Financing Wind Power: The Future of Energy

Eldorado Hotel and Spa
Santa Fe, NM
July 25 - 27, 2007

Who should attend  |  Why you should attend  |  Speakers Agenda  |  Instructional Information  |  Hotel Info Accreditation  |   Registration Info   |  Group Discounts Brochure   |   Sponsors  |  Cancellation Information  |   Santa Fe Visitor's Guide

Premiere Sponsor

Contributing Sponsors

Financing Wind Power: The Future of Energy
July 25-27, 2007 / Eldorado Hotel and Spa / Santa Fe, NM

• Wind Finance Basics. Industry professionals will discuss current debt and tax credit equity structures for wind financing, providing a solid understanding of how deals come together.
• Legislation & Policies . Leading industry representatives will provide up-to-date information on pending legislation and current federal policies for wind energy.
• Regulatory & Site Concerns . Industry experts will share their techniques for minimizing permitting, zoning, environmental and other regulatory roadblocks.
• Financial Considerations . Deal makers will share best practices for financing, warranties, debt and tax structuring, including addressing investor concerns.
• Community Wind . Industry panelists will discuss special issues and tactics for locally owned, locally beneficial wind projects.
• Financing Wind Companies. Knowledgeable venture capitalists will share methods for raising funds to fuel wind energy companies.

Who Should Attend

• Developers who are currently working in the wind energy industry as well as developers in other fields - such as conventional energy projects, real estate development and community revitalization projects - who are thinking about applying their expertise in bringing together debt and equity sources of financing in the development of other projects to develop wind projects
• Investors and lenders who want to learn about the current state of the wind finance industry and who see the opportunity and potential of this alternative energy source
• Government agencies looking for practical and cost-effective ways to encourage wind and other renewable sources of energy as well as looking to understand what pieces of the financial puzzle can be met by the private sector and which pieces require governmental encouragement
• Energy and tax accountants, lawyers, environmental consultants and other professional advisors who need to know the current trends in wind project finance or who want to enhance their practice in the wind energy industry
• Wind industry service providers, including turbine and component manufacturers, construction companies, wind resource consultants and asset managers who want to meet wind energy developers and transaction participants
• Venture capitalists and company financiers seeking opportunities from among the next wave of wind and renewable energy entrepreneurs

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Why You Should Attend

There are tremendous opportunities presenting themselves in the wind energy field. Although less than 1 percent of the nation's electricity is currently supplied by wind power, experts have concluded that with today's technology there is theoretically enough wind power potential in the United States to supply all of the Nation's electricity, and sufficient wind for commercial power production can be found in at least 46 states. The Bush administration has also stated that wind energy can to supply all of the Nation's electricity of America's energy needs. Given America's focus on the environment and its quest for alternative energy sources, legislative and administrative proposals are pending that could make this a reality.

This three-day conference will focus on:

• current debt and tax credit equity structures for wind financing, providing a solid understanding of how deals come together;
• up-to-date information on pending legislation and current federal and state policies for techniques for minimizing permitting, zoning, environmental and other regulatory roadblocks
• best practices for financing, warranties, debt and tax structuring, including addressing investor concerns
• special issues and tactics for locally owned, locally beneficial community wind projects
• methods for raising capital to fuel wind energy companies.

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The Speakers

Ric E. Abel
Managing Director
Prudential Capital Group
Chicago, IL

Anntonette Z. Alberti, JD
Vice President, Commercial Program Development
Tetra Tech EC, Inc.
Saratoga Springs, NY

Gregory J. Blasi
Partner
Nixon Peabody LLP
New York, NY 10022

Ted Brandt
Chief Executive Officer
Marathon Capital, LLC
Bannockburn, Illinois

Robert W. Burgdorf, Esq. * [ bio ]
Partner
Nixon Peabody LLP
Rochester, NY

Richard M. Cogen, Esq. * [ bio ]
Partner
Nixon Peabody LLP
Albany, NY

Lisa Daniels
Executive Director
Windustry
Minneapolis, MN

Daniel E. DuBois
Director
Business Development
Acciona Energy North America Corporation
Wynantskill, NY

Dennis J. Duffy
Vice President Regulatory Affairs
Cape Wind
Boston, MA

James F. Duffy, Esq. * [ bio ]
Partner
Nixon Peabody LLP
Boston, MA

John M. Eber
Managing Director-Energy Investments
JPMorgan Capital Corporation
Chicago, IL

Penny Jennings Eckert, Ph.D.
Senior Project Manager
Tetra Tech EC, Inc.
Bothell, WA

Matt Ferguson
Principal
Reznick Group
Vienna, VA

Paul J. Gaynor
President and CEO
UPC Wind Management, LLC
Newton, MA

Michael J. Goldman, Esq. * [ bio ]
Associate
Nixon Peabody LLP
Washington, DC

Jessica A. Graf, Esq. * [ bio ]
Associate
Nixon Peabody LLP
Boston, MA

John P. Harper
Principal and Founder
Birch Tree Capital, LLC
Farmingham, MA

Clifford M. Kenwood
President
Rebirth Capital, LLC
New Orleans, LA

Forrest David Milder, Esq. * [ bio ]
Partner
Nixon Peabody LLP
Boston, MA

Peter V. Murphy
Director
Standard & Poor's
New York, NY

Maura L. Schoenfeld
President
Meridian Clean Fuels
Quincy, MA

Daniel J. Smith
Partner
Novogradac & Company LLP
Dover, OH

Andrew Stern
President, New England Windpower, LLC
& Director of Action for Clean Energy, Inc.
Cambridge, MA

Eric White
Director of Engineering
AWS Truewind, LLC.
Albany, NY

Elizabeth W. Whittle
Partner
Nixon Peabody LLP
Washington, DC

*Planning Committee

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Agenda

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

2:00 - 3:00 PM
Registration Available

3:00 - 6:00 PM
Optional Pre-Conference Session: Wind Basics

For those without a strong background in the wind industry, this session will provide a succinct introduction to how wind fits into the energy situation in the United States as well as a basic overview of the process of developing and financing a wind energy project, including the principal obstacles and structuring issues. Sessions on Thursday and Friday assume this basic knowledge.

• Energy in the United States -- Why wind?
• Siting a wind project
• Environmental concerns
• Equity, debt and turbine finance
• The Production Tax Credit (PTC)

6:00 - 8:00 PM
Opening Reception for All Participants, Speakers and Sponsors

Thursday, July 26, 2007

7:30 AM
Registration and Complimentary Continental Breakfast

8:30 AM
Welcome and Introductions

8:45 AM
Legislative Update and Policy Panel

Washington, D.C. insiders will provide an up-to-the minute status report on pending legislation, including Production Tax Credit (PTC) extension prospects and any other hot federal issues

• Legislative changes in Congress in 2007
• Prospects for long-term extension of the PTC
• Federal and state renewable portfolio standards

9:30 AM
Siting the Project: Permitting, Zoning and Environmental Concerns

Experienced practitioners explain the structural nuances essential to a financeable wind energy project.

• Wind resource evaluations
• Local zoning and site plan approval process, including Not In My Backyard (NIMBY) objections
• Birds, bats, noise and other wildlife issues
• Easements, ground leases and other title issues
• Environmental impact review
• Environmental approvals
• Special issues for off-shore projects

10:45 AM
Energy Regulatory and Development Approvals

This panel will focus on the myriad of arcane energy-related documentary matters that must be successfully navigated by a wind developer in order to pass the scrutiny of an investor and lender due diligence review.

• Power purchase agreements versus merchant plants
• Grid interconnection agreements
• Transmission issues
• FAA Concerns
• FERC and state equivalent reviews

12:00 PM
Complimentary Networking Lunch with Keynote Speaker

1:30 PM
Debt Panel

A panel of seasoned lenders explains what is happening in today's ever-changing debt marketplace.

• Turbine financing
• Construction financing
• Permanent financing
• Current market pricing and terms
• What the future holds
• Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs)

2:30 PM
Equity Finance

This panel of institutional investors and professionals will share their knowledge of what is happening in today's equity markets for wind projects, including the latest trends in deal structuring.

• How investors evaluate project risks
• Risk sharing between developers, investors and lenders

3:45 PM
Tax and Accounting Issues

This panel of expert tax and accounting professionals will delve into the tax structuring issues currently affecting the markets for equity investments, as well as the latest in Internal Revenue Service hot buttons.

• Partnership allocations and flip structures
• Tax investor exit strategies
• The profit motive question

4:30 PM
Community Wind

This panel will address those issues of particular concern to developers of and investors in smaller community-scale wind projects, as well as creative ways to surmount barriers to community-scale wind development.

• Why community wind?
• Public policy to promote community wind
• The Small Turbine Investment Tax Credit
• Real world success stories for community wind

5:30 PM
First Day Wrap-Up by Co-Chairs

5:45 - 7:30 PM
Networking Cocktail Reception for All Speakers and Participants

Friday, July 27, 2007

8:00 AM
Complimentary Continental Breakfast

8:30 AM
Opening Remarks

8:45 AM
Financing Wind Energy Companies

A panel of knowledgeable venture capitalists and investment bankers will share methods for raising funds to fuel wind energy companies in both the private equity and public capital markets.

• Overcoming obstacles to financing wind energy development companies
• Convincing investors that green investing is good investing
• Cleantech Funds

9:30 AM
New Markets Tax Credits and State Tax Credits for Wind

Innovative financiers will discuss cutting-edge structures combining Production Tax Credits (PTC) with New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) and/or State Tax Credits (STC) to build and revitalize communities.

• NMTC Basics
• Using NMTCs for Wind
• STCs for Wind
• The interplay between NMTCs and PTCs and/or STCs

10:45 AM
Putting It All Together: Case Studies and Practical Lessons Learned from Successful Wind Energy Transactions

This final panel of successful wind developers and investors will share lessons learned from successful wind projects and how they can be applied to today's wind developments.

12:00 - 12:15 PM
Conference Wrap-Up

Why New Mexico?

New Mexico had a Renewable Portfolio Standard requiring 5 percent renewable energy by 2006, increasing to 10 percent in 2011. New Mexico already has several large commercial scale wind projects, and much of the state has the potential for further wind energy production. New Mexico also offers a state Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit which is in addition to the Federal Production Tax Credit available for wind energy facilities. New Mexico is one of the up-and-coming hot spots for alternative energy production, particularly wind.

Why Santa Fe?

Known as The City Different, Santa Fe is home to 70,000 people of primarily Hispanic, Anglo and Native American ancestry. Their rich history and tangible spirit shine through in the open-air market where beautifully handcrafted items are for sale. Santa Fe is also known for its arts and culture, boasting nearly 300 galleries and dealers, and in recent years has also built up its reputation with food-lovers. From basic New Mexican food to creative Southwestern cuisine, from authentic Italian, French, and Asian to almost any other world cuisines, more than 200 restaurant choices are nearby and ready to tempt your taste buds.

The city enjoys a full four seasons but is well known for its ideal climate and sunny days, which average about 300 per year. July offers highs in the low 90s and lows in the mid 50s, but most often settles around the low 80s, which provides the perfect weather for hiking, biking, river rafting, horseback riding, hot air ballooning, fly fishing, swimming, golfing, tennis and more!

Chosen as the conference site for its superior meeting space, The Eldorado Hotel & Spa is located just steps away from Santa Fe's historic plaza and is home to New Mexico's first four-star restaurant. With its stunning rooftop pool and hot tub sanctuary overlooking the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains, full-service spa and massage offerings and pueblo-revival architecture, Eldorado enjoys notoriety as the state's first four-star, four-diamond hotel. It is unlike any other hotel experience.

Santa Fe....truly worth the trip.

Santa Fe Visitor's Guide

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Registration Information

The registration fee includes all applicable sessions, refreshments, lunches, receptions and reference and/or course materials unless otherwise noted. Payment must be received by July 16, 2007 to ensure your registration . IPED accepts Visa, MasterCard and payment by check. Government purchase orders and American Express are not accepted. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this policy.
$795 General Fee
$545 Non-profit/Government/Education Organization
(Proof of tax exempt status must accompany registration.)
Early Registration: Save $100 if registered by June 8, 2007!

Special Needs: Any person with disabilities attending the conference who believes he or she might need a reasonable accommodation to participate should contact us at least four weeks in advance.

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Group discounts

For 3-5 registrants, deduct $50 per person from the applicable rate. For 6 or more registrants, deduct $100 per person from the applicable rate. To receive this discount, you must register all individuals in one transaction. This discount CANNOT be combined with any other offer, including the Early Registration Offer.

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Cancellation Information

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations must be received in writing (by mail, fax or e-mail) in the IPED office no later than 10 days prior to the conference start date. A $150 administrative fee will be deducted from all cancellation refunds received in the office no later than 10 days prior to the conference start date. Any cancellation received less than 10 days prior to the conference start date, or any confirmed registrant who fails to attend the conference, forfeits the entire registration fee. Option: If you have registered and paid but find you are unable to attend or have missed the date for a refund, IPED will allow you to transfer your registration fee to a colleague or to any IPED conference within the next 12 months. Each change to a registration is subject to a $50 administrative fee.

Questions? Please contact IPED, Inc. at 202-331-9230 or info@ipedinc.net.

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Instructional Information

All sessions will be presented by on-site speakers and will include individual presentations, panel discussions, question-and-answer opportunities and/or workshops. When applicable, reference and/or course material will be provided for each registrant. No formal prerequisites or advanced preparations are required, but attendance at the Optional Pre-Conference Session: Wind Basics on Wednesday, July 25 is highly recommended for those new to the wind industry. Special Needs: Any person with a disability who believes he/she may need reasonable accommodations to participate should contact IPED no later than 4 weeks prior to the conference start date. Accreditation: IPED will provide assistance in acquiring CLE and CPE credits when available and applicable. For more information, please visit www. ipedinc.net. Recommended Dress: Business Casual.

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Event Hotel Information

Eldorado Hotel & Spa
309 West San Francisco Street
Santa Fe, NM 87501
800-955-4455
http://www.eldoradohotel.com

IPED has secured a block of rooms at a rate of $209 per night through July 16, 2007. Reservations made after July 16 - or after the room block has been filled - will be taken on a space available basis and higher rates may apply. To make your reservation, please contact the hotel directly.

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Accreditation

IPED will seek approval for continuing legal education credits on an as needed basis. Please indicate on your registration form if you need these credits. State bar associations have the final authority on the acceptance of individual courses and IPED will do everything it can to ensure these requirements are met when seeking approval.

IPED 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 have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE Credits. Complaints regarding registered spon­sors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, 150 Fourth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219-2417, www.nasba.org.

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