Lots of great information about the process and financing of wind development in New York State and elsewhere contained in Amendment No. 5 to FORM S-1 REGISTRATION STATEMENT of First Wind Holdings, Inc. before the U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, filed March 26, 2010. As we know, New York is desirable for wind development because of a rich wind resource, relatively high electricity rates and its progressive renewable energy policies such as the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). Here are some excerpts:
Our Portfolio of Wind Energy Projects
Operating Projects
Cohocton is a 125 MW project in Steuben County, New York. Cohocton commenced commercial operations in January 2009. The project consists of 50 2.5 MW Clipper turbines. Cohocton is the third largest wind project in the state of New York. Similar to Mars Hill (described below), Cohocton qualifies a portion of its energy for New England RECs. The project provides local benefits to the community through property tax revenue and economic development, along with local renewable power sales.
Cohocton wheels approximately 55% of its energy to ISO-NE where its RECs are sold to various counterparties. 40% of Cohocton’s RECs are sold to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) under 10-year, fully financeable contracts. The remaining 5% of Cohocton’s RECs is sold into the voluntary REC market. Cohocton’s power is also sold directly into NYISO Zone C where it receives floating power prices. To stabilize Cohocton’s electricity revenue, we entered into a swap with an affiliate of Credit Suisse for approximately 70% of expected generation through the end of 2014. Cohocton was among the first recipients of an ARRA grant, receiving approximately $76 million in September 2009. The remainder of our construction costs at Cohocton are financed with a combination of senior project debt from HSH Nordbank and Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale and structurally subordinated debt of CSSW, LLC. Our total installed development and construction costs for Cohocton were approximately $270 million, including approximately $10 million of financing-related costs and excluding prepaid turbine maintenance and warranty costs. We estimate Cohocton’s long-term NCF [net capacity factor] will be approximately 25% to 27%, as described further in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”…
Steel Winds I
Steel Winds I, which commenced commercial operations in June 2007, is a 20 MW project on the shores of Lake Erie in Lackawanna, New York, just south of Buffalo. The larger site on which the project is located was formerly a steel mill. The project consists of eight 2.5 MW Clipper turbines, the first turbines of this type Clipper produced. We undertook this project primarily as a means of testing and gaining operating experience with the Clipper wind turbines. The project’s relatively small size allowed us to initially finance the project with 100% equity, which provided more flexibility as we worked with Clipper to understand the technology and deal with start-up issues that can be common in new turbine designs. We anticipate expanding Steel Winds in 2010 to bring the total project size to 35 MW, which we believe will introduce benefits of scale.
For power at Steel Winds I we receive floating power prices within New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) Zone A. To stabilize this revenue, we entered into a swap with an affiliate of Morgan Stanley. The volume of this swap is approximately 95% of Steel Winds’ expected output. This hedge expires at the end of 2016. In January 2010, we entered into a five-year PPA with an affiliate of Just Energy Income Fund for all RECs from the project. Steel Winds I qualifies for PTCs and MACRS depreciation and receives cash payments for electricity and RECs. Our total installed development and construction costs for Steel Winds I were approximately $35 million, excluding prepaid turbine maintenance and warranty costs, and are financed by a combination of equity and structurally subordinated debt of CSSW, LLC. We estimate Steel Winds I’s long-term NCF will be approximately 29% to 31%, as described further in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”…
2010 Projects
… Steel Winds II
Steel Winds II is a 15 MW expansion project in Lackawanna, New York. It will consist of six 2.5 MW Clipper turbines and will use our existing infrastructure, including interconnection equipment and site personnel. We are currently in the process of securing the necessary land and other rights to conduct and operate the project. The project’s System Reliability Impact Study and Facilities Study is complete and we are working towards an interconnection agreement with the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) and National Grid. While we continue to evaluate alternatives, we anticipate selling power from Steel Winds II directly into the market through NYISO Zone A and hedging our revenue with a financial swap. We estimate that our total installed development and construction costs for Steel Winds II will be approximately $40 million, including approximately $5 million of financing-related costs and excluding prepaid turbine maintenance and warranty costs. We estimate that Steel Winds II’s long-term NCF will be approximately 28% to 30%….
Purchase of Prattsburgh Real Property
On February 22, 2008, we entered into a purchase agreement with Windfarm Prattsburgh, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and our indirect wholly owned subsidiary; UPC Wind Partners II, LLC; and BEC New York Properties, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company that is owned by Brian Caffyn, with respect to a parcel of land situated in the town of Prattsburgh, New York pursuant to which Windfarm Prattsburgh, LLC purchased the parcel of land from BEC New York Properties, LLC. Windfarm Prattsburgh, LLC agreed to purchase the parcel for (i) consideration of 152,527 Series A Units in UPC Wind Partners LLC to be granted to UPC Wind Partners II, LLC as the seller’s designee and (ii) a payment of $23,000 from Windfarm Prattsburgh, LLC to BEC New York Properties, LLC. In connection with that transaction, First Wind Holdings, LLC granted 152,527 Series A Units for non-cash consideration to UPC Wind Partners II, LLC….
Project Development Costs
… Should the Company decide to abandon or discontinue development of a Tier 1 project, previously capitalized costs are charged to expense in the period that such determination is made. At December 31, 2008, the Company determined that it was more likely than not that it would discontinue development of its Prattsburgh I project, which is located in New York. Upon reaching this determination, previously capitalized development costs of $3.5 million were expensed in December 2008 and included in project development expenditures in the statement of operations. In December 2009, the Company discontinued the development of the Prattsburgh I project….
Legal Proceedings
The Company is involved from time to time in litigation and disputes arising in the normal course of business, including proceedings contesting our permits or the operation of our projects. Management does not believe the following proceedings will, if determined adversely, have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations and liquidity of the Company:
On July 15, 2008, the Company was served with a civil subpoena by the New York State Attorney General relating to an investigation into its activities in the State of New York. In response to the subpoena, First Wind produced documents and information relating principally to the New York State Attorney General’s investigation into: (i) whether the Company improperly sought or obtained land-use agreements with citizens and public officials, (ii) whether improper benefits were given to public officials to influence their actions and (iii) whether the Company and its competitors entered into anti-competitive agreements or practices. The Company cooperated fully with the requests of the New York State Attorney General, with the assistance of outside counsel. Outside counsel also conducted its own internal investigation on behalf of the Company. On October 29, 2008, the Company voluntarily agreed to implement a Code of Conduct, created by the New York State Attorney General to govern the Company’s future conduct in connection with wind energy project development in New York State. The Company entered into a subsequent version of the New York code in October 2009. The Company has been advised by the New York State Attorney General’s office that it is not currently under investigation….
Source: First Wind SEC filing. See also “Wind-Power Developer First Wind To Price IPO In April” from Dow Jones (3/31)
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