GREEN "power ^ PARTNERSHIP' Aligning Green Power Partners with New Renewable Energy Projects Pilot Project Summary Please return the completed summary via email to Blaine Collison, Green Power Partnership Director collison.blaine(Sepa.gov, 202-343-9139, by June 17, 2013. Project Name: LWPC 45MW Wind Project. Developer Name: LoneStar Wind Power Company; (281-542-0489) Renewable Energy Type: Wind Total Planned Megawatt Size: 45MW Phase I: 45MW Phase II: Potential. Project Location: San Patricio County, Texas Gulf Coast; Is the project permitted?: Yes; Project is located in San Patricio County, project zoning requirements and permitting are fully completed. FAA permitting has been completed in June 2010. Findings determined that site is not in flight paths or a radar zone for local airports (FAA - No Hazard Determination) has been issued. If no, what is the permit status?: n/a What is the status of the project's site?: Leased / Own. LWPC holds full development rights along with all easements and access right of ways to install turbines for Project Site with interconnection to transmission circuit under PUCT / FERC rules for Qualifying Facility for full 45MW of this project with 30 +/- WTG's as needed. Have land leases been filed with the county?: No, not necessary. ------- What is the status of interconnection, and have system impact and facility studies been completed? (Distribution or transmission level projects are both eligible): Yes; LWPC has finished conducting (Nov 2011) final interconnection study with local transmission service provider and Ercot. Screening Study shows enough available capacity to off take full 45 MW of power from nearby existing substation (6.8 Miles 69kV System) and over existing transmission line due north of project site (69kV Ckt 2.0 Miles) without curtailment. Does the transmission owner (TO) or independent system operator (ISO) have a process to study the project's impact on the local or regional grid and the subsequent cost to interconnect?: Yes; Steady State and Transfer Analysis and Facility Studies have been completed by the grid operator. Dynamic and Transient Stability Analysis are machine specific and to be completed based upon Final Turbine selection. Environmental Impact Statement status: Yes; Environmental Assessment has been conducted by USDA Rural Development Texas and Finding of No Significant Environmental Impact (FONSI) has been issued. Findings indicate site is well suited to wind development with no known impacts on project site. Is any element of the project - technology or other - experimental or pilot-phase?: No; Project is using established technology and tried and true methods to harness the power of the wind. This project is also unique in the fact that it is developed by engineer-entrepreneur, a small business, minority owned, and supported by USDA Section 9007 REAP Grant for Renewable Energy Development. Active consultancy provided by SCORE, a resource partner of SBA, and renewable energy experts Alternative Energy Institute, West Texas A&M University. What is the long- and short-term operations program of the project? Does the renewable energy technology manufacturer have a technical support team locally available?: Yes; It is envisioned that the project will be operated by owner / equipment manufacturer under long term O&M contract. With close proximity to several existing wind farms in South Texas from Tier-1 Manufacturers this is possible and achievable. ------- For wind projects, has a meteorological tower been installed, and when was the tower installed/how much data has been collected?: Yes; Site data collection and wind resource assessment analysis has been completed with Meteorological tower with industry standard data monitoring and recording hardware in place with over 24 Months of Data starting 2006. Academic experts Alternative Energy Institute - West Texas A&M University on wind data analysis is participating as a member of the project team and also providing resource assessment services. Who has analyzed the data and what is that person's experience with respect to projects that have actually been financed?: Yes; Alternative Energy Institute-West Texas A&M University Can the turbine manufacturer be financed through "traditional" tax equity and debt in the U.S.?: Yes; Project is open to Equipment supplier willing and able to qualify turbine and arrange financing. Provide a short summary of how the project views project finance and structure/ownership: Project finance and structure / ownership is open to discussion that makes the project feasible and beneficial to all parties involved. It is envisioned that it will take a credit worthy large enterprise to take it on as balance sheet finance to build this project as merchant power or have a credit worthy ppa in place to achieve project finance. Both PTC / ITC options require Investor with Tax appetite to absorb the tax benefits and depreciation of this project. Structure / Ownership can be balanced to achieve desired outcomes for all parties. What are your ideal types of prospective institutions/partners?: Credit worthy Utilities, Equipment / Turbine Manufacturer, Large/Mid size Organizations, willing and able to achieve ppa/merchant, finance, build, own and operate Wind Assets, looking to engage with a construction ready project with excellent project wind resource, fully developed, and active participation and willing to close deal to start construction before the PTC deadline of 12/31/2013, looking to achieve Green Energy Investment Objectives. ------- |