Howie & all, [CC to RE-Markets] Adding onto Conrad's response: As noted by Conrad, the "popular" 3rd party PPA providers aren't too interested in 1-off systems of this size, if they are even funding projects at all. Assuming this is a "non-profit" in the traditional sense (not a public agency or school, etc.) here's my recommendation:
If you don't have the tax appetite to own the system yourself, you may be able to find a benefactor within the community that does. Discuss the "donors list" with the Exec Director (or counterpart) of the non-profit. There may be an existing regular donor that could fund and own the system under a PPA in lieu of future annual donations, etc. Essentially they get the "feel good" factor by providing green energy to the N/P and they get their tax writeoff via the ITC. Tell them to put a plaque on the meter and take a picture... Host a ribbon-cutting and call the newspaper... The key here is to find someone (or single organization) that is supportive of the N/P, has an existing relationship, and is willing and able to put the money up this year and recover the recoverables over a 5 or 6 year period. For something of this size and nature, you really don't want to get too involved with finding and nursing an "investors group". Hope this is helpful, Matt Lafferty [email protected] -------------------------------- Answer From Conrad: If you have the tax appetite, just own the system yourself for 5 years, charging the site for production. After five years, sell it to them for whatever balance you need to get to make the numbers work. As a solar installer you can do this without many legal hoops. Other than that you are stuck forming a small PPA LLC and finding an investor with passive gains to offset. 10 KW is probably too small to be worthwhile. If it was 20 KW, that might work. -------------------------------- Question From Howie: Does anyone know of a way that a nonprofit could take advantage of the ITC on a relatively small gridtie (10 kW)? The only way I know of is if there is an historical building involved, but this seems only useful for much larger projects because of the administrative costs involved in pursuing this angle. _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: [email protected] Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
