Exhibit 10.3
AMENDED AND RESTATED SITE LEASE
AND LANDFILL GAS DELIVERY AGREEMENT
This AMENDED AND RESTATED SITE LEASE AND
LANDFILL GAS DELIVERY AGREEMENT is made this 17th day of
November 2008, and is by and between RHODE ISLAND RESOURCE
RECOVERY CORPORATION (“ RIRRC ”), a Rhode
Island public corporation, and RHODE ISLAND LFG GENCO, LLC
(“ RILG ”), a Delaware limited liability
company. RIRRC and RILG may be referred to herein
individually as a “Party” or collectively as the
“Parties.”
RECITALS
WHEREAS , RIRRC is the owner of a certain landfill,
commonly referred to as the “Central Landfill,” located
in the Town of Johnston, County of Providence, State of Rhode
Island (the “ Landfill ”);
WHEREAS , the current configuration of the Landfill and
Gas Collection Systems, as herein defined, constructed at the
Landfill are depicted on the Existing Site Plan, attached hereto as
Exhibit A ;
WHEREAS , the Existing Site Plan shows the general
configuration and layout of two electric generating facilities, one
of which consists of the Existing Plant A and the other of which
consists of Plant B, both of which are identified on Exhibit
A hereto;
WHEREAS , the Existing Site Plan shows the general
configuration and layout of the RIRRC Gas Collection System on
Exhibit A ;
WHEREAS , pursuant to a certain Landfill Gas Lease
Agreement, dated May 1, 1987 (the “ 1987 Lease
Agreement ”), a predecessor of RIRRC granted to Ridgewood
Providence Partners, L.P. (“ Ridgewood Providence
Power ”), an affiliate of Ridgewood Rhode Island
Generation, LLC (“ Ridgewood Generation ”) and
RILG, the right to construct and operate a landfill gas-fired
electric generating facility at the Landfill and certain rights
with respect to the Landfill Gas produced at the
Landfill;
WHEREAS , pursuant to the Termination and Assignment
Agreement dated December 20, 2007 among CGLP, LKD, Ridgewood
Providence Power, Ridgewood Gas Services LLC (“ RGS
”) and Rhode Island Gas Management LLC, RGS acquired the LKD
Gas Collection System from LKD, as identified on Exhibit
A , effective as of December 31, 2007, which acquisition
resulted in a termination of LKD’s and CGLP’s rights
and interests with respect to the Landfill and any Landfill
Gas;
WHEREAS , RIRRC and RGS are entering into the Purchase
and Sale Agreement of even date herewith under which RGS may
purchase the RIRRC Gas Collection System;
WHEREAS , Ridgewood Generation and RIRRC entered into a
certain Site Lease and Landfill Gas Delivery Agreement, dated
August 1, 2003 (the “ 2003 Site Lease and Landfill Gas
Delivery Agreement ”), pursuant to which RIRRC granted
Ridgewood Generation certain rights to real property and Landfill
Gas at the Landfill in order to construct, develop and operate
additional landfill gas-fired electric generation facilities at the
Landfill;
WHEREAS , RIRRC has proposed the construction of a Phase
VI expansion to the east of the existing Landfill;
WHEREAS , the Rhode Island State Planning
Council’s Rhode Island Comprehensive Waste Management Plan
dated April 2007 approves of RIRRC’s proposal to construct a
Phase VI expansion to the east of the existing Landfill;
WHEREAS , Existing Plant A is situated immediately
adjacent to the eastern slope of the existing Landfill;
WHEREAS , pursuant to Rhode Island General Law Section
23-19-10.2 RIRRC “shall have the right to acquire any land,
or any interest therein, by the exercise of the power of eminent
domain, whenever it shall be determined by the corporation that the
acquisition of the land, or interest, is necessary for the
construction or the operation of any solid waste management
facility”;
WHEREAS , RILG wishes to induce RIRRC not to attempt to
exercise its power of eminent domain with regard to the RILG
Facilities or any other assets of RILG;
WHEREAS , RIRRC and RILG now desire to enter into this
Amended and Restated Site Lease and Landfill Gas Delivery Agreement
in order to amend and restate, as of the Effective Date, all rights
given by RIRRC to Ridgewood Providence Power and Ridgewood
Generation to construct, operate and maintain landfill gas-fired
electric generating facilities at the Landfill as well as rights
with respect to the Landfill Gas produced at the Landfill, all as
described herein;
WHEREAS , RILG, individually or through one or more
Affiliates, presently intends to undertake: the development of
Plant C; the Decommissioning of Existing Plant A; and the removal
of the two Deutz engines, together with their associated equipment
that comprise a portion of Plant B, from their present location
adjacent to Existing Plant A;
NOW THEREFORE , the Parties agree to restate the 1987 Lease
Agreement and the 2003 Site Lease and Landfill Gas Delivery
Agreement in their entirety, to read as follows:
1.1
Attachments . All exhibits, attachments
and appendices to this Agreement are hereby deemed to be attached
hereto and made a part hereof.
1.2
Definitions . Capitalized terms not
otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to them in the
Schedule of Definitions attached hereto.
ARTICLE II: LEASEHOLD
INTEREST
2.1
Rights Granted and Obligations Assumed .
(a) Subject
to the terms of this Agreement, RIRRC hereby conveys to RILG, and
RILG hereby accepts from RIRRC, the following:
(i) the
sole and exclusive title and right to receive and exploit for its
own benefit all Landfill Gas produced at the Landfill, including
without limitation for the production of electricity and for sales
of such Landfill Gas to third parties;
(ii) sole
and exclusive possession and occupancy of the Sites (subject to
RIRRC’s rights thereto as set forth herein) for the purposes
set forth herein, provided that RILG will agree or cause its
Affiliates to agree to terminate such rights (A) with respect to
the site of the Existing Plant A upon the conveyance of the
Existing Plant A Assets to RIRRC pursuant to Section 5.6 and (B)
with respect to the site(s) of any portions of Plant B that are
relocated to the extent that such site(s) are no longer needed for
the RILG Facilities;
(iii) sole
and exclusive right for it and its Affiliates to utilize the Leased
Premises in such ways as may be related to and necessary,
appropriate or convenient for the construction, possession,
ownership and operation thereon of the RILG Facilities, including
but not limited to the right (A) to bring onto and properly store
on the Leased Premises all equipment, lubricants, solvents and the
like used in any aspect of the operation of the RILG Facilities (B)
to construct, install and maintain on the Leased Premises electric
interconnection and metering equipment, and (C) to perform any act
required by or permitted under any permit, Legal Requirements
and/or Environmental Law relating to the uses of the Leased
Premises contemplated under this Agreement;
(iv) such
non-exclusive licenses, rights of way and other appropriate rights,
for the term of this Agreement only, over, along or across lands of
RIRRC at the Landfill and the Industrial Park as RILG and its
Affiliates may reasonably require in such locations as may be
mutually agreed to between RILG and RIRRC such that RILG, its
Affiliates and their employees, representatives, agents,
contractors and subcontractors may perform any activity at the
Leased Premises permitted hereunder or exercise any right granted
hereunder, including, without limitation, (A) a non-exclusive right
of way over lands of RIRRC in locations as may be reasonably
acceptable to RIRRC for ingress and egress to the Leased Premises
for construction, operation, maintenance and Decommissioning of the
RILG Facilities and any mutually agreeable improvements or
additions to the Gas Collection System, including a staging area
during such construction and Decommissioning, (B) such easements,
if any, as may be required by utility providers to RILG and its
Affiliates at the Leased Premises for electricity interconnection
and metering and other utilities in such locations as shall be
reasonably acceptable to RIRRC; and provided further , that
the Parties shall agree upon those portions of the Landfill and the
Industrial Park to be used for any such licenses and rights of way
and, upon such agreement, the Parties shall execute an amendment or
supplement to this Agreement containing appropriate and legally
sufficient descriptions (which may include maps or other exhibits
if so required by RIRRC or RILG) of such rights of way, which
descriptions shall be added to this Agreement as Exhibit
C ;
(v) the
right to conduct all activities at the Leased Premises (and, for
the limited purposes specifically set forth in this Agreement, the
Landfill and the Industrial Park) specifically permitted by this
Agreement;
(vi) the
right to reasonable use of the Landfill, the Condensate Control,
Treatment and Disposal System and the Leachate Control, Treatment
and Disposal System, without additional compensation, to dispose of
all materials generated by RILG and its Affiliates upstream of the
Demarcation Point, and non-Hazardous Materials generated by RILG
and its Affiliates downstream of the Demarcation Point, as a result
of the activities contemplated by this Agreement, subject to all
applicable Legal Requirements and reasonable Landfill rules
promulgated by RIRRC, provided, further, that secondary condensate
generated by RILG downstream of the Demarcation Point and disposed
of in the LCS shall meet the same pretreatment permit limits for
transfers to Publicly Owned Treatment Works, as amended, from time
to time that are applicable to RIRRC. RIRRC will
construct, operate and maintain the Leachate Control, Treatment,
and Disposal System, the Condensate Control, Treatment and Disposal
System and the Landfill at RIRRC’s sole cost so that they are
capable of receiving such materials reasonably generated by RILG
and its Affiliates, as described on Exhibit D
;
(vii) in
the event of termination of this Agreement or the cessation of
development or production of any Landfill Gas, the right to enter
onto the Leased Premises, at RILG’s sole cost, risk and
responsibility, for the limited purpose of dismantling and removing
all machinery, equipment, rigs and improvements belonging to or
furnished by RILG or any Affiliates of RILG, provided that
such removal shall be completed within one year after the
termination of this Agreement and that RILG shall restore the
Leased Premises to approximately level grade and remove hazardous
conditions on or about the Leased Premises created by or resulting
from the removal of such machinery, equipment, rigs, wells and
improvements.
(b) If
during the term of this Agreement, RILG determines that any portion
of the Site or Sites have become unsuitable for the effective
operation of the RILG Facilities, then at the request of RILG an
alternative site of similar size may be mutually selected by RILG
and RIRRC to replace the original Site or Sites, which alternate
site will then become such Site or Sites for purposes of this
Agreement. RILG shall pay all costs and expenses related
to such relocation of the Site or Sites, unless such relocation is
caused by either (i) RIRRC’s operations at the Landfill
causing the previous Site or Sites to be unsuitable; or (ii) RIRRC
requesting RILG to relocate because of RIRRC’s landfill
operational needs. In the event of either (i) or (ii),
RIRRC shall pay all costs and expenses reasonably related to such
Site relocation. As used in this Section 2.1(b), the
determination that any portion of the Site or Sites is
“unsuitable” must be supported by the report of a
recognized independent consultant, the selection and cost of which
are to be the sole responsibility of RILG.
(c) All
activities conducted by RILG, its Affiliates and their employees,
representatives, agents, contractors and subcontractors at the
Landfill or on the Leased Premises shall be (i) at RILG’s and
its Affiliates’ sole risk and responsibility, (ii) conducted
in a manner that does not unreasonably interfere in any respect
with RIRRC’s operation of the Landfill, and (iii) conducted
in compliance with all applicable Legal Requirements, including
requirements of any governmental permits and approvals relating to
the Leased Premises, the Landfill or the RILG
Facilities.
(d) The
parties acknowledge that RGS will have responsibility for conveying
any Landfill Gas (other than so-called fugitive gas at levels not
to exceed industry standards and otherwise in compliance with all
Environmental Laws) from inside the toe of slope of the Landfill to
the Demarcation Point (although RGS will not at any time hold title
to such Landfill Gas). RILG shall be responsible for
accepting delivery of the Landfill Gas (other than such fugitive
gas) at the Demarcation Point, causing such Landfill Gas to be
treated to remove sulfur therefrom, and conveying the treated
Landfill Gas either to the RILG Facilities for use as a fuel or,
subject to Section 6.4, to the flares for its
destruction. In addition, RILG shall be responsible for
the collection, treatment and disposal of secondary condensate
generated downstream of the Demarcation Point. Until the
Commercial Operation Date, RIRRC shall pay RILG for all costs RILG
incurs in performing its obligations under this Section 2.1(d), on
a monthly basis based on invoices provided to RIRRC by
RILG. Commencing on the Commercial Operation Date,
RILG shall be responsible for all costs incurred by it in
performing its obligations under this Section
2.1(d). Notwithstanding the prior sentence, (i) the
costs of the sulfur removal system shall be allocated between RILG
and RIRRC as set forth in Section 6.5 of this Agreement and (ii)
RILG shall be responsible for the costs of the interim gas
management plan referred to in Section 2.16 of the Services
Agreement.
2.2
Recording . Promptly after the execution
of this Agreement, RIRRC and RILG shall execute an appropriate
memorandum of lease and RILG may thereafter record such memorandum
of lease in the appropriate Registry of Deeds for the Town of
Johnston, Rhode Island. In addition, any subsequent
amendments or supplements to this Agreement regarding the
description of rights of way or of the Leased Premises shall be
memorialized in an Amended Memorandum of Lease and likewise
recorded, including an amendment to amend the Leased Premises to
remove the sites of Existing Plant A and portions of Plant B to the
extent contemplated by Section 2.1(a)(ii) and to add the
descriptions contemplated by Section 2.1(a)(iv).
ARTICLE III: PAYMENT AND
ADMINISTRATION
(a)
Payments to RIRRC until the Commercial Operation Date
. Up until the Commercial Operation Date, RILG shall, or
shall cause its Affiliates to, make payments to RIRRC in accordance
with the terms of the 1987 Lease Agreement and the 2003 Site Lease
and Landfill Gas Delivery Agreement (collectively, the
“Pre-Commercial Operation Date Royalty
Payment”).
(b)
Payments to RIRRC after the Commercial Operation Date
. Beginning with the Commercial Operation Date, RILG
shall, or shall cause its Affiliates to, make monthly payments to
RIRRC equal to fifteen percent (15%) of the Net Revenues generated
and received by RILG and its Affiliates from the use or sale of
Landfill Gas or Landfill Gas Products subject to the
following adjustments (as so adjusted, “ Post-Commercial
Operation Date Royalty Payment ”):
(1) Net
Revenues shall be reduced, but not to less than $0, by:
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Any charges
imposed by the purchaser(s) of such Landfill Gas Products or
charges to deliver Landfill Gas Products to such purchaser(s);
and
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An amount equal
to (v) the number of hours in such month multiplied by (w) 12
megawatts multiplied by (x) Net Revenues for such month divided by
(y) the total number of megawatt-hours of electricity produced
using the Landfill Gas sold by RILG or an Affiliate of RILG in such
month multiplied by (z) the applicable “Reduction of Royalty
Payment” percentage set forth in the following table and as
illustrated on Exhibit G :
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Commercial Operation
Year
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Reduction of
Royalty Payment
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1
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100%
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2
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100%
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3
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100%
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4
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100%
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5
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100%
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6
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80%
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7
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60%
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8
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40%
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9
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20%
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10 and Thereafter
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0%
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Provided that
the Post-Commercial Operation Date Royalty Payment due from RILG in
any month has not been entirely offset by the credit set forth in
paragraph (1) above, then after taking into account the reductions
in Net Revenues in paragraph (1), Post-Commercial Operation Date
Royalty Payments will be further reduced on a dollar-for-dollar
basis, up to a maximum of $416,667, in any month, escalated
annually beginning on the first anniversary of the Effective Date
at CPI. If in any month, the Post-Commercial Operation
Date Royalty Payments (after taking the credit set forth in
paragraph (1) above into account) are less than $416,667 adjusted
at CPI for such month, RILG may carry over the remaining credit due
under this paragraph, together with any other credit carried over
from prior months, until such month or months when, after the
application of the regular monthly credit provided for in this
paragraph, the remaining Post-Commercial Operation Date Royalty
Payments are sufficient to permit the use of additional accumulated
monthly credits under this paragraph, with any accrued and
unapplied credits continuing to be carried over to subsequent
months. Additionally, should Landfill operations cease
or decline so as to reduce the average monthly Gas Collection
Systems construction costs required to collect the Landfill Gas,
the parties hereto shall negotiate a reduction of the credit set
forth in this paragraph (2) by a proportional amount based upon the
average Gas Collection Systems construction costs incurred over the
previous three (3) years compared to the FY 2008 budget (as
adjusted at CPI) for such construction costs.
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(c)
Payments to RILG . In the event that
(i) RIRRC enters into a relationship, directly or indirectly, with
a waste to energy company with respect to the utilization or
diversion of waste and (ii) the quantity of waste deposited in the
Landfill is less than the total tonnage shown in Exhibit
E using the low side estimate and (iii) Landfill Gas
generation is insufficient to operate the RILG Facilities at the
capacities forecast by RILG prior to such utilization or diversion,
then RIRRC shall make monthly payments to RILG in an amount
necessary to hold RILG harmless from any reduction in revenues,
subject to a reduction for RILG’s avoided cost of operation,
as agreed by the Parties; provided that the payments made by RIRRC
under this Section 3.1(c) shall not exceed $8,500,000 in any
calendar year. This concurrence, which applies to the
period commencing with the Commercial Operation Date through 2025,
shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed.
(d)
Ground Rent to RIRRC . Commencing upon
written notice from RILG to RIRRC that RILG has taken possession of
the Pre-Treatment Site, and continuing for such time as RILG has
possession of the Pre-Treatment Site, RILG shall pay monthly ground
rent to RIRRC in the amount of $3,400. Beginning in
2010, the amount of ground rent payable under this Section 3.1(d)
shall be escalated at CPI annually on the anniversary of the
Effective Date.
3.2
Statement and Payments .
(a) On or before the twenty-fifth
(25th) day of each month, RILG shall furnish to RIRRC a statement
and payment of the Royalty Payment for the prior
month. Such statement shall provide, in reasonable
detail, the methodology used by RILG to calculate the Royalty
Payment (including any set-offs thereto) for such month.
(b) Any amounts not paid by RILG by
the due date will accrue interest at the Interest Rate, such
interest to be calculated from and including the due date to, but
excluding, the date the delinquent amount is paid.
3.3
Estimated Statement . If all information
required for statement purposes for any month is not available in
time for RILG to prepare the statement required under Section
3.2(a), RILG shall prepare a good faith estimated statement and pay
RIRRC based upon such estimated statement of the Royalty
Payment. RILG shall, as soon as practicable thereafter,
submit the actual statement required under Section
3.2(a). Any overpayment by RILG pursuant to such
estimated statement shall be credited, without interest, against
RILG’s payment obligations for the next month, and any
underpayment shall be included, without interest, with the actual
statement.
3.4
Disputes and Adjustments . A Party may, in
good faith, dispute the correctness of any statement or any
adjustment thereto rendered under this Agreement or adjust any
statement for any arithmetic or computational error within sixty
(60) days of the date the statement, or adjustment, was
rendered. If a statement or portion thereof, or any
other claim or adjustment arising hereunder, is disputed, payment
of the undisputed portion of the statement shall be required to be
made when due, with notice of the objection given to the other
Party. Any dispute or adjustment shall be made in
writing and shall state the basis for the dispute or
adjustment. Payment of the disputed amount shall not be
required until the dispute is resolved pursuant to Section 17.6 of
this Agreement. Upon resolution of the dispute, any
required payment by a Party resulting from such resolution shall be
made within five (5) Business Days of such resolution along with
interest accrued at the Interest Rate from and including the due
date to but excluding the date paid. Any dispute with
respect to a statement is waived unless the other Party is notified
in accordance with this Section 3.4 within sixty (60) days after
the statement is rendered or any specific adjustment to the
statement is made.
3.5
Audit and Annual Report . Each Party (and
its representatives) shall have the right, at its sole expense and
during normal working hours, to examine the records of the other
Party relating to this Agreement but only to the extent reasonably
necessary to verify the accuracy of any statement, charge or
computation made pursuant to this Agreement. If any such
examination reveals any inaccuracy in any statement and such
inaccuracy is discovered less than sixty (60) days from the date
the statement was rendered, the necessary adjustments in such
statement and the payments thereof will be promptly made, without
interest. This Section 3.5 will survive any termination
of this Agreement for a period of sixty (60) days from the date of
such termination for the purpose of such statement and payment
objections. During the term hereof, RILG shall provide
to RIRRC annually RILG’s regularly prepared financial
statements. If such financial statements are not
independently audited, such financials shall be certified by
RILG’s Chief Financial Officer.
ARTICLE
IV: TERM AND TERMINATION
4.1
Term and Termination .
(a) This
Agreement (and the interests and other rights granted herein) shall
become effective as of the Effective Date and, unless terminated
earlier pursuant to any applicable provision hereof, shall remain
in full force and effect so long as RILG or any Affiliate of RILG
is generating or capable of generating electric energy from the
Landfill Gas on an economic basis or otherwise making economic use
of the Landfill Gas Products, including, without limitation, sales
to third parties.
(b) RILG
may terminate this Agreement upon one year prior written notice if
it determines in its sole discretion that it or its Affiliate is no
longer capable of generating electric energy from the Landfill Gas
on an economic basis or otherwise making economic use of the
Landfill Gas Products.
(c) Within
six months of receipt of the written notice above, RIRRC shall
provide RILG with a written list of which portions of the RILG
Facilities are reasonably required for the collection, treatment
and flaring of Landfill Gas and RILG shall promptly quitclaim such
portion of the RILG Facilities to RIRRC for one
dollar. To the extent that RILG fails to Decommission
and remove the remaining portions of the RILG Facilities, with the
exception of Existing Plant A, at its own expense within one year
after such termination, title to such RILG Facilities will revert
to RIRRC.
ARTICLE
V: ELECTRIC GENERATION
DEVELOPMENT
5.1
Development and Relocation of Electric Generation
.
(a) RILG
shall use commercially reasonable efforts to, or to cause an
Affiliate to, design, develop, construct, install, operate and
maintain on the Sites the RILG Facilities, as follows:
(i) RILG
plans to develop or cause the development of Plant C, as described
further on Exhibit B to the Schedule of Definitions, on the Sites
identified on Exhibit A hereto, at RILG’s sole
cost and expense.
(ii) RILG
plans to relocate or cause the relocation of all or a portion of
Plant B to the Site identified on Exhibit A
hereto. The cost of such relocation shall be shared
equally by RIRRC and RILG; provided that RIRRC’s financial
obligation shall be limited to a maximum of
$250,000. RILG and RIRRC shall each fund one-half of all
deposits, invoices and other expense items as such payments are
required to effect such relocation (subject to the maximum amount
of RIRRC’s obligations described above).
(b) Subject
to Sections 4.1(c) and Section 5.6, (i) all development of electric
generation by RILG and its Affiliates, and the Decommissioning of
Existing Plant A, shall be at the sole discretion of RILG, and (ii)
all of the RILG Facilities and all other assets of RILG shall at
all times remain the property of RILG and its Affiliates
notwithstanding the mode or method of installation or attachment on
the Landfill.
(a) RIRRC
shall cooperate in good faith with RILG, in order (i) to facilitate
the planning, permitting and development of Landfill Gas and
electricity interconnections, utilities and other site preparation
at the Sites as may be necessary and appropriate for the
construction, relocation, operation and maintenance of the RILG
Facilities, and (ii) to otherwise expedite the completion of the
items set forth in Section 5.1, including without limitation with
respect to applying for and receiving all necessary
Approvals. RILG shall update and provide progress
reports to RIRRC and, upon the reasonable request of RIRRC, shall
provide copies of all Approvals and agreements obtained by RILG and
its Affiliates, absent any confidentiality requirements.
(b) Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Parties acknowledge
that RIRRC can affect the quality and quantity of the Landfill Gas
that is conveyed to RILG, and RIRRC and RILG will reasonably
cooperate in the operation of the Landfill to optimize the Landfill
Gas production for RILG’s purposes. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, RIRRC will utilize best
management practices to limit the deposit or disposal of
construction and demolition waste containing sulfur in the
Landfill.
5.3
Testing and Evaluation . RILG may
conduct such tests, assessments and evaluations as it reasonably
deems necessary to determine whether Landfill Gas and/or Landfill
Gas Products can be collected by the Gas Collection Systems in
quantities sufficient to support the RILG Facilities. A
copy of any such test, assessment or evaluation shall be provided
to RIRRC.
5.4
Condensate and Leachate Control, Treatment and Disposal
Systems . Subject to Section 2.1(a)(vi), RILG
shall be responsible for the collection, treatment to the
pretreatment permit limits for transfers to Publicly Owned
Treatment Works, as amended from time to time, that are applicable
to RIRRC, and disposal of all water vapor and secondary condensate
collected, removed or produced by the RILG Facilities (but not
leachate or condensate produced or removed from any other
facilities on the Landfill) downstream of the Demarcation
Point.
5.5
Public Utility Status
. RILG and its Affiliates shall have no obligation to
operate any of the RILG Facilities at any time. RILG and
its Affiliates are not public utilities and do not intend to
dedicate their assets to public service, as those terms are defined
under applicable Legal Requirements, and RILG and its Affiliates
may suspend or cease operations if continued operation would
subject them to regulation as a public utility in the State of
Rhode Island or in any other jurisdiction.
5.6
Acquisition of Existing Plant A Assets
.
(a) Except
as extended in writing by RIRRC, upon the first to occur of (i) the
Commercial Operation Date, or (ii) the Decommissioning Date, time
being of the essence and bargained for in this regard, RILG will,
or will cause its Affiliate to, have Decommissioned Existing Plant
A and, will, or will cause its Affiliate to, convey the
Decommissioned Existing Plant A, together with lease and other real
estate rights solely with respect to Existing Plant A
(collectively, the “ Existing Plant A Assets ”),
to RIRRC without any additional consideration. Upon such
conveyance, RIRRC will be solely responsible for the dismantling
and removal of Existing Plant A at its sole expense,
provided that RIRRC may retain any remaining salvage value
associated with the Existing Plant A
Assets. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, RILG
will retain all right, title and interest in and to the Landfill
Gas, including without limitation, the continuing right to develop
a project or projects that would utilize such Landfill Gas, as well
as all of its other rights, title and interests under this
Agreement.
(b) In
the event that RIRRC determines to obtain the Existing Plant A
Assets prior to the date set therefor in Section 5.6(a), RIRRC may
purchase the Existing Plant A Assets at a purchase price equal to
$500,000 for each calendar month or portion of a calendar month
remaining from the date that RIRRC purchases the Existing Plant A
Assets until the Decommissioning Date; provided ,
however , that RIRRC may not purchase the Existing Plant A
Assets pursuant to this Section 5.6(b) prior to January 1,
2010.
(c) The
conveyance of the Existing Plant A Assets pursuant to this Section
5.6 will be effected with documentation providing for a quitclaim
transfer of the Existing Plant A Assets that shall be reasonably
acceptable to RILG and RIRRC.
(d) In
consideration for the right to acquire the Existing Plant A Assets
under this Section 5.6, RIRRC waives, and agrees that it will not
exercise, any right to acquire the RILG Facilities or any other
assets of RILG by eminent domain or other statutory or common law
right that it may otherwise have to acquire the RILG Facilities or
any other assets of RILG or its Affiliates.
ARTICLE VI: USE, IMPROVEMENTS
AND MAINTENANCE
6.1
Use of Leased Premises .
(a) RILG
and its Affiliates exclusively (except as otherwise provided in
this Agreement to the contrary) shall be permitted to use the
Leased Premises and certain appropriate adjacent or contiguous land
owned or controlled by, and reasonably acceptable to, RIRRC without
cost except as otherwise provided herein, to the extent reasonably
necessary for RILG’s and its Affiliates’ facilities and
operations hereunder, including the construction and maintenance of
utility lines and the non-exclusive right of ingress and egress at
all times to and from the Leased Premises by way of such adjacent
or contiguous land, provided, however , that RILG and its
Affiliates shall not unreasonably interfere with RIRRC’s
landfilling activities at, or access to or from, the
Landfill. RIRRC shall not grant to any other third party
any rights to or interest in the Leased Premises except as
otherwise permitted in this Agreement.
(b) RIRRC
reserves a right of reasonable access to the Leased
Premises. RIRRC shall exercise such right of access in a
manner that does not unreasonably interfere with RILG’s
rights hereunder, unless RIRRC’s purpose is to exercise its
rights and remedies under this Agreement following a default by
RILG under, or a termination of, this Agreement. Except
in the case of emergencies where prior notice shall not be
required, such right of access shall be exercised by advanced
written notice to RILG in a timely manner appropriate under the
circumstances. RIRRC also reserves the right to grant to
third parties easements or other access rights to the Leased
Premises as deemed necessary or appropriate by RIRRC for its use
and operation of the Landfill and to comply with applicable Legal
Requirements, such third parties to include, but not be limited to,
any Governmental Body, utility providers, electricity or other
power generators or providers and RIRRC contractors, provided,
however, that such easements or access rights do not
unreasonably interfere with RILG’s and its Affiliates’
use of the Leased Premises.
6.2
Gas Collection Systems . The Parties
acknowledge that RIRRC and RGS are entering into the Purchase and
Sale Agreement which provides for the possible conveyance of the
RIRRC Gas Collection System and the Condensate Control, Treatment
and Disposal System to RGS and into the Services Agreement which
provides for RGS to perform RIRRC’s obligations with respect
to the construction, expansion, operation and maintenance of the
Gas Collection Systems and the operation and maintenance of the
Condensate Control, Treatment and Disposal System. To
the extent that RIRRC is the owner of all or any portion of the Gas
Collection System, RIRRC will cooperate in such manner as RILG may
reasonably request (at RILG’s expense) to ensure the
efficient collection and delivery of Landfill Gas to the RILG
Facilities. Nothing set forth in this Agreement shall be
deemed to limit the rights, obligations and liabilities of RILG,
RIRRC and RGS under such agreements.
6.3
Leachate Control, Treatment and Disposal System
. RIRRC shall be responsible, at its sole cost and
expense, for the construction, expansion, operation and maintenance
of the Leachate Control, Treatment and Disposal System in
accordance with Good Engineering Practice, in compliance with all
Approvals, planning documents and other Legal Requirements that are
from time to time applicable to the Leachate Control, Treatment and
Disposal System, and as necessary to meet the reasonable needs of
the RILG Facilities and the Gas Collection Systems as described on
Exhibit D .
6.4
Gas Flares . In the event
additional ultra low emissions flares are required by applicable
Legal Requirements, RIRRC and RILG each shall be responsible for
fifty percent (50%) of the cost of acquiring and installing such
flares. If additional so-called candlestick or enclosed
flares are required by applicable Legal Requirements, then RIRRC
shall be responsible for one hundred percent (100%) of the cost of
acquiring and installing such flares. The costs
associated with all required NOx credits for flare emissions shall
be borne by RILG.
6.5
Sulfur Treatment . RILG shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to design, develop, construct,
operate and maintain a sulfur treatment system to reduce the levels
of sulfur in the Landfill Gas to a level that is acceptable under
Good Engineering Practice and applicable Legal
Requirements. RIRRC shall participate in the design of
such system and the final design shall be subject to RIRRC’s
consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld. RILG and RIRRC shall each provide fifty
percent (50%) of the costs of the design, development and
construction of that sulfur treatment system, as and when incurred.
Once the sulfur treatment system is placed in operation, RIRRC
shall reimburse RILG for fifty percent (50%) of RILG’s
out-of-pocket costs in operating and maintaining such sulfur
treatment system, which amounts shall be billed to RIRRC and paid
to RILG on a monthly basis and, at RILG’s election, may be
set off by RILG against amounts RILG owes to RILG owes to
RIRRC. Each invoice provided to RIRRC under this Section
6.5 shall be accompanied by written evidence that RILG incurred the
invoiced costs, which evidence must be reasonably acceptable to
RIRRC.
6.6
Liens Arising Through RILG . RILG
shall not, without the prior written consent of RIRRC: (i) create,
allow, or suffer the creation or continued existence of, any Lien
based upon the action or inaction of RILG, other than a Permitted
Lien, on all or any portion of the Leased Premises, the Gas
Collection Systems, the Leachate Control, Treatment and Disposal
System, the Condensate Control, Treatment and Disposal System, or
the Landfill or any interest in or portion of any of the same, or
(ii) take or fail to take any action that would otherwise impair or
diminish RIRRC’s title (if any) to the Leased Premises
(subject to RILG’s rights thereto), the Gas Collection
Systems, the Leachate Control, Treatment and Disposal System, the
Condensate Control, Treatment and Disposal System, or the Landfill,
or any portion thereof. In the event any Lien (other
than a Permitted Lien) shall be filed against the Leased Premises,
the Gas Collection Systems, the Leachate Control, Treatment and
Disposal System, the Condensate Control, Treatment and Disposal
System, or the Landfill based upon any action or inaction of RILG,
its Affiliates or their directors, officers, employees, agents,
contractors, invitees, representatives, Affiliates, successors or
assigns without the prior written consent of RIRRC, RILG shall
promptly take such action by bonding, deposit or payment as will
remove or satisfy such Lien; provided, however , that RILG
may contest in good faith the validity or amount of any such Lien,
and, pending the determination of such contest, postpone the
removal or satisfaction thereof, except that RILG shall not
postpone such removal or satisfaction so long as to permit or cause
any loss of title to all or any part of the Leased Premises, the
Gas Collection Systems, the Leachate Control, Treatment and
Disposal System, the Condensate Control, Treatment and Disposal
System, or the Landfill.
6.7
Liens Arising Through RIRRC .
(a)
RIRRC shall not, without the prior written consent of RILG:
(i) create, allow, or suffer the creation or continued existence
of, any Lien based upon the action or inaction of RIRRC (other than
a Permitted Lien) on all or any portion of the RILG Facilities or
the Landfill Gas or any interest in or portion of any of the same,
or (b) take or fail to take any action that would otherwise impair
or diminish RILG’s title (if any) to the RILG Facilities or
the Landfill Gas, or any portion thereof. In the event
any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) shall be filed against the
RILG Facilities or the Landfill Gas based upon any action or
inaction of RIRRC, its directors, officers, employees, agents,
contractors, invitees, representatives, Affiliates, successors or
assigns, RIRRC shall promptly take such action by bonding, deposit
or payment as will remove or satisfy such Lien; provided,
however , that RIRRC may contest in good faith the validity or
amount of any such Lien, and, pending the determination of such
contest, postpone the removal or satisfaction thereof, except that
RIRRC shall not postpone such removal or satisfaction so long as to
permit or cause any loss of title to all or any part of the RILG
Facilities or the Landfill Gas.
(b)
In the event any Lien, other than a Permitted Lien, has been
or shall be filed against the Leased Premises or the Landfill
(including Liens against rights to Landfill Gas before its sale to
RILG) that is not expressly subject and subordinate to the rights
granted RILG under this Agreement, based upon any action or
inaction of RIRRC, RIRRC shall promptly take such action by
bonding, deposit or payment as will subordinate, remove or satisfy
the Lien; provided, however , that RIRRC may contest in good
faith the validity or amount of any such Lien, and, pending the
determination of such contest, postpone the subordination, removal
or satisfaction thereof, except that RIRRC shall not postpone such
removal or satisfaction so long as to permit or cause any loss of
RILG’s rights in all or any part of the Leased Premises or
the Landfill Gas, or otherwise interfere with RILG’s and its
Affiliates’ quiet enjoyment of the Leased Premises pursuant
to Section 13.6.
(a) Subject
to the provisions of Section 6.6 and the prior written consent of
RIRRC (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or
conditioned), RILG, in its discretion, shall have the right from
time to time to make, or cause to be made, at its sole cost and
expense, repairs, improvements, additions, alterations and changes,
in or to, the Leased Premises, in each case to the extent it deems
necessary or desirable to carry on any activity or use permitted
under this Agreement, provided that any such repairs,
improvements, additions, alterations or changes shall not interfere
with RIRRC’s use of, or access to or from, the Landfill,
except as contemplated under this Agreement, and provided,
further, that all such repairs, improvements, additions,
alterations and changes shall be undertaken and completed in
accordance with all applicable Legal Requirements.
(b) Subject
to the provisions of Section 6.6, RIRRC, in its discretion, shall
have the right from time to time to make, or cause to be made, at
its sole cost and expense, repairs, improvements, additions,
alterations and changes, in or to the Landfill in each case to the
extent it deems necessary or desirable, provided that any
such repairs, improvements, additions, alterations or changes shall
not unreasonably interfere with RILG’s and its
Affiliates’ use of, or access to or from, the Leased Premises
or unreasonably interfere with, restrict, limit, decrease or
otherwise impair the quantity or quality of Landfill Gas collected
by the Gas Collection Systems.
(c)
Notwithstanding the above, RIRRC and RILG agree to cooperate
with RGS to incorporate designs RILG reasonably requests to enhance
the operation of the Gas Collection Systems, the RILG Facilities
and any other uses RILG makes of the Landfill Gas.
(d)
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, all operations of
the collection and treatment of Landfill Gas shall be performed in
accordance with all Environmental Laws.
ARTICLE
VII: ENVIRONMENTAL ATTRIBUTES
7.1
Identification and Commercialization of Environmental
Attributes . RILG shall exercise commercially
reasonable efforts to acquire and sell, or otherwise extract value
from Environmental Attributes. Among other things, RILG
shall, at its sole cost and expense: (1) prepare and file any
document, application, registration or certificate; (2) institute
or prosecute any proceeding, hearing, action or make any claim
before any Governmental Body; (3) negotiate any contract, agreement
or other arrangement, or (4) take any and all other action that
RILG deems necessary or advisable with respect to the
identification, acquisition or sale of any Environmental Attribute,
provided, howeve r that no document shall be filed or action
taken by RILG in the name of RIRRC without RIRRC’s
approval. Nothing herein shall be deemed as an
obligation of RILG to identify or pursue any and all opportunities
with respect to Environmental Attributes. RILG shall
have full and complete discretion to determine which Environmental
Attribute, if any, shall be identified and commercialized and there
shall be no penalty or liability imposed on RILG for its failure,
or unsuccessful attempt, to identify and commercialize any
Environmental Attribute or to receive any particular value for any
Environmental Attribute.
7.2
Cooperation . Notwithstanding anything
contrary contained herein, RIRRC shall cooperate in good faith with
and as requested by RILG with respect to matters undertaken by RILG
pursuant to Section 7.1. Such cooperation shall include,
but not be limited to, RIRRC’s execution of applications,
certificates, filings, agreements and other documents as RILG may
reasonably request, provided, however, that RIRRC has
reviewed and approved any such document and that execution of such
document imposes no material liability upon RIRRC, unless RIRRC
agrees to execute such document notwithstanding such
liability.
7.3
Distribution of Net Revenue .
(a) Until
the Commercial Operation Date, (i) all revenues received by RILG or
RIRRC with respect to Environmental Attributes relating to Existing
Plant A shall be shared between RIRRC and RILG in accordance with
the terms of the Environmental Attribute Agreement dated as of
August 1, 2003 between Ridgewood Providence Power and RIRRC (the
“ RPPP Environmental Attribute Agreement ”) with
RILG having the rights and obligations of Ridgewood Providence
Power under such agreement, and (ii) all revenues received by RILG
or RIRRC with respect to Environmental Attributes relating to Plant
B shall be shared between RIRRC and RILG in accordance with the
terms of the Environmental Attribute Agreement dated as of August
1, 2003 between Ridgewood Generation and RIRRC (the “ RRIG
Environmental Attributes Agreement ”) with RILG having
all of the rights and obligations of Ridgewood Generation under
such agreement.
(b) Beginning
with the Commercial Operation Date, (i) the Existing Environmental
Attribute Agreements shall automatically terminate, and (ii) all
revenues received by RILG or RIRRC from the sale of Environmental
Attributes minus all acquisition or sale costs incurred by RILG
and/or RIRRC shall be included in all other Net Revenues for
purposes of calculating Royalty Payments pursuant to Section
3.1(b), and no additional compensation will be paid for the
Environmental Attributes under this Article VII.
ARTICLE
VIII: FORCE MAJEURE
8.1
Force Majeure . No Party to this Agreement
shall be liable for any failure to perform the terms of this
Agreement (other than a failure to make a payment under this
Agreement) effected by an Event of Force Majeure, whether wholly or
in part, during the occurrence of an Event of Force
Majeure. The affected Party’s performance shall be
immediately excused, but only to the extent and for so long as it
is prevented by such Event of Force Majeure; provided , that
the Party invoking this provision has given notice and reasonably
full particulars of such Event of Force Majeure in writing within a
reasonable time after the occurrence of the event relied on;
provided, further , that the affected Party shall make
commercially reasonable efforts to prevent and to mitigate the
effects of the occurrence of the Event of Force
Majeure. If it is determined that an Event of Force
Majeure has occurred then the affected Party shall be entitled to
suspend its performance under this Article VIII for no more than
twelve months.
ARTICLE
IX: INSURANCE; CASUALTY;
CONDEMNATION
9.1
Insurance Requirements .
(a) RILG
shall carry and maintain insurance in full force and effect
throughout the term of this Agreement, at its sole cost, with
Acceptable Insurance Companies or through self-insurance retentions
(only if RILG demonstrates to the satisfaction of RIRRC the
financial ability to do so) in amounts no less than, and with
deductibles not more than, the liability, insurance coverage set
forth on the attached Exhibit F .
(b) RIRRC
shall carry and maintain insurance throughout the term of this
Agreement, at its sole cost, with Acceptable Insurance Companies or
through self-insurance retentions (only if RIRRC demonstrates to
the satisfaction of RILG the financial ability to do so) and
deductibles in amounts customarily maintained by RIRRC and other
similarly situated waste management systems with respect to works
and projects of like character.
(c) Each
Party shall obtain from its insurers with respect to such
insurance, endorsements (i) naming as additional insured under such
policy the other Party and the other Party’s successors and
assigns (collectively, the “ Additional Insureds
”); (ii) providing full waivers of subrogation against the
Additional Insureds with respect to any liability, property and
workers’ compensation policies ( provided such waivers
do not cause any increase in the applicable premiums payable by the
Party carrying such insurance); (iii) providing that all
self-insured retentions and deductibles and the premium costs of
all such policies shall be for the sole account of the Party
carrying such insurance and to the exclusion of the Additional
Insureds; (iv) providing that such policies are primary as respects
the Additional Insureds, regardless of any “excess” or
“other insurance” clauses therein; and (v) providing
that cancellations of, or material changes to, such policies shall
not become effective until 30 days after notice thereof has been
delivered to the other Party. Each Party shall deliver
to the other Party certificates of insurance evidencing the
coverage and endorsements described in this Section 9.1.
9.2
Casualty . RILG shall give prompt written
notice to RIRRC of any casualty to any RILG Facilities or any part
thereof which causes such facilities to become Damaged
Facilities. In the event of such casualty, all proceeds
of insurance shall be payable either (1) to a Lender financing the
Damaged Facilities or, (2) if there is no Lender financing the
Damaged Facilities or such Lender does not require payment of
insurance proceeds to it, to RILG. Subject to any rights
that a Lender may have with respect to such insurance proceeds,
RILG shall use such proceeds, at RILG’s option, either (i) to
fund reconstruction of the Damaged Facilities, or (2) to construct
Replacement Facilities reasonably acceptable to RIRRC serving the
same function as such Damaged Facilities, or (3) to repay any
outstanding indebtedness of RILG or its Affiliates that is secured
by the Damaged Facilities. If the insurance proceeds are
used to reconstruct the Damaged Facilities, the Damaged Facilities
shall be promptly and diligently restored to at least the
equivalent of their condition immediately prior to the casualty,
and disbursements of such insurance proceeds (and any deficiency)
shall be in accordance with disbursement procedures reasonably
acceptable to RIRRC. If the insurance proceeds (and any
deficiency) are used to construct Replacement Facilities, the
Replacement Facilities shall be promptly and diligently
constructed, and disbursements of such insurance proceeds (and any
deficiency) shall be in accordance with disbursement procedures
reasonably acceptable to RIRRC. Notwithstanding anything
in this Section 9.2 to the contrary, if RILG elects to terminate
the Agreement pursuant to Section 4.1 before reconstruction of the
Damaged Facilities or construction of the Replacement Facilities
has been completed, then, subject to any rights that a Lender may
have with respect to the insurance proceeds, any excess proceeds
shall be delivered to RILG for RILG’s own use, whether or not
related to the Landfill. For purposes of this Section
9.2, “excess proceeds” shall be any insurance proceeds
not required to restore the Damaged Facilities to full operation or
to complete the Replacement Facilities.
9.3
Condemnation . Except with respect to a
condemnation proceeding instituted by, or for the benefit of,
RIRRC, if, at any time during the Term of this Agreement, the
Landfill, the Landfill Gas, the Gas Collection Systems, the
Leachate Control, Treatment and Disposal System, the Condensate
Control, Treatment and Disposal System, or the RILG Facilities, or
any part thereof or interest therein, shall be taken or damaged by
reason of any public improvement or condemnation proceeding, or in
any other manner, or should RILG or RIRRC receive any notice or
other information regarding such proceeding, the Party receiving
such notice or other information shall give prompt written notice
thereof to the other Party. Subject to any rights that a
Lender may have with respect to any resulting Condemnation
Proceeds, each of RILG and RIRRC shall be entitled to all
Condemnation Proceeds relating to property owned by it, and shall
be entitled at its option to commence, appear in and prosecute in
its own name any action or proceedings. In the event any
portion of the Landfill, the Landfill Gas, the Gas Collection
Systems, the Leachate Control, Treatment and Disposal System, the
Condensate Control, Treatment and Disposal System, or the RILG
Facilities is so taken or damaged, the Condemnation Proceeds shall
be used to the extent required to repair any damage to such
facilities caused by the condemnation, upon the conditions set
forth in Section 9.2 above relating to insurance
proceeds.
ARTICLE
X: DEFAULT
10.1
Events of Default . An “ Event of
Default ” shall mean the occurrence of any one or more of
the following events set forth below in this Section:
(a) any
failure by either Party to pay any undisputed amount due under this
Agreement when due and such failure is not remedied within ten (10)
Business Days (or such longer period provided for in this
Agreement) after written notice of such failure is given to such
Party by the other Party; or
(b) any
representation or warranty made by either Party in this Agreement
shall prove to have been false or misleading in any material
respect when made, and such false or misleading representation has
a Material Adverse Effect on the other Party or the other
Party’s rights under this Agreement; provided that
such a misrepresentation may be cured if such representation or
warranty is made true within thirty (30) days after the Party
making such representation or warranty first became aware that it
was false, incorrect or breached in any material respect and (ii)
such cure removes any Material Adverse Effect on the other Party or
the other Party’s rights under this Agreement of such fact,
circumstance or condition being otherwise than as first
represented; or
(c) any
failure by either Party to perform any material covenant set forth
in this Agreement which is not excused by Force Majeure which is
not cured within thirty (30) days after written notice thereof is
given to such Party by the other Party (or within such longer
period of time, not to exceed three (3) months, as is necessary for
such Party with the exercise of diligence to cure such failure, if
such failure is susceptible to cure but cannot be cured with the
exercise of diligence within such 30-day period, and if such Party
commences within such 30-day period and thereafter diligently and
in good faith prosecutes the curing of such failure); or
(d) any
failure by either Party (“ Cited Party ”), to
cure or contest any citation or complaint which may be made by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“ EPA ”)
or Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (“
DEM ”) against the Cited Party or failure to satisfy a
final judgment or comply with a final order issued on any citation
or complaint issued by EPA or DEM, in each case arising out of the
Cited Party’s operations on the Landfill; or
(e) either
Party (i) becoming insolvent or making an assignment for the
benefit of creditors or admitting in writing its inability to pay
its debts as they become due; (ii) generally not paying its debts
as they become due; (iii) having a receiver, trustee or custodian
appointed for, or taking possession of, all or substantially all of
the assets of such Party, either in a proceeding brought by such
Party or in a proceeding brought against such Party and such
appointment is not discharged or such possession is not terminated
within 90 days after the effective date thereof or such Party
consents to or acquiesces in such appointment or possession; or
(iv) filing a petition for relief under the United States
Bankruptcy Code or any other present or future federal or state
insolvency, bankruptcy or similar law (collectively, the “
Applicable Bankruptcy Law ”) or an involuntary
petition for relief is filed against such Party under any
Applicable Bankruptcy Law and such involuntary petition is not
dismissed within 90 days after the filing thereof or an order for
relief naming such Party is entered under any Applicable Bankruptcy
Law or any composition, rearrangement, extension, reorganization or
other relief of debtors now or hereafter existing is requested or
consented to by such Party.
10.2
Remedies Upon an Event of Default . If an
Event of Default occurs during the term of this Agreement, the
Non-Defaulting Party may, for so long as the Event of Default is
continuing (and so long as it is not the Defaulting Party with
respect to any other Event of Default) terminate this Agreement and
exercise any right it may possess at law or in equity including,
but not limited to, seeking specific performance and/or monetary
damages; provided that (a) RIRRC shall have the right to
terminate this Agreement and utilize for its sole benefit all
Landfill Gas not then otherwise used for energy production by RILG
or its Affiliate only upon the occurrence of an Event of Default by
RILG under Section 10.1(a) (failure to make required payments),
Section 10.1(c) (covenants) or Section 10.1(e) (bankruptcy) and (b)
the occurrence of an Event of Default without a termination of this
Agreement shall not affect either Party’s obligations to
comply with Environmental Law and all Legal Requirements or to pay
the Royalty Payment and any other monetary payments required to be
made hereunder.
10.3
Cure Rights . Without limiting any other
rights of RILG under this Agreement, if RIRRC is the Defaulting
Party under this Agreement, RILG shall have the option to elect to
cure the Event of Default at the expense of RIRRC. RILG
shall deduct such costs to cure from amounts due to RIRRC under
Section 3.1. RILG shall deliver to RIRRC a written
notice stating that it has elected to exercise such right to cure
and that it will promptly commence to cure or cause to be cured all
such Events of Default and breaches susceptible of being cured by
RILG, and that it will, during the cure period, diligently attempt
in good faith to complete the curing of, to the reasonable
satisfaction of RIRRC, all such Events of
Default. Nothing set forth herein shall be deemed to
create any obligation of RILG to cure any Event of
Default.
ARTICLE
XI: LIMITATION OF REMEDIES AND
LIABILITY
11.1
Limitation of Remedies, Liability and Damages
. NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE LIABLE FOR CONSEQUENTIAL,
INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY OR INDIRECT DAMAGES, LOST REVENUES,
LOST PROFITS OR OTHER BUSINESS INTERRUPTION DAMAGES, BY STATUTE, IN
TORT OR CONTRACT UNDER ANY INDEMNITY PROVISION OR
OTHERWISE. TO THE EXTENT ANY DAMAGES REQUIRED TO BE PAID
HEREUNDER ARE LIQUIDATED, THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE DAMAGES
ARE DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE, OR OTHERWISE OBTAINING AN
ADEQUATE REMEDY IS INCONVENIENT, AND THE DAMAGES CALCULATED
HEREUNDER CONSTITUTE A REASONABLE APPROXIMATION OF THE HARM OR
LOSS.
11.2
Mitigation . Each Party agrees that the
provisions of this Agreement set forth the rights and obligations
of the Parties in the event of a breach of the terms hereof, and
that in the case of any provision for which one or more express
remedies or measure of damages is herein provided , neither
Party shall have any duty to mitigate any such damages that it may
incur as a result of the other Party’s performance or
non-performance of this Agreement, except to the extent the terms
of this Agreement expressly require the taking of action that would
constitute such a mitigation. Each Party shall have the
duty to mitigate any damages for which no express remedies or
measure of damages is herein provided.
ARTICLE
XII: TAXES
12.1
Taxes . Throughout the term of this
Agreement, (i) RILG shall pay, or cause to be paid, as and when the
same become due, all taxes, assessments, special assessments,
excises, levies, payments in lieu of taxes and other charges and
governmental impositions of any description (“ Taxes
”) levied, assessed, charged or imposed upon RILG’s
interest in the RILG Facilities and other personal property and
assets owned by RILG and used in connection therewith, and (ii)
although the Parties acknowledge that RIRRC is a tax exempt entity,
RIRRC shall pay, or cause to be paid, as and when the same become
due, all Taxes levied, assessed, charged or imposed upon the Leased
Premises (“ Taxes on Realty ”) should
RIRRC’s tax exempt status change such that such Taxes on
Realty become payable by RIRRC. Neither Party shall
assert a claim for Taxes against the other Party.
(a) RILG
may contest the validity or amount of any Taxes, and RIRRC may
contest the validity or amount of any Tax on Realty,
provided that the contesting Party shall not allow any such
tax to remain unpaid for such length of time as shall permit any
part or all of the Leased Premises or the Landfill to be sold or
foreclosed or subjected to a Lien for the nonpayment of the
same.
(b) Although
the Parties acknowledge that RIRRC is a tax exempt entity not
subject to Taxes on the Leased Premises, should RIRRC’s tax
exempt status change such that RIRRC is required to pay Taxes on
the Leased Premises, RIRRC, at its expense, may attempt at any time
to obtain a lowering of the assessed valuation of the Leased
Premises for the purpose of reducing Taxes thereon. In
such event, upon request, RILG will exercise commercially
reasonable efforts to cooperate with RIRRC, at RIRRC’s
expense, in effecting such a reduction. Any tax refund
resulting from such proceeding (i) attributable to periods prior to
the term of this Agreement shall be allocated to RIRRC, and (ii)
attributable to periods during the term shall be allocated to each
Party in proportion to the amount of Taxes paid by it.
(c) Neither
Party shall be required to join in any action or proceeding
referred to in this Section 12.2 unless required by law in order to
make such action or proceeding effective, in which event, any such
action or proceeding may be taken by the other Party in the name
of, but without expense to, the other Party.
ARTICLE XIII: REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF RIRRC
RIRRC hereby represents and warrants to RILG as
follows as of the Effective Date:
13.1
Organization; Authorization; Enforceability
. RIRRC is a public corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Rhode
Island. It has all requisite power and authority to own,
lease and operate its material assets and properties, to carry on
its business as is now being conducted and to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
and validly authorized by all necessary action required on the part
of RIRRC. This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid
and binding agreement of RIRRC enforceable against it in accordance
with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by law
or by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting or
relating to enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and
general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is
considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and that the remedy
of specific enforcement or of injunctive relief is subject to the
discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefore may
be brought.
13.2
Non-Contravention; Approvals; Litigation; Bankruptcy
. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by RIRRC (a) does not and will not, with or without the
giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, violate, conflict
with, or result in the breach of any covenant, agreement or
understanding to which RIRRC is a party, (b) does not and will not
violate any statute, regulation, administrative order, judgment or
decree binding upon RIRRC, and (c) does not require that RIRRC
obtain the Approval of any Governmental Body or any third party,
other than Approvals that have been obtained. RIRRC is
not subject to any outstanding order, ruling, decree, judgment or
stipulation that would have a Material Adverse Effect on the
ability of RIRRC to enter into this Agreement or to perform its
obligations under this Agreement. RIRRC is not subject
to any pending or, to its knowledge, threatened litigation, which
if adversely determined could have a Material Adverse Effect on
RIRRC’s ability to execute, deliver and perform its
obligations under this Agreement, or that seeks to enjoin the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. No bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
receivership or other arrangement proceedings are pending against
or being contemplated by RIRRC and, to its knowledge, no such
proceedings have been threatened against it.
13.3
Regulatory Approvals . To the best of
RIRRC’s knowledge, without further investigation, RIRRC has
obtained all Approvals required to be obtained by it and complied
with all Legal Requirements (including without limitation all
Environmental Laws) applicable to RIRRC in connection with the
operation of the Landfill, including the Gas Collection Systems,
the Condensate Control, Treatment and Disposal System, and the
Leachate Control, Treatment and Disposal System, except where such
failure or non-compliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect
on the rights granted to RILG or any Affiliate of RILG under this
Agreement, the Purchase and Sale Agreement or the Services
Agreement. To the best of RIRRC’s knowledge,
without further investigation, RIRRC has made all filings required
to be made by it with any Governmental Body in connection with the
operation of the Landfill, including the Gas Collection Systems,
the Condensate Control, Treatment and Disposal System, and the
Leachate Control, Treatment and Disposal System, except where such
failure or non-compliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect
on the rights granted to RILG or any Affiliate of RILG under this
Agreement, the Purchase and Sale Agreement or the Services
Agreement or the ability of RIRRC to perform its obligations under
this Agreement, the Purchase and Sale Agreement or the Services
Agreement.
13.4
Approvals to Operate . To the best of
RIRRC’s knowledge, without further investigation, no
additional Approvals are required in order for RGS to operate the
Gas Collection Systems and to perform its obligations under the
Services Agreement, Environmental Laws and all Legal Requirements
except where the failure to so obtain any such Approvals would not
have a Material Adverse Effect on the rights of RILG or any
Affiliate of RILG under this Agreement, the Purchase and Sale
Agreement or the Services Agreement or the ability of RIRRC to
perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Purchase and Sale
Agreement or the Services Agreement.
13.5
Conflicts with Laws . To the best of
RIRRC’s knowledge, without further investigation, there
are
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