EXHIBIT 10.07
SOLAR ENERGY PURCHASE POWER
AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
NEW MEXICO SUNTOWER, LLC
AND
EL PASO ELECTRIC COMPANY
OCTOBER 17, 2008
****=Confidential treatment has been requested
for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed herewith
omits the information subject to the confidentiality request.
Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of this
exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
SOLAR ENERGY PURCHASE POWER AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
NEW MEXICO SUNTOWER, LLC
AND
EL PASO ELECTRIC COMPANY
OCTOBER 17, 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE 1 -
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RULES OF
CONSTRUCTION, INTERPRETATION, AND DEFINITIONS
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1
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1.1
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Rules of
Construction
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1
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1.2
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Interpretation
with Interconnection Agreement
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2
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1.3
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Interpretation
of Arrangements for Electric Supply to the Facility
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2
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1.4
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Definitions
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3
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ARTICLE 2 -
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TERM
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14
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2.1
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Term
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14
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ARTICLE 3 -
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FACILITY
DESCRIPTION
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14
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3.1
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Summary
Description
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14
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3.2
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General Design
and Operation of the Facility
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14
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3.3
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Environmental
Compliance
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15
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ARTICLE 4 -
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PRE-COMMERCIAL OPERATION
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15
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4.1
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Construction of
the Facility
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15
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4.2
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Monitoring and
Inspection
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15
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4.3
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Construction
Milestones
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16
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4.4
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Extension of
Construction Milestones
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16
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4.5
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Progress
Reports
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16
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4.6
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Commissioning
Tests
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16
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4.7
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Site
Report
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17
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4.8
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Facility
Contracts
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17
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4.9
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Conditions to
Commercial Operation
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17
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4.10
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Test
Energy
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18
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ARTICLE 5 -
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DELIVERY AND
METERING
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19
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5.1
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Delivery
Arrangements
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19
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5.2
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Metering
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19
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5.3
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Adjustment for
Inaccurate Meters
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20
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ARTICLE 6 -
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EPE
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
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21
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6.1
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EPE Conditions
Precedent
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21
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ii
****=Confidential treatment has been
requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
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ARTICLE 7 -
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SALE AND
PURCHASE OF SOLAR ENERGY
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21
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7.1
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Sale and
Purchase
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21
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7.2
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Committed Solar
Energy
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22
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7.3
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Title and Risk
of Loss
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22
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7.4
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Temporary
Disconnection of the Facility
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22
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ARTICLE 8 -
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ENERGY
PAYMENT CALCULATIONS
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22
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8.1
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Energy
Payments
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22
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8.2
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Non-Solar
Energy
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22
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8.3
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Curtailed
Energy Payment Rate
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23
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8.4
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Payment Support
Requirement
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23
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8.5
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Survival on
Termination
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23
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ARTICLE 9 -
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BILLING AND
PAYMENT
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24
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9.1
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Seller’s
Invoices
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24
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9.2
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EPE’s
Invoices
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24
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9.3
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Payments
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24
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9.4
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Billing
Disputes
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24
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9.5
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Statement
Errors
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25
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9.6
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Set-Off and
Payment Adjustments
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25
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9.7
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Survival on
Termination
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25
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ARTICLE 10 -
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RENEWABLE
ENERGY CERTIFICATES AND LIMITED SALE OF ENVIRONMENTAL
ATTRIBUTES
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25
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10.1
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Compliance with
New Mexico Renewable Energy Act
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25
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10.2
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Monthly
RECs
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25
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10.3
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Seller’s
Failure to Provide Solar RECs
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25
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10.4
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Limited Sale of
Environmental Attributes
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27
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10.5
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Administrative
Compliance Cost Obligations
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28
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ARTICLE 11 -
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SECURITY FOR
PERFORMANCE
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28
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11.1
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Security
Fund
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28
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ARTICLE 12 -
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DEFAULT AND
REMEDIES
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31
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12.1
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Construction
Events of Default
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31
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12.2
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Operational
Events of Default
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32
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12.3
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Seller’s
Abandonment of Construction or Operation of the Facility
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32
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12.4
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EPE Events of
Default
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33
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12.5
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Actual
Damages
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33
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12.6
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No Incidental,
Consequential, or Indirect Damages
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33
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12.7
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Duty to
Mitigate
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34
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12.8
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Dispute
Resolution
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34
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12.9
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Mediation
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34
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12.10
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Other Dispute
Processes
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34
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12.11
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Cost of Dispute
Resolution
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35
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12.12
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Operation by
EPE Following a Construction Event of Default, an Operational Event
of Default, or Seller’s Abandonment of Construction or
Operation of the Facility
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35
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iii
****=Confidential treatment has been
requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
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12.13
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Specific
Performance
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36
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12.14
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Remedies
Cumulative
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37
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12.15
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Payment of
Amounts Due to EPE
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37
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ARTICLE 13 -
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FACILITY
OPERATION AND CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION
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37
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13.1
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Facility
Operation
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37
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13.2
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Operating
Committee and Operating Procedures
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37
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13.3
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Scheduling
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38
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13.4
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Forced
Outages
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38
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13.5
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Scheduled
Maintenance
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38
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13.6
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Additional
Maintenance Outages
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39
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13.7
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Access to and
Inspection of Facility
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40
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13.8
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Operating
Parameters
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40
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13.9
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Operating
Records
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40
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13.10
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Operating
Log
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40
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13.11
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Availability
Reporting
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41
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13.12
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Examination and
Retention of Records
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41
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13.13
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Facility
Development Records and Data Submissions
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41
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ARTICLE 14 -
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FORCE
MAJEURE
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42
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14.1
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Definition of a
Force Majeure Event
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42
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14.2
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Applicability
of Force Majeure
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43
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14.3
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Effect of
Seller’s Force Majeure
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43
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14.4
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Effect of
EPE’s Force Majeure
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46
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14.5
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Limitations on
Effect of Force Majeure
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47
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ARTICLE 15 -
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REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND
COVENANTS
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48
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15.1
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Seller’s
Representations, Warranties and Covenants
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48
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15.2
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EPE’s
Representations, Warranties and Covenants
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49
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ARTICLE 16 -
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INSURANCE
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50
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16.1
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Evidence of
Insurance
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50
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16.2
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Term and
Modification of Insurance
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51
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16.3
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Endorsements to
Fire and All-Perils and Machinery Breakdown Policies
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51
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16.4
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Insurance
Reports
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51
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ARTICLE 17 -
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INDEMNITY
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51
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17.1
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Indemnification
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51
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17.2
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Indemnification
for Fines and Penalties
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52
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17.3
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Notice of
Claim, Loss or Proceeding
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52
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17.4
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Defense of
Claims
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52
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17.5
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Subrogation
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53
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ARTICLE 18 -
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ASSIGNMENT
AND OTHER TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS
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53
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18.1
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No Assignment
Without Consent
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53
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18.2
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Restriction on
Transfers
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54
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18.3
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Permitted
Transfers
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54
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18.4
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Collateral
Assignment
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54
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18.5
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Change of
Control
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54
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iv
****=Confidential treatment has been
requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
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18.6
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Transfer
without Consent is Null and Void
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54
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18.7
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Prohibited
Transfers
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54
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18.8
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Reimbursement
for EPE’s Costs from Transfers or Assignments
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54
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ARTICLE 19 -
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MISCELLANEOUS
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55
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19.1
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Waiver
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55
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19.2
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Taxes
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55
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19.3
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Monetary
Penalties
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56
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19.4
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Notices in
Writing
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56
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19.5
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Exhibit
Changes
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56
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19.6
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Other
Changes
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56
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19.7
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Disclaimer of
Third Party Beneficiary Rights
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56
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19.8
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Relationship of
the Parties
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57
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19.9
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Equal
Employment Opportunity Compliance Certification
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57
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19.10
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Survival of
Obligations
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57
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19.11
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Severability
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57
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19.12
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Complete
Agreement; Amendments
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57
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19.13
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Binding
Effect
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58
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19.14
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Headings
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58
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19.15
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Counterparts
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58
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19.16
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Governing
Law
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58
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19.17
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Confidentiality
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58
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19.18
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Compliance with
Applicable Law
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60
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19.19
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Press Releases
and Media Contact
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60
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19.20
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Due
Authority
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60
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v
****=Confidential treatment has been
requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
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EXHIBIT A
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CONSTRUCTION
MILESTONES
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EXHIBIT
B
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FACILITY
DESCRIPTION AND SITE MAPS
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EXHIBIT
C
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NOTICE
ADDRESSES
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EXHIBIT
D
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INSURANCE
COVERAGE
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EXHIBIT E
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SELLER’S REQUIRED GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY
PERMITS, CONSENTS, APPROVALS, LICENSES AND AUTHORIZATIONS TO BE
OBTAINED
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EXHIBIT
F
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COMMITTED
SOLAR ENERGY AND SOLAR ENERGY PAYMENT RATES
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EXHIBIT G
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SELLER’S FORMAT FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY
CERTIFICATES
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vi
****=Confidential treatment has been
requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
SOLAR ENERGY PURCHASE POWER
AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
NEW MEXICO SUNTOWER,
LLC
AND
EL PASO ELECTRIC
COMPANY
This Solar Energy Purchase Power
Agreement (including all exhibits attached hereto, this “
Agreement ”) is made this 17th day of October, 2008,
(the “Execution Date”) by and between New Mexico
SunTower, LLC (“ Seller ”), a Delaware
corporation with a principal place of business at 130 W. Union
Street, Pasadena, CA 91103, and El Paso Electric Company (“
EPE ”), a Texas corporation with headquarters in El
Paso, Texas (EPE and Seller each being sometimes referred to in
this Agreement as a “ Party ” or, collectively,
as the “ Parties ”).
WHEREAS, Seller desires to develop,
design, construct, own or lease and operate a solar electric
generating facility with a Designed Maximum Output of approximately
92 MW (the “ Facility ,” as more fully described
and defined below); and
WHEREAS, Seller intends to locate
the Facility at the Site (as defined below) and to interconnect the
Facility with the Transmission Provider (as defined below) as
provided for in a separate Interconnection Agreement;
and
WHEREAS, Seller desires to sell and
deliver to EPE at the Point of Delivery (as defined below) the
Solar Energy (as defined below) produced by the Facility, and EPE
desires to buy the same from Seller; and
WHEREAS, Seller desires to provide
EPE with the Solar Energy, which will be documented by solar
Renewable Energy Certificates, and it is the intention of the
Parties that all solar Renewable Energy Certificates documenting
and associated with the Solar Energy provided shall be transferred
to and owned by EPE at no additional cost; and
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of
the mutual covenants herein contained, the sufficiency and adequacy
of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree to the
following:
ARTICLE 1 - RULES OF
CONSTRUCTION, INTERPRETATION, AND
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Rules of Construction .
Capitalized terms defined in this Article 1 shall have the meanings
set forth herein whenever the terms appear in this Agreement,
whether in the singular or the plural or in the present or past
tense. Words not otherwise defined herein that have well known and
generally accepted technical or trade meanings are used herein in
accordance with such recognized meanings. In addition, the
following rules of construction shall apply:
(A) References to
“Articles,” “Sections,” or
“Exhibits” shall be to articles, sections, or exhibits
of this Agreement.
(B) The Exhibits attached hereto are
incorporated in and are intended to be a part of this Agreement;
provided, that , in the event of a conflict between the
terms of any Exhibit and the terms of this Agreement, the terms of
this Agreement shall control.
1
****=Confidential treatment has been
requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
(C) This Agreement was negotiated
and prepared by both Parties with the advice and participation of
counsel. The Parties have agreed to the wording of this Agreement,
and none of the provisions hereof shall be construed against one
Party on the ground that such Party is the author of this Agreement
or any part hereof.
(D) The Parties shall act in a
commercially reasonable manner and in accordance with the
principles of good faith and fair dealing in the performance of
this Agreement. Unless expressly provided otherwise in this
Agreement, where this Agreement requires the consent, approval, or
similar action by a Party, such consent or approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Wherever this
Agreement gives a Party a right to determine, require, specify or
take similar action with respect to a matter, such determination,
requirement, specification or similar action shall be commercially
reasonable.
(E) Use of the words
“include” or “including” or similar words
shall be interpreted as “include without limitation” or
“including, without limitation.”
(F) Use of the words
“tax” or “taxes” shall be interpreted to
include taxes, fees, surcharges, and the like.
1.2 Interpretation with
Interconnection Agreement . Each Party represents that it
conducts its operations in a manner intended to comply with FERC
Order No. 2004, “Standards of Conduct for Transmission
Providers,” requiring the separation of its transmission and
merchant functions. Moreover, the Parties acknowledge that
EPE’s transmission function offers transmission service on
its system in a manner intended to comply with FERC policies and
requirements relating to the provision of open-access transmission
service. The Parties recognize that Seller will enter into a
separate Interconnection Agreement with the Transmission
Provider.
(A) The Parties acknowledge and
agree that the Interconnection Agreement shall be a separate and
free-standing contract and that the terms of this Agreement are not
binding upon the Transmission Provider. However, to avoid confusion
between the two agreements, this Agreement may define certain terms
by referencing their definition in the Interconnection
Agreement.
(B) Notwithstanding any other
provision in this Agreement, nothing in the Interconnection
Agreement shall alter or modify Seller’s or EPE’s
rights, duties and obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement
shall not be construed to create any rights between Seller and the
Transmission Provider.
(C) Seller expressly recognizes
that, for purposes of this Agreement, the Transmission Provider
shall be deemed to be a separate entity and separate contracting
party whether or not the Interconnection Agreement is entered into
with EPE or an Affiliate of EPE, if any.
1.3 Interpretation of
Arrangements for Electric Supply to the Facility . The Parties
recognize that this Agreement does not provide for the supply of
any retail electric service by EPE to Seller or to the Facility,
and Seller must enter into separate arrangements for the supply of
retail electric services to the Facility.
2
****=Confidential treatment has been
requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
(A) The Parties acknowledge and
agree that the arrangements for the supply of electric services to
the Facility shall be separate and free-standing arrangements and
that the terms of this Agreement are not binding upon the supplier
of such electric services.
(B) Notwithstanding any other
provision in this Agreement, nothing in the arrangements for the
supply of retail electric services to the Facility shall alter or
modify Seller’s or EPE’s rights, duties and obligations
under this Agreement. This Agreement shall not be construed to
create any rights between Seller and the supplier of such retail
electric services.
(C) Seller expressly recognizes
that, for purposes of this Agreement, the supplier of retail
electric services to the Facility shall be deemed to be a separate
entity and a separate contracting party whether or not the
arrangement for the supply of retail electric services to the
Facility is entered into with EPE or an Affiliate of EPE, if
any.
1.4 Definitions . Unless
defined elsewhere herein, capitalized terms used in this Agreement
will have the following scope and meaning:
1.4.1 “ Abandonment
” means (i) the relinquishment of all possession and
control of the Facility by Seller, other than a transfer or sale
permitted under this Agreement, or (ii) if prior to the
Commercial Operation Date, the cessation of the design,
construction, testing and inspection of the Facility for ninety
(90) consecutive Days by Seller, or Seller’s
contractors, unless such relinquishment or cessation is
(x) pursuant to Section 4.4(i) or 4.4(ii), (y) at
EPE’s express request, or (z) caused by or attributable
to a Force Majeure Event.
1.4.2 “ Account ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1(C)(2) of this
Agreement.
1.4.3 “ Additional
Consents ” means the approvals, consents, authorizations
or other requirements not listed in the definition of Governmental
Approvals in this Agreement that are required from any Government
Authority with respect to the Facility.
1.4.4 “ Additional
Maintenance Outages ” has the meaning assigned to it in
Section 13.6 hereof.
1.4.5 “ Affiliate
” of any named person or entity means any other person or
entity that controls, is under the control of, or is under common
control with, the named entity. The term “control”
(including the terms “controls,” “under the
control of” and “under common control with”)
means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management of the policies of
a person or entity, whether through ownership interest, by contract
or otherwise.
1.4.6 “ Agreement
Approval ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1
of this Agreement.
1.4.7 “ Agreement Approval
Date ” means the date that, following full execution of
this Agreement, the NMPRC issues a final order approving
EPE’s 2008
3
****=Confidential treatment has been
requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
Procurement Plan and all periods for
appeal of a final NMPRC order as described in Section 6.1 of
this Agreement have expired under NMPRC requirements.
1.4.8 “ Applicable Law
” means all applicable laws, statutes, treaties, codes,
ordinances, regulations, certificates, orders, licenses and permits
of any Governmental Authority, now in effect or hereafter enacted,
amendments to any of the foregoing, interpretations of any of the
foregoing by a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction, and all
applicable judicial, administrative, arbitration and regulatory
decrees, judgments, injunctions, writs, orders, awards or like
actions (including those relating to human health, safety, the
natural environment, or otherwise).
1.4.9 “ As-Available Solar
Energy ” means Solar Energy that Seller is obligated to
deliver and sell and that EPE is obligated to purchase and receive
whenever such energy is capable of being generated by the
Facility.
1.4.10 “ Back-Up
Metering ” means redundant Electric Metering Devices
installed by either Party pursuant to Section 5.2(B) of this
Agreement.
1.4.11 “ Business Day
” means any calendar day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday, or
a NERC recognized holiday.
1.4.12 “ CAMD ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 10.4(B) of this
Agreement.
1.4.13 “ Close of the
Business Day ” means 5:00 PM prevailing time in
El Paso, Texas, on a Business Day.
1.4.14 “ Commercial
Operation ” means the period beginning on the Commercial
Operation Date and continuing through the Term of this
Agreement.
1.4.15 “ Commercial
Operation Date ” means the date designated by Seller to
begin delivering Solar Energy to EPE pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement, which shall take effect no sooner than thirty
(30) Days after Seller provides notification to EPE, pursuant
to Section 4.9 of this Agreement, that all of the Conditions
specified in Section 4.9 have occurred or otherwise been
satisfied.
1.4.16 “ Commercial
Operation Milestone ” means the Construction Milestone
for the Commercial Operation Date as specified in Exhibit A to this
Agreement.
1.4.17 “ Commercial
Operation Year ” means any twelve (12) consecutive
month period during the Term of this Agreement, commencing with the
first day of the Month following the Commercial Operation Date or
any of its anniversaries.
1.4.18 “ Commissioning
” means, with respect to the Facility, the commencement of
the period during which the Facility has begun Commissioning
Testing and ending when the Facility has been approved for the
production of Solar Energy and authorized to commence delivery of
Solar Energy.
4
****=Confidential treatment has been
requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
1.4.19 “ Commissioning
Tests ” or “ Commissioning Testing ”
has the meaning assigned to it in Section 4.6 of this
Agreement.
1.4.20 “ Committed Solar
Energy ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2 of
this Agreement.
1.4.21 “ Compliance
Obligations ” has the meaning ascribed to it in
Section 4.9(E) of this Agreement.
1.4.22 “ Conditions
” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.9 of this
Agreement.
1.4.23 “ Confidential
Information ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 19.17(D) of this Agreement.
1.4.24 “ Construction
Event(s) of Default ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 12.1 of this Agreement.
1.4.25 “ Construction
Milestone(s) ” means the date(s) set forth in Exhibit A
to this Agreement by which Seller agrees to achieve the
corresponding result(s) specified for such date(s), including, but
not limited to, the Commercial Operation Milestone.
1.4.26 “ Curtailed
Energy ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 8.3(A)(2) of this Agreement.
1.4.27 “ Day ”
means a calendar day.
1.4.28 “ Delivery
Excuse ” means an event solely due to actions or
omissions by EPE that prevents or delays delivery of Solar Energy
hereunder.
1.4.29 “ Designed Maximum
Output ” means the maximum output of the Facility in kW
as designated by Seller.
1.4.30 “ Disclosing
Party ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 19.17(A) of this Agreement.
1.4.31 “ Dispute
” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 12.8 of this
Agreement.
1.4.32 “ Dispute Notice
” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 12.8 of this
Agreement.
1.4.33 “ Electric Metering
Device(s) ” means metering equipment, and data processing
equipment used to measure, record, or transmit data relating to the
Solar Energy output from the Facility and that are specified in the
Interconnection Agreement. Electric Metering Devices include the
metering current transformers (“CTs”) and the metering
voltage transformers (“VTs”).
5
****=Confidential treatment has been
requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
1.4.34 “ Emergency
Condition ” means a condition or situation that presents
an imminent physical threat of danger to life, health or property,
or could reasonably be expected, in the opinion of the
Interconnection Provider, to cause a significant disruption to the
Interconnection Provider’s system or otherwise be required in
accordance with the requirements of the NMPRC or any system
condition not consistent with Good Utility Practices.
1.4.35 “ Environmental
Attributes ” has the meaning assigned to it in
Section 10.4(B) of this Agreement.
1.4.36 “ Environmental
Contamination ” means the introduction or presence of
Hazardous Materials at such levels, quantities or location, or of
such form or character, as to constitute a violation of federal,
state or local laws or regulations, and present a material risk
under federal, state or local laws and regulations that the Site
will not be available or usable for the purposes contemplated by
this Agreement.
1.4.37 “ EPC Contract
” means the Construction Contract entered into between Seller
and the Contractor in relation to construction of the
Facility.
1.4.38 “ EPC Contractor
” means the Contractor as identified to EPE once selected by
Seller.
1.4.39 “ EPE Event(s) of
Default ” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.4
of this Agreement.
1.4.40 “ EPE Procurement
Plan ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1 of
this Agreement.
1.4.41 “ EPE System
Operations Center ” or “EPE SOC” means
EPE’s organization responsible for dispatch of generating
units, including the Facility.
1.4.42 “ Event of
Default ” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.5
of this Agreement.
1.4.43 “ Execution Date
” has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
1.4.44 “ Expected Solar
Energy ” means the number of kilowatt hours (kWh) of
Solar Energy that Seller expects the Facility to generate for
delivery to the Point of Delivery and sale to EPE during each
Commercial Operation Year. The Expected Solar Energy level shall be
the value calculated in accordance with the following
formula:
6
****=Confidential treatment has been
requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
Expected Solar Energy level, in kWh
= ****
Where:
****
****
****
1.4.45 “ Facility
” means Seller’s electric generating facility and
Seller’s Interconnection Facilities, as identified and
described in Article 3 and Exhibit B to this Agreement, including,
but not limited to, all of the following, the purpose of which is
to produce electricity from Solar Energy and deliver such
electricity to the Point of Delivery: the Site, Seller’s
equipment, buildings, all of Seller’s generation facilities,
including generators, step up transformers, output breakers,
Seller’s facilities necessary to connect to the Point of
Interconnection, protective and associated equipment, improvements,
and other tangible assets or contract rights reasonably necessary
for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the electric
generating facility that produces the Solar Energy subject to this
Agreement. The address of the Facility is as described in Exhibit
B. A scaled map that identifies the Site, the location of the
Facility at the Site, the location of the Point of Interconnection
and the location of the important ancillary facilities and
Interconnection Facilities, is included in Exhibit B to this
Agreement.
1.4.46 “ Facility Debt
” means the obligations of Seller to any lender pursuant to
the Financing Documents, including without limitation, principal
of, premium and interest on indebtedness, fees, expenses or
penalties, amounts due upon acceleration, payment or restructuring,
swap or interest rate hedging breakage costs and any claims or
interest due with respect to any of the foregoing.
1.4.47 “ Facility
Lender ” means, collectively, any lender(s) providing any
Facility Debt and any successor(s) or assigns thereto.
1.4.48 “ FERC ”
means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or any successor
agency.
1.4.49 “ Financing
Documents ” means the loan and credit agreements, notes,
bonds, indentures, security agreements, lease financing agreements,
mortgages, deeds of trust, interest rate exchanges, swap agreements
and other documents relating to the development, bridge,
construction or permanent debt or equity financing for the
Facility, including any credit enhancement, credit support, working
capital financing, or refinancing documents, and any and all
amendments, modifications, or supplements to the foregoing that may
be entered into from time to time at the discretion of Seller
subject to any required approvals, whether in this Agreement, or
otherwise, in connection with development, construction, ownership,
leasing, operation or maintenance of the Facility.
7
****=Confidential treatment has been
requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
1.4.50 “ Firm Transmission
Service ” means, as applicable, firm or network
transmission service from the Point of Delivery provided by the
Transmission Provider in accordance with its Open Access
Transmission Tariff.
1.4.51 “ Force Majeure
Event ” has the meaning set forth in Article 14 of this
Agreement.
1.4.52 “ Forced Outage
” means a reduction of, or cessation in the delivery of, or
inability to deliver, Solar Energy that is not the result of
(i) a Scheduled Maintenance Outage, (ii) a Force Majeure
Event, (iii) a Delivery Excuse, or (iv) an Emergency
Condition.
1.4.53 “ Good Utility
Practice(s) ” means any of the practices, methods and
acts engaged in or approved by a significant portion of the
electric industry during the relevant time period, or any of the
practices, methods and acts which, in the exercise of reasonable
judgment in light of the facts known at the time the decision was
made, could have been expected to accomplish the desired result at
a reasonable cost consistent with good business practices,
reliability, safety and expedition. Good Utility Practice is not
intended to be limited to the optimum practice, method, or act to
the exclusion of all others, but rather to be practices, methods,
or acts generally accepted in the region. With respect to the
Facility, Good Utility Practice(s) includes, without limitation,
reasonable steps to ensure that: (i) equipment, materials,
resources, and supplies, including spare parts inventories, are
available to meet the Facility’s needs; (ii) sufficient
operating personnel are available at all times and are adequately
experienced and trained and licensed as necessary to operate the
Facility properly, efficiently, and in coordination with EPE and
are capable of responding to reasonably foreseeable emergency
conditions whether caused by events on or off the Site;
(iii) preventive, routine, and non-routine maintenance and
repairs are performed on a basis that ensures reliable, long-term
and safe operation, and are performed by knowledgeable, trained,
and experienced personnel utilizing proper equipment and tools;
(iv) appropriate monitoring and testing are performed to
ensure equipment is functioning as designed; (v) equipment is
not operated in a reckless manner, in violation of
manufacturer’s guidelines or in a manner unsafe to workers,
the general public, or the interconnected system or contrary to
environmental laws, permits or regulations or without regard to
defined limitations such as flood conditions, safety inspection
requirements, operating voltage, current, volt-ampere reactive
loading, frequency, rotational speed, polarity, synchronization,
and control system limits; (vi) equipment and components meet
or exceed the standard of durability that is generally used for
electric generation operations in the region and will function
properly over the full range of ambient temperature and weather
conditions reasonably expected to occur at the Site and under both
normal and emergency conditions; and (vii) equipment,
components, and processes are appropriately permitted with any
local, state, or federal Governmental Authority and are operated
and maintained in accordance with applicable permit and regulatory
requirements.
1.4.54 “ Governmental
Approval ” means any authorization, consent, permission,
approval, license, ruling, permit, exemption, variance, order,
judgment, instruction, condition, direction, directive, decree,
declaration of or regulation by any Governmental Authority relating
to the construction, development, ownership,
8
****=Confidential treatment has been
requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
occupation, start-up, testing,
operation or maintenance of the Facility or to the execution,
delivery or performance of this Agreement or the procurement
pursuant to this Agreement of Solar Energy and solar Renewable
Energy Certificates for inclusion in EPE’s renewable energy
portfolio pursuant to the New Mexico Renewable Energy Act and
recovery of the related costs, and shall also mean, where and as
applicable and the context so dictates, any and all authorization,
consent, permission, approval, license, ruling, permit, exemption,
variance, order, judgment, instruction, condition, direction,
directive, decree, declaration of or regulation with regard to any
Compliance Obligations.
1.4.55 “ Governmental
Authority ” means any federal, state, local or other
governmental regulatory or administrative agency, court,
commission, department, board, or other governmental subdivision,
legislature, rulemaking board, tribunal, or other governmental
authority having jurisdiction over the Parties, their respective
facilities, or the respective services they provide, and exercising
or entitled to exercise any administrative, executive, police, or
taxing authority or power.
1.4.56 “ Guaranty
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.1(C)(3)
of this Agreement.
1.4.57 “ Hazardous
Materials ” means any substance, material, gas, or
particulate matter that is regulated by any Governmental Authority
as an environmental pollutant or dangerous to public health, public
welfare, or the natural environment including, without limitation,
protection of non-human forms of life, land, water, groundwater,
and air, including, without limitation, any material or substance
that is: (i) defined as “toxic,”
“polluting,” “hazardous waste,”
“hazardous material,” “hazardous
substance,” “extremely hazardous waste,”
“solid waste” or “restricted hazardous
waste” under any provision of local, state, or federal law;
(ii) petroleum, including any fraction, derivative or
additive; (iii) asbestos; (iv) polychlorinated biphenyls;
(v) radioactive material; (vi) designated as a
“hazardous substance” pursuant to the Clean Water Act,
33 U.S.C. §1251 et seq. (33 U.S.C. §1251);
(vii) defined as a “hazardous waste” pursuant to
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C.
§6901 et seq. (42 U.S.C. §6901);
(viii) defined as a “hazardous substance” pursuant
to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. §9601 et seq. (42 U.S.C.
§9601); (ix) defined as a “chemical
substance” under the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C.
§2601 et seq. (15 U.S.C. §2601); or
(x) defined as a pesticide under the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. §136 et seq.
(7 U.S.C. §136).
1.4.58 “ Indemnified
Party ” has the meaning set forth in Section 17.1 of
this Agreement.
1.4.59 “ Indemnifying
Party ” has the meaning set forth in Section 17.1 of
this Agreement.
1.4.60 “ Interconnection
Agreement ” means the separate agreement between Seller
and the Transmission Provider, as such agreement may be amended
from time to time, for interconnection of the Facility to the
Transmission System.
9
****=Confidential treatment has been
requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
1.4.61 “ Interconnection
Facilities ” has the same meaning as that same term is
defined in the Interconnection Agreement.
1.4.62 “ Interest Rate
” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 5.3(C) of
this Agreement.
1.4.63 “ Interests
” has the meaning set forth in Section 18.2 of this
Agreement.
1.4.64 “ Interim Period
” means a period of less than three hundred sixty-five Days
during which time EPE, upon Seller’s Construction Event of
Default, Operational Event of Default or Abandonment of
Construction or Operation of the Facility, shall have the right but
not the obligation to possess, assume control of, and operate the
Facility in accordance with Seller’s rights, obligations and
interest under this Agreement.
1.4.65 “ Issuer ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1(C) of this
Agreement.
1.4.66 “ kW ”
means kilowatt.
1.4.67 “ kWh ”
means kilowatt hour.
1.4.68 “ Letter of
Credit ” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11.1(C)(1) of this Agreement.
1.4.69 “ Month ”
means a calendar month.
1.4.70 “ Mountain
Prevailing Time ” or “MPT” means the time in
effect in the Mountain Time Zone of the United States of America,
whether Mountain Standard Time or Mountain Daylight Saving
Time.
1.4.71 “ MW ”
means megawatt or one thousand kW.
1.4.72 “ MWh ”
means megawatt hours.
1.4.73 “ NERC ”
means the North American Electric Reliability Council or any
successor organization.
1.4.74 “ NMPRC ”
means the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission and any
predecessor or successor organization.
1.4.75 “ Non-Conforming
Order ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1 of
this Agreement.
1.4.76 “ Non-Scheduled
Maintenance Period ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 13.5(A) of this Agreement.
1.4.77 “ Operating
Committee ” means one representative each from EPE and
Seller pursuant to Section 13.2(A) of this
Agreement.
10
****=Confidential treatment has been
requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
1.4.78 “ Operating
Procedures ” means those procedures developed pursuant to
Section 13.2(B) of this Agreement.
1.4.79 “ Operation and
Maintenance Agreement ” means that certain operation and
maintenance agreement between Seller and the Operation and
Maintenance Contractor with respect to the Facility, if
applicable.
1.4.80 “ Operation and
Maintenance Contractor ” means an operation and
maintenance contractor as identified to EPE, if used by
Seller.
1.4.81 “ Operational Events
of Default ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 12.2 of this Agreement.
1.4.82 “ Parent ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 18.2 of this
Agreement.
1.4.83 “ Party
Representative ” or “ Parties’
Representatives ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 12.8 of this Agreement.
1.4.84 “ Permitted
Transfer ” has the meaning set forth in Section 18.3
of this Agreement.
1.4.85 “ Person ”
means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company,
general partnership, limited partnership, proprietorship, other
business organization, trust, union, association or Governmental
Authority.
1.4.86 “ Point of
Delivery ” means the point at which electricity generated
by Seller’s Facility is delivered to EPE, adjusted for any
applicable metering losses. In general, the Point of
Interconnection shall be the same as the Point of Delivery. Any
differences between the Point of Interconnection and Point of
Delivery shall be identified in Exhibit B to this
Agreement.
1.4.87 “ Point of
Interconnection ” has the same meaning as that same term
is defined in the Interconnection Agreement.
1.4.88 “ Project
Contracts ” means this Agreement, the EPC Contract, the
Interconnection Agreement, and the Operation and Maintenance
Agreement.
1.4.89 “ Projected
Schedule ” has the meaning assigned to it in
Section 13.3(A) of this Agreement.
1.4.90 “ Rate Schedule
No. 16 Rate ” means the time-of-use energy rates in
EPE’s twenty-sixth revised Rate No. 16, or its
successor, as filed with the NMPRC that are in effect at the
time.
1.4.91 “ Receiving
Party ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 19.17(A) of this Agreement.
1.4.92 “ Renewable Energy
Certificate(s) ” or “ REC(s) ” means a
certificate(s) that complies in all respects with the New Mexico
Renewable Energy Act, the NMPRC’s
11
****=Confidential treatment has been
requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
Renewable Rule 572, and any
applicable NMPRC Final Orders, each in effect as of the Execution
Date, which documents that the energy delivered under this
Agreement is Solar Energy as defined by the New Mexico Renewable
Energy Act and is provided with the associated energy from Seller
at no additional cost to EPE, except as set forth in
Section 10.1 of this Agreement. RECs are the documentation
required by the NMPRC to document that the associated energy is, in
fact, Solar Energy. Compliance with EPE’s Renewable Portfolio
Standard under the New Mexico Renewable Energy Act is documented by
solar RECs.
1.4.93 “ Replacement Energy
Costs ” means those damages suffered by EPE as a direct
result of Seller’s failure to perform its obligations under
this Agreement, including (i) all incremental costs suffered
by EPE to replace the Solar Energy or the RECs that Seller fails to
deliver to EPE under this Agreement with alternative Solar Energy
that meets the requirements of the NMPRC, (ii) any replacement
solar capacity necessary to make up for any shortfall in the
capacity to be provided under this Agreement (to comply with the
NMPRC’s Renewable Energy Standard) which shortfall was caused
by Seller or the Facility, (iii) costs and penalties imposed
by the NMPRC, or by any other Governmental Authority, paid or
required to be paid by EPE as a result of Seller’s failure to
perform under this Agreement and absence of fault or responsibility
of EPE, and (iv) EPE’s expenses including reasonable
attorneys’ fees suffered as a result of Seller’s
failure to perform under this Agreement.
1.4.94 “ Representative
” has the meaning set forth in Section 19.17(B) of this
Agreement.
1.4.95 “ Required
Commercial Operation Date ” is July 31, 2011, except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement.
1.4.96 “ Restoration
” and “ Restoration Schedule ” have the
meanings set forth in Section 14.3(E)(2) of this
Agreement.
1.4.97 “ Restoration
Report ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 14.3(E) of this Agreement.
1.4.98 “ Revised Commercial
Operation Milestone ” means a date specified by Seller
pursuant to Section 12.1(F) of this Agreement.
1.4.99 “ Scheduled
Maintenance Outage ” means a time period during which the
Facility is shut down or its output reduced to undergo scheduled
maintenance in accordance with this Agreement, or as otherwise
agreed by Seller and EPE.
1.4.100 “ Security Fund
” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1 of this
Agreement.
1.4.101 “ Seller’s
Interconnection Facilities ” means the facilities owned
and operated by the Seller as identified in the Interconnection
Agreement. Arrangements for the installation and operation of the
Seller’s Interconnection Facilities shall be governed by the
Interconnection Agreement.
12
****=Confidential treatment has been
requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
1.4.102 “ Site ”
means real estate on which the Facility will be constructed and
located, including any interests, easements, water rights, and
access rights reasonably necessary for the construction, operation
and maintenance of the Facility. The Site is more specifically
described in Exhibit B to this Agreement.
1.4.103 “ Solar Energy
” means the net electrical energy generated in MWh using
solar generation technologies and delivered to EPE at nominal
voltage to the Point of Delivery as measured by Electric Metering
Devices installed pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement.
Solar Energy should be of a power quality of 60 cycle, three-phase
alternating current that is compliant with the Interconnection
Agreement.
1.4.104 “ Solar Energy
Payment Rate ” means the rate paid for Solar Energy by
EPE to Seller as specified in Exhibit F to this
Agreement.
1.4.105 “ Tariff
” has the same meaning as that same term is defined in the
Interconnection Agreement.
1.4.106 “ Tax Credits
” means investment tax credits under Section 48 of the
Internal Revenue Code as in effect on the Execution Date or any
successor or other provision providing for a federal tax credit
determined by reference to renewable electric energy produced from
Solar Energy resources, or any federal, state or local investment
tax credit or federal, state or local production tax credit
determined by reference to renewable electric energy produced from
Solar Energy resources in effect in the state of New
Mexico.
1.4.107 “ Term ”
means the period of time during which this Agreement shall remain
in full force and effect, and which is further defined in Article 2
of this Agreement.
1.4.108 “ Test Date
” means the date on which Seller shall commence Commissioning
of the Facility and shall be the date falling no later than
forty-five (45) Days prior to the Commercial Operation Date or
such other date as Seller and EPE may agree in writing.
1.4.109 “ Test Energy
” means that Solar Energy produced by the Facility in order
to perform testing of the Facility prior to Commercial
Operation.
1.4.110 “ Transmission
Owner ” has the same meaning as that same term is defined
in the Interconnection Agreement.
1.4.111 “ Transmission
Provider ” has the same meaning as that same term is
defined in the Interconnection Agreement.
1.4.112 “ Transmission
Provider’s Interconnection Facilities ” means the
facilities owned and operated by the Transmission Provider as
identified in the Interconnection Agreement. Arrangements for the
installation and operation of the Transmission Provider’s
Interconnection Facilities shall be governed by the Interconnection
Agreement.
13
****=Confidential treatment has been
requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
1.4.113 “ Transmission
System ” has the same meaning as that same term is
defined in the Interconnection Agreement.
1.4.114 “ WECC ”
means the Western Electricity Coordinating Council, a NERC regional
electric reliability council, or any successor
organization.
1.4.115 “ Year ”
means a calendar year consisting of 365 Days.
ARTICLE 2 - TERM
2.1 Term . This Agreement
shall be in full force and effect from the date shown in the first
paragraph hereof and shall remain in effect until the last Day of
the twentieth (20 th ) Commercial Operation Year, subject to any
early termination or extension provisions set forth
herein.
ARTICLE 3 - FACILITY
DESCRIPTION
3.1 Summary Description .
Seller shall construct, own or lease, operate, and maintain the
Facility, which shall consist of devices for generating electricity
and associated equipment having a Designed Maximum Output of
approximately 92 MW which shall qualify as Solar Energy and which
shall be located in New Mexico. As of the Execution Date, there are
two prospective sites for the Facility, which are identified in
Exhibit B. Prior to the Financial Commitment Milestone, Seller
shall revise Exhibit B and provide notice to EPE of Seller’s
determination, made in its sole discretion, of its final selection
of the site for the Facility, such selection to be made from the
two sites shown in Exhibit B. Exhibit B to this Agreement provides
a detailed description of the Facility, including identification of
the major equipment and components that comprise the Facility. The
Expected Solar Energy generated from the Facility shall be ****.
Seller may, in its sole discretion, but upon notice to EPE no later
than ninety (90) Days prior to the Commercial Operation Date,
make a one-time adjustment to increase or decrease the Expected
Solar Energy generated from the Facility, such adjustment not to
exceed **** of the Expected Solar Energy. In order to make this
adjustment, Seller must also provide a revised Exhibit B to this
Agreement describing the Facility and Site, including any increase
or decrease not to exceed **** of the Expected Solar
Energy.
(A) Sale/Leaseback. Subject to and
conditioned upon the prior written consent of EPE, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld, Seller may sell the Facility to
a third party and lease-back and operate the Facility in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement, provided that , (i) a
copy of the applicable section of any such sale/leaseback agreement
is provided to EPE at least thirty (30) Days prior to its
execution, and (ii) any such sale and lease-back of the
Facility by Seller shall fully preserve EPE’s right to assume
the position of the Seller if EPE would have the right to purchase
or lease the Facility as provided in Sections 12.12(A) or 14.3 of
this Agreement.
3.2 General Design and Operation
of the Facility . Seller shall construct and operate the
Facility according to Good Utility Practice(s) and the
Interconnection Agreement. During Commercial Operation, Seller
shall maintain the Facility according to Good Utility
Practice(s)
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requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
and the Interconnection Agreement, and in
accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations. In addition
to the requirements of the Interconnection Agreement, the Facility
shall at all times:
(A) have the required panel space
and 125VDC battery supplied voltage to accommodate metering,
generator telemetering equipment and communications equipment;
and
(B) use communication circuits from
the Facility to EPE’s SOC for the purpose of telemetering,
supervisory control/data acquisition, and voice communications as
required by EPE.
3.3 Environmental Compliance
. Seller must obtain and pay for all applicable environmental
permits from any Governmental Authority needed for construction,
operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of the Facility, copies
of which will be provided by Seller to EPE within ten
(10) Business Days of the issuance of such permits. Seller
shall promptly notify EPE of any and all violations and any and all
investigations, actions, claims, suits, notices of violation,
fines, penalties, orders, revocations, and other proceedings
related to violations or alleged violations of environmental laws,
including, but not limited to, permits issued thereunder, which are
asserted against Seller or any of Seller’s personnel in
connection with the Facility or their activities on, along,
adjacent to or near the Site by any Governmental Authority. Seller
will keep EPE informed on a regular basis of the progress made and
resolution of such events.
ARTICLE 4 - PRE-COMMERCIAL
OPERATION
4.1 Construction of the
Facility .
(A) Seller shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain any land rights necessary for the
Facility.
(B) Other than the rights and
obligations of EPE specified in this Agreement and any documents
ancillary hereto, neither this Agreement nor any such ancillary
document shall be interpreted to create in favor of EPE, and EPE
specifically disclaims, any present right, title or interest in any
part of the Facility.
(C) In the event Seller should
determine that the expected Commercial Operation Date is not
feasible or is impossible to achieve, Seller shall promptly notify
EPE and shall advise EPE of the new expected Commercial Operation
Date; provided, however, such new expected Commercial Operation
Date shall not exceed the Required Commercial Operation
Date.
4.2 Monitoring and Inspection
. EPE shall have the right to monitor the construction, start-up
and testing of the Facility, and Seller shall comply with all
reasonable requests of EPE with respect to the monitoring of these
events. Seller shall cooperate in such physical inspections of the
Facility as may be reasonably requested by EPE during and after
completion of construction. EPE’s technical review and
inspection of the Facility shall neither be construed as endorsing
the design thereof nor as any warranty of safety, durability, or
reliability of the Facility. Persons visiting the Facility on
behalf of EPE shall comply with Seller’s applicable safety
and health rules and requirements.
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requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
4.3 Construction Milestones .
In order to achieve the Commercial Operation Date by the Commercial
Operation Milestone, Seller agrees to meet the Construction
Milestones set forth in Exhibit A to this Agreement.
4.4 Extension of Construction
Milestones . After executing this Agreement and subject to
Section 14.3(E)(5) herein, Seller may extend any Construction
Milestone as a result of the occurrence of one or more Force
Majeure Events; provided, however, that such extension for
reasons of Force Majeure Events may not delay achievement of any
Construction Milestone beyond December 31, 2011. Delays that
are due to (i) failure of the EPE Procurement Plan to be
approved or deemed approved by the NMPRC by December 30, 2008
or (ii) failure of the Transmission Provider for any reason to
complete the construction of the Transmission Provider’s
Interconnection Facilities, to the extent such delay causes a delay
in the Construction Milestone, shall extend each Construction
Milestone day-for-day and the December 31, 2011, limitation on
extensions shall not apply. Changes in a Construction Milestone for
any other reason are not allowed.
4.5 Progress Reports .
Commencing upon the Agreement Approval Date, Seller shall submit to
EPE, on the first Business Day of each calendar quarter until
construction of the Facility begins, progress reports in a form
reasonably satisfactory to EPE. Once construction of the Facility
begins, Seller shall submit such Progress Reports to EPE on the
first Business Day of each Month. These progress reports shall
notify EPE of the current status of each Construction Milestone and
an updated completion schedule for the Facility. Such Monthly
reports shall provide a schedule showing items completed and to be
completed and a best estimate time-frame within which Seller
expects the EPC Contractor to complete such non-completed works.
Seller shall, from time to time, upon reasonable advance request
from EPE, meet with EPE to discuss the progress of the construction
of the Facility. None of the foregoing shall be deemed to be in
lieu of, or in substitution for, the general record and reporting
obligations of Seller in accordance with Article 13 of this
Agreement.
4.6 Commissioning Tests
.
(A) Seller shall give EPE at least
three (3) Months prior notice of the approximate Test Date and
of the proposed tests scheduled relating to the Commissioning of
the Facility (“Commissioning Tests”). Representatives
of EPE shall have the right to be present at all such testing.
Seller shall promptly notify EPE of any changes to the Test Date or
the date of any Commissioning Tests relating to the Facility in
order that EPE may arrange for its respective representatives to
attend.
(B) The results of Commissioning
Tests shall determine the Facility’s Designed Maximum Output
in MW.
(C) Nothing herein shall prevent or
limit Seller or EPE, upon their mutual written agreement to same,
subject to any required Governmental Approval, from establishing a
new Committed Solar Energy at any level that they mutually agree is
appropriate and desirable under this Agreement.
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requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
(D) Solar Energy produced during any
Commissioning Tests shall be delivered by Seller for EPE at the
Point of Delivery, and EPE shall purchase such Solar Energy at the
rate described in Section 8.1(A).
(E) EPE shall have the right to
require that Seller, not more than once in any twelve
(12) Month period beginning with the Commercial Operation
Date, re-demonstrate the Designed Maximum Output in MW of the
Facility within sixty (60) Days of the demand; provided,
however, that such demand shall be coordinated among EPE and Seller
so that the sixty (60) Day period for re-demonstration avoids,
if practical, previously notified periods of Scheduled Maintenance
Outages and Additional Maintenance Outages pursuant to this Article
4.
4.7 Site Report . Seller
shall conduct, at its sole expense, a Phase I environmental
investigation of the Site and shall provide EPE, prior to the
Financial Commitment Milestone, with a copy of the report
summarizing such investigation, together with any data or
information generated pursuant to such investigation. Seller shall
provide to EPE confirmation from an environmental engineer that
(i) the Site has been inspected for Environmental
Contamination and (ii) a Phase I environmental assessment has
been completed. Such report, or other written confirmation provided
by Seller, shall include a confirmation that, based upon such
investigation and to the best of Seller’s knowledge, no
conditions involving Environmental Contamination exist at or under
the Site that would prevent or materially delay construction and
operation of the Facility at the Site.
4.8 Facility Contracts . Upon
reasonable notice and request by EPE, Seller shall provide EPE with
copies of (or, in the case of agreements and contracts subject to
non-disclosure covenants or similar provisions, summaries of):
(i) contracts for the manufacture, delivery and installation
of the generator and step-up transformer; (ii) engineering,
procurement and construction, or other general contractor
agreements; (iii) applicable operating agreements; and
(iv) the applicable electric Transmission Agreement and
Interconnection Agreement. Upon request, Seller shall also provide
EPE with reasonable evidence that it has or will have the
capability to finance construction of the Facility. Seller shall
provide sufficient information for EPE to be reasonably assured
that Seller has contracted with financially responsible vendors as
part of the Facility construction process.
4.9 Conditions to Commercial
Operation . Seller will (i) notify EPE when the Facility
has achieved all of the conditions set forth in this
Section 4.9 (“Conditions”), (ii) provide
evidence reasonably acceptable to EPE of the satisfaction or
occurrence of such Conditions, and (iii) designate the
Commercial Operation Date for the Facility to occur no sooner than
thirty (30) Days from the date that Seller provides such
notification to EPE (“Notification Date”). EPE must
accept or challenge Seller’s declaration that all Conditions
have been satisfied or occurred within thirty (30) Days of the
Notification Date, and any Condition that EPE does not challenge
within thirty (30) Days of the Notification Date will be
deemed satisfied. The Parties shall attempt to resolve any dispute
that may arise regarding the satisfaction or occurrence of any
Condition(s) through direct discussion or mediation, as set forth
below in Sections 12.8 and 12.9 of this Agreement. Review and
approval of the Conditions may occur on an ongoing and incremental
basis, pending resolution of any dispute, as such Conditions are
satisfied or occur. All costs and expenses necessary to meet the
Conditions shall be borne solely by Seller. The Conditions, which
must be met after the Agreement Approval Date has occurred,
are:
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requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
(A) Seller has satisfied all the
requirements of the Interconnection Agreement and commenced
interconnected parallel operation with the Transmission
Provider;
(B) Seller has made all arrangements
and executed all agreements required to deliver the Solar Energy
from the Facility to the Point of Delivery in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement;
(C) Seller has provided EPE with
copies of certificates of insurance evidencing that the coverage
required by Article 16 of this Agreement has been obtained and
submitted to EPE;
(D) Seller has submitted to EPE a
certificate of an officer of Seller specifically familiar with the
Facility stating, after due inquiry, that all permits, consents,
licenses, approvals, and authorizations required to be obtained by
Seller from any Governmental Authority to operate the Facility in
compliance with applicable law and this Agreement have been
obtained and are in full force and effect, and to the knowledge of
that officer, Seller is in compliance with the terms and conditions
of this Agreement in all material respects;
(E) As applicable, Seller has made
all necessary governmental filings and applications for RECs and
other accreditation or registration with the Western Renewable
Energy Generation Information System (WREGIS). Additionally, Seller
shall be in compliance with all applicable and required existing
national and regional reliability standards, including standards
set by WECC, NERC, FERC, and the NMPRC, or any successor agencies
setting reliability standards for the operation of solar generation
facilities in the location of the Facility. Prior to Commercial
Operation Date, Seller shall register and provide documentation to
EPE showing that it has registered with the appropriate Regional
Reliability Organization (“RRO”) as a generator owner
and has registered the generator operator to the extent required by
NERC and the RRO. Except for FERC regulations, all of the foregoing
requirements shall constitute the “Compliance
Obligations” under this Agreement;
(F) An officer of Seller
specifically familiar with the Facility has certified that the
Designed Maximum Output of the entire Facility complies with the
description of the Facility provided in Exhibit B to this Agreement
on the date of certification, as such exhibit may be revised
pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Agreement; and
(G) The Facility has achieved
initial synchronization with the Transmission System and has
demonstrated the reliability of its communications systems and
communications with the EPE SOC.
None of the foregoing Conditions
shall be deemed to be in lieu of, or in substitution for, the
obligations of Seller in accordance with Section 13.13 of this
Agreement.
4.10 Test Energy . Seller
shall coordinate the production and delivery of Test Energy with
EPE. EPE shall cooperate with Seller to facilitate Seller’s
testing of the Facility necessary to satisfy the Conditions set
forth in Section 4.9 above.
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requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
ARTICLE 5 - DELIVERY AND
METERING
5.1 Delivery Arrangements
.
(A) Seller shall be responsible for
negotiating, entering into, and performing the Interconnection
Agreement with the Transmission Provider and any other necessary
entities for the design, installation and operation of the
Interconnection Facilities.
(B) Seller shall request that the
Transmission Provider design the Interconnection Facilities such
that Seller’s Facility shall qualify as a Network Resource
for EPE (as that term is defined in the Tariff) that uses firm or
network transmission service.
(C) Within thirty (30) Days
after the completion of any transmission studies by the
Transmission Provider, Seller shall provide WECC, the Transmission
Provider, and any applicable transmission owners with written
permission to release such transmission study results to EPE.
Alternatively, Seller may provide a copy of such study results to
EPE.
(D) Seller shall be responsible for
all interconnection, electric losses, and costs required to deliver
the Solar Energy and Test Energy from the Facility to EPE up to the
Point of Delivery.
(E) EPE shall be responsible for all
electric losses, transmission and ancillary service arrangements
and costs required to receive the Solar Energy at the Point of
Delivery and to deliver such energy to points beyond the Point of
Delivery.
5.2 Metering .
(A) All Electric Metering Devices
used to measure the Solar Energy made available to EPE by Seller
under this Agreement and to monitor and coordinate operation of the
Facility shall be owned, installed, and maintained in accordance
with the Interconnection Agreement at no cost to EPE under this
Agreement. Such Electric Metering Devices shall be capable of
measuring the energy output of the Facility on an hourly basis for
all hours in a Month. Seller, at its own expense, shall inspect and
test such Electric Metering Devices upon installation and at least
annually thereafter. Upon request from EPE, Seller also shall
perform additional inspections or tests of such Electric Metering
Devices. Seller shall provide EPE with reasonable advance notice
of, and permit a representative of EPE to witness and verify, all
such inspections and tests, provided, however, that any such
representative of EPE shall not unreasonably interfere with or
disrupt Seller’s operation of the Facility and shall comply
with all applicable safety standards as in effect and established
by Seller from time to time. The actual expense of any EPE
requested additional inspections or tests shall be borne by EPE,
unless, upon such inspection or test, such Electric Metering
Devices are found to register inaccurately by more than the
allowable limits established in this Article 5, in which event the
expense of the requested additional inspection or test shall be
borne by Seller. If requested in writing, Seller shall provide
copies of any inspection or test reports to EPE.
(B) Either EPE or Seller may elect
to install and maintain, at its own expense, Back-up Metering
devices in addition to the Electric Metering Devices, which
installation and maintenance shall be performed in a manner
acceptable to EPE. The installing Party, at its own
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herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
expense, shall inspect and test Back-Up Metering
upon installation and at least annually thereafter. The installing
Party shall provide the other Party with reasonable advance notice
of, and permit a representative of such other Party to witness and
verify, such inspections and tests, provided, however, that
such other Party shall not unreasonably interfere with or disrupt
the activities of the installing Party and shall comply with all
applicable safety standards. Upon request, the installing Party
shall perform additional inspections or tests of Back-Up Metering
and shall permit a qualified representative of the other Party to
inspect or witness the testing of Back-Up Metering; provided,
however, that such other Party shall not unreasonably interfere
with or disrupt the activities of the installing Party and shall
comply with all applicable safety standards as in effect and
established by the installing Party from time to time. The actual
expense of any such requested additional inspection or testing
shall be borne by the Party requesting the test, unless, upon such
inspection or testing, Back-Up Metering is found to register
inaccurately by more than the allowable limits established in this
Article 5, in which event the expense of the requested additional
inspection or testing shall be borne by the installing Party. If
requested in writing, the installing Party shall provide copies of
any inspection or testing reports to the requesting
Party.
(C) If Electric Metering Devices or
Back-Up Metering are not installed at the Point of Delivery, meters
or meter readings shall be adjusted to reflect losses from the
Electric Metering Devices or Back-Up Metering to the Point of
Delivery.
(D) If any Electric Metering Device,
or Back-Up Metering, is found to be defective or inaccurate, it
shall be adjusted, repaired, replaced and recalibrated, as
necessary, as near as practicable to a condition of zero error by
the Party owning such defective or inaccurate device and at that
Party’s expense.
5.3 Adjustment for Inaccurate
Meters . If any Electric Metering Device, or Back-Up Metering,
fails to register, or if the measurement made by an Electric
Metering Device, or Back-Up Metering, is found upon testing to be
inaccurate by more than one percent (1.0%), an adjustment shall be
made correcting all measurements by the inaccurate or defective
Electric Metering Device, or Back-Up Metering, for both the amount
of the inaccuracy and the period of the inaccuracy, in the
following manner:
(A) In the event that the Electric
Metering Device is found to be defective or inaccurate, the Parties
shall use Back-up Metering, if installed, to determine the amount
of such inaccuracy, provided, however, that Back-Up Metering
has been tested and maintained in accordance with the provisions of
this Article 5. In the event that either Party did not install
Back-Up metering, or Back-Up Metering is also found to be
inaccurate by more than one percent (1.0%), the Parties shall
estimate the amount of the necessary adjustment on the basis of
deliveries of Solar Energy from the Facility and to the Point of
Delivery during periods of similar operating conditions when the
Electric Metering Device was registering accurately. The adjustment
shall be made for the period during which inaccurate measurements
were made.
(B) In the event that the Parties
cannot agree on the actual period during which the inaccurate
measurements were made, the period during which the measurements
are to be adjusted shall be the shorter of (i) the last
one-half of the period from the last previous test of the Electric
Metering Device to the test that found the Electric Metering Device
to be defective or
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herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
inaccurate, or (ii) the one hundred eighty
(180) Days immediately preceding the test that found the
Electric Metering Device to be defective or inaccurate.
(C) To the extent that the
adjustment period covers a period of deliveries for which payment
has already been made by EPE, EPE shall use the corrected
measurements as determined in accordance with this Article 5 to
re-compute the amount due for the period of the inaccuracy and
shall subtract the previous payments by EPE for this period from
such re-computed amount. If the difference is a positive number,
the difference shall be paid by EPE to Seller; if the difference is
a negative number, that difference shall be paid by Seller to EPE.
In either case, the owing Party, at its discretion, may offset such
payments due the other Party against undisputed amounts owed by the
other Party as specified in Section 9.3(A) of this Agreement.
The owing Party shall provide the other Party with notice and
supporting documentation of the amount due. Except for offsets to
payments, which may be offset immediately, payment of such
difference by the owing Party shall be made not later than thirty
(30) Days after the owing Party receives notice and supporting
documentation of the amount due. Interest shall be computed for any
payments or offsets to payments made pursuant to this
Section 5.3(C) at a rate equal to one-twelfth (1/12) of
the prime rate published in the Wall Street Journal on the
invoice due date (the “Interest Rate”).
ARTICLE 6 - EPE CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
6.1 EPE Conditions Precedent
. This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the
Parties, provided that the 2008 Procurement Plan filed by EPE
pursuant to the New Mexico Renewable Energy Act (the “EPE
Procurement Plan”), which includes a request for approval to
procure renewable energy, or capacity, or both, and RECs pursuant
to this Agreement for use in meeting the renewable portfolio
standard of the New Mexico Renewable Energy Act and to recover the
cost of such procurement, is (i) approved without material
change by the NMPRC by final NMPRC order, and (ii) all periods
for appeal of the order have expired under NMPRC requirements (the
“Agreement Approval”). The date for Agreement Approval
is anticipated to be no later than December 30, 2008 (the
“Agreement Approval Date”). Should the NMPRC issue an
order approving the EPE Procurement Plan with conditions or
modifications that materially change this Agreement, or rejecting
this Agreement on the basis of reasons set forth in such order (in
either case a “Non-Conforming Order”), the Parties
agree to use good faith efforts to renegotiate this Agreement. If,
within sixty (60) days of the issuance of a Non-Conforming
Order, no agreement is reached, either Party may terminate this
Agreement upon delivery of notice to the other Party, in which case
the Parties shall have no further liability to each other under
this Agreement.
ARTICLE 7 - SALE AND PURCHASE OF
SOLAR ENERGY
7.1 Sale and Purchase .
Beginning on the Commercial Operation Date, Seller shall generate
from the Facility, deliver to the Point of Delivery, and sell to
EPE, at the applicable prices set forth in Article 8 of this
Agreement, all Solar Energy generated by the Facility. Except as
otherwise expressly provided for herein, this Agreement shall not
be construed to constitute a “take-or-pay” contract,
and EPE shall have no obligation to pay for any energy that has not
actually been generated by the Facility, measured by the Electric
Metering Device(s), and delivered to EPE at the Point of Delivery.
As provided in Article 10 of this Agreement,
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herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
Renewable Energy Certificates associated with
the Solar Energy generated by the Facility shall be transferred to
and owned by EPE at no additional cost.
7.2 Committed Solar Energy .
Committed Solar Energy is set forth in Exhibit F to this Agreement
and is the number of megawatt hours (MWh) of Solar Energy committed
to be delivered by Seller to EPE in each Commercial Operation Year.
The Committed Solar Energy level is ****, and takes into account
all factors, including any expected Facility unavailability due to
scheduled and forced outages as well as degradation of equipment at
the Facility.
7.3 Title and Risk of Loss .
As between the Parties, Seller shall be deemed to be in control of
the Solar Energy output from the Facility up to and until delivery
and receipt at the Point of Delivery, and EPE shall be deemed to be
in control of such energy at and beyond delivery and receipt at the
Point of Delivery. Title and risk of loss related to the Solar
Energy shall transfer from Seller to EPE at the Point of
Delivery.
7.4 Temporary Disconnection of
the Facility . No payments shall be due Seller for curtailments
of delivery of Solar Energy resulting from a temporary
disconnection of the Facility by the Interconnection Provider
pursuant to the Interconnection Agreement.
ARTICLE 8 - ENERGY PAYMENT
CALCULATIONS
8.1 Energy Payments . Energy
payments to Seller shall be calculated as follows for each
Month:
(A) Prior to Commercial
Operation . EPE shall pay Seller the Rate Schedule No. 16
Rate times the Test Energy delivered to EPE during the Month. If
the Rate Schedule No. 16 Rate no longer exists, EPE shall pay
for such Test Energy at its then-current avoided cost.
(B) During Commercial
Operation . Provided that the cumulative deliveries in the
Commercial Operation Year do not exceed ****, EPE shall pay Seller
****. For all Solar Energy delivered by Seller to EPE in a
Commercial Operation Year that is in excess of ****.
8.2 Non-Solar Energy
.
(A) Except as provided by
Section 8.3 of this Agreement, EPE shall not be obligated to
make any payment, regardless of reason or Force Majeure Event,
affecting either Party, for energy that (i) does not qualify
as Solar Energy; (ii) is not measured by the Electric Metering
Device(s) installed pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement,
as such measurement may be adjusted pursuant to Section 5.3 of
this Agreement; and (iii) is not delivered to EPE at the Point
of Delivery.
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herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
(B) For energy that does not qualify
as Solar Energy, EPE shall have the option, at its sole discretion,
to purchase such non-Solar Energy from Seller and shall pay Seller
EPE’s then-current avoided cost. If EPE declines to purchase
such non-Solar Energy, then Seller may sell such non-Solar Energy
to a third party.
8.3 Curtailed Energy Payment
Rate .
(A) If delivery of Solar Energy is
curtailed by EPE, then:
(1) Seller may sell the Solar Energy
from the Facility to a third party;
(2) If Seller does not sell the
Solar Energy to a third party, the Parties shall determine the
quantity of Solar Energy that would have been generated by the
Facility and delivered to the Point of Delivery had its generation
not been so curtailed (“Curtailed Energy”), and EPE
shall pay to Seller for such Curtailed Energy all amounts that
Seller would have received from EPE under this Agreement had
generation not been so curtailed;
(3) The rate to be paid by EPE to
Seller for Curtailed Energy is ****. However, any Solar Energy sold
by Seller to a third party pursuant to (1) above shall not
count toward the calculation of the rate payment as set forth in
this subsection (3) annual curtailment hour total.
(B) Notwithstanding anything in this
Section 8.3 to the contrary, no payment shall be due to Seller
from EPE under paragraph (A) above for curtailments of
delivery of Solar Energy resulting from:
(1) an Emergency Condition, or Force
Majeure Event,
(2) any action taken by the
Interconnection Provider under the Interconnection
Agreement,
(3) any curtailment of Firm
Transmission Service by the applicable Transmission Provider, to
provide transmission of Solar Energy from the Point of Delivery,
or
(4) any notification from
EPE’s SOC requiring Seller to curtail deliveries of Solar
Energy if Seller has failed to obtain or maintain in full force and
effect any Governmental Approval which has the effect of preventing
delivery of Solar Energy pursuant to this Agreement.
8.4 Payment Support
Requirement . Neither Party shall initiate any action before
any Governmental Authority to deny recovery of payments under this
Agreement. Each Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to
defend all terms and conditions of this Agreement consistent with
Applicable Law.
8.5 Survival on Termination .
The provisions of this Article 8 shall survive the repudiation,
termination or expiration of this Agreement for so long as may be
necessary to give
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herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
effect to any outstanding payment obligations of
the Parties due and payable prior to any such repudiation,
termination or expiration.
ARTICLE 9 - BILLING AND
PAYMENT
9.1 Seller’s Invoices .
The monthly billing period shall be the Month. No later than five
(5) Business Days after the end of each Month, Seller shall
provide to EPE, by electronic means or first-class mail, an invoice
showing the invoice date, the invoice due date and all billing
parameters, rates, and any other data reasonably pertinent to the
invoice, including information required by Section 10.2 of
this Agreement, for the amount owed to Seller from EPE for Solar
Energy provided by Seller and purchased by EPE pursuant to
Section 8.1 of this Agreement during the previous Month
billing period.
9.2 EPE’s Invoices . No
later than five (5) Business Days after the end of a Month in
which Seller owes payments to EPE under this Agreement, EPE shall
provide the Seller, by electronic means or first-class mail, an
invoice showing the invoice date, the invoice due date and all
billing parameters, rates, and any other data reasonably pertinent
to the invoice for any amount owed by Seller to EPE under this
Agreement.
9.3 Payments . Unless
otherwise specified herein, payments owed under this Agreement
shall be due and payable by check or by electronic funds transfer,
as designated by the invoicing Party, on or before the twentieth
(20th) Business Day following the date of the billing invoice
provided that such invoice was rendered within the five-day period
set forth in Sections 9.1 and 9.2 of this Agreement and, if not so
rendered, such payment shall be due on the 20
th Business Day of the following month. Remittances
received by mail will be considered to have been paid when due if
the postmark indicates the payment was mailed on or before the
fifteenth (15th) Business Day following receipt of the
invoice.
(A) EPE may offset any amounts that
it owes Seller against any undisputed amounts that Seller owes EPE,
including damages, interest payments, and other payments. Seller
may include in its invoices and offset any amounts that it owes EPE
against any undisputed amounts that EPE owes Seller for the
purchase of Solar Energy under this Agreement, including damages,
interest payments, and other payments. Any such offsets by either
Party shall be clearly represented in the invoices described in
Sections 9.1 or 9.2 of this Agreement.
(B) Undisputed and non-offset
portions of amounts invoiced under Sections 9.1 or 9.2 of this
Agreement not paid on or before the invoice due date shall be
subject to the late payment interest charges calculated as set
forth in this Section 9.3(B). The late payment interest charge
rate per month shall be at the Interest Rate. The late payment
interest charge shall equal this rate times the unpaid balance of
undisputed and non-offset portions of amounts invoiced. The late
payment interest charge shall be added and itemized in the next
billing invoice of either EPE or Seller, whichever is
appropriate.
9.4 Billing Disputes . Either
Party may dispute invoiced amounts but shall pay to the other Party
at least the undisputed portion of invoiced amounts on or before
the invoice due date pending resolution of the dispute. Full
payment of an invoice shall not waive a Party’s right to
later dispute the invoice provided that notice of a disputed
invoice is presented by the disputing Party to the other Party
within twelve (12) months of an invoice due date, accompanied
by an
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****=Confidential treatment has been
requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
explanation of the specifics of the dispute as
well as a request for a refund or an additional payment, whichever
is appropriate. When a billing dispute is resolved, EPE or Seller,
as appropriate, shall invoice the other Party the amount agreed to
by the Parties no later than fifteen (15) Business Days after
the end of the Month in which the dispute is resolved. The amount
owed shall include any late payment interest charges calculated
from the original invoice due date in accordance with the
provisions of Section 9.3(B) above. Either Seller or EPE may
elect to offset amounts owed to the other Party pursuant to
Section 9.3(A) above.
9.5 Statement Errors . If,
within two (2) years of a Statement Date, either Party becomes
aware of any error in any statement, such Party shall, immediately
upon discovery of the error, notify in writing the other Party of
such error and the other Party shall rectify such error (whether
such error was in the form of an underpayment or overpayment)
within thirty (30) Days of such notification. Provided that
the other Party is satisfied (in its sole and reasonable
discretion) that the aforementioned notification requirements have
been complied with in good faith by the Party who has made the
error, interest shall be payable in respect of any amount that was
erroneously overpaid or underpaid at the Interest Rate.
9.6 Set-Off and Payment
Adjustments . Except as otherwise expressly provided for in
this Agreement, all payments between the Parties under this
Agreement shall be made free of any restriction or condition and
without deduction or withholding on account of any other amount,
whether by way of set-off or otherwise. Payments to be made under
this Agreement shall, for a period of not longer than two
(2) years, remain subject to adjustment based on billing
adjustments due to error or omission by either Party, provided that
such adjustments have been agreed to between the Parties or
resolved in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.8
hereof.
9.7 Survival on Termination .
The provisions of this Article 9 shall survive the repudiation,
termination or expiration of this Agreement for so long as may be
necessary to give effect to any outstanding payment obligations of
the Parties that became due and payable prior to any such
repudiation, termination or expiration.
ARTICLE 10 - RENEWABLE ENERGY
CERTIFICATES AND LIMITED SALE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL
ATTRIBUTES
10.1 Compliance with New Mexico
Renewable Energy Act . Seller must comply with the New Mexico
Renewable Energy Act and provide associated solar RECs, in the
format to be provided by EPE and in compliance with NMPRC Rule 572.
Seller shall provide the solar RECs associated with the Solar
Energy sold and delivered to EPE under this Agreement at no
additional cost.
10.2 Monthly RECs . Seller
shall provide solar RECs monthly using the format in Exhibit G to
this Agreement and shall include the appropriate number of solar
RECs associated with the Solar Energy purchased during the month in
each monthly invoice.
10.3 Seller’s Failure to
Provide Solar RECs . Except for Force Majeure Event(s) and any
curtailments pursuant to Sections 7.4 or 8.3 of this Agreement, if
Seller’s failure to provide the Committed Solar Energy causes
EPE to need additional solar RECs to meet its obligations under
NMPRC Renewable Rule 572, Seller shall first use commercially
reasonable efforts to
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****=Confidential treatment has been
requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
obtain replacement solar RECs and deliver them
to EPE for the quantity of solar RECs EPE notifies Seller that it
requires up to the quantity of solar RECs associated with the
Committed Solar Energy. EPE must notify Seller that it requires
such replacement solar RECs within ninety (90) Days of
Seller’s failure to provide the solar RECs associated with
the Committed Solar Energy. Seller must deliver replacement solar
RECs within thirty (30) Days of EPE’s notice to Seller
of the required quantity of solar RECs. EPE will reimburse Seller
for the actual cost of the replacement RECs. However, should the
total of the actual cost of the replacement RECs that Seller
purchases and the replacement energy that EPE actually purchased to
replace the Solar Energy not provided by Seller, assuming that such
replacement energy is an As Available energy product excluding
RECs, exceed the price of energy sold to EPE under this Agreement
per Exhibit F, such incremental costs may be deducted from the
monies owed to Seller for the replacement RECs. Notwithstanding the
actual cost of replacement solar RECs and the cost of replacement
energy that EPE actually purchased, Seller’s minimum
liability to EPE shall be **** and maximum liability to EPE shall
be **** for each REC not delivered, such maximum liability to
escalate at **** per year after the first ten (10) years of
this Agreement.
(A) If such replacement solar RECs
are not obtained and delivered by Seller to EPE, EPE may, at its
discretion but no later than ninety (90) Days after
Seller’s failure to provide the solar RECs associated with
the Committed Solar Energy, attempt to obtain replacement solar
RECs up to the quantity of solar RECs associated with the Committed
Solar Energy. EPE will be responsible for the costs for these
replacement RECs. However, should the total of the actual cost of
the replacement RECs that EPE purchases and the replacement energy
that EPE actually purchased to replace the Solar Energy not
provided by Seller exceed the price of energy sold to EPE under
this Agreement per Exhibit F, such incremental costs will be paid
by Seller to EPE. EPE’s failure to obtain replacement solar
RECs associated with the Committed Solar Energy does not relieve
Seller of the obligation to obtain replacement solar RECs in an
amount equal to the Committed Solar Energy. Notwithstanding the
actual cost of replacement solar RECs and the cost of replacement
energy that EPE actually purchased, Seller’s minimum
liability to EPE shall be **** and maximum liability to EPE shall
be **** for each REC not delivered, such maximum liability to
escalate at **** per year after the first ten (10) years of
this Agreement.
(B) If sufficient replacement solar
RECs are unavailable, Seller shall pay EPE the cost of any NMPRC
fines incurred by EPE as a result of EPE’s failure to meet
its obligations under NMPRC Renewable Rule 572 caused by
Seller’s failure to provide the Committed Solar Energy and
associated solar RECs. EPE shall allocate any applicable fines to
Seller and other sellers of Solar Energy with whom EPE has a
contract and which failed to meet their obligations for delivery of
RECs to EPE on a prorata basis based upon contract commitments and
shortfalls.
(C) Seller shall not be responsible
for paying EPE for its purchase of replacement solar RECs that are
due to: (i) delays in the Commercial Operation Milestone
caused by events described in Section 4.4(i) and (ii) of
this Agreement, or (ii) a Force Majeure Event as described in
Article 14 of this Agreement.
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****=Confidential treatment has been
requested for the redacted portions of this exhibit. The copy filed
herewith omits the information subject to the confidentiality
request. Omissions are designated as ****. A complete version of
this exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
10.4 Limited Sale of
Environmental Attributes .
(A) Effective from the Commercial
Operation Date, EPE shall