to be an integral part hereof.
Section 18.8 Winding Up Arrangements. All indemnity and confidentiality obligations, audit rights, and other provisions specifically providing for survival shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement. The expiration or termination of this Agreement shall not relieve either Party of (a) any unfulfilled obligation or undischarged liability of such Party on the date of such termination or (b) the consequences of any breach or default of any warranty or covenant contained in this Agreement. All obligations and liabilities described in the preceding sentence of this Section 18.8, and applicable provisions of this Agreement creating or relating to such obligations and liabilities, shall survive such expiration or termination.
Section 18.9 Relationships of Parties; Beneficiaries. The Parties shall not be deemed to be in a relationship of partners or joint venturers by virtue of this Agreement, nor shall either Party be an agent, representative, trustee or fiduciary of the other, except that Seller shall act on behalf of Buyer in remarketing Product pursuant to Exhibit C. Neither Party shall have any authority to bind the other to any agreement. This Agreement is intended to secure and provide for the services of each Party as an independent contractor. Except as provided in Section 18.14 with respect to the Trustee, this Agreement shall not impart any rights enforceable by any third party (other than a permitted successor or assignee bound to this Agreement).
Section 18.10 Immunity. Buyer represents and covenants to and agrees with Seller that it is not entitled to and shall not assert the defense of sovereign immunity with respect to its obligations or any Claims under this Agreement.
Section 18.11 Rates and Indices.
(a) Commodity Reference Prices.
(i) Price Replacement Process for Delayed Publication. If a Commodity Reference Price is not expected to be available for any period (or portion thereof) for any calculation that is required hereunder or under the Buyer Swap or the Seller Swap prior to a relevant calculation being made under any of them, then, upon notice from either Party, the Parties shall promptly endeavor to agree on an alternative source for determination of such Commodity Reference Price for the applicable periods. If such agreement is not reached by the Parties within three Business Days, the Parties shall request quotations for the applicable Commodity Reference Price from four recognized dealers in the electric energy (two selected by each Party) for the period that such Commodity Reference Price is expected to be unavailable. If four quotations are provided as requested, 46 the applicable Commodity Reference Price for the applicable days shall be the arithmetic mean of the quotations provided by each recognized dealer after disregarding the quotations having the highest and lowest values. If exactly three quotations are provided, the applicable Commodity Reference Price for the applicable days shall be the quotation provided by the relevant dealer that remains after disregarding the quotations having the highest and lowest values. For this purpose, if more than one quotation has the same highest value or lowest value, then one of such quotations shall be disregarded. (ii) Price Replacement Process for Non-Published Index. If a Commodity Reference Price is not available because it has permanently ceased to be published, then the Parties shall promptly endeavor to agree on an alternative source for determination of such Commodity Reference Price. If such agreement is not reached by the Parties within three Business Days, then the replacement Commodity Reference Price shall be selected by Seller, acting reasonably.
(b) Corrections. If a value published for any rate or index used or to be used in this Agreement is subsequently corrected and the correction is published or announced by the Person responsible for that publication or announcement within 30 Days after the original publication or announcement, either Party may notify the other Party of (i) that correction and (ii) the amount (if any) that is payable as a result of that correction. If, not later than 30 Days after publication or announcement of that correction, a Party gives notice that an amount is so payable, the Party that originally either received or retained such amount shall, not later than three Business Days after the effectiveness of that notice, pay, subject to any other applicable provisions of this Agreement, to the other Party that amount, together with interest on that amount at the Default Rate for the period from and including the day on which a payment originally was (or was not) made to but excluding the Day of payment of the refund or payment resulting from that correction.
Section 18.12 Limitation of Liability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, all obligations of Buyer under this Agreement, including without limitation all obligations to make payments of any kind whatsoever, are special, limited obligations of Buyer, payable solely from the Trust Estate (as such term is defined in the Trust Indenture) as and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture, including with respect to Operating Expenses (as such term is defined in the Trust Indenture). Buyer shall not be required to advance any moneys derived from any source other than the Revenues (as such term is defined in the Trust Indenture) and other assets pledged under the Trust Indenture for any of the purposes in this Agreement mentioned. Neither the faith and credit of Buyer nor the taxing power of the State of California or any political subdivision thereof is pledged to payments pursuant to this Agreement. Buyer shall not be directly, indirectly, contingently or otherwise liable for any costs, expenses, losses, damages, claims or actions, of any conceivable kind on any conceivable theory, under or by reasons of or in connection with this Agreement, except solely to the extent Revenues (as such term is defined in the Trust Indenture) are received for the payment thereof and may be applied therefor pursuant to the terms of the Trust Indenture.
Section 18.13 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and acknowledged in multiple counterparts and by the Parties in separate counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall be and constitute one and the same instrument. 47 Section 18.14 Rights of Trustee. Pursuant to the terms of the Trust Indenture, Buyer has irrevocably appointed the Trustee as its agent to issue notices (including Remarketing Notices) and as directed under the Trust Indenture, to take any other actions that Buyer is required or permitted to take under this Agreement. Seller may rely on notices or other actions taken by Buyer or the Trustee and Seller has the right to exclusively rely on any notices delivered by the Trustee, regardless of any conflicting notices that it may receive from Buyer.
Section 18.15 Operational Services Agreement. Seller acknowledges that Buyer and the Project Participant will enter into that certain Clean Energy Project Operational Services Agreement, dated as of the Bond Closing Date, pursuant to which the Project Participant will have the right to direct Buyer with respect to any directions, consents or waivers by Buyer under this Agreement and the Re-Pricing Agreement.
Section 18.16 Waiver of Defenses. Seller waives all rights to set-off, counterclaim, recoupment and any other defenses that might otherwise be available to Seller with regard to Seller’s obligations pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
Section 18.17 U.S. Resolution Stay Provisions. Seller and Buyer hereby confirm that they are adherents to the ISDA 2018 U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol (“ISDA U.S. Stay Protocol”), the terms of the ISDA U.S. Stay Protocol are incorporated into and form a part of this Agreement, and for the purposes of such incorporation, (i) Seller shall be deemed to be a Regulated Entity, (ii) Buyer shall be deemed to be an Adhering Party, and (iii) this Agreement shall be deemed a Protocol Covered Agreement. In the event of any inconsistences between this Agreement and the ISDA U.S. Stay Protocol, the ISDA U.S. Stay Protocol will prevail.
Section 18.18 Seller Tariff. Seller agrees that if it seeks to amend the Seller Tariff during the Delivery Period, such amendment will not in any way affect this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Party. Seller further agrees that it will not assert, or defend itself on the basis that the Seller Tariff is inconsistent with this Agreement.
Section 18.19 No Recourse. Buyer shall have no claims against J. Aron or any of its Affiliates (other than Seller), any present or future holder (whether direct or indirect) of any Equity Interests in Seller, or, in the case of any of their respective Affiliates (other than Seller), shareholders, officers, directors, employees, representatives, controlling persons, executives or agents (collectively, the “Non-Recourse Persons”) with respect to the transactions contemplated under this Agreement or under any other document, certificate or instrument executed by Seller in connection herewith, such claims against such Non-Recourse Persons (including as may arise by operation of law) being expressly waived hereby. The limitations on recourse set forth in this Section 18.19 shall survive any Early Termination Payment Date, Product Delivery Termination Date, or other termination or expiration of this Agreement. As used in this Section 18.19, “Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock in such Person, or any and all equivalent ownership interests in such Person, including partnership interests, limited liability company interests and membership interests, and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing.
Section 18.20 Rate Changes.
48 (a) Standard of Review. Absent the agreement of the Parties to the proposed change, the standard of review for changes to any rate, charge, classification, term or condition of this Agreement, whether proposed by a Party (to the extent that any waiver in Section 18.19(b) below is unenforceable or ineffective as to such Party), a non-party or FERC acting sua sponte, shall solely be the “public interest” application of the “just and reasonable” 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) and clarified by Morgan Stanley Capital Group Inc. v. Public Util. Dist. No. 1 of Snohomish, 554 U.S. 527 (2008). (b) Waiver. In addition, and notwithstanding Section 18.19(a), to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, each Party, for itself and its successors and assigns, hereby expressly and irrevocably waives any rights it can or may have, now or in the future, whether under Section 205 and/or 206 of the Federal Power Act or otherwise, to seek to obtain from FERC by any means, directly or indirectly (through complaint, investigation or otherwise), and each hereby covenants and agrees not at any time to seek to so obtain, an order from FERC changing any section of this Agreement specifying the rate, charge, classification, or other term or condition agreed to by the Parties, it being the express intent of the Parties that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, neither Party shall unilaterally seek to obtain from FERC any relief changing the rate, charge, classification, or other term or condition of this Agreement, notwithstanding any subsequent changes in applicable Law or market conditions that may occur. In the event it were to be determined that applicable Law precludes the Parties from waiving their rights to seek changes from FERC to their market-based power sales contracts (including entering into covenants not to do so) then this Section 18.20(b) shall not apply, provided that, consistent with Section
18.19(a), neither Party shall seek any such changes except solely under the “public interest” application of the “just and reasonable” standard of review and otherwise as set forth in Section
18.19(a).
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Master Power Supply Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.
[Separate Signature Page(s) Attached]
Signature Page to the Master Power Supply Agreement
ARON ENERGY PREPAY [__] LLC
By: J. Aron & Company LLC, its Manager
By:____________________________________
Name:______________________________
Title:_______________________________
Signature Page to the Master Power Supply Agreement
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY CHOICE
FINANCING AUTHORITY
By:____________________________________
Name:______________________________
Title:_______________________________
A-1
EXHIBIT A-1
BASE QUANTITIES; BASE DELIVERY POINTS; COMMODITY REFERENCE PRICES
[To be attached.]
A-2
EXHIBIT A-2
ASSIGNED RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
[To be attached.]
B-1
EXHIBIT B
NOTICES
IF TO SELLER: Aron Energy Prepay [__] LLC
c/o J. Aron & Company LLC
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
Email: [email protected]
Trading: Timothy Capuano
Telephone: (212) 357-2542
[email protected]
Scheduling: Email: [email protected]
Direct Phone: (212) 855-6188
Fax: (212) 493–9847
Kelly Brooks
Email: ficc-jaron [email protected]
Direct Phone: (212) 855-6188
Fax: (212) 493-9847
Payments/Invoicing: Telephone: (212) 855-0880
[email protected]
General Notices: Andres E. Aguila
Telephone: (212) 855-6008
Fax: (212) 291-2124
[email protected]
IF TO BUYER: California Community Choice Financing Authority 1125 Tamalpais Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
Email: [email protected] and [email protected]
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EXHIBIT C
Section 1. Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Exhibit shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Agreement, unless otherwise indicated.
The following terms, when used in this Exhibit C and identified by the capitalization of the first letter thereof, have the respective meanings set forth below, unless the context otherwise requires:
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended “Daily Remarketing Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 3(c) of this Exhibit C. “Deemed Remarketing Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 3(d) of this Exhibit C. “Expired Non-Private Business Sales Ledger” has the meaning specified in Section 9(a) of this Exhibit C.
“Expired Private Business Sales Ledger” has the meaning specified in Section 9(a) of this Exhibit C.
“Initial Remarketing” has the meaning specified in Section 5 of this Exhibit C. “Ledger Entry” has the meaning specified in Section 7(b) of this Exhibit C. “Ledger Event” has the meaning specified in Section 9(c) of this Exhibit C. “Minimum Remarketing Sales Price” is, for each MWh of Base Product and Hour, an amount determined by the following formula:
MRSP = RRPP – (RRPP x (RRA/CLB))
Where:
MRSP = The Minimum Remarketing Sales Price for such MWh of Base Product and Hour
RRPP = The Remediation Remarketing Purchase Price for one MWh of Base Product and Hour
RRA = The balance of the Remarketing Reserve Fund at such time CLB = The combined cash balance of the Non-Private Business Sales Ledger and the Private Business Sales Ledger at such time “Municipal Utility” means any Person that (i) is a “governmental person” as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.141-1(b), and (ii) owns either or both a Base Product distribution utility or an electric distribution utility (or provides Product or natural gas at wholesale to entities described in clause (i) that own such utilities). Buyer may from time to time revise the definition of “Municipal Utility” to conform to the applicable provisions of the Code or Treasury Regulations C-2
by delivery of written notice to Seller setting forth the revised definition together with a Tax Opinion.
“Non-Private Business Remarketing Proceeds” means all proceeds received by Buyer under Section 5(c) of this Exhibit C from Seller’s remarketing of Base Product in any Non-Private Business Sale.
“Non-Private Business Sale” means a sale (other than a Qualified Sale) of Base Product to a “governmental person” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.141-1(b) that in each case agrees in writing to not use any part of such Base Product for a Private Business Use. “Non-Private Business Sales Ledger” has the meaning specified in Section 7(a)(i) of this Exhibit C.
“Non-Qualifying Remarketing Limit” means a quantity of Product, in MWhs, equal to 10% of the total quantity of Base Product set forth in Exhibit A-1 to be delivered hereunder, as such Non-Qualifying Remarketing Limit may be increased from time to time upon receipt by Buyer and Seller of a Tax Opinion setting forth a higher Non-Qualifying Remarketing Limit. “Private Business Remarketing Limit” means a quantity of Product, in MWhs, equal to (a) $15,000,000, divided by (b) the Specified Fixed Price, as such Private Business Remarketing Limit may be increased from time to time upon receipt by Buyer and Seller of a Tax Opinion setting forth a higher Private Business Remarketing Limit. “Private Business Remarketing Proceeds” means all proceeds received by Buyer under Section 5(d) of this Exhibit C from Seller’s remarketing of Base Product in any Private Business Sale (including the purchase of such Base Product by Seller for its own account). “Private Business Sale” means any sale of Base Product other than in a Non-Private Business Sale or a Qualified Sale.
“Private Business Sales Ledger” has the meaning specified in Section 7(a)(ii) of this Exhibit C.
“Private Business Use” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 141 of the Code. “Qualified Sale” means the sale of Product or natural gas to a Municipal Utility that agrees in writing (i) to use all of such Product or natural gas for a Qualifying Use that is not a Private Business Use and (ii) not to count any purchase of such Product or natural gas towards any remediation obligations such Municipal Utility may have with respect to proceeds received from the sale of property purchased with tax-exempt financing proceeds other than the Bonds. “Qualifying Use” with respect to Product or natural gas has the meaning ascribed to such term in Treasury Regulations Section 1.148-1(e)(2)(iii)(A)(2) or (B)(2), as applicable. “Remarketing Fee” has the meaning specified in Exhibit F.
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“Remarketing Notice” means either a Daily Remarketing Notice or a Monthly Remarketing Notice, but shall not include a Deemed Remarketing Notice. “Remarketing Reserve Fund” means an account established under the Trust Indenture into which Buyer shall deposit the amounts specified in Section 5(e) of this Exhibit C. “Remediation Remarketing” means the remarketing of Product or natural gas in Qualified Sales by either of Buyer or Seller pursuant to Section 8 of this Exhibit C in an effort to reduce to zero any Ledger Entry balances in either the Non-Private Business Sales Ledger or the Private Business Sales Ledger.
“Remediation Remarketing Purchase Price” has the meaning specified in Section 8(a)(ii)(B) of this Exhibit C.
“Tax Opinion” means an Opinion of Bond Counsel (as defined in the Trust Indenture) to the effect that an action proposed to be taken or an event is not prohibited by the Trust Indenture or the Laws of the United States and will not adversely affect the exclusion from gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes of interest on any Bonds the interest on which is intended to be excluded from such gross income under Section 103(a) of the Code. “Treasury Regulations” means the U.S. Treasury Regulations under the Code.
Section 2. Buyer’s Right and Obligation to Request Remarketing. Buyer may, and, if required to do so under the Trust Indenture or Article VII of the Agreement shall, and the Project Participant (subject to the conditions set forth in the Clean Energy Purchase Contract) may, request Seller to remarket, pursuant to this Exhibit C, all or a specified part of the applicable Quantities for any Delivery Point.
Section 3. Remarketing Notice.
(a) Generally. To request remarketing under this Exhibit C, Buyer or the Project Participant must issue a Remarketing Notice substantially in the form attached as Attachment 3 of Exhibit G to the Agreement, which Remarketing Notice must state the portion of the applicable Quantity to be remarketed in each Hour in each Day from each relevant Delivery Point.
(b) Monthly Remarketing Notice. Buyer or the Project Participant may designate a Remarketing Notice as a “Monthly Remarketing Notice” if the Remarketing Notice is delivered to Seller not later than three Business Days prior to the start of the first Month in which it applies, and applies to a period of one Month or more; provided furthermore that, in the event Seller is obligated to remarket Base Quantities under Section 3.2 of the Agreement, Buyer shall be deemed to have delivered a Monthly Remarketing Notice with respect thereto. (c) Daily Remarketing Notice. Buyer or the Project Participant may designate a Remarketing Notice as a “Daily Remarketing Notice” if the Remarketing Notice is delivered to Seller not later than three Business Days prior to the start of the first Day in which it applies.
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(d) Deemed Remarketing Notice. Any other notice to remarket Base Product given by Buyer (or deemed to be given by Buyer pursuant to Section 4.2 of the Agreement) will be a “Deemed Remarketing Notice.”
Section 4. Seller’s Remarketing Obligations Generally.
(a) Sales for Buyer’s Account. All Base Product remarketed by Seller pursuant to this Exhibit C shall be for the benefit of Buyer, meaning all remarketed Base Product shall first be sold by Seller to Buyer and then resold by or for the account of Buyer pursuant to the terms and provisions of this Exhibit C.
(b) Limitation on Seller Duties. Seller may act directly as principal to the remarketing buyer, or may cause a supplier to Seller to act directly as principal to the remarketing buyer. Neither Seller nor any Person acting on Seller’s behalf shall owe any fiduciary duties to Buyer with respect to the remarketing of any Base Product. Buyer acknowledges and agrees that Seller or a Person acting on Seller’s behalf in remarketing Base Product may have other supplies of Base Product available to sell to potential remarketing buyers, and Base Product designated for remarketing shall not be entitled to any preference over any such other supplies of Base Product. (c) Monthly Records. Seller shall prepare, maintain and provide monthly to Buyer accurate and complete records showing (i) the identity of each purchaser in a Qualified Sale, a Non-Private Business Sale, or a Private Business Sale undertaken by Seller on Buyer’s behalf, (ii) the aggregate amount of Base Product remarketed under this Agreement in Qualified Sales, (iii) the aggregate amount of Base Product remarketed under this Agreement in Non-Private Business Sales, and (iv) the aggregate amount of Base Product remarketed under this Agreement in Private Business Sales.
(d) Remission of Sales Proceeds. Any amounts due to Buyer for Base Product remarketed by Seller or purchased by Seller under this Exhibit C shall be remitted to Buyer pursuant to Section 14.2 of the Agreement in the Month following the Month in which such Base Product is remarketed or purchased, as applicable.
Section 5. Initial Remarketing. The following provisions shall apply to the initial remarketing of any Base Product to be remarketed by Seller pursuant to a Remarketing Notice (an “Initial Remarketing”):
(a) Seller’s Remarketing Duties. Seller shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to remarket or cause to be remarketed all Base Product specified for Initial Remarketing.
In exercising such Commercially Reasonable Efforts, Seller shall first attempt to remarket or cause to be remarketed all Base Product specified in a Remarketing Notice in Qualified Sales and then, if Seller is unable to so remarket all of such Base Product for such purposes, in Non-Private Business Sales. If Seller is unable to remarket all or any portion of the Base Product designated in a Remarketing Notice in Qualified Sales and Non-Private Business Sales, then Seller shall purchase such Base Product for its own account at the prices set forth in Section 5(d) of this Exhibit C as if such Base Product had been remarketed to it. (b) Floor Price. Seller shall not be required to remarket any Base Product in an Initial Remarketing for any Hour at a net price to Seller (after deducting all transportation costs C-5
and all other costs) that is anticipated to be less than (i) the Day-Ahead Market Price applicable to such Base Product and Hour in the case of an Initial Remarketing pursuant to a Monthly Remarketing Notice, or (ii) the Real-Time Market Price applicable to such Base Product and Hour in the case of an Initial Remarketing pursuant to a Daily Remarketing Notice. (c) Proceeds from Qualified Sales and Non-Private Business Sales. (i) For any Base Product specified in a Monthly Remarketing Notice that Seller remarkets in a Qualified Sale or Non-Private Business Sale, Seller shall deliver to Buyer the actual proceeds of such remarketing received, less the Remarketing Fee per MWh sold; provided that the aggregate amount paid by Seller under this clause (i) for any Month shall not be less than the aggregate quantity so remarketed during such Month multiplied by the Net Participant Price.
(ii) For any Base Product specified in a Daily Remarketing Notice that Seller remarkets in a Qualified Sale or Non-Private Business Sale, Seller shall deliver to Buyer the actual proceeds of such remarketing received, less the Remarketing Fee per MWh sold, provided that the aggregate amount paid by Seller under this clause (ii) for any quantity of Base Energy remarketed shall not be less than the result of (x) the quantity so remarketed multiplied by (y) the product of the Real-Time Market Price(s) for the relevant Hour(s) multiplied by the applicable Monthly Discount Percentage (as defined in the Clean Energy Purchase Contract) with respect to any Base Product specified in a Daily Remarketing Notice.
(iii) In the event the payment due date under a Qualified Sale or Non-Private Business Sale has not yet occurred prior to the date upon which payment is due under this Agreement for the applicable Month, the Parties shall nonetheless issue statements as if the full amount from such Qualified Sale or Non-Private Business Sale had been paid and, if such full payment is not received prior to the next monthly due date under this Agreement, the Parties shall issue the appropriate statements to reflect the actual proceeds received and true-up any difference.
(d) Proceeds from Private Business Sales.
(i) For any Base Product specified for any Hour of any Day in a Monthly Remarketing Notice that is not remarketed in a Qualified Sale or Non-Private Business Sale, Seller shall pay to Buyer the positive result determined by the following formula with respect to each Delivery Point to which such Monthly Remarketing Notice applied, provided that the aggregate amount paid by Seller under this clause (i) for any Month shall not be less than the aggregate quantity so remarketed during such Month multiplied by the Net Participant Price:
P = Q x (DAMP – RF)
Where:
P = The amount payable by Seller under this Section 5(d)(i) for such Day and Delivery Point
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Q = The quantity of such Base Product for such Day purchased by Seller with respect to such Delivery Point
DAMP = The Day-Ahead Market Price for such Delivery Point and Hour RF = The Remarketing Fee
(ii) For any Base Product specified for any Hour or portion thereof in a Daily Remarketing Notice that is not remarketed in a Qualified Sale or Non-Private Business Sale, Seller shall pay to Buyer the positive result determined by the following formula with respect to each Delivery Point to which such Daily Remarketing Notice applied:
P = Q x (RTMP – RF)
Where:
P = The amount payable by Seller under this Section 5(d)(ii) for such Hour or portion and Delivery Point
Q = The quantity of such Base Product for such Hour or portion remarketed with respect to such Delivery Point
RTMP = The Real-Time Market Price for such Delivery Point and Hour or portion
RF = The Remarketing Fee
(e) Deposits to Remarketing Reserve Fund. Any proceeds received by Buyer under this Section 5 for Base Product remarketed in sales other than Qualified Sales that exceed the amount Buyer would have received for the same quantity of Base Product at the Net Participant Price shall be deposited in the Remarketing Reserve Fund.
Section 6. Deemed Remarketing. For any Base Product specified or deemed to be specified for any Hour in a Deemed Remarketing Notice, Seller shall pay to Buyer the positive result determined by the following formula with respect to each Delivery Point to which such Deemed Remarketing Notice applied:
P = Q x (SP – RF– AF)
Where:
P = The amount payable by Seller under this Section 6 for such Delivery Point and Hour
Q = The quantity of such Base Product remarketed with respect to such Delivery Point and Hour
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SP = The price at which Seller, acting in a Commercially Reasonable manner, resells for delivery in such Hour at such Delivery Point any Base Product not then and there received by Buyer, deducting from such proceeds any (i) costs reasonably incurred by Seller in reselling such Base Product and (ii) additional transmission charges, if any, reasonably incurred by Seller in delivering such Base Product to the third party purchasers, or at Seller’s option, the market price for such Hour at the Delivery Point for such Product not received as determined by Seller in a Commercially Reasonable manner; provided, however, in no event shall such price include any penalties, ratcheted demand or similar charges, nor shall Seller be required to utilize or change its utilization of its owned or controlled assets, including contractual assets, or market positions to minimize Buyer’s liability. For purposes of the foregoing, Seller shall be considered to have resold such Base Product to the extent Seller shall have entered into one or more arrangements in a Commercially Reasonable manner whereby Seller repurchases its obligation to purchase and receive the Base Product from another party in such Hour at such Delivery Point RF = The Remarketing Fee
AF = Either (i) to the extent such Deemed Remarketing Notice results from Buyer’s failure to Schedule pursuant to Section 4.2 of the Agreement, the Administrative Fee, or (ii) zero.
Section 7. Tracking Remarketing Proceeds.
(a) Ledgers. Seller shall maintain four separate ledgers related to remarketing proceeds as described below:
(i) One ledger (the “Non-Private Business Sales Ledger”), to which Seller shall credit, (A) as dollar credits, the Non-Private Business Remarketing Proceeds, and (B) as MWh credits, the MWhs of Base Product purchased or remarketed to produce such Non-Private Business Remarketing Proceeds.
(ii) Another ledger (the “Private Business Sales Ledger”), to which Seller shall credit, (A) as dollar credits, Private Business Remarketing Proceeds, and (B) as MWh credits, the MWhs of Base Product purchased or remarketed to produce such Private Business Remarketing Proceeds.
(iii) The other two ledgers shall be maintained, credited, and debited as described in Section 9(a) of this Exhibit C.
(b) Date of Ledger Entries. The credits to be recorded in the ledgers described in Section 7(a)(i) and Section 7(a)(ii) of this Exhibit C (collectively, the “Ledger Entries”) shall be dated as of the first Day of the Month prior to the Month in which Buyer or the Project Participant receives the proceeds corresponding to such Ledger Entries.
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(c) Aggregation of Ledgers. The four ledgers described in Sections 7(a) and 9(a) of this Exhibit C and all debits and credits to such ledgers shall be kept on an aggregate basis for purposes of this Exhibit C.
(d) Disqualified Sales. Buyer shall provide to Seller all reports provided by the Project Participant pursuant to Section 7.5 of the Clean Energy Purchase Contract. To the extent set forth in Section 7.6(a) of the Clean Energy Purchase Contract, Seller will add “Disqualified Sale Proceeds” to the appropriate ledgers described above. Buyer agrees to cause any payment made by the Project Participant pursuant to Section 7.6(c) of a Clean Energy Purchase Contract to be deposited into the Debt Service Account (as defined in the Trust Indenture). (e) Remarketing of and Remediation with Storage Products. For any remarketing proceeds relating to Assigned Products measured in kW-month, the Parties acknowledge and agree that such proceeds shall be recorded in the applicable ledgers on a MWh basis calculated as the result of (i) the total dollar proceeds of any such remarketing divided by (ii) (x) $[____] for Assigned Products during the Initial Assignment Periods and (y) $[____]4 for Assigned Products outside of the Initial Assignment Periods. Any Remarketing Fee relating thereto shall be calculated on a per MWh basis consistent with the result of the conversion to MWhs pursuant to the preceding sentence.
Section 8. Remediation Remarketing.
(a) Remarketing. At any time that the Ledger Entry balance of either the Non-Private Business Sales Ledger or the Private Business Sales Ledger is greater than zero:
(i) Buyer shall exercise or shall cause the Project Participant to exercise Commercially Reasonable Efforts to utilize the proceeds represented by the dollar balances of such Ledger Entries to purchase Product for resale in Qualified Sales and shall promptly notify Seller following such purchase and sale. Additionally, Seller and Buyer acknowledge and agree that any purchases of Assigned PAYGO Products by the Project Participant shall be applied to the reduction of any such Ledger Entries. (ii) Seller shall exercise Commercially Reasonable Efforts to locate opportunities for Buyer to purchase Product to sell in Qualified Sales to remediate the proceeds represented by the dollar balances of the Ledger Entries. In this regard, if Seller locates a Remediation Remarketing opportunity, then
(A) Seller shall notify Buyer of such opportunity;
(B) Buyer shall, upon receipt of such notice, purchase Product from Seller at a price determined by Seller in a Commercially Reasonable manner based upon applicable market prices at the location where the remarketing opportunity sale will occur (the “Remediation Remarketing Purchase Price”); 4 NTD: To list the applicable Fixed Prices under the Buyer Swap as determined at pricing.
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(C) Seller shall remarket such Product on Buyer’s behalf in a Qualified Sale;
(D) Seller shall remit to Buyer the proceeds collected from such Qualified Sale, but in no event shall Seller remit less than the Minimum Remarketing Sales Price for the remarketing transaction; provided, however, that to the extent Seller does not receive the Remediation Remarketing Purchase Price from Buyer prior to the Remediation Remarketing described herein, Seller shall credit the proceeds collected from such remarketing sale against the Remediation Remarketing Purchase Price owed to Seller, and Seller shall be reimbursed from the Remarketing Reserve Fund to the extent necessary to make Seller whole for such Qualified Sale; and
(E) Seller shall issue to Buyer a confirmation notice (including the dollar price and MWhs) of each purchase of Product by or on behalf of Buyer, and each sale of Product on Buyer’s behalf, under this Section 8(a)(ii), and amounts due from or to Buyer shall be separately stated on the Billing Statement for the Month in which such remarketing transactions occur.
For the avoidance of doubt, Seller shall not sell, nor shall it be required to sell, Product to Buyer for a Remediation Remarketing if such Product is to be remarketed by Seller on behalf of Buyer for less than the Minimum Remarketing Sales Price.
(b) Indemnification of Buyer. Unless the terms of a Remediation Remarketing undertaken by Seller on Buyer’s behalf are specifically assumed by Buyer, Seller shall indemnify Buyer for any costs or liabilities associated with such Remediation Remarketing (other than costs related to the price at which such Product is sold and the risk of collecting the sale proceeds from the remarketing buyer), including, without limitation, any cover or replacement costs; termination payments; fees, penalties, costs or charges (in cash or in kind) assessed by any Transmission Provider for failure to satisfy its balance or nomination requirements; Claims for breach of warranty; taxes, fees, levies, penalties, licenses or charges imposed by any Government Agency; and Claims from personal injury or property damages.
(c) Electric Energy Remediation Debits. The total purchase price of any Product purchased by Buyer or Seller pursuant to Section 8(a) of this Exhibit C will be entered by Seller as a dollar debit on (i) first, the Private Business Sales Ledger, if and to the extent such ledger has a positive balance and such Product is remarketed in a Qualified Sale and (ii) second, on the Non-Private Business Sales Ledger, if and to the extent such ledger has a positive balance, the Private Business Sales Ledger has a zero balance, and such Product is remarketed in a Qualified Sale, with such debit in the case of (i) or (ii) dated as of the last day of the Month in which such Product was purchased. Each dollar debit shall offset and reverse an equal amount of the dollar credits to such ledger (that have not previously been transferred to the Expired Non-Private Business Sales Ledger or the Expired Private Business Sales Ledger) in the order in which they were made (beginning with the oldest credit not previously offset and reversed by any prior debit).
Whenever a debit is made to the dollar balance of the Ledger Entries of either such ledger, Seller shall also debit the Product balance of the Ledger Entries of such ledger based on (i) such dollar debit divided by (ii) an average Product price calculated from the net Ledger Entry then present C-10
on the relevant ledger being debited. For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Non-Private Business Sales Ledger nor the Private Business Sales Ledger shall ever have a negative balance, and the same purchase transaction shall not result in a debit to more than one ledger except to the extent that a debit for the transaction causes one ledger to have a zero balance and the remaining portion of the permitted debit is made to the other ledger. To the extent any Product sold in a remediation sale is measured in kW-mo, such sales shall be converted to MWh for the purpose of entering credits to the applicable ledger consistent with the formula set forth in Section 7(e) above. (d) Natural Gas Remediation. In addition to the ability of Seller or Buyer to engage in Remediation Remarketing to reduce the balances of any Ledger Entries through Qualified Sales of Product, the proceeds represented by the dollar balances of such Ledger Entries may also be remediated through the purchase of natural gas that will be remarketed in Qualified Sales. If Seller locates an opportunity for Buyer to purchase natural gas for a Remediation Remarketing, the provisions of Section 8(a)(ii) of this Exhibit C shall apply to such opportunity with the following modifications: (i) every occurrence of the term “Product” shall be replaced with “natural gas” and (ii) the definition of Minimum Remarketing Sales Price shall be revised to replace every occurrence of “MWh of Product” with “MMBtu of natural gas.” For the purposes of entering MWh debits to the Ledger Entries in accordance with Section 8(c) of this Exhibit C for any Remediation Remarketing of natural gas, a quantity of MMBtus will be debited based on (i) the total proceeds paid for such natural gas divided by (ii) an average Product price calculated from the net Ledger Entry then present on the relevant ledger being debited. (e) Other Remediation Debits. In the event that (i) the Project Participant remediates the proceeds represented by the dollar balances of the Ledger Entries pursuant to Section 7.5 of the Clean Energy Purchase Contract or (ii) Bonds are redeemed pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.6(c) of the Clean Energy Purchase Contract and Section 4.01(b) of the Trust Indenture, the corresponding Ledger Entries then present on any ledger shall be debited.
Section 9. Ledger Event.
(a) Expired Entry Ledgers. In addition to the Non-Private Business Sales Ledger and the Private Business Sales Ledger described in Sections 7(a)(i) and 7(a)(ii) of this Exhibit C, above, Seller shall also maintain an “Expired Non-Private Business Sales Ledger” and an “Expired Private Business Sales Ledger”. Whenever a credit to the dollar balance of the Ledger Entries of the Non-Private Business Sales Ledger has not been reversed in full within two years of the date of such credit by an offsetting dollar debit in accordance with such Section 8(c) or Section 8(d) of this Exhibit C, then Seller shall (i) debit the remaining portion of such dollar credit and the Product balance of the Ledger Entries in the manner described in the penultimate sentence of Section 8(c) and (ii) record such debits as credits to the Expired Non-Private Business Sales Ledger. Similarly, whenever a credit to the dollar balance of the Ledger Entries of the Private Business Sales Ledger has not been reversed in full within two years of the date of such credit by an offsetting dollar debit in accordance with Section 8(c) or Section 8(d) of this Exhibit C, then Seller shall (i) debit the remaining portion of such dollar credit and the Product balance of the Ledger Entries in the manner described in the penultimate sentence of such Section 8(c) and (ii) record such debits as credits to the Expired Private Business Sales Ledger. (b) Reports to Buyer.
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(i) No later than the tenth day of each Month, Seller shall provide to Buyer copies of the Non-Private Business Sales Ledger, the Private Business Sales Ledger, the Expired Non-Private Business Sales Ledger and the Expired Private Business Sales Ledger showing all credits and debits to each such ledger since the Execution Date, in each case if a credit has been recorded in such ledger since the Execution Date. (ii) Additionally, if at any time (i) the credits to the dollar balance of the Ledger Entries of a Non-Private Business Sales Ledger or a Private Business Sales Ledger have not been reversed within twenty-two (22) Months of being recorded and (ii) the continued failure to reverse such credits within two years of being recorded would result in a Ledger Event (under Section 9(c) below), then Seller no later than the tenth (10th) day of the 22nd Month following the entry of such credits shall provide notice to Buyer of the potential for the occurrence of a Ledger Event and request that Buyer consult with Special Tax Counsel regarding (A) a partial redemption of the Bonds as a remedial action with respect to such potential Ledger Event and (B) the possibility of delivery of a Tax Opinion if such a Ledger Event occurs.
(c) Ledger Event. A “Ledger Event” shall occur if, at any time, either (i) (A) the sum of all MWh credits on an Expired Non-Private Business Sales Ledger and the corresponding Expired Private Business Sales Ledger exceeds (B) the Non-Qualifying Remarketing Limit, or (ii) (A) the sum of all MWh credits on an Expired Private Business Sales Ledger exceeds (B) the Private Business Remarketing Limit, unless Buyer has obtained a Tax Opinion with respect to either (I) such event or (II) any remedial action that may have been taken with respect to the Bonds.
(d) Sole Remedies. The occurrence of a Ledger Event and any remedies associated therewith in Article XVII of the Agreement shall be Buyer’s sole and exclusive remedies with respect to any inability by Seller to purchase and remarket Product for Buyer pursuant to, or any breach by Seller of its obligations under, this Exhibit C.
Section 10. Third Party Remarketing Agent. To the extent that the net Ledger Entry balance of either the Non-Private Business Sales Ledger or the Private Business Sales Ledger is greater than zero (0) for a period of twelve (12) Months or longer, Seller may appoint a third party remarketing agent to remediate the outstanding Ledger Entries instead of J. Aron; provided that such third party remarketing agent must agree to (a) remediate such Ledger Entries consistent with the terms of this Exhibit C and (b) exercise Commercially Reasonable Efforts to enter into remarketing sales to the extent that Buyer, Seller or J. Aron locate opportunities for remarketing sales after such third party remarketing agent’s appointment.
Section 11. Buyer Right to Request to Purchase Remarketed Product. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Exhibit C, Buyer may request in a Remarketing Notice delivered to Seller that Buyer be the remarketing buyer of the quantities of Product described in such Remarketing Notice, in which case Seller will sell such remarketed Product to Buyer at a price, at Delivery Point(s) and on date(s) to be mutually agreed (but the price shall in no event be less than the Net Participant Price) by the Parties, provided that Seller shall be obligated to remarket such Product to Buyer only if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
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(i) Buyer is not in default under any Transaction Document; (ii) Buyer has certified to Seller in the Remarketing Notice that the condition in clause (a) above is true;
(iii) Buyer has provided such adequate assurances of Buyer’s performance, if any, as may have been reasonably requested by Seller; (iv) there is a master agreement in effect between Buyer and Seller that will govern the remarketing transaction between Buyer and Seller; and (v) Buyer covenants to resell the Product only in Qualified Sales.
Section 12. Remarketing of Assigned Product.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein but subject to clause (b) of this Section 12, if (i) a quantity of Assigned Product less than the Assigned Prepay Quantity is delivered hereunder in any Month during an Assignment Period for any reason other than Force Majeure (including under the circumstances specified in Section 14.1(b)(ii)) or (ii) an Assigned PPA FM Remarketing Event (as defined in Exhibit F) is in effect with respect to an Assigned PPA, then (A) Buyer will be deemed to have requested Seller to remarket the Assigned Product not delivered (regardless of whether a Remarketing Notice was delivered) and (B) Seller shall sell such Product or cause such Product to be sold in a Private Business Sale at the APC Contract Price minus the applicable Remarketing Fee. Seller shall pay Buyer for any such Month the product of (I) the Assigned Prepay Quantity, less the amount of Assigned Product actually delivered, multiplied by (II) the APC Contract Price minus the applicable Remarketing Fee – and all such sales shall constitute a Private Business Sale and shall be reflected on the Private Business Sales Ledger.
(b) In the event that (i) Assigned Product is remarketed consistent with clause (a) above and (ii) Assigned PAYGO Product is delivered under any Assigned PPA in the Month in which such remarketing occurs, then (A) the purchase by the Project Participant of such Assigned PAYGO Product for the Month in which such remarketing occurs shall be deemed without duplication to remediate the remarketing proceeds associated with the other Assigned Product remarketed for such Month in the amount of the Project Participant’s payment(s) for Assigned PAYGO Products for such Month pursuant to the PPA Custodial Agreement, (B) no Ledger Entries shall be entered and no Remarketing Fee shall apply to the extent such remarketing proceeds are remediated pursuant to clause (A) and (C) any remarketing proceeds remediated pursuant to this clause (b) shall be excluded from the calculation of Assigned Prepay Quantity shortfalls under clauses (i) and (ii) of the definition of Remarketing Fee in Exhibit F. Seller acknowledges and agrees that the Project Participant’s payment for other Assigned PAYGO Products shall be applied to remediation of remarketing proceeds hereunder in accordance with the Project Participant’s written instructions provided pursuant to the PPA Custodial Agreement.
D-1
EXHIBIT D-1
TERMINATION PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Month of Early
Termination Payment
Date
Early Termination Payment
Date (If Not a Business Day,
Preceding Business Day)
Termination Payment
($)
(To be attached.)
D-2
EXHIBIT D-2
TERMINATION PAYMENT ADJUSTMENT SCHEDULE
[To come for subsequent periods.]
D-3
EXHIBIT D-3
POST-TERMINATION PAYMENT SCHEDULE
[To be attached.]
E-1
EXHIBIT E
RECEIVABLES PURCHASE EXHIBIT
[To be attached.]
F-1
EXHIBIT F
PRICING AND OTHER TERMS
Prepayment: $[____]
Prepayment Outside Date: [____]
Delivery Period: shall commence on [____] and shall continue in effect until the end of the day on [____] or earlier upon the Product Delivery Termination Date.
Remarketing Fee: $0.50/MWh, provided that:
(i) to the extent that (x) less than 95% of the aggregate Assigned Prepay Quantities are actually delivered under an Assigned PPA in four consecutive Months and (y) such under-deliveries are not a result of Force Majeure, the Remarketing Fee applicable to the remarketing of Assigned Product under such Assigned PPA commencing with Seller’s remarketing payment for the fourth consecutive Month of under-deliveries shall be $2.00/MWh until such Assigned PPA has delivered 95% or more of the aggregate Assigned Prepay Quantities for three consecutive Months; (ii) to the extent that none of the Assigned Prepay Quantities are actually delivered under an Assigned PPA for six consecutive Months due to Force Majeure, then (x) an “Assigned PPA FM Remarketing Event” shall be in effect until such Assigned PPA has delivered 95% or more of the aggregate Assigned Prepay Quantities for three consecutive Months and (y) the Remarketing Fee applicable to the remarketing of Assigned Product under such Assigned PPA commencing with Seller’s remarketing payment for the sixth consecutive Month of non-deliveries shall be $2.00/MWh while such Assigned PPA FM Remarketing Event is continuing and in effect; and
(iii) the Remarketing Fee shall be zero with respect to any Product remarketed to Buyer in accordance with Section 10 of Exhibit C;
provided that, for the purpose of determining under clauses (i) and (ii) above whether 95% of the aggregate Assigned Prepay Quantities are delivered in any Month under an Assigned PPA that includes separate Assigned Prepay Quantities for Energy and storage Products, the Assigned Prepay Quantities for storage Products shall be converted to MWhs consistent with the formula set forth in Section 7(e) of Exhibit C in order to aggregate such Assigned Prepay Quantities for storage Products with the Assigned Prepay Quantities for Energy under such Assigned PPA.
Discount Rate Spread: [____] basis points per annum
Specified Fixed Price: $[____]/MWh
Administrative Fee: $0.50/MWh
Additional Termination Payment Applies to the Following Product Delivery Termination Events:
Not applicable
G-1
EXHIBIT G
COMMUNICATIONS PROTOCOL FOR BASE QUANTITIES
This Exhibit G (“Communications Protocol”) addresses the Scheduling of Base Quantities to be delivered and received at the Base Delivery Point. It is intended to be attached to both the Master Power Supply Agreement and the Clean Energy Purchase Contract, each as defined below.
1. ADDITIONAL DEFINED TERMS
In addition to the terms defined in Article I of this Agreement, the following terms used in this Communications Protocol shall have the following meanings:
“Agreement” means (i) when this Communications Protocol is attached to the Master Power Supply Agreement, the Master Power Supply Agreement and (ii) when this Communications Protocol is attached to the Clean Energy Purchase Contract, the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
“Clean Energy Purchase Contract” means that certain Clean Energy Purchase Contract dated as of [_____], 2025 by and between Issuer and Project Participant. “Delivery Scheduling Entity” means Prepay LLC or a Person designated by Prepay LLC, as set forth in Attachment 4 hereto or in a subsequent written notice to Issuer and the Project Participant.
“Issuer” means California Community Choice Financing Authority, a joint powers authority and a public entity of the State of California established pursuant to the provisions of the Joint Exercise of Powers Act (Article 1, Chapter 5, Division 7, Title 1, Section 6500 et seq. of the California Government Code, as amended).
“Master Power Supply Agreement” means that certain Master Power Supply Agreement dated as of [_____], 2025 by and between Prepay LLC and Issuer that is specified as relating to the Clean Energy Purchase Contract with Project Participant. “Operational Nomination” has the meaning specified in Section 4.1.1. “Prepay LLC” means Aron Energy Prepay [__] LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. “Project Participant” means Marin Clean Energy, a public agency formed under the provisions of the Joint Exercise of Powers Act of the State of California, Government Code Section 6500 et seq.
“Receipt Scheduling Entity” for any Delivery Point means the Project Participant, unless the Clean Energy Purchase Contract has been suspended or terminated, in which case the Receipt Scheduling Entity will be Issuer or a Person designated by Issuer for such Delivery Point in accordance with this Communications Protocol.
G-2
“Relevant Contract” means the Master Power Supply Agreement and the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
“Relevant Party” means Issuer, Prepay LLC or the Project Participant. “Relevant Third Party” means any Person that is (i) a Transmission Provider that will or is intended to transport Product to be delivered or received under the Agreement, (ii) an independent system operator or control area that coordinates the Scheduling of Product at the Base Delivery Point, (iii) Scheduling receipt of Product by Issuer or for the account of Issuer to the extent such Product has been delivered to Issuer or for the account of Issuer under the Master Power Supply Agreement, and (iv) delivering Product to Issuer or for the account of Issuer to the extent such Product is intended to be re-delivered ultimately to the Project Participant or for the account of the Project Participant under the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
“Scheduling Entities” means the Receipt Scheduling Entity and the Delivery Scheduling Entity.
2. AGREEMENTS OF RELEVANT PARTIES
Each Relevant Party that is a party to Relevant Contract to which this Communications Protocol is attached acknowledges that this Communications Protocol sets forth certain obligations that may be delegated to other Relevant Parties that are not parties to such Relevant Contracts. In connection therewith:
2.1 Reliance on Scheduling Entity. Each Relevant Party shall be entitled to rely exclusively on any communications or directions given by a Delivery Scheduling Entity or Receipt Scheduling Entity, in each case to the extent such communications are permitted hereunder.
2.2 Performance of Communications Protocol. Each Relevant Party to a Relevant Contract shall cause its counterparty to each other Relevant Contract to comply with the provisions of this Communications Protocol as the provisions apply to the such counterparty to the extent required to perform the obligations of the Relevant Party under the Relevant Contract.
2.3 Third Party Beneficiaries. To the extent this Communications Protocol purports to give any Relevant Party (a “Beneficiary”) rights vis-à-vis any other Relevant Party (a “Burdened Party”) with whom such Beneficiary does not have privity under a Relevant Contract, such Beneficiary shall be deemed to be a third party beneficiary of each Relevant Contract to which the Burdened Party is a party to the extent necessary or convenient to enforce the obligations of the Burdened Party under this Communications Protocol.
2.4 Amendment of Relevant Contracts. No Relevant Party shall amend, waive or otherwise modify any provision of any Relevant Contract to which it is a party without the consent of each other Relevant Party whose rights or obligations would G-3
be materially and adversely affected by such amendment, waiver or modification as it relates to this Communications Protocol.
2.5 Amendment of Communications Protocol. No Relevant Party shall amend any provision of this Communications Protocol in a Relevant Contract without the consent of each other Relevant Party.
2.6 Waiver of Communications Protocol. No Relevant Party shall waive any provision of this Communications Protocol in a Relevant Contract without the consent of each other Relevant Party whose rights or obligations would be materially and adversely affected by such waiver.
3 DESIGNATION AND REPLACEMENT OF SCHEDULING ENTITIES
3.1 Designation of Delivery Scheduling Entity. Prepay LLC may designate a new Delivery Scheduling Entity upon thirty (30) days written notice to Issuer substantially in the form of Attachment 4. Any Scheduling Entity designated in accordance with this Section 3.1 shall commence service at the beginning of a Month, unless mutually agreed in writing between Prepay LLC and Issuer.
3.2 Assumption by Receipt Scheduling Entity. If any Delivery Scheduling Entity (other than Prepay LLC) persistently fails to perform its obligations as contemplated under this Communications Protocol, the Receipt Scheduling Entity may, by notice to Prepay LLC, require that Prepay LLC deal directly with the Receipt Scheduling Entity until a new Delivery Scheduling Entity is designated in accordance with this Section 3.1.
3.3 Scheduling Coordinator. Project Participant shall designate a scheduling coordinator for the purposes of accepting Base Product delivery at the Base Delivery Point through the scheduling of ISTs.
4 INFORMATION EXCHANGE AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ISSUER AND
PREPAY LLC
4.1 Communication of Operational Nomination Details.
4.1.1 Not later than three Days prior to each Day during which Base Product is required to be delivered under the Agreement, the Receipt Scheduling Entity for such Delivery Point may deliver an operational nomination in writing (the “Operational Nomination”) indicating any inability of the Project Participant to receive all of its Base Quantities during such Day, which Operational Nomination shall be without prejudice to any party’s rights under the Relevant Contracts for failure to receive Base Quantities.
If no changes to Base Quantities are so submitted, the Operational Nomination shall be deemed to nominate the full Base Quantities required to be delivered on a Day.
G-4
4.1.2 Not later than three Days prior to each Day during which Base Product is required to be delivered under the Agreement, the Delivery Scheduling Entity for such Delivery Point may revise the Operational Nomination to indicate any inability of Prepay LLC to deliver all Base Quantities during such Day, which revised Operational Nomination shall be without prejudice to any party’s rights under the Relevant Contracts for failure to deliver Base Quantities.
4.2 Event-specific Communications.
4.2.1 Remarketing Notices issued by Issuer under the Master Power Supply Agreement shall be substantially in the form of Attachment 2 hereto. Any such notices to remarket must be delivered directly to Prepay LLC and the Delivery Scheduling Entity.
4.2.2 Each Scheduling Entity shall notify Prepay LLC, Issuer and the Project Participant as soon as practicable in the event of: (i) any deficiencies in Scheduling related to such Scheduling Entity; (ii) any deficiencies in Scheduling related to the other such Scheduling Entity; and (iii) any issues with Relevant Third Parties that that would reasonably be expected to create issues related to Product Scheduling under the Relevant Contract. 5 ACCESS AND INFORMATION
5.1 Verification of Product Scheduled. In addition to the delivery of and access to the records and data required pursuant to the Agreement, each Relevant Party agrees to provide relevant records from itself and other Relevant Third Parties necessary to document and verify Product Scheduled within and after the Month as needed to facilitate the Relevant Contracts.
5.2 View Rights. To the extent requested by a Delivery Scheduling Entity or Prepay LLC, the Receipt Scheduling Entities will use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to cooperate with the Delivery Scheduling Entity and Prepay LLC to ensure that Delivery Scheduling Entity and Prepay LLC has sufficient agency view rights from each such Scheduling Entity to allow Prepay LLC to view Base Product Scheduling at the Base Delivery Point.
6 NOTICES
Any notice, demand, request or other communication required or authorized by this Communications Protocol to be given by one Relevant Party to another Relevant Party shall be in writing, except as otherwise expressly provided herein. It shall either be sent by facsimile (with receipt confirmed by telephone and electronic transmittal receipt), courier, or personally delivered (including overnight delivery service) to the representative of the other Relevant Party designated in Attachment 1 hereto. Any such notice, demand, or request shall be deemed to be given (i) when sent by facsimile confirmed by telephone and electronic transmittal receipt or (ii) when G-5
actually received if delivered by courier or personal delivery (including overnight delivery service). Each Relevant Party shall have the right, upon written notice to the other Relevant Parties, to change its address at any time, and to designate that copies of all such notices be directed to another Person at another address. 7 NO IMPACT ON CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
Except as expressly set forth herein or in an applicable Relevant Contract, nothing in this Communications Protocol nor any Relevant Party’s actions or inactions hereunder shall have any impact on any Relevant Party’s rights or obligations under the Relevant Contracts.
8 ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 - Key Personnel
Attachment 2 - Remarketing Notice Form
Attachment 3 - Designation of Alternate Base Delivery Points Form Attachment 4 - Designation of Scheduling Entities Form
G-6
Attachment 1
Key Personnel
Prepay LLC Marketing Personnel:
Timothy Capuano
Sales and Trading
Telephone: (212) 357-2542
[email protected]
Prepay LLC Scheduling Personnel:
Scheduling Team
Email: [email protected]
Direct Phone: (212) 902-8148
Fax: 212.493.9847
Matt Speltz
ICE Chat: mspeltz5
Email: [email protected]
Direct Phone: (212) 357-5429
Fax: (212) 493-9847
Other Prepay LLC Personnel:
Francois Gignac
Telephone: (212) 855-0880
[email protected]
Andres E. Aguila
Telephone: (212) 855-6008
Fax: (212) 291-2124
[email protected]
Issuer Personnel:
[email protected] and [email protected]
Project Participant Personnel:
[____]
G-7
Attachment 2
Remarketing Notice Form
Date: [_____________]
To: Prepay LLC Scheduling
From: Project Participant Scheduling
This notice is being delivered pursuant to that certain Master Power Supply Agreement (the “Prepaid Agreement”) dated as of [_____], 2025 by and between Aron Energy Prepay [__] LLC (“Prepay LLC”) and California Community Choice Financing Authority (“Issuer”) and relates to the Clean Energy Purchase Contract (the “Clean Energy Purchase Contract”) dated as of [_____], 2025 by and between Issuer and Marin Clean Energy (“Project Participant”). Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the Prepaid Agreement.
Check the box to indicate type of Remarketing Notice (The numbers of the Primary (“P”) and Alternate (“A”) Delivery Points below correspond to those same Primary and Alternate Delivery Points set forth in Exhibit A-1 of the Agreement, or as may be designated by the Parties from time to time):
Monthly Remarketing Notice:
Month(s) for which remarketing is requested: _____________________, 20__ through _______________________, 20__.
Pursuant to Section 3(b) of Exhibit C of the Clean Energy Purchase Contract, Project Participant requests that Prepay LLC remarket in such Month(s) the following Base Quantities of Product required to be delivered at the following Delivery Points:
Delivery Point (P/A, #) MWh/ Hour for each Hour in the Month Daily Remarketing Notice:
Hours for which remarketing is requested: _____________________, 20__ through _______________________, 20__.
G-8
Pursuant to Section 3(c) of Exhibit C of the Clean Energy Purchase Contract, Project Participant requests that Prepay LLC remarket for such Hours the following Base Quantities of Product required to be delivered at the following Delivery Point:
Delivery Point (P/A, #) MWh/Hour
Submitted by Project Participant:
MARIN CLEAN ENERGY
By: ________________________
Name:
Title:
G-9
Attachment 3
Designation of Alternate Delivery Points Form
This designation is delivered pursuant to that certain Master Power Supply Agreement (the “Master Power Supply Agreement”) dated as of [_____], 2025 by and between Aron Energy Prepay [__] LLC (“Prepay LLC”) and California Community Choice Financing Authority (“Issuer”) and the Clean Energy Purchase Contract (the “Clean Energy Purchase Contract”) dated as of [_____], 2025 by and between Issuer and Marin Clean Energy (“Project Participant”). Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the Master Power Supply Agreement and the Clean Energy Purchase Contract. [Project Participant and/or Issuer] hereby proposes the following Alternate Delivery Points for deliveries of Energy that would otherwise be made at the specified Primary Delivery Point:
ALTERNATE
DELIVERY POINT
PRIMARY
DELIVERY POINT
AFFECTED
COMMODITY
REFERENCE PRICE
PRICING POINT
ADDITIONAL
RESTRICTIONS
1 [e.g.
2 Vol. Limit:____
3 Time Limit:]___
(etc.)
Unless otherwise agreed among Prepay LLC, Issuer and Project Participant, an Alternate Delivery Point shall utilize the same Commodity Reference Price as the Primary Delivery Point it replaces or otherwise affects. Project Participant is not required to agree or accept this designation (or any change to the Commodity Reference Price) if it is being submitted by Issuer pursuant to the Master Power Supply Agreement only.
AGREED AND
ACCEPTED BY PREPAY LLC:
(if required)
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED
BY PROJECT PARTICIPANT:
(if required)
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED
BY ISSUER:
By:
Name:
Title:
By:
Name:
Title:
By:
Name:
Title:
G-10
Attachment 4
Designation of Scheduling Entities Form
This designation is being delivered pursuant to that certain Master Power Supply Agreement (the “Master Power Supply Agreement”) dated as of [_____], 2025 by and between Aron Energy Prepay [__] LLC (“Prepay LLC”) and California Community Choice Financing Authority (“Issuer”) and relates to the Clean Energy Purchase Contract (the “Clean Energy Purchase Contract”) dated as of [_____], 2025 by and between Issuer and Marin Clean Energy (“Project Participant”). Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the Master Power Supply Agreement and Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
[If delivered by Project Participant:
Receipt Scheduling Entity:
Delivery Point: ________________________
Effective Date(s) of Service of Receipt Scheduling Entity (full Months only):
________________, ______ to ________________, ______, if applicable Notice Information for Receipt Scheduling Entity:
Name: ______________________________
Attention: ______________________________
Address: ______________________________
______________________________
Telephone: ______________________________
Fax: ______________________________]
[If delivered by Prepay LLC:
Delivery Scheduling Entity:
Delivery Point: ________________________
Effective Date(s) of Service of Delivery Scheduling Entity (full Months only):
________________, ______ to ________________, ______, if applicable Notice Information for Delivery Scheduling Entity:
Name: ______________________________
Attention: ______________________________
Address: ______________________________
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______________________________
Telephone: ______________________________
Fax: ______________________________
Submitted by:
[Project Participant or Prepay LLC]
By: _____________________________
Name: _____________________________
Title: _____________________________
October 19, 2023
TO: MCE Board of Directors
FROM: Garth Salisbury, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer Vidhi Chawla, Interim Vice President of Power Resources Catalina Murphy, General Counsel
RE: Proposed Resolution 2023-10: Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of a Clean Energy Purchase Contract and Certain Other Documents in Connection with the Issuance of the
California Community Choice Financing Authority Clean Energy Project Revenue Bonds; and Certain Other Actions Required to Ensure the Reduction in the Costs of Renewable Energy
Therewith (Agenda Item #07)
ATTACHMENTS: A. Proposed Resolution 2023-10
B. Form of Transaction Documents to which MCE is a party or is represented:
B.1 Clean Energy Purchase Contract
B.2 Limited Assignment Agreement
B.3 Letter Agreement re Limited Assignment Agreements;
B.4 Custodial Agreement
B.5 Operational Services Agreement
B.6 Appendix A of Preliminary Official Statement
C. Form of Additional Transaction Documents for reference:
C.1 Preliminary Official Statement
C.2 Trust Indenture
C.3 Master Power Supply Agreement
Dear Executive Committee Members:
SUMMARY:
In October 2021, MCE completed the first 100% renewable energy prepayment transaction; a $602,655,000 issuance of Clean Energy Project Revenue Bonds, Series 2021A (Green Bonds, Climate Certified) issued through the California Community Choice Financing Authority (CCCFA). This prepayment of four renewable power purchase agreements (PPAs) is saving MCE ratepayers $3.3 million annually on the cost of the energy from the projects.
In preparation for the prepayment transaction, in April 2021 the Board also authorized MCE to become a founding member of CCCFA, a joint powers authority that would be the issuer of the prepayment bonds and an ongoing conduit entity that would be authorized to enter into the necessary contracts and agreements to effectuate prepayment transactions. Since that time, there have been over $6 billion of renewable energy prepayment bonds issued through CCCFA saving CCA ratepayers untold millions on 100% renewable energy. One CCA has completed three prepayments since the fall of 2021 and two others have completed two.
Currently Proposed Prepayment Transaction: MCE staff has begun work on our second prepayment transaction anticipated to prepay 4-6 existing renewable energy PPAs. The exact number of PPAs to be included in the transaction will depend upon market conditions at the time the bonds are sold to investors. Favorable market conditions might allow a larger number of renewable PPAs to be prepaid thus increasing the size of the transaction and the savings. The lawyers, consultants, advisors, and underwriters are the same transaction team participants as in MCE’s first transaction, significantly reducing the time and expense necessary to put together the proposed prepayment. All contracted participants work on a contingency basis and are only paid out of bond proceeds if the transaction closes. The parties that have contracted with MCE included Chapman and Cutler LLP as project participant counsel, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP as bond and tax counsel, and Municipal Capital Markets Group, Inc. as financial advisor to MCE and CCCFA on the transaction.
A different financial institution may be added to the deal team in 2023 to receive the prepayment. During the 2021 transaction, Goldman Sachs was the underwriter of the bonds and received the prepayment. This time, if another bank or financial institution is willing to pay a higher rate of return for the prepayment, then Goldman Sachs will simply underwrite the bonds and facilitate the delivery of renewable energy through CCCFA.
The flexibility to use a different highly rated bank or financial institution to take the prepayment can increase the savings from the transaction – an option that MCE wants to retain as we approach the sale of the bonds.
Executive Committee Action: On October 4, 2023 the MCE Executive Committee voted to recommend that the MCE Board of Directors approve Resolution 2023-10 at the October 19th meeting.
Prepayment Transaction Summary: The proposed prepayment transaction would reduce the cost of energy from existing PPAs that MCE has already executed. To effectuate the prepayment and to satisfy tax law requirements, MCE must assign the contracts through Limited Assignment Agreements to a highly rated financial institution that will be in the role of the prepaid supplier, in this case the commodities subsidiary of Goldman Sachs; J. Aron & Company LLC (J. Aron). Once the PPAs are assigned, tax-exempt bonds would be issued to finance the prepayment. These bonds would be issued by CCCFA and would be secured by the contractual rights and transaction cashflows pursuant to a Trust Indenture. MCE would not be responsible to repay the bonds and the bonds would not be a debt of MCE. The bonds would carry the credit ratings of Goldman Sachs Group based upon the contractual arrangements ultimately securing the bonds or would carry the credit ratings of the financial institution that takes in the prepayment.
Under the proposed prepayment transaction, MCE would continue to receive the energy from the assigned PPA through a Clean Energy Purchase Contract executed with CCCFA.
The prepaid energy from the PPAs would be purchased by MCE at a discount of 8-10% or more, representing a savings of approximately $5 million per year. The final amount of the prepayment (and the number and consequent value of the PPAs included) will vary determined by market conditions at the time of the actual pricing/sale of the bonds. More favorable market conditions may allow more PPAs to be prepaid that produce the minimum 8% savings.
The transaction, as proposed, would be structured as a 30-year prepayment transaction.
The 30-year term of the prepayment transaction exceeds the terms of the PPAs which generally run from 15-20 years. MCE may assign new or different PPAs in the future to maintain the required cashflow from the prepaid PPAs.
The initial term of the bonds is expected to be 7-10 years. At the end of the first bond pricing period, the bonds would be refinanced or “remarketed” if a minimum savings threshold is met. In the unlikely event the minimum savings thresholds cannot be met for the remarketed bonds, or if the transaction is terminated for any reason, the Limited Assignment Agreements also terminate and PPAs included in the prepayment transaction would revert to MCE at their original terms and prices. Consequently, the financial risk to MCE in the proposed transaction is simply the “loss of the savings” – the financial risk of the possible loss of the discount in the price of the energy from the PPAs.
Transaction Documents Summary:
Clean Energy Purchase Contract - Between MCE and CCCFA. The Clean Energy Purchase Contract provides for the sale of the renewable energy to be delivered by CCCFA to MCE over the term of the prepayment. The energy will be comprised of quantities of electricity designated under the assigned PPAs that have been prepaid and any excess quantities delivered under the assigned PPAs as produced by the projects.
Under the Clean Energy Purchase Contract, CCCFA would agree to deliver, and MCE would agree to purchase, all the energy delivered under the assigned PPAs and to purchase the prepaid amounts of energy at a discount during the Delivery Period. The payments for energy delivered under the Clean Energy Purchase Contract would be payable solely from MCE customer revenues generated from the sale of electricity. Note that this obligation to take and pay for all energy delivered under the PPAs is the same obligation that MCE currently has under those contracts. The primary difference is that the cost of the prepaid energy is reduced by 8% or more as a result of the transaction.
Limited Assignment Agreements – Among MCE, J. Aron and the original power purchase agreement counterparty assigning certain rights and obligations of MCE under the PPA to J. Aron. There are four or more proposed Limited Assignment Agreements.
These Limited Assignment Agreements transfer certain rights including the right to purchase the energy and renewable energy attributes to J. Aron to allow them to be prepaid and eventually resold to MCE under the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
Operational Services Agreement – Between MCE and CCCFA and provides for MCE to perform all operations, scheduling, invoicing, and all aspects of managing the PPAs and delivery of the prepaid energy on behalf of CCCFA.
Custodial Agreement – Among MCE, J. Aron and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (US Bank) as Custodian, providing for US Bank to collect and distribute amounts payable by MCE and J. Aron to the PPA counterparties as appropriate to facilitate the proposed prepayment transaction.
Appendix A of Preliminary Official Statement – This is the Appendix of the disclosure document for the bonds describing MCE as the purchaser of the prepaid renewable energy in the proposed transaction. Appendix A describes the history of MCE, MCE’s service area, customers, sources of renewable energy and other facts to inform bond investors of the financial and operational strength of the organization.
Proposed Resolution 2023-10 – The proposed Resolution would give staff the authority to complete negotiations on the prepayment transaction and to finalize and execute the necessary documents and contracts to complete the proposed transaction. The authority provided to staff under the proposed Resolution to finalize all negotiations and execute all necessary contracts and documents is contingent upon the following parameters being satisfied: 1) the bonds issued to finance the prepayment shall not be obligations of MCE, 2) the aggregate stated principal amount of the bonds shall not exceed $1,250,000,000, 3) the Annual Discount Percentage (savings) from the transaction shall be at least 8% and 4) CCCFA total cost of issuance including all underwriting, legal and consultant fees will not exceed 1% of the amount of the bond proceeds. The authority provided for under the proposed Resolution is important because the execution of the proposed transaction will be extremely market sensitive; MCE expects that final documentation would need to be executed within a 24 hour to 48-hour period when market conditions permit. As such, the proposed Resolution provides the authority needed so that staff may quickly and efficiently complete the transaction to capture the required savings when available in the market.
If the parameters of the prepayment transaction are satisfied, the proposed Resolution would also give authorization to staff to direct CCCFA to pay vendors that provided services to MCE, including drafting, preparing, and finalizing the transaction documents in order to complete the proposed prepayment transaction. These professional services include legal counsel, bond counsel, tax counsel, municipal financial advisor, swap advisor, trustee, underwriter of the bonds, and any other vendor required to complete the issuance of the bonds. Payment to these vendors would be considered a cost of issuance and would be paid by CCCFA directly out of the proceeds of the sale of the bonds. Per the Resolution, the total cost of issuance to CCCFA, including all underwriting, legal, and consultant fees, would not exceed 1% of the bond proceeds.
Fiscal Impacts: If executed, the proposed prepayment transaction would save MCE $4.5 to more than $6 million per year on the cost of the energy from the prepaid PPAs after all upfront and ongoing costs of the transaction are paid. Actual savings will depend upon market conditions at the time of the sale of the bonds and the number of PPAs included in the transaction.
Recommendation1: Approve Resolution 2023-10: Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of a Clean Energy Purchase Contract and Certain Other Documents in Connection with the Issuance of the California Community Choice Financing Authority Clean Energy Project Revenue Bonds; and Certain Other Actions Required to Ensure the Reduction in the Costs of Renewable Energy Therewith. 1 Pursuant to MCE’s Operating Rules and Regulations, the issuance of bonds or any other financing requires a majority vote of the full membership. Therefore, with MCE’s current number of member communities, at least 19 votes in favor of Resolution 2023-10 are needed for approval.
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-10
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF MARIN CLEAN
ENERGY AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A CLEAN
ENERGY PURCHASE CONTRACT AND CERTAIN OTHER DOCUMENTS IN
CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE OF THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
CHOICE FINANCING AUTHORITY CLEAN ENERGY PROJECT REVENUE BONDS; AND CERTAIN OTHER ACTIONS REQUIRED TO ENSURE THE
REDUCTION IN THE COSTS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY THEREWITH
WHEREAS, Marin Clean Energy (“MCE”) is a joint powers authority established on December 19, 2008, and organized under the Joint Exercise of Powers Act constituting Chapter 5 of Division 7 of Title 1 (commencing with Section 6500) of the California Government Code, as amended and supplemented (the “Act”); and
WHEREAS, MCE members include the following communities: the County of Marin, the County of Contra Costa, the County of Napa, the County of Solano, the City of American Canyon, the City of Belvedere, the City of Benicia, the City of Calistoga, the City of Concord, the Town of Corte Madera, the Town of Danville, the City of El Cerrito, the Town of Fairfax, the City of Fairfield, the City of Lafayette, the City of Larkspur, the City of Martinez, the City of Mill Valley, the Town of Moraga, the City of Napa, the City of Novato, the City of Oakley, the City of Pinole, the City of Pittsburg, the City of Pleasant Hill, the City of San Ramon, the City of Richmond, the Town of Ross, the Town of San Anselmo, the City of San Pablo, the City of San Rafael, the City of Sausalito, the City of St. Helena, the Town of Tiburon, the City of Vallejo, the City of Walnut Creek, and the Town of Yountville; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of the Act, MCE and certain other California “community choice aggregators” entered into a joint powers agreement (the “Joint Powers Agreement”) pursuant to which the California Community Choice Financing Authority (the “Issuer”) was organized for the purpose, among other things, of entering into contracts and issuing bonds to assist MCE in financing the acquisition of supplies of clean energy; and
WHEREAS, the Issuer is authorized by its Joint Powers Agreement to acquire supplies of clean energy and to issue revenue bonds to finance the cost of acquisition of such supplies, and is vested with all powers necessary to accomplish the purposes for which it was created; and
WHEREAS, MCE has determined that it is desirable to acquire a long-term supply of clean energy from the Issuer; and
WHEREAS, MCE is requesting that the Issuer agree to purchase certain quantities of clean energy from Aron Energy Prepay LLC, a Delaware DocuSign Envelope ID: F7A2059E-2ECE-4A85-9DBD-5923E2905466 DocuSign Envelope ID: E07EC319-1A96-4826-9525-BB91D9FC91B6 2 limited liability company (“Prepay LLC”) on a prepaid basis (the “Project”) and to sell such clean energy to MCE, as contemplated herein; and
WHEREAS, MCE is requesting that the Issuer finance the costs of the Project with the proceeds of its Clean Energy Project Revenue Bonds, with such series designation as may be determined by the Issuer (the “Bonds”); and WHEREAS, MCE has determined to authorize the officers of MCE to take all necessary action to accomplish the purchase of clean energy from the Issuer and to assist the Issuer in the issuance, sale, and delivery of the Bonds; and WHEREAS, there have been made available to the MCE Board of Directors for approval forms of the following agreements to which MCE is a party (collectively, the “MCE Documents”):
1. Clean Energy Purchase Contract between MCE and the Issuer;
2. Custodial Agreement by and among MCE, J. Aron & Company LLC, a New York limited liability company (“J. Aron”), Prepay LLC, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as custodian;
3. Form of Limited Assignment Agreement, by and among MCE, the counterparty to the power purchase agreement described therein, and J. Aron;
4. Letter Agreement between MCE and J. Aron regarding matters relating to Limited Assignment Agreements; and
5. Operational Services Agreement relating to the Project, by and between MCE and the Issuer; and
WHEREAS, there have also been made available to the Board of Directors of MCE forms of the following additional documents relating to the Project:
1. Trust Indenture (the “Indenture”) between the Issuer and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee, providing for, among other things, the issuance of and security for the Bonds;
2. Master Power Supply Agreement (the “Master Power Supply Agreement”) between the Issuer and the Prepay LLC, providing for the delivery of the Prepaid Energy Supply to the Issuer; and
3. Preliminary Official Statement (the “Preliminary Official Statement”), to be used in connection with the offering and sale of the Bonds, including the information relating to MCE included as Appendix A thereto (the Indenture, DocuSign Envelope ID: F7A2059E-2ECE-4A85-9DBD-5923E2905466 DocuSign Envelope ID: E07EC319-1A96-4826-9525-BB91D9FC91B6 3 the Master Power Supply Agreement and the Preliminary Official Statement, together with the MCE Documents, the “Project Documents”).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the MCE Board of Directors, as follows:
Section 1. The proposed forms of the MCE Documents, as made available to the Board of Directors for this meeting, are hereby approved. The form of Limited Assignment Agreement may be used, in substantially the same form, for assignments of the initial or any additional MCE power purchase agreements, as needed to maintain the transactions approved hereby, and any such Limited Assignment Agreements shall be included in the MCE Documents hereby approved.
Section 2. The following named individuals are the authorized officers of MCE with the respective titles specified below (collectively referred to as “Authorized Officers” and individually referred to as an “Authorized Officer”):
NAMES TITLES
Dawn Weisz Chief Executive Officer
Vicken Kasarjian Chief Operating Officer
Garth Salisbury Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
Catalina Murphy General Counsel
Section 3. Subject to the parameters set forth in Section 6 of this Resolution, any two of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operations Officer, Chair of the Board, and the Chief Financial Officer are hereby authorized and directed, for and on behalf of MCE, to execute and deliver the MCE Documents in substantially said form, with such changes and insertions therein as the Authorized Officers executing the same may approve, such approval to be conclusively evidenced by the execution and delivery thereof.
Section 4. The proposed form of the Preliminary Official Statement, as made available to the Board of Directors for this meeting, is hereby approved. Any Authorized Officer is hereby authorized and directed, for and on behalf of MCE, to execute and deliver a certificate as to the information regarding MCE contained therein and in the final version of the Official Statement, with such changes and insertions therein as the Authorized Officer approving the same may deem necessary or appropriate. Subject to approval by the Issuer, MCE hereby authorizes the distribution of the Preliminary Official Statement to persons who may be interested in the purchase of the Bonds, and the delivery of the Official Statement in final form to the purchasers of the Bonds, in each case with such changes as may be approved as aforesaid.
Section 5. The Authorized Officers, each acting alone, are hereby authorized and directed, for and in the name and on behalf of MCE, to execute and deliver any and all documents, including, without limitation, any tax certificate relating to its expected use of the energy to be purchased by it from the Project, any continuing disclosure certificate or similar agreement required for the offering or sale of the Bonds, and any and all closing certificates to be executed in connection with the issuance of the Bonds and to take any and all actions which may be necessary or advisable, in their discretion, to effectuate the actions which MCE has approved in this Resolution, for the issuance, DocuSign Envelope ID: F7A2059E-2ECE-4A85-9DBD-5923E2905466 DocuSign Envelope ID: E07EC319-1A96-4826-9525-BB91D9FC91B6 4 sale and delivery of the Bonds, and to consummate by MCE the transactions contemplated by the MCE Documents approved hereby and the other Project Documents presented to the Board herewith, including any subsequent amendments, waivers or consents entered into or given under or in accordance with such documents.
Section 6. The approvals provided for herein shall be subject to the following parameters:
a) the Bonds will not be obligations of MCE, but will be limited obligations of the Issuer payable solely from the revenues and other amounts pledged therefor under the Indenture, including amounts payable by MCE under the Clean Energy Purchase Contract;
b) the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds shall not exceed $1,250,000,000; c) the “Monthly Discount Percentage” as provided for in the Clean Energy Purchase Contract shall result in at least 8% savings on an annual basis; and d) CCCFA total cost of issuance including all underwriting, legal and consultant fees will not exceed 1% of the amount of the bond proceeds.
Section 7. Execution and delivery of the MCE Documents by an Authorized Officer or Officers shall be conclusive evidence that the parameters set forth in Section 6 have been met, and all actions heretofore taken by the Authorized Officers with respect to the issuance of the Bonds are hereby ratified, confirmed and approved.
Section 8. If Section 6 and Section 7 listed herein have been met, an Authorized Officer may direct CCCFA to make payments to vendors that provided services to MCE to complete the MCE Documents and ultimately the issuance of the bonds. These professional services include legal counsel, bond counsel, tax counsel, municipal financial advisor, swap advisor, trustee and trustee counsel, underwriter of the bonds, underwriter’s counsel and any other vendor required to complete the issuance of the bonds. Payment to these vendors is considered a cost of issuance and will be paid by CCCFA out of the proceeds of the sale of the Bonds.
Section 9. This Resolution shall take effect immediately.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the MCE Board of Directors on this 19th day of October, 2023, by the following vote:
AYES NOES ABSTAIN ABSENT
County of Marin X
Contra Costa County X
County of Napa X
County of Solano X
City of American Canyon X
DocuSign Envelope ID: F7A2059E-2ECE-4A85-9DBD-5923E2905466 DocuSign Envelope ID: E07EC319-1A96-4826-9525-BB91D9FC91B6 5 City of Belvedere X
City of Benicia X
City of Calistoga X
City of Concord X
Town of Corte Madera X
Town of Danville X
City of El Cerrito X
Town of Fairfax X
City of Fairfield X
City of Lafayette X
City of Larkspur X
City of Martinez X
City of Mill Valley X
Town of Moraga X
City of Napa X
City of Novato X
City of Oakley X
City of Pinole X
City of Pittsburg X
City of Pleasant Hill X
City of San Ramon X
City of Richmond X
Town of Ross X
Town of San Anselmo X
City of San Pablo X
City of San Rafael X
City of Sausalito X
City of St. Helena X
Town of Tiburon X
City of Vallejo X
City of Walnut Creek X
Town of Yountville X
DocuSign Envelope ID: F7A2059E-2ECE-4A85-9DBD-5923E2905466 DocuSign Envelope ID: E07EC319-1A96-4826-9525-BB91D9FC91B6 6 CHAIR, MCE
Attest:
SECRETARY, MCE
DocuSign Envelope ID: F7A2059E-2ECE-4A85-9DBD-5923E2905466 July 15, 2021
TO: MCE Board of Directors
FROM: Garth Salisbury, Director of Finance and Treasurer Lindsay Saxby, Director of Power Resources
Mike Callahan, Senior Policy Counsel
Catalina Murphy, Legal Counsel
RE: Proposed Resolution 2021-05: Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of a Clean Energy Purchase Contract and Certain Other Documents in Connection with the Issuance of the
California Community Choice Financing Authority Clean Energy Project Revenue Bonds, Series 2021A; and Certain Other
Actions Required to Ensure the Reduction in the Costs of Renewable Energy Therewith (Agenda Item #06)
ATTACHMENTS: A. Proposed Resolution 2021-05
B. Form of Transaction Documents to which MCE is a party or is represented:
B.1 Clean Energy Purchase Contract
B.2 Limited Assignment Agreements
B.3 Letter Agreement re Limited Assignment Agreements
B.4 Custodial Agreement
B.5 Operational Services Agreement
B.6 Appendix A of Preliminary Official Statement
C. Form of Additional Transaction Documents provided for reference:
C.1 Preliminary Official Statement
C.2 Trust Indenture
C.3 Master Power Supply Agreement
Dear Board of Directors:
SUMMARY:
Since January 2019, staff has been exploring the concept of a tax-exempt prepayment of certain MCE renewable Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to reduce the cost of the energy from those projects. After significant review of the risks and benefits of a tax-exempt prepayment transaction, staff discussed the concept with the Technical Committee in February 2020. For the next few months, staff endeavored to identify a team of qualified professionals to assist in negotiations and to begin documentation of a potential transaction. At the May 2020 Board meeting, the Board provided authorization for staff to secure the necessary outside professionals and to contract with them, where payment was contingent upon Board approval of the prepayment transaction. In March of this year, Staff updated the Board on a number of financing initiatives including the prepayment transaction. At the April 2021 Board meeting, staff updated the Board on the progress of the transaction including identifying the outside consultants that had been engaged to work on the prepayment transaction on a contingency basis. The Board directed staff to finalize negotiations and to bring the Renewable Energy PPA prepayment documentation and a Parameters Resolution to the Board for consideration.
During the April 2021 Board meeting, the Board also authorized MCE to become a member of the California Community Choice Financing Authority (CCCFA), a joint powers authority that would be the issuer of the prepayment bonds and an ongoing conduit entity that would be authorized to enter into the necessary contracts and agreements to effectuate prepayment transactions.
On July 2, 2021, Staff presented the Executive Committee with the suite of documents that MCE must enter into to initiate a prepayment transaction. The Executive Committee voted to recommend to the full Board approval of Resolution 2021-05 authorizing staff to finalize negotiations, execute all necessary contracts, documents and certificates required to close the proposed prepayment transaction, and direct payment to vendors that provided services required to complete the issuance of the bonds. Staff is now presenting that recommendation for consideration by the Board of Directors.
Prepayment Transaction Summary:
The proposed prepayment transaction would reduce the cost of energy from existing PPAs that MCE has already executed. To effectuate the prepayment and to satisfy tax law requirements, MCE must assign the contracts through Limited Assignment Agreements to a highly rated financial institution that will be in the role of the prepaid supplier, in this case the commodities subsidiary of Goldman Sachs; J. Aron & Company LLC (J. Aron). Once the PPAs are assigned, tax-exempt (or taxable subsidy) bonds would be issued to finance the prepayment. These bonds would be issued by CCCFA and would be secured by the contractual rights and transaction cashflows pursuant to a Trust Indenture. MCE would not be responsible to repay the bonds and the bonds would not be a debt of MCE. The bonds would carry the credit ratings of Goldman Sachs Group based upon the contractual arrangements ultimately securing the bonds.
Under the proposed prepayment transaction, MCE would continue to purchase the energy from the projects through a Clean Energy Purchase Contract executed with CCCFA. The prepaid energy from the projects would be purchased by MCE at a discount of 10% or more, representing a savings of approximately $3 million per year. The final amount of the prepayment (and the number and consequent value of the PPAs included) will vary determined by market conditions at the time of the actual pricing/sale of the bonds, but MCE expects 3-4 PPAs to be included. More favorable market conditions may allow more PPAs be prepaid that produce the minimum 10% savings.
The transaction, as proposed, would be structured as a 30-year prepayment transaction.
The 30-year term of the prepayment transaction exceeds the terms of the PPAs which generally run from 15 -20 years. MCE may assign new or different PPAs in the future to maintain the required cashflow from the prepaid PPAs and can also allow for the cost of batteries that are anticipated to be developed at the prepaid project locations.
The initial term of the bonds is expected to be 7-10 years. At the end of the first bond pricing period, the bonds would be refinanced or “remarketed” as long as the minimum savings thresholds are met. In the unlikely event the minimum savings thresholds cannot be met for the remarketed bonds, or if the transaction is terminated for any reason, the Limited Assignment Agreements also terminate and PPAs included in the prepayment transaction would revert back to MCE at their original terms and prices. Consequently, the financial risk to MCE in the proposed transaction is simply the “loss of the savings” or, in other words, the loss of the discount in the price of the energy from the PPAs resulting from the prepayment.
Transaction Documents Summary:
Clean Energy Purchase Contract - Between MCE and CCCFA. The Clean Energy Purchase Contract provides for the sale of the renewable energy to be delivered by CCCFA to MCE over the term of the prepayment. The energy will be comprised of quantities of electricity designated under the assigned PPAs that have been prepaid and any excess quantities delivered as produced by the projects. Under the Clean Energy Purchase Contract, CCCFA would agree to deliver, and MCE would agree to purchase all of the energy delivered under the assigned PPAs and to purchase the prepaid amounts of energy at a discount during the Delivery Period. The payments for energy delivered under the Clean Energy Purchase Contract would be payable solely from MCE customer revenues generated from the sale of electricity.
Limited Assignment Agreements – Among MCE, J. Aron and the original power purchase agreement counterparty assigning certain rights and obligations of MCE under the PPA to J. Aron. There are three or more proposed Limited Assignment Agreements.
These Limited Assignment Agreements transfer certain rights including the right to purchase the energy and renewable energy attributes to J. Aron to allow them to be prepaid and eventually resold to MCE under the Clean Energy Purchase Contract.
Operational Services Agreement – Between MCE and CCCFA and provides for MCE to perform all operations, scheduling, invoicing and all aspects of managing the PPAs and delivery of the prepaid energy on behalf of CCCFA.
Custodial Agreement – Among MCE, J. Aron and U.S. Bank, National Association (US Bank) as Custodian, providing for US Bank to collect and distribute amounts payable by MCE and J. Aron to the PPA counterparties as appropriate to facilitate the proposed prepayment transaction.
Appendix A of Preliminary Official Statement – This Is the Appendix of the disclosure document for the bonds describing MCE as the purchaser of the prepaid renewable energy in the proposed transaction. Appendix A describes the history of MCE, MCE’s service area, customers, sources of renewable energy and other facts to inform bond investors of the financial and operational strength of the organization.
Proposed Resolution 2021-05 – The proposed Resolution would give staff the authority to complete negotiations on the prepayment transaction and to finalize and execute the necessary documents and contracts to complete the proposed transaction. The authority provided to staff under the proposed Resolution to finalize all negotiations and execute all necessary contracts and documents is contingent upon the following parameters being satisfied: 1) the bonds issued to finance the prepayment shall not be obligations of MCE, 2) the aggregate stated principal amount of the bonds shall not exceed $900,000,000, 3) the Monthly Discount Percentage (savings) from the transaction shall be at least 10% and 4) CCCFA total cost of issuance including all underwriting, legal and consultant fees will not exceed 0.8% of the amount of the bond proceeds. The authority provided for under the proposed Resolution is important because the execution of the proposed transaction will be extremely market sensitive; MCE expects that final documentation would need to be executed within a 24 hour to 48 hour period when market conditions permit. As such, the proposed Resolution provides the authority needed so that staff may quickly and efficiently complete the transaction to capture the required savings when available in the market.
If the parameters of the prepayment transaction are satisfied, the proposed Resolution would also give authorization to staff to direct CCCFA to pay vendors that provided services to MCE, including drafting, preparing, and finalizing the transaction documents in order to complete the proposed prepayment transaction. These professional services include legal counsel, bond counsel, tax counsel, municipal financial advisor, swap advisor, trustee, underwriter of the bonds, and any other vendor required to complete the issuance of the bonds. Payment to these vendors would be considered a cost of issuance and would be paid by CCCFA directly out of the proceeds of the sale of the bonds. Per the Resolution, the total cost of issuance to CCCFA, including all underwriting, legal and consultant fees, would not exceed 0.8% of the amount of the bond proceeds.
Fiscal Impacts: If executed, the proposed prepayment transaction would save MCE $2.5 to $3.0 million or more per year on the cost of the energy from the prepaid PPAs after all upfront and ongoing costs of the transaction are paid.
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution 2021-05: Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of a Clean Energy Purchase Contract and Certain Other Documents in Connection with the Issuance of the California Community Choice Financing Authority Clean Energy Project Revenue Bonds, Series 2021A; and Certain Other Actions Required to Ensure the Reduction in the Costs of Renewable Energy Therewith.
RESOLUTION 2021-05
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF MARIN CLEAN
ENERGY AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A CLEAN
ENERGY PURCHASE CONTRACT AND CERTAIN OTHER DOCUMENTS IN
CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE OF THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
CHOICE FINANCING AUTHORITY CLEAN ENERGY PROJECT REVENUE BONDS, SERIES 2021A; AND CERTAIN OTHER ACTIONS REQUIRED TO
ENSURE THE REDUCTION IN THE COSTS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY
THEREWITH
WHEREAS, Marin Clean Energy (“MCE”) is a joint powers authority established on December 19, 2008, and organized under the Joint Exercise of Powers Act, constituting Chapter 5 of Division 7 of Title 1 (commencing with Section 6500) of the California Government Code, as amended and supplemented (the “Act”); and
WHEREAS, MCE members include the following communities: the County of Marin, the County of Contra Costa, the County of Napa, the County of Solano, the City of American Canyon, the City of Belvedere, the City of Benicia, the City of Calistoga, the City of Concord, the Town of Corte Madera, the Town of Danville, the City of El Cerrito, the Town of Fairfax, the City of Lafayette, the City of Larkspur, the City of Martinez, the City of Mill Valley, the Town of Moraga, the City of Napa, the City of Novato, the City of Oakley, the City of Pinole, the City of Pittsburg, the City of Pleasant Hill, the City of San Ramon, the City of Richmond, the Town of Ross, the Town of San Anselmo, the City of San Pablo, the City of San Rafael, the City of Sausalito, the City of St. Helena, the Town of Tiburon, the City of Vallejo, the City of Walnut Creek, and the Town of Yountville; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of the Act, MCE and certain other California “community choice aggregators” entered into a joint powers agreement (the “Joint Powers Agreement”) pursuant to which the California Community Choice Financing Authority (the “Issuer”) was organized for the purpose, among other things, of entering into contracts and issuing bonds to assist MCE in financing the acquisition of supplies of clean energy; WHEREAS, the Issuer is authorized by its Joint Powers Agreement to acquire supplies of clean energy and to issue revenue bonds to finance the cost of acquisition of such supplies, and is vested with all powers necessary to accomplish the purposes for which it was created;
WHEREAS, MCE has determined that it is desireable to acquire a long-term supply of clean energy from the Issuer;
WHEREAS, MCE is requesting that the Issuer agree to purchase certain quantities of clean energy from Aron Energy Prepay 5 LLC, a Delaware DocuSign Envelope ID: E07EC319-1A96-4826-9525-BB91D9FC91B6 DocuSign Envelope ID: 2BAB65F0-F206-4CE3-9E9F-98136453CD83 2 limited liability company (“Prepay LLC”) on a prepaid basis (the “Project”) and to sell such clean energy to MCE, as contemplated herein;
WHEREAS, MCE is requesting that the Issuer finance the costs of the Project with the proceeds of its Clean Energy Project Revenue Bonds, Series 2021A (the “Bonds”);
WHEREAS, MCE has determined to authorize the officers of MCE to take all necessary action to accomplish the purchase of clean energy from the Issuer and to assist the Issuer in the issuance, sale and delivery of the Bonds; and
WHEREAS, there have been made available to the Board of Directors of MCE for approval forms of the following agreements to which MCE is a party (collectively, the “MCE Documents”):
1. Clean Energy Purchase Contract between MCE and the
Issuer;
2. Custodial Agreement by and among MCE, J. Aron &
Company LLC, a New York limited liability company (“J. Aron”), Prepay LLC, [Issuer] and U.S. Bank, National Association, as custodian;
3. Form of Limited Assignment Agreement, by and among
MCE, the counterparty to the power purchase agreement described therein, and J. Aron;
4. Letter Agreement between MCE and J. Aron regarding
matters relating to Limited Assignment Agreements; and
5. Operational Services Agreement relating to the Project, by and between MCE and the Issuer; and
WHEREAS, there have also been made available to the Board of Directors of MCE forms of the following additional documents relating to the Project:
1. Trust Indenture (the “Indenture”) between the Issuer and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, providing for, among other things, the issuance of and security for the Bonds;
2. Master Power Supply Agreement (the “Master Power Supply Agreement”) between the Issuer and the Prepay LLC, providing for the delivery of the Prepaid Energy Supply to the Issuer; and
3. Preliminary Official Statement (the “Preliminary Official Statement”), to be used in connection with the offering and sale of the Bonds, including the information relating to MCE included as Appendix A DocuSign Envelope ID: E07EC319-1A96-4826-9525-BB91D9FC91B6 DocuSign Envelope ID: 2BAB65F0-F206-4CE3-9E9F-98136453CD83 3 thereto (the Indenture, the Master Power Supply Agreement and the Preliminary Official Statement, together with the MCE Documents, the “Project Documents”);
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the MCE Board of
Directors, as follows:
Section 1. The proposed forms of the MCE Documents, as made available to the Board of Directors for this meeting, are hereby approved. The form of Limited Assignment Agreement may be used, in substantially the same form, for assignments of the initial or any additional MCE power purchase agreements, as needed to maintain the transactions approved hereby, and any such Limited Assignment Agreements shall be included in the MCE Documents hereby approved. Subject to the parameters set forth in Section 4 of this Resolution, any two of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operations Officer, Chair of the Board, the Director of Finance (each an “Authorized Officer”) are hereby authorized and directed, for and on behalf of MCE, to execute and deliver the MCE Documents in substantially said form, with such changes and insertions therein as the Authorized Officers executing the same may approve, such approval to be conclusively evidenced by the execution and delivery thereof.
Section 2. The proposed form of the Preliminary Official Statement, as made available to the Board of Directors for this meeting, is hereby approved.
Any Authorized Officer is hereby authorized and directed, for and on behalf of MCE, to execute and deliver a certificate as to the information regarding MCE contained therein and in the final version of the Official Statement, with such changes and insertions therein as the Authorized Officer approving the same may deem necessary or appropriate. Subject to approval by the Issuer, MCE hereby authorizes the distribution of the Preliminary Official Statement to persons who may be interested in the purchase of the Bonds, and the delivery of the Official Statement in final form to the purchasers of the Bonds, in each case with such changes as may be approved as aforesaid.
Section 3. The Authorized Officers, each acting alone, are hereby authorized and directed, for and in the name and on behalf of MCE, to execute and deliver any and all documents, including, without limitation, any tax certificate relating to its expected use of the energy to be purchased by it from the Project, any continuing disclosure certificate or similar agreement required for the offering or sale of the Bonds, and any and all closing certificates to be executed in connection with the issuance of the Bonds and to take any and all actions which may be necessary or advisable, in their discretion, to effectuate the actions which MCE has approved in this Resolution, for the issuance, sale and delivery of the Bonds, and to consummate by MCE the transactions contemplated by the MCE Documents approved hereby and the other Project Documents presented to the Board herewith, including any subsequent amendments, waivers or consents entered into or given under or in accordance with such documents.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E07EC319-1A96-4826-9525-BB91D9FC91B6 DocuSign Envelope ID: 2BAB65F0-F206-4CE3-9E9F-98136453CD83 4 Section 4. The approvals provided for herein shall be subject to the following parameters:
(a) the Bonds will not be obligations of MCE, but will be limited obligations of the Issuer payable solely from the revenues and other amounts pledged therefor under the Indenture, including amounts payable by MCE under the Clean Energy Purchase Contract;
(b) the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds shall not exceed $900,000,000;
(c) the “Monthly Discount Percentage” as provided for in the Clean Energy Purchase Contract shall result in at least 10% savings on an annual basis; and
(d) CCCFA total cost of issuance including all underwriting, legal and consultant fees will not exceed 0.8% of the amount of the bond proceeds.
Section 5. Execution and delivery of the MCE Documents by an Authorized Officer or Officers shall be conclusive evidence that the parameters set forth in Section 4 have been met, and all actions heretofore taken by the Authorized Officers with respect to the issuance of the Bonds are hereby ratified, confirmed and approved.
Section 6. If Section 4 and Section 5 listed herein have been met, an Authorized Officer may direct CCCFA to make payments to vendors that provided services to MCE to complete the MCE Documents and ultimately the issuance of the bonds. These professional services include legal counsel, bond counsel, tax counsel, municipal financial advisor, swap advisor, trustee and trustee counsel, underwriter of the bonds, underwriter’s counsel and any other vendor required to complete the issuance of the bonds. Payment to these vendors is considered a cost of issuance and will be paid by CCCFA out of the proceeds of the sale of the Bonds.
Section 7. This Resolution shall take effect immediately.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E07EC319-1A96-4826-9525-BB91D9FC91B6 DocuSign Envelope ID: 2BAB65F0-F206-4CE3-9E9F-98136453CD83 5 PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the MCE Board of Directors on this 15th day of July, 2021, by the following vote:
YES NO ABSTAIN ABSENT
County of Marin
Contra Costa County
County of Napa
County of Solano
City of American Canyon
City of Belvedere
City of Benicia
City of Calistoga
City of Concord
Town of Corte Madera
Town of Danville
City of El Cerrito
Town of Fairfax
City of Lafayette
City of Larkspur
City of Martinez
City of Mill Valley
Town of Moraga
City of Napa
City of Novato
City of Oakley
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DocuSign Envelope ID: E07EC319-1A96-4826-9525-BB91D9FC91B6 DocuSign Envelope ID: 2BAB65F0-F206-4CE3-9E9F-98136453CD83 6 City of Pinole
City of Pittsburg
City of Pleasant Hill
City of San Ramon
City of Richmond
Town of Ross
Town of San Anselmo
City of San Pablo
City of San Rafael
City of Sausalito
City of St. Helena
Town of Tiburon
City of Vallejo
City of Walnut Creek
Town of Yountville
______________________________________
CHAIR, MCE
Attest:
___________________________________________
SECRETARY, MCE
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DocuSign Envelope ID: E07EC319-1A96-4826-9525-BB91D9FC91B6 DocuSign Envelope ID: 2BAB65F0-F206-4CE3-9E9F-98136453CD83 2025 Renewable Energy
Prepayment Transaction
MCE Board Meeting
April 17, 2025
2 Reducing the Cost of Renewable Energy for CCAs
• Since 2021, 19 renewable energy prepayment transactions have been completed through CCCFA totaling over $18.2 billion
• Resulting in estimated CCA ratepayer savings of more than $115 million/year • MCE is preparing its third prepayment transaction to reduce the cost of existing renewable energy contracts
Electricity Prepayment Transactions
3 Wholesale electricity prepayment to reduce our power procurement costs Three key parties:
1. Tax-exempt public electricity retailer (MCE)
2. Taxable energy supplier (J Aron & Company, LLC in this transaction)
3. Municipal bond issuer (CCCFA)
• Parties enter into long-term power supply agreements
• CCCFA issues tax exempt bonds for energy that will be delivered over 30 years • The energy supplier provides a discount to MCE in exchange for the prepayment Electricity Prepayment Transactions
4 MCE’s Proposed Renewable Energy Prepayment Transaction • Four clean energy contracts currently targeted for this prepayment • Maintains the existing terms of contracts
• Debt associated is issued through CCCFA, “non-recourse” to MCE • If transaction terminates contracts return to status quo Projected average annual savings of $6 million per year on the cost of the prepaid energy contracts
2025 Electricity Prepayment Transactions
5 Fiscal Impact in Current Year’s Budget
Includes $10 million of savings
from two prepay transactions,
which reduces the Cost of
Energy budget line.
MCE’s Operating Fund Budget Fiscal Year
2025/2026
Approved Budget
Energy Revenue 826,689,500
Cost of Energy 765,542,000
Net Energy Revenue 61,148,000
Total Operating Expenses 50,249,000
Operating Income 10,899,000
Total Nonoperating Revenues 18,278,000
Total Nonoperating Expenses 3,503,000
Change in Net Position 25,674,000
Total Capital Expenditures & Other 18,391,000
Budgeted Net Increase in Operating Fund
B l
7,283,000
Proposed Resolution 2025-02
• Directs staff to complete negotiations on the proposed prepayment transaction and to finalize and execute the necessary documents under certain parameters Parameters:
a. The bonds will not be obligations of MCE
b. The par amount of the bonds will not exceed $1.3 billion c. The discount on prepaid energy will be at least 8%
d. The total cost of issuance will not exceed 1% of the bond proceeds • Approves the forms of transaction documents
• Directs staff to make necessary payments from the proceeds of the bond issue 6 Recommendation
Recommend approval of:
Proposed Resolution 2025-02
Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of a Clean Energy Purchase Contract and Certain Other Documents in Connection with the Issuance of the California Community Choice Financing Authority Clean Energy Project Revenue Bonds; and Certain Other Actions Required to Ensure the Reduction in Costs of Renewable Energy Therewith.
7 mceCleanEnergy.org
[email protected]
Thank you!
April 17, 2025
TO: MCE Board of Directors
FROM: Sabrinna Soldavini, Director of Policy
RE: Policy Update of Legislative and Regulatory Items
ATTACHMENT: Regulatory Packet with Filings since the March Board Meeting Dear Board Members:
Below is a summary of the key activities at the state and federal legislatures and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Energy Commission (CEC), and the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) impacting Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) and MCE.
I. Legislative Advocacy
With policy committees in full swing in both houses of the California legislature, MCE has taken the following positions as of the time of the drafting of this staff report.
Bill Number and
Author
Subject MCE
Position
SB 540 (Becker, Stern) Pathways Initiative, regional energy markets Support SB 330 (Padilla) Alternative financing for transmission Support SB 302 (Padilla) Renewable tax conformity Support
AB 443 (Bennett) Green hydrogen, curtailed renewables Support SB 326 (Becker) Wildfire mitigation strategic planning Support AB 1280 (Garcia) IBank Climate Catalyst funding eligibility for industrial decarbonization projects
Support
AB 806 (Connolly) Supporting installation of cooling units in mobile homes
Support
II. California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
a. Resource Adequacy (RA)
In March 2025, MCE worked with the California Community Choice Association (CalCCA) to submit reply comments on stakeholder proposals in Track 3 of the RA proceeding. Track 3 is considering a number of near-term changes to the RA program including: adoption of a Planning Reserve Margin (PRM) for 2026; various resource accounting methodology modifications to account for the RA program’s transition to the Slice-of-Day (SOD) framework; and whether to adopt and implement a System RA waiver process whereby a Load Serving Entity (LSE) would be able to seek a penalty waiver for a portion of its RA requirements provided the LSE demonstrates it took sufficient commercial action to meet those requirements.
Among other issues, CalCCA’s reply comments continued to support adoption of a System RA waiver process to help balance reliability and affordability and mitigate cost impacts of an expected increase to the PRM in 2026. CalCCA also continued to reinforce the benefits of the proposed enhancements to the SOD framework that would allow LSEs to trade hourly load obligations to incentivize LSEs to optimize their SOD portfolios and bring cost savings to the RA program.
Notably, the appropriate PRM continues to be under discussion and disputed among stakeholders. In December 2024, pursuant to the Track 2 Decision, CPUC Staff issued a revised PRM analysis proposing to increase the current PRM from 17 percent to 22.5 percent for peak months in 2026. CPUC Staff adjusted their methodology in late February, which resulted in the proposed 2026 PRM being reduced further to 21% for summer months and 20% for non-summer months. Most recently, Southern California Edison proposed in comments that a PRM of 15 percent was sufficient to meet reliability needs. Given the dispute over the appropriate PRM level and the anticipated impact on RA program costs and reliability, CalCCA’s reply comments continued to advocate for further development and vetting of PRM proposals.
A Final Decision in Track 3 of the RA proceeding is expected in June 2025. MCE Staff will continue to provide updates as they become available.
Fiscal Impacts: There are no immediate fiscal impacts to MCE, but a future change to the PRM will ultimately impact procurement costs as the PRM affects the amount of RA MCE will be required to purchase to meet its compliance needs and support reliability. b. Flexible Service Connections
In March 2025, CalCCA filed complementary comments in response to two rulings seeking comments in the Energization and High DER Proceedings regarding flexible service connections (FSC). An FSC allows customers the option to connect to the grid sooner by agreeing to draw limited power at certain times or in response to real-time grid conditions.
FSCs can help reduce energization delays by allowing customers to partially energize new loads. CalCCA’s comments expressed support for FSCs as an energization solution, while recommending that the CPUC ensure a level playing field between IOUs’ and CCAs’ generation service and programs. CalCCA’s comments also recommended that customers opting into FSCs and Distributed Energy Resource (DER) owners that supply flexible capacity should be compensated for providing a beneficial grid service.
Fiscal Impacts: There are no direct fiscal impacts to MCE at this time. c. Distribution Planning Equity Metrics
In October 2024, the CPUC issued a decision in the High DER Proceeding ordering IOUs, including Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), to include metrics to track and evaluate equity in their distribution planning processes. The CPUC ordered the IOUs to consider specified metrics from a CPUC Staff Proposal, hold a workshop to gather stakeholder input, and then submit an advice letter requesting approval of a final set of equity metrics. MCE and CalCCA attended the January 2025 workshop, where CalCCA and Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) presented additional metrics for consideration.
In March 2025, the IOUs filed a joint advice letter requesting approval of metrics that differed from the CPUC Staff Proposal, and which excluded all other metrics proposed at the workshop. MCE, RCEA, Ava Community Energy, and Valley Clean Energy filed a joint protest in response to the IOU advice letter arguing that the IOUs failed to comply with the CPUC’s orders, and that the IOUs’ alternative metric proposals undermine the CPUC’s intent in measuring equity in distribution planning.
Fiscal Impacts: There are no direct fiscal impacts to MCE at this time. d. Power Charge Indifference Adjustment (PCIA) Proceeding In February 2025, the CPUC issued an Order Instituting Rulemaking (OIR) to update Energy Resource Recovery Account (ERRA) and Power Charge Indifference Adjustment (PCIA) policies and processes. Per law, the CPUC is required to ensure “indifference” and prevent cost shifts between bundled and unbundled customers. This entails the IOUs recovering electricity costs from unbundled customers that were incurred on their behalf before they departed IOU service, and reducing those costs by the value of benefits that remain with bundled customers.
To facilitate this process, the Commission established the PCIA, a charge paid by all customers on the PG&E side of the bill.
In this proceeding, the CPUC is evaluating potential changes to the methodology of calculating the PCIA through two tracks. Track 1 will consider interim changes to the calculation of the RA Market Price Benchmark (MPB), one of the inputs used to calculate the PCIA on an expedited basis. Track 2 will consider broader, long-term changes to the overall PCIA methodology and will begin in 2026.
CalCCA filed Opening Comments on the OIR in March 2025. The comments emphasized the need for transparency and accuracy in implementing changes to the methodology. CalCCA’s recommendations advocated for prevention of cost shifts between bundled and unbundled customers and urged the CPUC to implement the PCIA fairly and accurately for all customers, not just bundled customers.
MCE will continue to actively engage in this proceeding through 2025 and provide updates as they become available.
Fiscal Impacts: There are no immediate fiscal impacts to MCE, but future changes to the methodology will impact the PCIA charge paid by MCE customers beginning in 2026 and beyond.
e. Disadvantaged Communities Green Tariff (DAC-GT)
Through the CPUC’s Disadvantaged Communities Green Tariff (DAC-GT), MCE offers the Green Access Program, which provides low-income MCE customers living in pollution burdened communities with a 20% discount on their electricity bill, and 100% solar energy from a project located in a pollution burdened community.
On April 1, 2025, MCE submitted its 2024-2026 DAC-GT Annual Budget Advice Letter. The budget both forecasts costs for program year 2026, and reconciles forecast costs with actual spend for program year 2024. MCE is requesting $1,972,742 for the DAC-GT program for program year 2026. MCE Staff will provide updates on the status of this request as they become available.
Fiscal Impacts: MCE is requesting $1,972,742 from the CPUC to administer the DAC-GT program in 2026.
f. Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) Extension
In February 2025, the CPUC issued a Proposed Decision (PD) on Phase 2 issues related to the extension of DCPP through 2030 as directed by SB 846. The second phase considered whether additional processes and mechanisms are needed to review, recover, and approve potential extended operations costs at DCPP, including the usage of Volumetric Performance Fee (VPF) revenue. VPFs, established by SB 846, are to recovered by all rate payers in the state in lieu of a rate based return on investment for the extended operation of Diablo Canyon by PG&E.
The PD adopted CalCCA’s proposal to require PG&E to describe the number of customers each of its Volumetric Performance Fee (VPF) proposal benefits but rejected CalCCA’s proposal to that VPF dollars (paid by all PG&E customers) on generation projects which only benefit bundled customers. The PD additionally rejected a PG&E proposal that would limit the ability to scrutinize future VPF spending requests.
In March 2025, CalCCA filed Opening and Reply comments on the PD continuing to push for the adoption of its VPF spending principles, which recommend that PG&E use VPF revenue for the benefit of all customers. For example, rather than using the funds on generation projects that would only benefit bundled customers, prioritizing spending funds on transmission and distribution level projects that benefit all customers paying VPFs.
Staff will continue to provide updates related to the extended operations of DCPP as they become available.
Fiscal Impacts: There are no direct fiscal impacts to MCE at this time.
III. California Independent System Operator (CAISO)
a. Demand and Distributed Energy Market Integration
In March 2025, the CAISO’s new working group initiative on demand response and distributed energy resource (DR/DER) market integration held a meeting to review the initial discussion paper. The discussion paper includes background information, an overview of working group meetings, and proposed topics for exploration. MCE and CalCCA attended the meeting, and CalCCA submitted comments on the discussion paper. CalCCA highlighted the following CCA priorities: (1) improving the simplicity and accuracy of the performance evaluation methodologies (which are generally used to create an estimated baseline of expected use had there not been a DR event); (2) enhancing the economic-based demand response participation models to consider on-site generation and behind-the-meter storage, and (3) exploring DER participation in wholesale markets and pathways for advancing demand flexibility.
Fiscal Impacts: There are no direct fiscal impacts to MCE at this time.