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Generating electrical power from natural resources is both desirable as a power source, and beneficial in protecting the environment and economy by shrinking our carbon footprint, and lessening our dependence on foreign sources of energy. Solar power development is currently supported by incentives, grants, and credits that subsidize system installation. However the shelf-life of these incentives is limited, expiring as of December 31, 2011.

Solar installations, which can be freestanding, mobile, or rooftop mounted systems on both commercial and residential property are subject to few, if any, permitting requirements than other renewable sources. Rooftop solar panel installations, in particular, have become viable as a renewable energy source.

Three important renewable energy incentives are

(a) Federal Grant -- The Section 1603 Treasury Grant Program allows the Federal government to provide a grant of 30% of the cost of a solar installation if construction begins by 12/31/11.

(b) State Incentives -- In Massachusetts, an owner of solar equipment earns Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SREC's) for each megawatt-hour of electricity produced. In January 2010, MA approved an SREC market and set a renewables portfolio standard requiring that, by December 2020, electricity suppliers that serve retail customers include 15% renewable energy in the electricity they sell. Electrical suppliers can provide renewable energy or buy SREC's to meet these standards. The market has established a price range of $285-$600 for each SREC.

(c) Depreciation -- the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 allows 100% depreciation in a single year for commercial solar installations, but this depreciation allowance expires on December 31, 2011.
These incentives, when structured correctly can offset almost 60% of the cost of installing a solar system. Additionally, the production of electricity provides revenue from the sale of the electricity produced and/or the reduction in electricity usage charges for power supplied to the grid.

Consequently, for owners of property looking to install a solar system, there are several options for financing:

(i) Self finance the installation of the system and capture the 1603 grant, SREC's, depreciation, and income/savings from the production of electricity to offset the capital investment;

(ii) Contract with a company that will pay for the system and installation in return for the rights to the 1603 grant, SREC's, depreciation, and income from the power generated by the system at a favorable cost; or

(iii) Contract with a company that will pay for the system and installation, and then lease the system back from them. Rights to the 1603 grant, SREC's, depreciation, and income may be negotiable.

As with any deal, the structure, agreements, and terms are paramount. However, current political support and incentives have made this an optimal time to be structuring, installing and financing solar installations. Contact the Cherrytree Group regarding your solar development endeavor.

Aritcle in NEREJ

In a Hertford County field where rows of corn once grew, rows of solar panels now stand - 20,000 panels that will soon convert sunshine into enough electricity to power a small town.

When finished next month, Duke Energy Renewables' project on 37 acres will be one of the state's largest.

About 40 miles to the southeast, on a 100-acre field in Perquimans County, a Charlotte company plans to build another solar farm, this one consisting of 83,000 panels. It would stand out as the largest in North Carolina.

With the two solar farms and at least three major wind farms in development, northeastern North Carolina has become a hot bed for renewable energy.

The region has plenty of open land, and a sunny, breezy coastal climate. It also has a major power transmission line running through it with ties to the PJM Interconnection, the largest competitive wholesale electricity market in the world.

"Alternative energy is one of our main economic niches now," said Vann Rogerson, president of North Carolina's Northeast Commission, which recruits industry to the region. "The big players know where northeastern North Carolina is now."

Rogerson is working on additional renewable energy development projects with at least two other green-energy companies.

Much of the surge in green energy ventures stems from North Carolina's 2007 mandate requiring utility companies to produce 12.5% of their power from renewable resources by 2021, said Julie Robinson, spokeswoman for the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association. Utilities are actually ahead of schedule, especially in the solar field, she said.

"Solar energy in North Carolina has grown dramatically over the last few years," she said.

The more capacity in megawatts that a green project has, the closer that utilities get to reaching the state mandate, and the bigger the reputation gets within the industry.

Duke Energy Renewable's Murfreesboro Solar Project is expected to carry a 6.4 megawatt capacity and be able to power 700 homes. The North Carolina Electric Membership Corp. will buy the electricity.

The Perquimans project, built by Solar Green Development of Charlotte, plans to have a capacity of 20 megawatts, enough to provide electricity to nearly 3,000 homes - more than half of all the households in the county. It is expected to connect to Dominion Power.

The solar projects would complement the wind farms that have found their way to the region.

Iberdrola Renewables plans to build a wind farm with 150 turbines on 20,000 acres. In Camden County, Invenergy is seeking permits to erect 100 turbines on thousands of acres of open farmland. Together, the projects could power about 100,000 homes. Each wind farm is projected to involve a $600 million investment and would be among the largest in the nation.

Down in Beaufort County, Invenergy has announced plans to build a wind farm valued at $160 million that would power about 15,000 homes.

The northeastern corner of the state has plenty of inexpensive, open land, a sparse population, and officials who are receptive. The proximity of the major transmission line is also a big draw.

"When that wind is really blowing, then there is a lot of power coming out of those turbines, and you need a place to send it," Ellis said.

The Perquimans County solar farm will have a capital investment of $85 million.

Given that kind of investment, tax breaks are a major motivator. Among other state and federal tax breaks, North Carolina allows local governments to collect 20% of the property tax value from land on which renewable-energy projects are built.

"Twenty percent of $85 million is a good-sized tax boost," said Bobby Darden, Perquimans County manager.

Original article – Hamptonroads.com

An interesting transactional focus for year-end which could create some much needed impetus in the renewable energy arena is the expiration of the 1603 Treasury Grant, and the solar depreciation acceleration for 2011, which expire on December 31, 2011. The possible expiration of these valuable incentives should spur, in particular, increased activity in solar installations in order to meet the spending parameters of the grant by the end of December 2011.

An experienced consultant can assist in the 1603 grant process and in tax incentive deals generally. Consultants are also able to piece together financing sources and partners in the solar development marketplace that can be strategically helpful to clients needing to take advantage of tax credit for solar installations.
 
Cherrytree is an innovative real estate and business consulting company that advises business and real estate owners, developers, property managers, and landlords.  

Our services include the representation of clients in the renewable energy area, particularly solar installations and tax credits as well as providing sophisticated value added services to green development projects, i.e. developments that utilize energy efficient development incentives.

For information, assistance or questions regarding the 1603 Tax Credit, Solar Energy Credits, Brownfields Tax Credits or other Commercial Real Estate transactions, contact the Cherrytree Group.

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