Solar Project Development on Landfills, Mine Land, Brownfields

August 21-22, 2023 | Online :: Central Time

0823-brownfield-solar-development

“The EUCI conference on Solar Projects on Brownfield sites gave a detailed overview of issues and opportunities associated with these Developments!!” – EPC Project Mgr, Consumers Energy

“This is the most focused and practical conference about landfills and development I have ever attended!” – Chief Commercial Officer, Hanergy America

“Speakers welcomed questions, which was helpful to fill in the gaps of presentations and the responses were candid.” Assistant General Counsel, SunEdison

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“This was a very functional conference with industry leaders detailing interesting and demonstrative projects.” – Senior Program Manager, ISM Solar Solutions

“The conference participants proved to be knowledgeable and provocative practitioners active in various segments of the solar project development process. This was a most worthwhile gathering.” – Managing Principal, Brightfields, LLC

“EUCI’s focused conferences afford those actively participating or looking to participate in solar/energy development the tools necessary to streamline processes and conduct business in the most efficient manner possible. I love EUCI’s focused conferences!” – Vice President, Seminole Financial Services

“Great information for developers.” – Owner/Principal, C&E Solutions LLC

“EUCI developed a strong program of industry practitioners – well worthwhile.” Executive Vice President, groSolar

“Well organized, informative conference.“ Consultant, Antea Group

“Conference is a ‘must-attend’ for stakeholders in this niche market space.” Assistant Vice President – Renewable Director, Arcadis U.S. Inc.

“Very informative, tailored conference.” Chief Financial Officer, Renova Partners

“The conference was well organized and informative and brought together a varied and knowledgeable group of presenters and attendees.” Associate, Phillips Lytle

“EUCI provides the highest quality events – from the facilities to the quality of the content. If you’re looking for the “state of the state” of the industry from the people who are driving things. Look no further than EUCI.” Vice President, Watershed Geosystems

“Every EUCI meeting and/or conference I have attended provides relevant and tangible resources.” Deputy Chief of Staff, City of Atlanta

“The level of detail…has provided new insight into an expanding industry. “ Senior Engineer, Ray Angelini Inc

“Very clear presentations with useful information that addressed current issues, problems and new opportunities. Well done!“ Managing Principal, IMA LLC

“Fantastic presentations with real content.” Senior Vice President, T & M Assocs

“Great conference! Relevant topics and well-prepared speakers.” Renewable Dev’t Lead Sr, Georgia Power

“Great content, very informative.” Director – Land Management, Granite Apollo

=]“Great expert speakers who were honest and well-spoken. I will definitely recommend future EUCI conferences for colleagues and others.” Director – Distributed Generation, Geronimo Energy

The aggressive search for suitable greenfield sites has prompted savvy investors, project developers, suppliers, and power organizations to consider sites with less conventional development characteristics.  Ironically, these blemished sites – landfills and other types of brownfields – often turn out to be attractive siting options for solar projects.  No longer, then, is solar development on landfills and brownfields a question of feasibility; rather, the consideration for many project developers is how to optimize the opportunity such a project can deliver.

This symposium will examine aspects of developing solar energy on landfills and brownfields that foster significant, realistic opportunities for beneficial financial and community outcomes.  It will consider governmental, legal, regulatory, stakeholder endorsement, agrisolar, community solar and storage as components that can be incorporated in these projects to enhance their financial return.  Developers, regulatory officials, investors and legal specialists with expertise in this very special arena will conduct the program, using case studies and examples from successful projects.

Learning Outcomes

The content is intended as a survey (fundamentals) course for utilities, project developers, regulators, and community stakeholders in states that are just now beginning to turn their attention to this class of solar development.

Attendees will gain practical and technical skills that allow them to:

• Analyze PV technical and economic factors unique to landfills
• Design solar projects on these areas
• Assess the environmental engineering aspects of siting
• Identify interconnection considerations and constraints
• Evaluate the insurance and risk management connected to these projects
• Analyze landfill reuse permits
• Identify legal aspects of development and financing
• Evaluate the technical and practical considerations municipalities must consider when planning these projects

Monday, August 21, 2023 : Central Time

 

9:00 – 9:20 a.m. :: Overview & Introductions

9:20 – 9:45 a.m. :: Assessing the Landscape for Solar Development on Compromised Lands

• Types of environmentally compromised lands
• Broad challenges and perspectives
• Progress over the past decade
• Federal initiatives that now specifically address these sites
• Techno-economic feasibility
• Social dimensions

Gail Mosey, Project Lead – Senior Research Analyst, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

9:45 – 10:45 a.m. :: Public Sector Resources to Facilitate Solar Development on Compromised Lands

• EPA RE-Powering America’s Land Initiative
• DOE’s R-STEP
• Siting, reconnaissance and screening tools
• Engagement with state agencies and legislative bodies

Gail Mosey, Project Lead – Senior Research Analyst, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)

10:45 – 11:00 a.m. :: Morning Break

11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. :: What Are the Environmental Obstacles and How to Approach Them

• Siting
  • Locational assessment and attributes
  • Environmental engineering assessment and attributes
• Environmental liability associated with developing these sites
  • Ways to alleviate and mitigate
  • Comfort letters
• NEPA considerations associated with developing compromised lands

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

12:15 – 1:00 p.m. :: Lunch Break

1:00 – 2:45 p.m. :: Navigating the Permitting and Regulatory Process

• Key permitting requirements
  • Solid waste permits
  • Stormwater and remediation management
  • Settlement
  • Permitting timelines
  • Environmental impact review
  • Long-term O&M requirements
  • Zoning
  • Utility interconnection process
  • Distinctions between landfills, mines, superfund and other brownfield sites
• REC/SREC qualification and administration
• Liability issues and mitigation
• Practical considerations
• Opportunities for improvement

Chad Farrell, CEO, Encore Renewable Energy

Jonathan Grace, Project Manager, Sanborn Head & Associates

New York State Energy & Research Administration (NYSERDA)

2:45 – 3:00 p.m. :: Afternoon Break

3:00 – 4:30 p.m. :: Federal and State Incentives to Stimulate Contaminated Land Project Development

Besides the indisputable “parent” of all solar energy project financing – the investment tax credit (ITC) – project developments on landfills, mines, superfund sites and other brownfields have additional federal financial stimulus and incentive resources to draw from.  Moreover, state and local jurisdictions often are the sources of supplemental funds or leveraging instruments (including some devoted specifically to Brightfields).  This segment will identify and describe how developers and sponsors can access these options for their solar projects on these multiple sites.  Topics covered will include:

• Impact of federal infrastructure initiatives, especially on area-wide planning and early-stage financing
• Bonds
• REC multipliers and related incentives
• Tax increment financing
• Revolving loan funds
• Economic opportunity zones
• Property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing
• PILOT
  • Grant and loan program for clean-energy systems in non-urban utility service areas
• Other property tax relief measures

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

Ariel Miller, Senior Director – Research & Technical Assistance, Council of Development Finance Agencies (invited)

4:30 p.m. :: Course Adjourns for Day

 

Tuesday, August 22, 2023 : Central Time

 

9:00 – 10:45 a.m. :: Financing Overview of Solar Projects w/Special Attention to Environmentally Compromised Project Sites

• Legacy Solar Tax Equity Incentives
  • “Basic/Traditional” ITC and transaction structures
• New and Improved (post-Inflation Reduction Act) Solar Tax Equity Incentives
  • Extension of ITCs and PTCs
  • Option of PTC for solar
  • New carbon neutral ITC and PTC starting in 2025
  • Availability of credits for storage
  • Add-ons to the credit rates and new credits potentially yielding up to 50% ITC
    • Prevailing wage and apprenticeships and the 5X multiplier
    • Add-ons for domestic content, energy communities, environmental justice (low income)
  • Additional flexibility and accessibility
    • Ability to sell tax credits or receive direct cash payments in lieu of tax credits (“transferability”)
    • “Direct Pay” for tax-exempts, tribes, and governments

Jim Duffy, Partner, Nixon Peabody

Tony Grappone, Partner, Novogradac & Company LLC

10:45 – 11:00 a.m. :: Morning Break

11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. :: Revenue Sources & P&L Metrics

• Sources
  • Off-take options
  • Renewable energy credits (RECs) and attributes
  • Wholesale and retail electricity market revenues
  • Net energy metering
  • Storage
• P&L Metrics
  • CapEx
  • Hurdle rates
  • Return on Investment (ROI)
  • PPA terms and negotiation elements
  • Curtailment exposure and impact on financial performance
  • Debt service coverage ratio (DSCR)
  • Other considerations

Michael Marsch, Chief Development Officer, BlueWave Solar

12:15 – 1:00 p.m. :: Lunch Break

1:00 – 2:30 p.m. :: Conducting a Pre-Development Desktop Project Assessment

• Determining developability of project site
  • Environmental integrity of prior closure
  • Interconnection and infrastructure
  • Buildable acreage
  • Permit ability
• Technical feasibility
  • Capacity
  • Resource MWh per year
  • Construction duration
  • Estimated commercial operation date
• Component assessment
  • Geotechnical engineering
  • Racking systems
  • Module selection
  • BOS elements
• Project scoping and costing
  • Due diligence
  • System design
  • Equipment selection
  • Construction
  • Commissioning
  • Operation
  • Maintenance
  • Project capital expense

Michael Rauch, Director, BQ Energy

2:30 – 2:45 p.m. :: Afternoon Break

2:45 – 4:45 p.m. :: Case Studies

• Landfill
• Mine Land
• Superfund
• Utility impoundment

4:45 p.m. :: Course Adjournment

• James F. Duffy, Partner & Co-Chair – Renewable Energy Tax Credit Team, Nixon Peabody LLP

• Chad Farrell, CEO, Encore Renewable Energy

• Jonathan Grace, Project Manager, Sanborn Head & Associates

• Tony Grappone, Partner, Novogradac & Company LLP

• Michael Marsch, Chief Development Officer, BlueWave Solar

• Ariel Miller, Senior Director – Research & Technical Assistance, Council of Development Finance Agencies  (invited)

• Gail Mosey, Project Lead – Senior Research Analyst, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

• Michael Rauch, Director, BQ Energy

We will be using Microsoft Teams to facilitate your participation in the upcoming event. You do not need to have an existing Teams account in order to participate in the broadcast – the course will play in your browser and you will have the option of using a microphone to speak with the room and ask questions, or type any questions in via the chat window and our on-site representative will relay your question to the instructor.

• IMPORTANT NOTE: After November 30 you will not be able to join a Teams meeting using Internet Explorer 11. Microsoft recommends downloading and installing the Teams app if possible. You may also use the Edge browser or Chrome.
• You will receive a separate email with a unique link to a personalized landing page which will include links to join all sessions of this event.
• If you are using a microphone, please ensure that it is muted until such time as you need to ask a question.
• The remote meeting connection will be open approximately 30 minutes before the start of the course. We encourage you to connect as early as possible in case you experience any unforeseen problems.

Please Note: This event is being conducted entirely online. All attendees will connect and attend from their computer, one connection per purchase. For details please see our FAQ

If you are unable to attend at the scheduled date and time, we make recordings available to all attendees for 7 days after the event

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Solar Project Development on Landfills, Mine Land, Brownfields

August 21-22, 2023 | Online

Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before July 21, 2023 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800

Credits

EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 1.3 CEUs for this event

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program 

Participants must log in each day and be in attendance for the entirety of the course to be eligible for continuing education credit. 

Instructional Methods 

Case studies, PowerPoint presentations and group discussion will be used.  

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Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.

Course CPE Credits: 15.0
There is no prerequisite for this Course.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Advanced Preparation: None

EUCI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its web site: www.nasbaregistry.org

 

Who Should Attend

In utilities and other power systems procuring renewable energy resources:

• Procurement staff 
• Contract administration staff  
• Renewable energy planning staff 
• Integrated resource planning staff 
• (Resource) origination staff 
• Project management staff 
• Compliance staff 

In the power project development sector providing renewable energy resources: 

• Business development 
• Project management