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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
| | | | | | | | | | | |
☒ | | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
| | For the Fiscal Year ended | December 31, 2020 |
☐ | | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the Transition period from to . |
Commission File Number: 001-36002
Clearway Energy, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Delaware | | 46-1777204 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| | | |
300 Carnegie Center, Suite 300 | Princeton | New Jersey | 08540 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(609) 608-1525
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| | | | | | | | |
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 | CWEN.A | New York Stock Exchange |
Class C Common Stock, par value $0.01 | CWEN | New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ |
| | Emerging growth company | ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
Yes ☒ No ☐
As of the last business day of the most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the common stock of the registrant held by non-affiliates was approximately $1,786,941,297 based on the closing sale prices of such shares as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date.
| | | | | | | | |
Class | | Outstanding at January 31, 2021 |
Common Stock, Class A, par value $0.01 per share | | 34,599,645 |
Common Stock, Class B, par value $0.01 per share | | 42,738,750 |
Common Stock, Class C, par value $0.01 per share | | 81,635,540 |
Common Stock, Class D, par value $0.01 per share | | 42,738,750 |
Documents Incorporated by Reference:
Portions of the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement relating to its 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Index
| | | | | |
GLOSSARY OF TERMS | |
PART I | |
Item 1 — Business | |
Item 1A — Risk Factors | |
Item 1B — Unresolved Staff Comments | |
Item 2 — Properties | |
Item 3 — Legal Proceedings | |
Item 4 — Mine Safety Disclosures | |
PART II | |
Item 5 — Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities | |
Item 6 — Selected Financial Data | |
Item 7 — Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | |
Item 7A — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | |
Item 8 — Financial Statements and Supplementary Data | |
Item 9 — Changes in Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure | |
Item 9A — Controls and Procedures | |
Item 9B — Other Information | |
PART III | |
Item 10 — Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance | |
Item 11 — Executive Compensation | |
Item 12 — Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters | |
Item 13 — Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence | |
Item 14 — Principal Accounting Fees and Services | |
PART IV | |
Item 15 — Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules | |
EXHIBIT INDEX | |
Item 16 — Form 10-K Summary | |
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
When the following terms and abbreviations appear in the text of this report, they have the meanings indicated below:
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2020 Convertible Notes | | $45 million aggregate principal amount of 3.25% convertible notes due 2020, issued by Clearway Energy, Inc., which were repaid on June 1, 2020 |
2024 Senior Notes | | $500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.375% unsecured senior notes due 2024, issued by Clearway Energy Operating LLC, which were repaid on January 3,2020 |
2025 Senior Notes | | $600 million aggregate principal amount of 5.750% unsecured senior notes due 2025, issued by Clearway Energy Operating LLC |
2026 Senior Notes | | $350 million aggregate principal amount of 5.00% unsecured senior notes due 2026, issued by Clearway Energy Operating LLC |
2028 Senior Notes | | $850 million aggregate principal amount of 4.75% unsecured senior notes due 2028, issued by Clearway Energy Operating LLC |
Adjusted EBITDA | | A non-GAAP measure, represents earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization adjusted for mark-to-market gains or losses, asset write offs and impairments; and factors which the Company does not consider indicative of future operating performance |
ARO | | Asset Retirement Obligation |
ASC | | The FASB Accounting Standards Codification, which the FASB established as the source of authoritative GAAP |
ASU | | Accounting Standards Updates – updates to the ASC |
ATM Programs | | At-The-Market Equity Offering Programs |
Bankruptcy Code | | Title 11 of the U.S. Code |
Bankruptcy Court | | U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California |
Buckthorn Solar Drop Down Asset | | Buckthorn Renewables, LLC, which owns 100% of Buckthorn Solar Portfolio, LLC, which was acquired by Clearway Energy Operating LLC from NRG on March 30, 2018 |
CAFD | | A non-GAAP measure, Cash Available for Distribution is defined as of December 31, 2020 as Adjusted EBITDA plus cash distributions/return of investment from unconsolidated affiliates, adjustments to reflect CAFD generated by unconsolidated investments that were not able to distribute project dividends prior to PG&E's emergence from bankruptcy on July 1, 2020 and subsequent release post-bankruptcy, cash receipts from notes receivable, cash distributions from noncontrolling interests, adjustments to reflect sales-type lease cash payments, less cash distributions to noncontrolling interests, maintenance capital expenditures, pro-rata Adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated affiliates, cash interest paid, income taxes paid, principal amortization of indebtedness, Walnut Creek investment payments, changes in prepaid and accrued capacity payments, and adjusted for development expenses. |
Carlsbad Drop Down | | The acquisition by the Company of the Carlsbad Energy Center, a 527 MW natural gas fired project located in Carlsbad, CA |
CEG | | Clearway Energy Group LLC (formerly Zephyr Renewables LLC) |
CEG Master Services Agreement | | Master Services Agreements entered into as of August 31, 2018 between the Company, Clearway Energy LLC and Clearway Energy Operating LLC, and CEG |
CEG ROFO Agreement | | Right of First Offer Agreement, entered into as of August 31, 2018, by and between Clearway Energy Group LLC and Clearway Energy, Inc., and solely for purposes of Section 2.4, GIP III Zephyr Acquisition Partners, L.P., as amended by the First Amendment dated February 14, 2019, the Second Amendment dated August 1, 2019, the Third Amendment dated December 6, 2019 and the Fourth Amendment dated November 2, 2020 |
Clearway Energy LLC | | The holding company through which the projects are owned by Clearway Energy Group LLC, the holder of Class B and Class D units, and Clearway Energy, Inc., the holder of the Class A and Class C units |
Clearway Energy Group LLC | | The holder of the Company's Class B and Class D common shares and Clearway Energy LLC's Class B and Class D units |
Clearway Energy Operating LLC | | The holder of the project assets that are owned by Clearway Energy LLC |
COD | | Commercial Operation Date |
Code | | Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended |
Company | | Clearway Energy, Inc. together with its consolidated subsidiaries |
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CVSR | | California Valley Solar Ranch |
CVSR Holdco | | CVSR Holdco LLC, the indirect owner of CVSR |
DGPV Holdco Entities | | Collectively, DGPV Holdco 1, DGPV Holdco 2 and DGPV Holdco 3 |
DGPV Holdco 1 | | DGPV Holdco 1 LLC |
DGPV Holdco 2 | | DGPV Holdco 2 LLC |
DGPV Holdco 3 | | DGPV Holdco 3 LLC |
Distributed Solar | | Solar power projects, typically less than 20 MW in size, that primarily sell power produced to customers for usage on site, or are interconnected to sell power into the local distribution grid |
Drop Down Assets | | Collectively, assets under common control acquired by the Company from NRG from January 1, 2014 through the period ended August 31, 2018 and from CEG from August 31, 2018 through the period ending December 31, 2020 |
Economic Gross Margin | | A non-GAAP measure, energy and capacity revenue, less cost of fuels. See Item 7 — Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Management's discussion of the results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 for a discussion of this measure. |
ECP | | Energy Center Pittsburgh LLC, a subsidiary of the Company |
EPA | | United States Environmental Protection Agency |
EPC | | Engineering, Procurement and Construction |
ERCOT | | Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the ISO and the regional reliability coordinator of the various electricity systems within Texas |
EWG | | Exempt Wholesale Generator |
Exchange Act | | The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended |
FASB | | Financial Accounting Standards Board |
FERC | | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
FPA | | Federal Power Act |
GAAP | | Accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. |
GenConn | | GenConn Energy LLC |
GHG | | Greenhouse gas |
GIM | | Global Infrastructure Management, LLC |
GIP | | Collectively, Global Infrastructure Partners III-C Intermediate AIV 3, L.P., Global Infrastructure Partners III-A/B AIV 3, L.P., Global Infrastructure Partners III-C Intermediate AIV 2, L.P., Global Infrastructure Partners III-C2 Intermediate AIV, L.P. and GIP III Zephyr Friends & Family, LLC. |
GIP Transaction | | On August 31, 2018, NRG transferred its full ownership interest in the Company to Clearway Energy Group LLC and subsequently sold 100% of its interests in Clearway Energy Group LLC, which includes NRG's renewable energy development and operations platform, to an affiliate of GIP. GIP, NRG and the Company also entered into a consent and indemnity agreement in connection with the purchase and sale agreement, which was signed on February 6, 2018 |
HLBV | | Hypothetical Liquidation at Book Value |
IRS | | Internal Revenue Service |
ISO | | Independent System Operator, also referred to as an RTO |
ITC | | Investment Tax Credit |
kWh | | Kilowatt Hour |
| | |
LIBOR | | London Inter-bank Offered Rate |
MBTA | | Migratory Bird Treaty Act |
MMBtu | | Million British Thermal Units |
MW | | Megawatt |
MWh | | Saleable megawatt hours, net of internal/parasitic load megawatt-hours |
MWt | | Megawatts Thermal Equivalent |
NERC | | North American Electric Reliability Corporation |
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Net Exposure | | Counterparty credit exposure to Clearway Energy, Inc. net of collateral |
NOLs | | Net Operating Losses |
NOx | | Nitrogen Oxides |
NPNS | | Normal Purchases and Normal Sales |
NRG | | NRG Energy, Inc. |
NRG Power Marketing | | NRG Power Marketing LLC |
NRG TSA | | Transition Services Agreement, entered into as of August 31, 2018, by and between NRG and the Company |
OCI/OCL | | Other comprehensive income/loss |
O&M | | Operations and Maintenance |
PG&E | | Pacific Gas and Electric Company |
PG&E Bankruptcy | | On January 29, 2019, PG&E Corporation and Pacific Gas and Electric Company filed voluntary petitions for relief under the Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California |
PJM | | PJM Interconnection, LLC |
PPA | | Power Purchase Agreement |
PTC | | Production Tax Credit |
PUCT | | Public Utility Commission of Texas |
PUHCA | | Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005 |
PURPA | | Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 |
QF | | Qualifying Facility under PURPA |
RENOM | | Clearway Renewable Operation & Maintenance LLC |
ROFO | | Right of First Offer |
RPS | | Renewable Portfolio Standards |
RTO | | Regional Transmission Organization |
SCE | | Southern California Edison |
SEC | | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |
Senior Notes | | Collectively, the 2024 Senior Notes, the 2025 Senior Notes, the 2026 Senior Notes and the 2028 Senior Notes |
SO2 | | Sulfur Dioxide |
SREC | | Solar Renewable Energy Credit |
Tax Act | | Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 |
Thermal Business | | The Company's thermal business, which consists of thermal infrastructure assets that provide steam, hot water and/or chilled water, and in some instances electricity, to commercial businesses, universities, hospitals and governmental units |
UPMC Thermal Project | | The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Thermal Project, a 73 MWt district energy system that allows ECP to provide steam, chilled water and 7.5 MW of emergency backup power service to UPMC |
U.S. | | United States of America |
U.S. DOE | | U.S. Department of Energy |
Utah Solar Portfolio | | Collection consists of Four Brothers Solar, LLC, Granite Mountain Holdings, LLC, and Iron Springs Holdings, LLC, which are equity investments owned by Four Brothers Capital, LLC, Granite Mountain Capital, LLC, and Iron Springs Capital, LLC, respectively |
Utility Scale Solar | | Solar power projects, typically 20 MW or greater in size (on an alternating current, or AC, basis), that are interconnected into the transmission or distribution grid to sell power at a wholesale level |
VaR | | Value at Risk |
VIE | | Variable Interest Entity |
Wind TE Holdco | | Wind TE Holdco LLC, an 814 net MW portfolio of twelve wind projects |
PART I
Item 1 — Business
General
Clearway Energy, Inc. together with its consolidated subsidiaries, or the Company, is a publicly-traded energy infrastructure investor in and owner of modern, sustainable and long-term contracted assets across North America. The Company is indirectly owned by Global Infrastructure Partners III. Global Infrastructure Management, LLC is an independent fund manager that invests in infrastructure assets in the energy and transport sectors, and Global Infrastructure Partners III is its third equity fund. The Company is sponsored by GIP through GIP's portfolio company, CEG.
The Company is one of the largest renewable energy owners in the U.S. with over 4,200 net MW of installed wind and solar generation projects. The Company also owns approximately 2,500 net MW of environmentally-sound, highly efficient natural gas generation facilities as well as a portfolio of district energy systems. Through this environmentally-sound, diversified and primarily contracted portfolio, the Company endeavors to provide its investors with stable and growing dividend income. Substantially all of the Company's generation assets are under long-term contractual arrangements for the output or capacity from these assets. The weighted average remaining contract duration of these offtake agreements was approximately 13 years as of December 31, 2020 based on CAFD.
The Company consolidates the results of Clearway Energy LLC through its controlling interest, with CEG's interest shown as noncontrolling interest in the financial statements. The holders of the Company's outstanding shares of Class A and Class C common stock are entitled to dividends as declared. CEG receives its distributions from Clearway Energy LLC through its ownership of Clearway Energy LLC Class B and Class D units.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company owns 57.61% of the economic interests of Clearway Energy LLC, with CEG retaining 42.39% of the economic interests of Clearway Energy LLC.
A complete listing of the Company's interests in facilities, operations and/or projects owned or leased as of December 31, 2020 can be found in Item 2 — Properties.
History
The Company was formed as a Delaware corporation on December 20, 2012 by NRG. On August 31, 2018, NRG transferred its full ownership interest in the Company to CEG, the holder of NRG's renewable energy development and operations platform, and subsequently sold 100% of its interest in CEG to GIP, referred to hereinafter as the GIP Transaction.
The Company is the sole managing member of Clearway Energy LLC and operates and controls all of its business and affairs and consolidates the financial results of Clearway Energy LLC and its subsidiaries. Clearway Energy LLC is a holding company for the companies that directly and indirectly own and operate the Company's assets. As of December 31, 2020, the Company owns 57.61% of the economic interests of Clearway Energy LLC, with CEG retaining 42.39% of the economic interests of Clearway Energy LLC. As a result of the current ownership of the Class B common stock and Class D common stock, CEG controls the Company, and the Company in turn, as the sole managing member of Clearway Energy LLC, controls Clearway Energy LLC and its subsidiaries.
The diagram below depicts the Company’s organizational structure as of December 31, 2020:
Business Strategy
The Company's primary business strategy is to focus on the acquisition and ownership of assets with predictable, long-term cash flows in order that it may be able to increase the cash dividends paid to holders of the Company's Class A and Class C common stock over time without compromising the ongoing stability of the business.
The Company's plan for executing its business strategy includes the following key components:
Focus on contracted renewable energy and conventional generation and thermal infrastructure assets. The Company owns and operates utility scale and distributed renewable energy and natural gas-fired generation, thermal and other infrastructure assets with proven technologies, low operating risks and stable cash flows. The Company believes by focusing on this core asset class and leveraging its industry knowledge, it will maximize its strategic opportunities, be a leader in operational efficiency and maximize its overall financial performance.
Growing the business through acquisitions of contracted operating assets. The Company believes that its base of operations provides a platform in the conventional and renewable power generation and thermal sectors for strategic growth through cash accretive and tax advantaged acquisitions complementary to its existing portfolio. In addition to acquiring renewable generation, conventional generation and thermal infrastructure assets from third parties where the Company believes its knowledge of the market and operating expertise provides it with a competitive advantage, the Company entered into the CEG ROFO Agreement. Under the CEG ROFO Agreement, CEG has granted the Company and its affiliates a right of first offer on any proposed sale, transfer or other disposition of certain assets of CEG, or the CEG ROFO Assets, until August 31, 2023. CEG is not obligated to sell the remaining CEG ROFO Assets to the Company and, if offered by CEG, the Company cannot be sure whether these assets will be offered on acceptable terms, or that the Company will choose to consummate such acquisitions. The Company and CEG work collaboratively in considering new assets to be added under the CEG ROFO
Agreement or to be acquired by the Company outside of the CEG ROFO Agreement. The assets listed below represent the Company's currently committed investments in projects with CEG and the CEG ROFO Assets:
Committed Investments and CEG ROFO Assets
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Asset | | Technology | | Gross Capacity (MW) | | State | | COD | | Status |
Pinnacle Repowering | | Wind | | 55 | | WV | | 2021 | | Committed |
Mesquite Sky (a) | | Wind | | 345 | | TX | | 2021 | | Committed |
Black Rock (a) | | Wind | | 110 | | WV | | 2021 | | Committed |
Mililani I (a) | | Solar | | 39 | | HI | | 2022 | | Committed |
Waiawa (a) | | Solar | | 36 | | HI | | 2022 | | Committed |
Daggett (a) | | Solar | | 482 | | CA | | 2022 | | Committed |
Wildflower | | Solar | | 100 | | MS | | 2023 | | ROFO |
(a) Projects included in a co-investment partnership with Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc
Primary focus on North America. The Company intends to primarily focus its investments in North America (including the unincorporated territories of the U.S.). The Company believes that industry fundamentals in North America present it with significant opportunity to grow its portfolio without creating significant exposure to currency and sovereign risk. By primarily focusing its efforts on North America, the Company believes it will best leverage its regional knowledge of power markets, industry relationships and skill sets to maximize the performance of the Company.
Maintain sound financial practices to grow the dividend. The Company intends to maintain a commitment to disciplined financial analysis and a balanced capital structure to enable it to increase its quarterly dividend over time and serve the long-term interests of its stockholders. The Company's financial practices include a risk and credit policy focused on transacting with creditworthy counterparties; a financing policy, which focuses on seeking an optimal capital structure through various capital formation alternatives to minimize interest rate and refinancing risks, ensure stable long-term dividends and maximize value; and a dividend policy that is based on distributing a significant portion of CAFD each quarter that the Company receives from Clearway Energy LLC, subject to available capital, market conditions and compliance with associated laws, regulations and other contractual obligations. The Company intends to evaluate various alternatives for financing future acquisitions and refinancing of existing project-level debt, in each case, to reduce the cost of debt, extend maturities and maximize CAFD. The Company believes it has additional flexibility to seek alternative financing arrangements, including, but not limited to, debt financings and equity-like instruments.
Competition
Power generation is a capital-intensive business with numerous and diverse industry participants. The Company competes on the basis of the location of its plants and on the basis of contract price and terms of individual projects. Within the power industry, there is a wide variation in terms of the capabilities, resources, nature and identity of the companies with whom the Company competes depending on the market. Competitors for energy supply are utilities, independent power producers and other providers of distributed generation. The Company also competes to acquire new projects with renewable developers who retain renewable power plant ownership, independent power producers, financial investors and other dividend, growth-oriented companies. Competitive conditions may be substantially affected by capital market conditions and by various forms of energy legislation and regulation considered by federal, state and local legislatures and administrative agencies, including tax policy. Such laws and regulations may substantially increase the costs of acquiring, constructing and operating projects, and it could be difficult for the Company to adapt to and operate under such laws and regulations.
The Company's Thermal Business has certain cost efficiencies that may form barriers to entry. Generally, there is only one district energy system in a given territory, for which the only competition comes from on-site systems. While the district energy system can usually make an effective case for the efficiency of its services, some building owners nonetheless may opt for on-site systems, either due to corporate policies regarding allocation of capital, unique situations where an on-site system might in fact prove more efficient or because of previously committed capital in systems that are already on-site. Growth in existing district energy systems generally comes from new building construction or existing building conversions within the service territory of the district energy provider.
Competitive Strengths
Stable, high quality cash flows. The Company's facilities have a stable, predictable cash flow profile consisting of predominantly long-life electric generation assets that sell electricity under long-term fixed priced contracts or pursuant to regulated rates with investment grade and certain other creditworthy counterparties. The Company's facilities have minimal fuel risk. For the Company's conventional assets, fuel is provided by the toll counterparty or the cost thereof is a pass-through cost under the Contract for Differences. Renewable facilities have no fuel costs, and most of the Company's thermal infrastructure assets have contractual or regulatory tariff mechanisms for fuel cost recovery. The offtake agreements for the Company's conventional and renewable generation facilities have a weighted-average remaining duration, based on CAFD, of approximately 13 years as of December 31, 2020, providing long-term cash flow stability. The Company's generation offtake agreements with counterparties for whom credit ratings are available have a weighted-average Moody’s rating of Ba1 based on rated capacity under contract. All of the Company's assets are in the U.S. and accordingly have no currency or repatriation risks.
Environmentally well-positioned portfolio of assets. The Company's portfolio of electric generation assets consists of 4,208 net MW of renewable generation capacity that are non-emitting sources of power generation. The Company's conventional assets consist of the dual fuel-fired GenConn assets as well as the Carlsbad, Marsh Landing and Walnut Creek simple cycle natural gas-fired peaking generation facilities and the El Segundo combined cycle natural gas-fired peaking facility. The Company does not anticipate having to expend any significant capital expenditures in the foreseeable future to comply with current environmental regulations applicable to its generation assets. Taken as a whole, the Company believes its strategy will be a net beneficiary of current and potential environmental legislation and regulatory requirements that may serve as a catalyst for capacity retirements and improve market opportunities for environmentally well-positioned assets like the Company's assets once its current offtake agreements expire.
High quality, long-lived assets with low operating and capital requirements. The Company benefits from a portfolio of relatively younger assets, other than thermal infrastructure assets. The Company's assets are comprised of proven and reliable technologies, provided by leading original solar and wind equipment manufacturers such as General Electric, Siemens AG, SunPower Corporation, or SunPower, First Solar Inc., or First Solar, Vestas, Mitsubishi, Trina Solar, JA Solar and Siemens Gamesa. Given the modern nature of the portfolio, which includes a substantial number of relatively low operating and maintenance cost solar and wind generation assets, the Company expects to achieve high fleet availability and expend modest maintenance-related capital expenditures.
Significant scale and diversity. The Company owns and operates a large and diverse portfolio of electric generation and thermal infrastructure assets. As of December 31, 2020, the Company owns and operates a portfolio of 6,690 net MW of primarily contracted renewable and conventional generation assets which benefit from significant diversification in terms of technology, fuel type, counterparty and geography. The Company's Thermal Business consists of thirteen operations, seven of which are district energy centers that provide steam and chilled water to approximately 695 customers, and six of which provide generation. The Company believes its scale and access to best practices across the fleet improves its business development opportunities through enhanced industry relationships, reputation and understanding of regional power market dynamics. Furthermore, the Company's diversification reduces its operating risk profile and reliance on any single market.
Relationship with GIP and CEG. The Company believes that its relationship with GIP and CEG provides significant benefits. GIM, the manager of GIP, is an independent infrastructure fund manager that invests in infrastructure assets and businesses in both the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and select emerging market countries. GIM has a strong track record of investment and value creation in the renewable energy sector. GIM also has extensive experience with publicly traded yield vehicles and development platforms, ranging from Europe's first application of a yield company/development company model to the largest renewable platform in Asia-Pacific. Additionally, the Company believes that CEG provides the Company access to a highly capable renewable development and operations platform that is aligned to support the Company's growth.
Thermal infrastructure business has high entry costs. Significant capital has been invested to construct the Company's thermal infrastructure assets, serving as a barrier to entry in the markets in which such assets operate. The Company's thermal district energy centers are located in urban city areas, with the chilled water and steam delivery systems located underground. Constructing underground delivery systems in urban areas requires long lead times for permitting, rights of way and inspections and is costly. By contrast, the incremental cost to add new customers in existing markets is relatively low. Once thermal infrastructure is established, the Company believes it has the ability to retain customers over long periods of time and to compete effectively for additional business against stand-alone on-site heating and cooling generation facilities. Installation of stand-alone equipment can require significant modification to a building as well as significant space for equipment and funding for capital expenditures. The Company's system technologies often provide economies of scale in terms of fuel procurement, ability to switch between multiple types of fuel to generate thermal energy, and fuel conversion efficiency.
Segment Review
The following tables summarize the Company's operating revenues, net income (loss) and assets by segment for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, as discussed in Item 15 — Note 13, Segment Reporting, to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
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| Year ended December 31, 2020 |
(In millions) | Conventional Generation | | Renewables | | Thermal | | Corporate | | Total |
Operating revenues | $ | 437 | | | $ | 569 | | | $ | 193 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,199 | |
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Net income (loss) | 140 | | | (109) | | | 3 | | | (96) | | | (62) | |
Total assets | 2,575 | | | 7,157 | | | 627 | | | 233 | | | 10,592 | |
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| Year ended December 31, 2019 |
(In millions) | Conventional Generation | | Renewables | | Thermal | | Corporate | | Total |
Operating revenues | $ | 346 | | | $ | 485 | | | $ | 201 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,032 | |
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Net income (loss) | 135 | | | (104) | | | (5) | | | (122) | | | (96) | |
Total assets | 2,753 | | | 6,186 | | | 633 | | | 128 | | | 9,700 | |
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| Year ended December 31, 2018 |
(In millions) | Conventional Generation | | Renewables | | Thermal | | Corporate | | Total |
Operating revenues | $ | 337 | | | $ | 523 | | | $ | 193 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,053 | |
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Net income (loss) | 135 | | | 86 | | | 29 | | | (196) | | | 54 | |
Policy Incentives
Policy incentives in the U.S. have the effect of making the development of renewable energy projects more competitive by providing credits and other tax benefits for a portion of the development costs. A loss of or reduction in such incentives could decrease the attractiveness of renewable energy projects to developers, including CEG, which could reduce the Company's future acquisition opportunities. Such a loss or reduction could also reduce the Company's willingness to pursue or develop certain renewable energy projects due to higher operating costs or decreased revenues under its PPAs.
U.S. federal, state and local governments have established various incentives to support the development of renewable energy projects. These incentives include accelerated tax depreciation, PTCs, ITCs, cash grants, tax abatements and RPS programs. Pursuant to the U.S. federal Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System, or MACRS, wind and solar projects are generally fully depreciated for tax purposes over a five-year period (before taking into account certain conventions) even though the useful life of such projects is generally much longer than five years. The Tax Act also provides the ability for wind and solar projects to claim immediate expensing for property acquired and placed in service after September 27, 2017, and before January 1, 2023.
Owners of utility-scale wind facilities are eligible to claim an income tax credit (the PTC, or an ITC in lieu of the PTC) upon initially achieving commercial operation. The PTC is determined based on the amount of electricity produced by the wind facility during the first ten years of commercial operation. This incentive was created under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and has been extended several times. Alternatively, an ITC equal to a percentage of the cost of a wind facility may be claimed in lieu of the PTC. In order to qualify for the PTC (or ITC in lieu of the PTC), construction of a wind facility must begin before a specified date and the taxpayer must maintain a continuous program of construction or continuous efforts to advance the project to completion. The Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, issued guidance stating that the safe harbor for continuous efforts and continuous construction requirements will generally be satisfied if the facility is placed in service no more than four years after the year in which construction of the facility began. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS extended this safe harbor by one year for facilities that began construction in 2016 or 2017. The IRS also confirmed that retrofitted wind facilities may re-qualify for PTCs or ITCs pursuant to the beginning construction requirement, as long as the cost basis of the new investment is at least 80% of the facility’s total fair value.
Owners of solar projects are eligible to claim an ITC for new solar projects. Tax credits for qualifying wind and solar projects are subject to the following phase-down schedule.
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| Year construction of project begins |
| 2015 | | 2016 | | 2017 | | 2018 | | 2019 | | 2020 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2024 |
PTC (a) | 100 | % | | 100 | % | | 80 | % | | 60 | % | | 40 | % | | 60 | % | | 60 | % | | — | % | | — | % | | — | % |
On Shore Wind ITC (b) | 30 | % | | 30 | % | | 24 | % | | 18 | % | | 12 | % | | 18 | % | | 18 | % | | — | % | | — | % | | — | % |
Solar ITC (c) | 30 | % | | 30 | % | | 30 | % | | 30 | % | | 30 | % | | 26 | % | | 26 | % | | 26 | % | | 22 | % | | 10 | % |
(a) Percentage of the full PTC available for wind projects that begin construction during the applicable year.
(b) The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 provides for a new 30% ITC for offshore wind projects that begin construction before January 1, 2026.
(c) ITC is limited to 10% for projects not placed in service before January 1, 2026.
RPS, currently in place in certain states and territories, require electricity providers in the state or territory to meet a certain percentage of their retail sales with energy from renewable sources. Additionally, other states in the U.S. have set renewable energy goals to reduce GHG emissions from historic levels. The Company believes that these standards and goals will create incremental demand for renewable energy in the future.
Regulatory Matters
As owners of power plants and participants in wholesale and thermal energy markets, certain of the Company's subsidiaries are subject to regulation by various federal and state government agencies. These agencies include FERC and the PUCT, as well as other public utility commissions in certain states where the Company's assets are located. Each of the Company's U.S. generating facilities qualifies as an EWG or QF. In addition, the Company is subject to the market rules, procedures and protocols of the various ISO and RTO markets in which it participates. Likewise, certain of the Company's subsidiaries must also comply with the mandatory reliability requirements imposed by NERC and the regional reliability entities in the regions where the Company has generating facilities subject to NERC's reliability authority. The Company's operations within the ERCOT footprint are not subject to rate regulation by FERC, as they are deemed to operate solely within the ERCOT market and not in interstate commerce. These operations are subject to regulation by PUCT.
FERC
FERC, among other things, regulates the transmission and the wholesale sale of electricity in interstate commerce under the authority of the FPA. The transmission and sale of electric energy occurring wholly within ERCOT is not subject to FERC’s jurisdiction. Under existing regulations, FERC has the authority to determine whether an entity owning a generation facility is an EWG, as defined in the PUHCA. FERC also has the authority to determine whether a generation facility meets the applicable criteria of a QF under the PURPA. Each of the Company’s U.S. generating facilities qualifies as either an EWG or QF.
The FPA gives FERC exclusive rate-making jurisdiction over the wholesale sale of electricity and transmission of electricity in interstate commerce of public utilities (as defined by the FPA). Under the FPA, FERC, with certain exceptions, regulates owners and operators of facilities used for the wholesale sale of electricity or transmission in interstate commerce as public utilities, and is charged with ensuring that market rules that are just and reasonable.
Public utilities are required to obtain FERC’s acceptance, pursuant to Section 205 of the FPA, of their rate schedules for the wholesale sale of electricity. Several of the Company's QF generating facilities and all of the Company’s non-QF generating facilities located in the U.S. outside of ERCOT make sales of electricity pursuant to market-based rates, as opposed to traditional cost-of-service regulated rates. FERC conducts a review of the market-based rates of Company public utilities and potential market power every three years according to a regional schedule established by FERC.
In accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, FERC has approved the NERC as the national Energy Reliability Organization, or ERO. As the ERO, NERC is responsible for the development and enforcement of mandatory reliability standards for the wholesale electric power system. In addition to complying with NERC requirements, each entity must comply with the requirements of the regional reliability entity for the region in which it is located.
The PURPA was passed in 1978 in large part to promote increased energy efficiency and development of independent power producers. The PURPA created QFs to further both goals, and FERC is primarily charged with administering the PURPA as it applies to QFs. QFs are exempt from certain regulations under the FPA.
The PUHCA provides FERC with certain authority over and access to books and records of public utility holding companies not otherwise exempt by virtue of their ownership of EWGs, QFs, and Foreign Utility Companies. The Company is exempt from many of the accounting, record retention, and reporting requirements of the PUHCA.
Environmental Matters
The Company is subject to a wide range of environmental laws during the development, construction, ownership and operation of facilities. These existing and future laws generally require that governmental permits and approvals be obtained before construction and maintained during operation of facilities. The Company is obligated to comply with all environmental laws and regulations applicable within each jurisdiction and required to implement environmental programs and procedures to monitor and control risks associated with the construction, operation and decommissioning of regulated or permitted energy assets. Federal and state environmental laws have historically become more stringent over time, although this trend could change in the future.
A number of regulations that may affect the Company are either recently effective for 2021 or under review for potential revision or rescission in 2021, including the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, state solar photovoltaic module (solar panel) disposal and recycling regulations, and federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, or MBTA, incidental take regulations. Government leaders have also considered proposed MBTA legislation. The Company will evaluate the impact of the legislation and regulations as they are revised but cannot fully predict the impact of each until anticipated revisions and legal challenges are resolved. To the extent that proposed legislation and new or revised regulations restrict or otherwise impact the Company's operations, the proposed legislation and regulations could have a negative impact on the Company's financial performance.
Affordable Clean Energy Rule — The attention in recent years on GHG emissions has resulted in federal regulations and state legislative and regulatory action. In 2015, the EPA finalized the Clean Power Plan, or the CPP, which addressed GHG emissions from existing electric utility steam generating units. The CPP was challenged in court and in 2016 the U.S. Supreme Court stayed the CPP. In 2019, the EPA published the Affordable Clean Energy, or ACE, rule to replace the CPP. The ACE rule establishes emission guidelines for states to develop plans to address greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants. The ACE rule also reinforces the states’ broad discretion in establishing and applying emissions standards to new emission sources. However, on January 19, 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a judgment vacating and remanding the ACE rule. The CPP is currently expected to become effective in 2021, barring additional action by the Biden Administration or the U.S. Supreme Court. The reimplementation of the CPP, or a potential replacement of the CPP by the Biden Administration with another program regulating GHG emissions could result in increased operating costs or capital expenses for our conventional power generating facilities.
Proposed and Final State Solar Photovoltaic Module Disposal and Recycling Regulations — On October 1, 2015, California enacted SB 489, which authorized California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control ("DTSC") to adopt regulations to designate discarded photovoltaic modules, which are classified as hazardous waste, as universal waste subject to universal waste management. On April 19, 2019, the department proposed regulations that would allow discarded photovoltaic modules to be managed as universal waste. The final regulations were approved by the CA Office of Administrative Law in September 2020 and became effective January 1, 2021. DTSC issued the final regulatory text in April 2020 and the regulations became effective January 1, 2021.
In January 2021, the State of Hawaii issued a public notice of proposed rule changes which amongst other items, include proposed new solar panel universal waste rule. This proposed rule would create a new universal waste category for solar panels and allow solar panel waste management to be conducted under the existing regulatory framework.
Proposed Federal MBTA Incidental Take Legislation and Regulations — On January 15, 2020, the House Natural Resources Committee voted to advance a bill that would reinstate the interpretation that incidental take is prohibited under the MBTA, overriding the Trump-administration Solicitor’s Opinion M-37050 that held the MBTA only applies to intentional takings. The bill also develops a general permitting program that covers incidental take of migratory birds. To the extent that electric generation takes migratory birds, it typically is incidental to its operations.
On January 7, 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) published a final rule codifying the Solicitor’s Opinion M-37050 defining the scope of certain prohibitions under the MBTA. The final rule clarifies that criminal liability for pursuing, hunting, taking, capturing, or killing or attempting to take, capture or kill migratory birds is limited to actions directed at migratory birds, their nests, or their eggs. Under the final rule, these prohibitions do not extend to actions that only incidentally take or kill migratory birds as a result of otherwise lawful activities. However, the final rule and the underlying Solicitor’s Opinion have both been subject to legal challenges. On August 11, 2020, the Southern District Court in New York vacated the Solicitor's Opinion, finding there was not an adequate legal basis for the policy changes articulated in the guidance
document. In addition, on January 19, 2021, environmental groups filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York arguing that the FWS’s January 2021 final rule improperly relied on the vacated Solicitor’s Opinion, violates the MBTA, and should be vacated. Finally, on January 20, 2021, President Biden issued an executive order to review and consider suspending, revising, or rescinding agency actions taken between January 20, 2017 and January 20, 2021 determined to be inconsistent with certain public health and environmental goals. This includes a review of both the Solicitor’s Opinion and the FWS’s January 2021 final rule. In response to this directive, on February 9, 2021, the FWS delayed the effective date of the January 2021 final rule until March 8, 2021 and requested public comment to inform its review and a potential extended delay. A return to the position that incidental take is prohibited under the MBTA, or the development of legislation or regulations contrary to the FWS’s January 2021 rule, could increase potential liability and impose additional permitting requirements on our operations.
State Migratory Bird Incidental Take Legislation and Regulations — In 2019, Assembly Member Kalra introduced AB 454 to protect migratory bird species in California. This new bill was intended to backstop the MBTA. The bill, which sunsets on January 20, 2025, makes it unlawful to take or possess any migratory bird in California except as provided by pre-2017 federal guidance. The bill was approved by the State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Newsom in October 2019.
Customers
The Company sells its electricity and environmental attributes, including RECs, primarily to local utilities under long-term, fixed-price PPAs. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company derived approximately 34% of its consolidated revenue from Southern California Edison, or SCE, and approximately 18% of its consolidated revenue from PG&E.
Human Capital
As of December 31, 2020, the Company had 301 employees, 56 of which are in Corporate and 245 of which are in the Thermal business. The Company also depends upon personnel of CEG for the provision of management, administration, O&M and certain other services at certain of the Company's renewable generation facilities.
The Company focuses on attracting, developing and retaining a team of highly talented and motivated employees. The Company regularly conducts assessments of its compensation and benefit practices and pay levels to help ensure that staff members are compensated fairly and competitively. The Company devotes extensive resources to staff development and training, including tuition assistance for career-enhancing academic and professional programs. Employee performance is measured in part based on goals that are aligned with the Company's annual objectives. The Company recognizes that its success is based on the talents and dedication of those it employs, and the Company is highly invested in their success. See "Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)" below for a discussion of the Company's commitment to the health and safety of the Company's employees.
The Company is committed to maintaining a workplace that acknowledges, encourages, and values diversity and inclusion. The Company believes that individual differences, experiences, and strengths enrich the culture and fabric of its organization. Having employees with backgrounds and orientations that reflect a variety of viewpoints and experiences also helps the Company to better understand the needs of its customers and the communities in which it operates.
By leveraging the multitude of backgrounds and perspectives of its team and developing ongoing relationships with diverse vendors, the Company achieves a collective strength that enhances the work place and makes the Company a better business partner for its customers and others with a stake in the Company’s success.
In 2020, the Company launched its Equity, Partnership & Inclusion Council, or EPIC. As part of its commitment, the Company provides education on topics related to diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism. The Company also identified three areas of focus – Our People, Our Product & Customers and Our Purchasing. With the involvement of its employees, EPIC is advancing efforts in each of these areas to identify and implement opportunities for the Company to address equity, partnership and inclusion issues in our business activities.
Our People focuses on education and training; diversity, equity and inclusion policies and recruitment strategies; community and industry partnerships; and maintaining high employee engagement and retention.
Our Product & Customers focuses on identifying and eliminating any sales practices that could have a discriminatory impact and creating program development for low-income customers.
Our Purchasing focuses on establishing a non-discriminatory practices standard for the Company’s suppliers, diverse vendor sourcing and benchmarking.
In addition to the personnel of CEG, the Company relies on other third-party service providers in the daily operations of certain of the Company's renewable and conventional facilities.
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
The Company is committed to engaging with its stakeholders on environmental, social and governance, or ESG, matters in a proactive, holistic and integrated manner. The Company strives to provide recent, credible and comparable data to ESG agencies while engaging institutional investors and investor advocacy organizations around ESG issues. The Company's Corporate Governance, Conflicts and Nominating Committee reviews developing trends and emerging ESG matters, as well as the Company’s strategies, activities policies and communications regarding ESG matters, and makes recommendations to the Company's Board of Directors regarding potential actions by the Company.
The Company has issued $1.1 billion of corporate green bonds under a green bond framework that applies the net proceeds to finance or refinance, in part or in full, new and existing projects and assets meeting certain criteria focused on the supply of energy from renewable resources, including solar energy and wind energy. The Company's projects and alignment of its Green Bond Principles (2018) are reviewed by Sustainalytics, an outside consultant with recognized expertise in ESG research and analysis.
The Company includes safety performance goals in the annual incentive plan for its management and the Company had zero fatalities in 2020. In response to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Company has implemented preventative measures and developed corporate and regional response plans to protect the health and safety of its employees, customers and other business counterparties, while supporting the Company’s suppliers and customers’ operations to the best of its ability in the circumstances. The Company also has modified certain business practices (including discontinuing all non-essential business travel, implementing a temporary work-from-home policy for employees who can execute their work remotely and encouraging employees to adhere to local and regional social distancing, more stringent hygiene and cleaning protocols across the Company’s facilities and operations and self-quarantining recommendations) to support efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and to conform to government restrictions and best practices encouraged by governmental and regulatory authorities. The Company continues to evaluate these measures, response plans and business practices in light of the evolving effects of COVID-19.
As discussed in greater detail above, the Company has focused its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in three areas – Our People, Our Product & Customers and Our Purchasing – through its launch of EPIC. With the involvement of the Company’s employees, EPIC is advancing efforts in each of these areas to identify and implement opportunities for the Company to address equity, partnership and inclusion issues in its business activities.
Available Information
The Company's annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are available free of charge through the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website, www.clearwayenergy.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The Company also routinely posts press releases, presentations, webcasts, and other information regarding the Company on its website. The information posted on the Company's website is not a part of this report.
Item 1A — Risk Factors
Summary of Risk Factors
The Company’s business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, discussed in more detail in the following section. These risks include among others, the following key risks:
Risks Related to the Company’s Business
•The ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak or any other pandemic could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
•Certain facilities are newly constructed and may not perform as expected.
•The Company's ability to grow and make acquisitions through cash on hand could be limited.
•The Company may not be able to effectively identify or consummate any future acquisitions on favorable terms, or at all.
•Counterparties to the Company's offtake agreements may not fulfill their obligations and, as the contracts expire, the Company may not be able to replace them with agreements on similar terms in light of increasing competition in the markets in which the Company operates.
•The Company’s ability to effectively consummate future acquisitions will also depend on the Company’s ability to arrange the required or desired financing for acquisitions.
•Even if the Company consummates acquisitions that it believes will be accretive to CAFD per share of Class A common stock and Class C common stock, those acquisitions may decrease the CAFD per share of Class A common stock and Class C common stock as a result of incorrect assumptions in the Company’s evaluation of such acquisitions, unforeseen consequences or other external events beyond the Company’s control.
•The Company’s indebtedness could adversely affect its ability to raise additional capital to fund the Company’s operations or pay dividends, and its debt may be adversely affected by changes to, or replacement of, the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR.
•The operation of electric generation facilities depends on suitable meteorological conditions and involves significant risks and hazards customary to the power industry that could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. These facilities may operate without long-term power sales agreements.
•Maintenance, expansion and refurbishment of electric generation facilities involve significant risks that could result in unplanned power outages or reduced output.
•Supplier and/or customer concentration at certain of the Company's facilities may expose the Company to significant financial credit or performance risks. The Company's operations also depend on key personnel.
•The Company currently owns, and in the future may acquire, certain assets in which the Company has limited control over management decisions and its interests in such assets may be subject to transfer or other related restrictions.
•The Company's assets are exposed to risks inherent in the use of interest rate swaps and forward fuel purchase contracts and the Company may be exposed to additional risks in the future if it utilizes other derivative instruments.
•The Company does not own all of the land on which its power generation or thermal assets are located, which could result in disruption to its operations.
•The Company's businesses are subject to physical, market and economic risks relating to potential effects of climate change.
•Risks that are beyond the Company's control, including but not limited to acts of terrorism or related acts of war, natural disaster, hostile cyber intrusions or other catastrophic events, could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
•The operation of the Company’s businesses is subject to cyber-based security and integrity risk.
•The Company relies on electric distribution and transmission facilities that it does not own or control and that are subject to transmission constraints within a number of the Company's regions. If these facilities fail to provide the Company with adequate transmission capacity, it may be restricted in its ability to deliver electric power to its customers and may either incur additional costs or forego revenues.
•The Company's costs, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be adversely impacted by the disruption of the fuel supplies necessary to generate power at its conventional and thermal power generation facilities.
Risks Related to the Company’s Relationship with GIP and CEG
•GIP, through its ownership of CEG, is the Company's controlling stockholder and exercises substantial influence over the Company. The Company is highly dependent on GIP and CEG.
•The Company may not be able to consummate future acquisitions from CEG.
•The Company may be unable to terminate the CEG Master Services Agreement, in certain circumstances.
•If CEG terminates the CEG Master Services Agreement or defaults in the performance of its obligations under the agreement, the Company may be unable to contract with a substitute service provider on similar terms, or at all.
•The Company is a “controlled company," controlled by GIP, and as a result, is exempt from certain corporate governance requirements that are designed to provide protection to stockholders of companies that are not controlled companies.
Risks Related to Regulation
•The Company's business is subject to restrictions resulting from environmental, health and safety laws and regulations.
•The electric generation business is subject to substantial governmental regulation, including environmental laws, and may be adversely affected by changes in laws or regulations, as well as liability under, or any future inability to comply with, existing or future regulations or other legal requirements.
•Government regulations providing incentives for renewable generation could change at any time and such changes may negatively impact the Company's growth strategy.
•The profitability of certain of the Company's Thermal assets is dependent on regulatory approval.
Risks Related to the Company's Common Stock
•The Company may not be able to continue paying comparable or growing cash dividends to holders of its common stock in the future.
•Market interest rates and reports of securities analysts may have an effect on the value of the Company's Class A and Class C common stock.
•Market volatility may affect the price of the Company's Class A and Class C common stock, and future issuance of additional shares of common stock may cause dilution of investors' ownership interest.
•Provisions of the Company's charter documents or Delaware law could delay or prevent an acquisition of the Company, even if the acquisition would be beneficial to holders of the Company's Class A and Class C common stock, and could make it more difficult to change management.
Risks Related to Taxation
•The Company's future tax liability may be greater than expected if the Company does not generate NOLs sufficient to offset taxable income, if federal, state and local tax authorities challenge certain of the Company’s tax positions and exemptions or if changes in federal, state and local tax laws occur.
•The Company's ability to use NOLs to offset future income may be limited.
•A valuation allowance may be required for the Company's deferred tax assets.
•Distributions to holders of the Company's Class A and Class C common stock may be taxable.
Risks Related to the Company's Business
The ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic or any other pandemic could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
The ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, which the World Health Organization declared as a pandemic on March 11, 2020, has reached every region of the world and has resulted in widespread adverse impacts on the global economy. In response, the Company has modified certain business and workforce practices (including discontinuing all non-essential business travel, implementing a temporary work-from-home policy for employees who can execute their work remotely and encouraging employees to adhere to local and regional social distancing, more stringent hygiene and cleaning protocols across the Company’s facilities and operations and self-quarantining recommendations) to conform to government restrictions and best practices encouraged by governmental and regulatory authorities. However, the quarantine of personnel or the inability to access the Company’s facilities or customer sites could adversely affect the Company’s operations. Also, the Company has a limited number of highly skilled employees for some of its operations. If a large proportion of the Company’s employees in those critical positions were to contract COVID-19 at the same time, the Company would rely upon its business continuity plans in an effort to continue operations at its facilities, but there is no certainty that such measures will be sufficient to mitigate the adverse impact to its operations that could result from shortages of highly skilled employees.
There is considerable uncertainty regarding how long the COVID-19 pandemic will persist and affect economic conditions, as well as whether governmental and other measures implemented to try to slow the spread of the virus, such as large-scale travel bans and restrictions, border closures, quarantines, shelter-in-place orders and business and government shutdowns that exist as of the date of this report will be effective or whether new measures will be implemented or reinstated. Restrictions of this nature may cause the Company, its suppliers and other business counterparties to experience operational delays and delays in the delivery of materials and supplies and may cause milestones or deadlines relating to various projects to be missed. As a result, the Company could experience reductions in its sales and corresponding revenues in future periods. In addition, worsening economic conditions could result in the Company’s customers being unable or unwilling to fulfill their contractual obligations over time, or as contracts expire, to replace them with agreements on similar terms, which would impact the Company’s future financial performance. A significant decline in sales for the output the Company generates, whether due to decreases in consumer demand or disruption to its facilities or otherwise, would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial expectations, its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, its ability to make distributions to its stockholders, the market prices of its common stock and its ability to satisfy its debt service obligations.
As of the date of this report, the Company's efforts to respond to the challenges presented by the conditions described above have allowed the Company to minimize the impacts to its business.
Additionally, the effects of COVID-19 or any other pandemic on the global economy could adversely affect the Company’s ability to access the capital and other financial markets, and if so, the Company may need to consider alternative sources of funding for some of its operations and for working capital, which may increase its cost of, as well as adversely impact its access to, capital. These uncertain economic conditions may also result in the inability of the Company’s customers and other counterparties to make payments to the Company, on a timely basis or at all, which could adversely affect the Company’s financial expectations, its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, its ability to make distributions to its stockholders, the market prices of its common stock and its ability to satisfy its debt service obligations.
The Company cannot predict the full impact that COVID-19 will have on the Company’s financial expectations, its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, its ability to make distributions to its stockholders, the market prices of its common stock and its ability to satisfy its debt service obligations at this time, due to numerous uncertainties. The ultimate impacts will depend on future developments, including, among others, the ultimate duration and persistence of the pandemic, the consequences of governmental and other measures designed to prevent the spread of the virus, the ability of governments and health care providers to timely distribute available vaccines and the efficacy of such vaccines, the duration of the outbreak, actions taken by governmental actions taken by authorities, customers, suppliers and other third parties, workforce availability and the timing and extent to which normal economic and operating conditions resume.
Certain facilities are newly constructed and may not perform as expected.
Certain of the Company's conventional and renewable assets are newly constructed. The ability of these facilities to meet the Company's performance expectations is subject to the risks inherent in newly constructed power generation facilities and the construction of such facilities, including, but not limited to, degradation of equipment in excess of the Company's expectations, system failures, and outages. The failure of these facilities to perform as the Company expects could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and its ability to pay dividends to holders of the Company's common stock.
Pursuant to the Company's cash dividend policy, the Company intends to distribute a significant amount of the CAFD through regular quarterly distributions and dividends, and the Company's ability to grow and make acquisitions through cash on hand could be limited.
The Company expects to distribute a significant amount of the CAFD each quarter and to rely primarily upon external financing sources, including the issuance of debt and equity securities and, if applicable, borrowings under the Company's revolving credit facility to fund acquisitions and growth capital expenditures. The Company may be precluded from pursuing otherwise attractive acquisitions if the projected short-term cash flow from the acquisition or investment is not adequate to service the capital raised to fund the acquisition or investment, after giving effect to the Company's available cash reserves. To the extent the Company issues additional equity securities in connection with any acquisitions or growth capital expenditures, the payment of dividends on these additional equity securities may increase the risk that the Company will be unable to maintain or increase its per share dividend. The incurrence of bank borrowings or other debt by Clearway Energy Operating LLC or by the Company's project-level subsidiaries to finance the Company’s growth strategy will result in increased interest expense and the imposition of additional or more restrictive covenants, which, in turn, may impact the cash distributions the Company receives to distribute to holders of the Company’s common stock.
The Company may not be able to effectively identify or consummate any future acquisitions on favorable terms, or at all.
The Company's business strategy includes growth through the acquisitions of additional generation assets (including through corporate acquisitions). This strategy depends on the Company’s ability to successfully identify and evaluate acquisition opportunities and consummate acquisitions on favorable terms. However, the number of acquisition opportunities is limited. In addition, the Company will compete with other companies for these limited acquisition opportunities, which may increase the Company’s cost of making acquisitions or cause the Company to refrain from making acquisitions at all. Some of the Company’s competitors for acquisitions are much larger than the Company with substantially greater resources. These companies may be able to pay more for acquisitions and may be able to identify, evaluate, bid for and purchase a greater number of assets than the Company’s financial or human resources permit. If the Company is unable to identify and consummate future acquisitions, it will impede the Company’s ability to execute its growth strategy and limit the Company’s ability to increase the amount of dividends paid to holders of the Company’s common stock.
Furthermore, the Company’s ability to acquire future renewable facilities may depend on the viability of renewable assets generally. These assets currently are largely contingent on public policy mechanisms including ITCs, cash grants, loan guarantees, accelerated depreciation, RPS and carbon trading plans. These mechanisms have been implemented at the state and federal levels to support the development of renewable generation, demand-side and smart grid and other clean infrastructure technologies. The availability and continuation of public policy support mechanisms will drive a significant part of the economics and viability of the Company’s growth strategy and expansion into clean energy investments.
Counterparties to the Company's offtake agreements may not fulfill their obligations and, as the contracts expire, the Company may not be able to replace them with agreements on similar terms in light of increasing competition in the markets in which the Company operates.
A significant portion of the electric power the Company generates is sold under long-term offtake agreements with public utilities or industrial or commercial end-users, with a weighted average remaining duration, based on CAFD, of approximately 13 years. As of December 31, 2020, the largest customers of the Company's power generation assets, including assets in which the Company has less than a 100% membership interest, were SCE and PG&E, which represented 34% and 18%, respectively, of total consolidated revenues generated by the Company during the year ended December 31, 2020. On July 1, 2020, PG&E emerged from bankruptcy.
If, for any reason, any of the purchasers of power under these agreements are unable or unwilling to fulfill their related contractual obligations or if they refuse to accept delivery of power delivered thereunder or if they otherwise terminate such agreements prior to the expiration thereof, the Company's assets, liabilities, business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected. Furthermore, to the extent any of the Company's power purchasers are, or are controlled by, governmental entities, the Company's facilities may be subject to legislative or other political action that may impair their contractual performance.
The power generation industry is characterized by intense competition and the Company's electric generation assets encounter competition from utilities, industrial companies and independent power producers, in particular with respect to uncontracted output. In recent years, there has been increasing competition among generators for offtake agreements and this has contributed to a reduction in electricity prices in certain markets characterized by excess supply above designated reserve margins. In light of these market conditions, the Company may not be able to replace an expiring or terminated agreement with an agreement on equivalent terms and conditions, including at prices that permit operation of the related facility on a profitable basis. In addition, the Company believes many of its competitors have well-established relationships with the Company's current and potential suppliers, lenders and customers, and have extensive knowledge of its target markets. As a result, these competitors may be able to respond more quickly to evolving industry standards and changing customer requirements than the Company will be able to. The adoption of more advanced technology could reduce its competitors' power production costs resulting in their having a lower cost structure than is achievable with the technologies currently employed by the Company and adversely affect its ability to compete for offtake agreement renewals. If the Company is unable to replace an expiring or terminated offtake agreement, the affected facility may temporarily or permanently cease operations. External events, such as a severe economic downturn or force majeure events, could also impair the ability of some counterparties to the Company's offtake agreements and other customer agreements to pay for energy and/or other products and services received.
The Company's inability to enter into new or replacement offtake agreements or to compete successfully against current and future competitors in the markets in which the Company operates could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The Company’s ability to effectively consummate future acquisitions will also depend on the Company’s ability to arrange the required or desired financing for acquisitions.
The Company may not have sufficient availability under the Company’s credit facilities or have access to project-level financing on commercially reasonable terms when acquisition opportunities arise. An inability to obtain the required or desired financing could significantly limit the Company’s ability to consummate future acquisitions and effectuate the Company’s growth strategy. If financing is available, utilization of the Company’s credit facilities or project-level financing for all or a portion of the purchase price of an acquisition could significantly increase the Company’s interest expense, impose additional or more restrictive covenants and reduce CAFD. Similarly, the issuance of additional equity securities as consideration for acquisitions could cause significant stockholder dilution and reduce the Company’s dividends if the acquisitions are not sufficiently accretive. The Company’s ability to consummate future acquisitions may also depend on the Company’s ability to obtain any required regulatory approvals for such acquisitions, including, but not limited to, approval by FERC under Section 203 of the FPA.
Finally, the acquisition of companies and assets are subject to substantial risks, including the failure to identify material problems during due diligence (for which the Company may not be indemnified post-closing), the risk of overpaying for assets (or not making acquisitions on an accretive basis) and the ability to retain customers. Further, the integration and consolidation of acquisitions requires substantial human, financial and other resources and, ultimately, the Company's acquisitions may divert management’s attention from the Company's existing business concerns, disrupt the Company's ongoing business or not be successfully integrated. There can be no assurances that any future acquisitions will perform as expected or that the returns from such acquisitions will support the financing utilized to acquire them or maintain them. As a result, the consummation of acquisitions may have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends to holders of the Company’s common stock.
Even if the Company consummates acquisitions that it believes will be accretive to CAFD per share of Class A common stock and Class C common stock, those acquisitions may decrease the CAFD per share of Class A common stock and Class C common stock as a result of incorrect assumptions in the Company’s evaluation of such acquisitions, unforeseen consequences or other external events beyond the Company’s control.
The acquisition of existing generation assets involves the risk of overpaying for such projects (or not making acquisitions on an accretive basis) and failing to retain the customers of such projects. While the Company will perform due diligence on prospective acquisitions, the Company may not discover all potential risks, operational issues or other issues in such generation assets. Further, the integration and consolidation of acquisitions require substantial human, financial and other resources and, ultimately, the Company’s acquisitions may divert the Company’s management’s attention from its existing business concerns, disrupt its ongoing business or not be successfully integrated. Future acquisitions might not perform as expected or the returns from such acquisitions might not support the financing utilized to acquire them or maintain them. A failure to achieve the financial returns the Company expects when it acquires generation assets could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to grow its business and make cash distributions to its Class A and Class C stockholders. Any failure of the Company’s acquired generation assets to be accretive or difficulty in integrating such acquisition into the Company’s business could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to grow its business and make cash
distributions to its Class A and Class C stockholders.
The Company’s indebtedness could adversely affect its ability to raise additional capital to fund the Company’s operations or pay dividends. It could also expose the Company to the risk of increased interest rates and limit the Company’s ability to react to changes in the economy or the Company’s industry as well as impact the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company had approximately $7,043 million of total consolidated indebtedness, $5,243 million of which was incurred by the Company's non-guarantor subsidiaries. In addition, the Company’s share of its unconsolidated affiliates’ total indebtedness and letters of credit outstanding as of December 31, 2020, totaled approximately $481 million and $59 million, respectively (calculated as the Company’s unconsolidated affiliates’ total indebtedness as of such date multiplied by the Company’s percentage membership interest in such assets).
The Company’s substantial debt could have important negative consequences on the Company’s financial condition, including:
•increasing the Company’s vulnerability to general economic and industry conditions;
•requiring a substantial portion of the Company’s cash flow from operations to be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on the Company’s indebtedness, therefore reducing the Company’s ability to pay dividends to holders of the Company’s capital stock (including the Class A and Class C common stock) or to use the Company’s cash flow to fund its operations, capital expenditures and future business opportunities;
•limiting the Company’s ability to enter into long-term power sales or fuel purchases which require credit support;
•limiting the Company’s ability to fund operations or future acquisitions;
•restricting the Company’s ability to make certain distributions with respect to the Company’s capital stock (including the Class A and Class C common stock) and the ability of the Company’s subsidiaries to make certain distributions to it, in light of restricted payment and other financial covenants in the Company’s credit facilities and other financing agreements;
•exposing the Company to the risk of increased interest rates because certain of the Company’s borrowings, which may include borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility, are at variable rates of interest;
•limiting the Company’s ability to obtain additional financing for working capital including collateral postings, capital expenditures, debt service requirements, acquisitions and general corporate or other purposes; and
•limiting the Company’s ability to adjust to changing market conditions and placing it at a competitive disadvantage compared to the Company’s competitors who have less debt.
The Company's revolving credit facility contains financial and other restrictive covenants that limit the Company’s ability to return capital to stockholders or otherwise engage in activities that may be in the Company’s long-term best interests. The Company’s inability to satisfy certain financial covenants could prevent the Company from paying cash dividends, and the Company’s failure to comply with those and other covenants could result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived, may entitle the related lenders to demand repayment or enforce their security interests, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, failure to comply with such covenants may entitle the related lenders to demand repayment and accelerate all such indebtedness.
The agreements governing the Company’s project-level financing contain financial and other restrictive covenants that limit the Company’s project subsidiaries’ ability to make distributions to the Company or otherwise engage in activities that may be in the Company’s long-term best interests. The project-level financing agreements generally prohibit distributions from the project entities to the Company unless certain specific conditions are met, including the satisfaction of certain financial ratios. The Company’s inability to satisfy certain financial covenants may prevent cash distributions by the particular project(s) to it and, the Company’s failure to comply with those and other covenants could result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived may entitle the related lenders to demand repayment or enforce their security interests, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, failure to comply with such covenants may entitle the related lenders to demand repayment and accelerate all such indebtedness. If the Company is unable to make distributions from the Company’s project-level subsidiaries, it would likely have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to pay dividends to holders of the Company’s common stock.
Letter of credit facilities to support project-level contractual obligations generally need to be renewed after five to seven years, at which time the Company will need to satisfy applicable financial ratios and covenants. If the Company is unable to renew the Company’s letters of credit as expected or replace them with letters of credit under different facilities on favorable terms or at all, the Company may experience a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Furthermore, such inability may constitute a default under certain project-level financing arrangements, restrict the ability of the project-level subsidiary to make distributions to it and/or reduce the amount of cash available at such subsidiary to make distributions to the Company.
In addition, the Company’s ability to arrange financing, either at the corporate level or at a non-recourse project-level subsidiary, and the costs of such capital, are dependent on numerous factors, including:
•general economic and capital market conditions;
•credit availability from banks and other financial institutions;
•investor confidence in the Company, its partners, GIP, through CEG, as the Company’s principal stockholder (on a combined voting basis) and the regional wholesale power markets;
•the Company’s financial performance and the financial performance of the Company subsidiaries;
•the Company’s level of indebtedness and compliance with covenants in debt agreements;
•maintenance of acceptable project credit ratings or credit quality;
•cash flow; and
•provisions of tax and securities laws that may impact raising capital.
The Company may not be successful in obtaining additional capital for these or other reasons. Furthermore, the Company may be unable to refinance or replace project-level financing arrangements or other credit facilities on favorable terms or at all upon the expiration or termination thereof. The Company's failure, or the failure of any of the Company’s projects, to obtain additional capital or enter into new or replacement financing arrangements when due may constitute a default under such existing indebtedness and may have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Changes in the method of determining the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, or the replacement of LIBOR with an alternative reference rate, may adversely affect interest expense related to outstanding debt.
Amounts drawn under the Company's revolving credit facility and certain of the Company's project-level debt facilities currently bear interest at rates based on LIBOR. On July 27, 2017, the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom announced that it would phase out LIBOR as a benchmark by the end of 2021. On November 30, 2020, ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, the administrator of LIBOR, with the support of the United States Federal Reserve and the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, announced plans to consult on ceasing publication of USD LIBOR on December 31, 2021 for only the one week and two month USD LIBOR tenors, and on June 30, 2023 for all other USD LIBOR tenors. While this announcement extends the transition period to June 30, 2023, the United States Federal Reserve concurrently issued a statement advising banks to stop new LIBOR issuances by the end of 2021. In light of these recent announcements, the future of LIBOR at this time is uncertain and any changes in the methods by which LIBOR is determined or regulatory activity related to LIBOR’s phase-out could cause LIBOR to perform differently than in the past or cease to exist. While the Company's revolving credit facility includes a mechanism to amend the facilities to reflect the establishment of an alternative rate of interest upon the occurrence of certain events related to the phase-out of LIBOR, many of the Company's project-level debt facilities and swap arrangements do not. The Company has not yet pursued technical amendments or other contractual alternatives to address this matter with respect to all its existing debt facilities and swap arrangements and is continuing to evaluate the impact of LIBOR’s expected replacement. If no such amendments or other contractual alternatives are established on or prior to the phase-out of LIBOR, interest under the Company's revolving credit facility and other project-level debt facilities will bear interest at higher rates based on the prime rate until such amendments or other contractual amendments are established. Even if the Company has entered into interest rate swaps or other derivative instruments for purposes of managing its interest rate exposure or has otherwise amended its interest rate swaps or other derivative instruments to reflect an alternative reference rate, these hedging strategies may not be effective as a result of the replacement or phasing out of LIBOR, and the Company may incur losses as a result. The potential increase in the Company’s interest expense as a result of the phase-out of LIBOR and uncertainty as to the nature of the alternative reference rates could have an adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Certain of the Company's long-term bilateral contracts result from state-mandated procurements and could be declared invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction.
A portion of the Company's revenues are derived from long-term bilateral contracts with utilities that are regulated by their respective states, and have been entered into pursuant to certain state programs. Certain long-term contracts that other companies have with state-regulated utilities have been challenged in federal court and have been declared unconstitutional on the grounds that the rate for energy and capacity established by the contracts impermissibly conflicts with the rate for energy and capacity established by FERC pursuant to the FPA. If certain of the Company's state-mandated agreements with utilities are ever held to be invalid or unenforceable due to the financial conditions or other conditions of such utility, the Company may be unable to replace such contracts, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The generation of electric energy from solar and wind energy sources depends heavily on suitable meteorological conditions.
If solar or wind conditions are unfavorable, the Company's electricity generation and revenue from renewable generation facilities may be substantially below the Company's expectations. The electricity produced and revenues generated by a solar or wind energy generation facility is highly dependent on suitable solar or wind conditions, as applicable, and associated weather conditions, which are beyond the Company's control. Furthermore, components of the Company's systems, such as solar panels and inverters, could be damaged by severe weather, such as wildfires, hailstorms, tornadoes or freezing temperatures and other winter weather conditions. In addition, replacement and spare parts for key components may be difficult or costly to acquire or may be unavailable. Unfavorable weather and atmospheric conditions could impair the effectiveness of the Company's assets or reduce their output beneath their rated capacity or require shutdown of key equipment, impeding operation of the Company's renewable assets. For example, in February 2021, the Company's wind projects in Texas were unable to operate and experienced outages for a few days as a result of the extreme winter weather conditions. In addition, climate change may have the long-term effect of changing wind patterns at the Company's projects. Changing wind patterns could cause changes in expected electricity generation. These events could also degrade equipment or components and the interconnection and transmission facilities’ lives or maintenance costs.
Although the Company bases its investment decisions with respect to each renewable generation facility on the findings of related wind and solar studies conducted on-site prior to construction or based on historical conditions at existing facilities, actual climatic conditions at a facility site, particularly wind conditions, may not conform to the findings of these studies and may be affected by variations in weather patterns, including any potential impact of climate change. Therefore, the Company's solar and wind energy facilities may not meet anticipated production levels or the rated capacity of the Company's generation assets, which could adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Operation of electric generation facilities involves significant risks and hazards customary to the power industry that could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The ongoing operation of the Company's facilities involves risks that include the breakdown or failure of equipment or processes or performance below expected levels of output or efficiency due to wear and tear, latent defect, design error or operator error or force majeure events, among other things. Operation of the Company's facilities also involves risks that the Company will be unable to transport its products to its customers in an efficient manner due to a lack of transmission capacity. Unplanned outages of generating units, including extensions of scheduled outages due to mechanical failures or other problems, occur from time to time and are an inherent risk of the business. Unplanned outages typically increase operation and maintenance expenses, capital expenditures and may reduce revenues as a result of selling fewer MWh or require the Company to incur significant costs as a result of obtaining replacement power from third parties in the open market to satisfy forward power sales obligations. The Company's inability to operate its electric generation assets efficiently, manage capital expenditures and costs and generate earnings and cash flow from the Company's asset-based businesses could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. While the Company maintains insurance, obtains warranties from vendors and obligates contractors to meet certain performance levels, the proceeds of such insurance, warranties or performance guarantees may not cover the Company's lost revenues, increased expenses or liquidated damages payments should it experience equipment breakdown or non-performance by contractors or vendors.
Power generation involves hazardous activities, including acquiring, transporting and unloading fuel, operating large pieces of rotating equipment and delivering electricity to transmission and distribution systems.
In addition to natural risks such as earthquake, flood, lightning, hurricane and wind, other hazards, such as fire, explosion, structural collapse and machinery failure are inherent risks in the Company's operations. These and other hazards can cause significant personal injury or loss of life, severe damage to and destruction of property, plant and equipment and contamination of, or damage to, the environment and suspension of operations. The occurrence of any one of these events may
result in the Company being named as a defendant in lawsuits asserting claims for substantial damages, including for environmental cleanup costs, personal injury and property damage and fines and/or penalties. The Company maintains an amount of insurance protection that it considers adequate but cannot provide any assurance that the Company's insurance will be sufficient or effective under all circumstances and against all hazards or liabilities to which the Company may be subject. Furthermore, the Company's insurance coverage is subject to deductibles, caps, exclusions and other limitations. A loss for which the Company is not fully insured (which may include a significant judgment against any facility or facility operator) could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Further, due to rising insurance costs and changes in the insurance markets, the Company cannot provide any assurance that its insurance coverage will continue to be available at all or at rates or on terms similar to those presently available. Any losses not covered by insurance could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Maintenance, expansion and refurbishment of electric generation facilities involve significant risks that could result in unplanned power outages or reduced output.
The Company's facilities may require periodic upgrading and improvement. Any unexpected operational or mechanical failure, including failure associated with breakdowns and forced outages, could reduce the Company's facilities' generating capacity below expected levels, reducing the Company's revenues and jeopardizing the Company's ability to pay dividends to holders of its common stock at expected levels or at all. Degradation of the performance of the Company's solar facilities above levels provided for in the related offtake agreements may also reduce the Company's revenues. Unanticipated capital expenditures associated with maintaining, upgrading or repairing the Company's facilities may also reduce profitability.
If the Company makes any major modifications to its conventional power generation facilities, it may be required to install the best available control technology or to achieve the lowest achievable emission rates as such terms are defined under the new source review provisions of the Clean Air Act in the future. Any such modifications could likely result in substantial additional capital expenditures. The Company may also choose to repower, refurbish or upgrade its facilities based on its assessment that such activity will provide adequate financial returns. Such facilities require time for development and capital expenditures before commencement of commercial operations, and key assumptions underpinning a decision to make such an investment may prove incorrect, including assumptions regarding construction costs, timing, available financing and future fuel and power prices. These events could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The Company’s facilities may operate, wholly or partially, without long-term power sales agreements.
The Company’s facilities may operate without long-term power sales agreements for some or all of their generating capacity and output and therefore be exposed to market fluctuations. Without the benefit of long-term power sales agreements for the facilities, the Company cannot be sure that it will be able to sell any or all of the power generated by the facilities at commercially attractive rates or that the facilities will be able to operate profitably. This could lead to less predictable revenues, future impairments of the Company's property, plant and equipment or to the closing of certain of its facilities, resulting in economic losses and liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.
Supplier and/or customer concentration at certain of the Company's facilities may expose the Company to significant financial credit or performance risks.
The Company often relies on a single contracted supplier or a small number of suppliers for the provision of fuel, transportation of fuel, equipment, technology and/or other services required for the operation of certain facilities. In addition, certain of the Company's suppliers provide long-term warranties with respect to the performance of their products or services. If any of these suppliers cannot perform under their agreements with the Company, or satisfy their related warranty obligations, the Company will need to utilize the marketplace to provide or repair these products and services. There can be no assurance that the marketplace can provide these products and services as, when and where required. The Company may not be able to enter into replacement agreements on favorable terms or at all. If the Company is unable to enter into replacement agreements to provide for fuel, equipment, technology and other required services, it would seek to purchase the related goods or services at market prices, exposing the Company to market price volatility and the risk that fuel and transportation may not be available during certain periods at any price. The Company may also be required to make significant capital contributions to remove, replace or redesign equipment that cannot be supported or maintained by replacement suppliers, which could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations, credit support terms and cash flows.
In addition, potential or existing customers at the Company’s district energy centers and combined heat and power plants, or the Energy Centers, may opt for on-site systems in lieu of using the Company’s Energy Centers, either due to corporate policies regarding the allocation of capital, unique situations where an on-site system might in fact prove more efficient, because of previously committed capital in systems that are already on-site, or otherwise. At times, the Company relies on a single customer or a few customers to purchase all or a significant portion of a facility's output, in some cases under long-term agreements that account for a substantial percentage of the anticipated revenue from a given facility.
The failure of any supplier to fulfill its contractual obligations to the Company or the Company’s loss of potential or existing customers could have a material adverse effect on its financial results. Consequently, the financial performance of the Company's facilities is dependent on the credit quality of, and continued performance by, the Company's suppliers and vendors and the Company’s ability to solicit and retain customers.
The Company currently owns, and in the future may acquire, certain assets in which the Company has limited control over management decisions and its interests in such assets may be subject to transfer or other related restrictions.
As described in Item 15 — Note 5, Investments Accounted for by the Equity Method and Variable Interest Entities, the Company has limited control over the operation of certain of its assets, because the Company beneficially owns less than a majority of the membership interests in such assets. The Company may seek to acquire additional assets in which it owns less than a majority of the related membership interests in the future. In these investments, the Company will seek to exert a degree of influence with respect to the management and operation of assets in which it owns less than a majority of the membership interests by negotiating to obtain positions on management committees or to receive certain limited governance rights, such as rights to veto significant actions. However, the Company may not always succeed in such negotiations. The Company may be dependent on its co-venturers to operate such assets. The Company's co-venturers may not have the level of experience, technical expertise, human resources management and other attributes necessary to operate these assets optimally. In addition, conflicts of interest may arise in the future between the Company and its stockholders, on the one hand, and the Company's co-venturers, on the other hand, where the Company's co-venturers' business interests are inconsistent with the interests of the Company and its stockholders. Further, disagreements or disputes between the Company and its co-venturers could result in litigation, which could increase expenses and potentially limit the time and effort the Company's officers and directors are able to devote to the business.
The approval of co-venturers may also be required for the Company to receive distributions of funds from assets or to sell, pledge, transfer, assign or otherwise convey its interest in such assets, or for the Company to acquire GIP's or CEG's interests in such co-ventures as an initial matter. Alternatively, the Company's co-venturers may have rights of first refusal or rights of first offer in the event of a proposed sale or transfer of the Company's interests in such assets. These restrictions may limit the price or interest level for interests in such assets, in the event the Company wants to sell such interests.
Furthermore, certain of the Company's facilities are operated by third-party operators. To the extent that third-party operators do not fulfill their obligations to manage operations of the facilities or are not effective in doing so, the amount of CAFD may be adversely affected.
The Company's assets are exposed to risks inherent in the use of interest rate swaps and forward fuel purchase contracts and the Company may be exposed to additional risks in the future if it utilizes other derivative instruments.
The Company uses interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risk. In addition, the Company uses forward fuel purchase contracts to hedge its limited commodity exposure with respect to the Company's district energy assets. If the Company elects to enter into such commodity hedges, the related asset could recognize financial losses on these arrangements as a result of volatility in the market values of the underlying commodities or if a counterparty fails to perform under a contract. If actively quoted market prices and pricing information from external sources are not available, the valuation of these contracts would involve judgment or the use of estimates. As a result, changes in the underlying assumptions or use of alternative valuation methods could affect the reported fair value of these contracts. If the values of these financial contracts change in a manner that the Company does not anticipate, or if a counterparty fails to perform under a contract, it could harm the business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The Company's business is subject to restrictions resulting from environmental, health and safety laws and regulations.
The Company is subject to various federal, state and local environmental and health and safety laws and regulations. In addition, the Company may be held primarily or jointly and severally liable for costs relating to the investigation and clean-up of any property where there has been a release or threatened release of a hazardous regulated material as well as other affected properties, regardless of whether the Company knew of or caused the release. In addition to these costs, which are typically not limited by law or regulation and could exceed an affected property's value, the Company could be liable for certain other costs, including governmental fines and injuries to persons, property or natural resources. Further, some environmental laws provide for the creation of a lien on a contaminated site in favor of the government as security for damages and any costs the government incurs in connection with such contamination and associated clean-up. Although the Company generally requires its operators to undertake to indemnify it for environmental liabilities they cause, the amount of such liabilities could exceed the financial ability of the operator to indemnify the Company. The presence of contamination or the failure to remediate contamination may adversely affect the Company's ability to operate the business.
The Company does not own all of the land on which its power generation or thermal assets are located, which could result in disruption to its operations.
The Company does not own all of the land on which its power generation or thermal assets are located and the Company is, therefore, subject to the possibility of less desirable terms and increased costs to retain necessary land use if it does not have valid leases or rights-of-way or if such rights-of-way lapse or terminate. Although the Company has obtained rights to construct and operate these assets pursuant to related lease arrangements, the rights to conduct those activities are subject to certain exceptions, including the term of the lease arrangement. The Company is also at risk of condemnation on land it owns. The loss of these rights, through the Company's inability to renew right-of-way contracts, condemnation or otherwise, may adversely affect the Company's ability to operate its generation and thermal infrastructure assets.
The Company’s use and enjoyment of real property rights for its projects may be adversely affected by the rights of lienholders and leaseholders that are superior to those of the grantors of those real property rights to the Company.
Solar and wind projects generally are, and are likely to be, located on land occupied by the project pursuant to long-term easements and leases. The ownership interests in the land subject to these easements and leases may be subject to mortgages securing loans or other liens (such as tax liens) and other easement and lease rights of third parties (such as leases of oil or mineral rights) that were created prior to the project’s easements and leases. As a result, the project’s rights under these easements or leases may be subject, and subordinate, to the rights of those third parties. The Company performs title searches and obtains title insurance to protect itself against these risks. Such measures may, however, be inadequate to protect the Company against all risk of loss of its rights to use the land on which the wind projects are located, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company's businesses are subject to physical, market and economic risks relating to potential effects of climate change.
Climate change creates uncertainty in weather and other environmental conditions, including temperature and precipitation levels, and thus may affect consumer demand for electricity. In addition, the potential physical effects of climate change, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, cloud coverage, precipitation, floods and other climatic events, could disrupt the Company's operations and supply chain, and cause them to incur significant costs in preparing for or responding to these effects. These or other meteorological changes could lead to increased operating costs, capital expenses or power purchase costs.
GHG regulation could increase the cost of electricity generated by fossil fuels, and such increases could reduce demand for the power the Company's conventional assets generate and market. Legislative and regulatory measures to address climate change and GHG emissions are in various phases of discussion or implementation. The EPA regulates GHG emissions from new and modified facilities that are potential major sources of criteria pollutants under the Clean Air Act's Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Title V programs and has adopted regulations that require, among other things, preconstruction and operating permits for certain large stationary sources and the monitoring and reporting of GHGs from certain onshore oil and natural gas production sources on an annual basis.
In addition, in 2015, the U.S., Canada and the U.K. participated in the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, which led to the creation of the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement, which was signed by the U.S. in April 2016, requires countries to review and “represent a progression” in their intended nationally determined contributions (which set GHG emission reduction goals) every five years beginning in 2020. In November 2020, the U.S. officially withdrew from the Paris Agreement in November 2020. However, on January 20, 2021, President Biden signed an “Acceptance on Behalf of the United States of America” that will allow the U.S. to rejoin the Paris Agreement. The newly signed acceptance, deposited with the United Nations on January 20, reverses the prior withdrawal. The U.S. officially rejoined the Paris Agreement on February 19,
2021. The U.S. Congress, along with federal and state agencies, has also considered measures to reduce the emissions of GHGs. Legislation or regulation that restricts carbon emissions could increase the cost of environmental compliance for the Company’s conventional assets by requiring the Company to install new equipment to reduce emissions from larger facilities and/or purchase emission allowances. Climate change and GHG legislation or regulation could also delay or otherwise negatively affect efforts to obtain and maintain permits and other regulatory approvals for the Company’s conventional assets’ existing and new facilities, impose additional monitoring and reporting requirements or adversely affect demand for the natural gas we gather, transport and store. Conversely, legislation or regulation that sets a price on or otherwise restricts carbon emissions could also benefit the Company by increasing demand for solar or wind energy sources. In addition, governmental, scientific and public concern over the threat of climate change arising from GHG emissions has resulted in increasing political risks in the U.S, including climate change related pledges made by the Biden Administration. Shortly after taking office in January 2021, President Biden issued a series of executive orders designed to address climate change. Reentry into the Paris Agreement and President Biden's executive orders may result in the development of additional regulations or changes to existing regulations. The effect on the Company of any new legislative or regulatory measures will depend on the particular provisions that are ultimately adopted.
Risks that are beyond the Company's control, including but not limited to acts of terrorism or related acts of war, natural disaster, hostile cyber intrusions or other catastrophic events, could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The Company's generation facilities that were acquired or those that the Company otherwise acquires or constructs and the facilities of third parties on which they rely may be targets of terrorist activities, as well as events occurring in response to or in connection with them, that could cause environmental repercussions and/or result in full or partial disruption of the facilities ability to generate, transmit, transport or distribute electricity or natural gas. Strategic targets, such as energy-related facilities, may be at greater risk of future terrorist activities than other domestic targets. Hostile cyber intrusions, including those targeting information systems as well as electronic control systems used at the generating plants and for the related distribution systems, could severely disrupt business operations and result in loss of service to customers, as well as create significant expense to repair security breaches or system damage.
Furthermore, certain of the Company's power generation and thermal assets are located in active earthquake zones in California and Arizona, and certain project companies and suppliers conduct their operations in the same region or in other locations that are susceptible to natural disasters. In addition, California and some of the locations where certain suppliers are located, from time to time, have experienced shortages of water, electric power and natural gas. The occurrence of a natural disaster, such as an earthquake, wildfire, drought, flood or localized extended outages of critical utilities or transportation systems, or any critical resource shortages, affecting the Company or its suppliers, could cause a significant interruption in the business, damage or destroy the Company's facilities or those of its suppliers or the manufacturing equipment or inventory of the Company's suppliers. Any such terrorist acts, environmental repercussions or disruptions or natural disasters could result in a significant decrease in revenues or significant reconstruction or remediation costs, beyond what could be recovered through insurance policies, which could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The operation of the Company’s businesses is subject to cyber-based security and integrity risk.
Numerous functions affecting the efficient operation of the Company’s businesses depend on the secure and reliable storage, processing and communication of electronic data and the use of sophisticated computer hardware and software systems. The operation of the Company's generating assets relies on cyber-based technologies and has been the target of disruptive actions. Potential disruptive actions could result from cyber-attack or cyber intrusion, including by computer hackers, foreign governments and cyber terrorists, or otherwise be compromised by unintentional events. As a result, operations could be interrupted, property could be damaged and sensitive customer information could be lost or stolen, causing the Company to incur significant losses of revenues, other substantial liabilities and damages, costs to replace or repair damaged equipment and damage to the Company's reputation. In addition, the Company may experience increased capital and operating costs to implement increased security for its cyber systems and generating assets.
The Company relies on electric distribution and transmission facilities that it does not own or control and that are subject to transmission constraints within a number of the Company's regions. If these facilities fail to provide the Company with adequate transmission capacity, it may be restricted in its ability to deliver electric power to its customers and may either incur additional costs or forego revenues.
The Company depends on electric distribution and transmission facilities owned and operated by others to deliver the wholesale power it will sell from its electric generation assets to its customers. A failure or delay in the operation or development of these facilities or a significant increase in the cost of the development of such facilities could result in lost revenues. Such failures or delays could limit the amount of power the Company's operating facilities deliver or delay the completion of the Company's construction projects. Additionally, such failures, delays or increased costs could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations. If a region's power transmission infrastructure is inadequate, the Company's recovery of wholesale costs and profits may be limited. If restrictive transmission price regulation is imposed, the transmission companies may not have a sufficient incentive to invest in expansion of transmission infrastructure. The Company also cannot predict whether distribution or transmission facilities will be expanded in specific markets to accommodate competitive access to those markets. In addition, certain of the Company's operating facilities' generation of electricity may be curtailed without compensation due to transmission limitations or limitations on the electricity grid's ability to accommodate intermittent and other electricity generating sources, reducing the Company's revenues and impairing its ability to capitalize fully on a particular facility's generating potential. Such curtailments could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Furthermore, economic congestion on transmission networks in certain of the markets in which the Company operates may occur and the Company may be deemed responsible for congestion costs. If the Company were liable for such congestion costs, its financial results could be adversely affected.
The Company's costs, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be adversely impacted by the disruption of the fuel supplies necessary to generate power at its conventional and thermal power generation facilities.
Delivery of fossil fuels to fuel the Company's conventional and thermal generation facilities is dependent upon the infrastructure (including natural gas pipelines) available to serve each such generation facility as well as upon the continuing financial viability of contractual counterparties. As a result, the Company is subject to the risks of disruptions or curtailments in the production of power at these generation facilities if a counterparty fails to perform or if there is a disruption in the fuel delivery infrastructure.
The Company depends on key personnel, the loss of any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.
The Company believes its current operations and future success depend largely on the continued services of key personnel that it employs. Although the Company currently has access to the resources of CEG, the loss of key personnel employed by the Company could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to the Company's Relationships with GIP and CEG
GIP, through its ownership of CEG, is the Company's controlling stockholder and exercises substantial influence over the Company. The Company is highly dependent on GIP and CEG.
GIP, through its ownership of CEG, owns all of the Company's outstanding Class B and Class D common stock. The Company's outstanding Class B and Class D common stock is entitled to one vote per share and 1/100th of a vote per share, respectively. As a result of its ownership of the Class B and Class D common stock, GIP indirectly owns 54.93% of the combined voting power of the Company's common stock as of December 31, 2020. As a result of this ownership, GIP has a substantial influence on the Company's affairs and its voting power will constitute a large percentage of any quorum of the Company's stockholders voting on any matter requiring the approval of the Company's stockholders. Such matters include the election of directors, the adoption of amendments to the Company's amended and restated certificate of incorporation and fourth amended and restated bylaws and approval of mergers or sale of all or substantially all of its assets. This concentration of ownership may also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company or discouraging others from making tender offers for the Company's shares. In addition, GIP has the right to elect all of the Company's directors. GIP may cause corporate actions to be taken even if their interests conflict with the interests of the Company's other stockholders (including holders of the Company's Class A and Class C common stock).
Furthermore, the Company depends on certain services provided by or under the direction of CEG under the CEG Master Services Agreement, including numerous processes related to the Company's internal control over financial reporting. CEG personnel and support staff that provide services to the Company under the CEG Master Services Agreement are not required to, and the Company does not expect that they will, have as their primary responsibility the management and administration of the Company or to act exclusively for the Company and the CEG Master Services Agreement does not require any specific individuals to be provided by CEG. Under the CEG Master Services Agreement, CEG has the discretion to determine which of its employees perform assignments required to be provided to the Company. Any failure to effectively manage the Company's processes related to internal controls over financial reporting, operations or to implement its strategy could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. The CEG Master Services Agreement will continue in perpetuity, until terminated in accordance with its terms.
The Company also depends upon CEG and NRG for the provision of management, administration, O&M and certain other services at certain of the Company's facilities. Any failure by CEG or NRG to perform its requirements under these arrangements or the failure by the Company to identify and contract with replacement service providers, if required, could adversely affect the operation of the Company's facilities and have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
GIP and its affiliates control the Company and have the ability to designate a majority of the members of the Company’s Board.
Due to GIP's approximate 54.93% combined voting power in the Company, the ability of other holders of the Company’s Class A and Class C common stock to exercise control over the corporate governance of the Company is limited. GIP and its affiliates have a substantial influence on the Company’s affairs and its voting power constitutes a large percentage of any quorum of the Company’s stockholders voting on any matter requiring the approval of the Company’s stockholders. GIP and its affiliates may hold certain interests that are different from those of the Company or other holders of the Company’s Class A and Class C common stock and there is no assurance that GIP and its affiliates will exercise its control over the Company in a manner that is consistent with the Company’s interests or those of the holders of the Company’s Class A and Class C common stock.
The Company may not be able to consummate future acquisitions from CEG.
The Company's ability to grow through acquisitions depends, in part, on CEG's ability to identify and present the Company with acquisition opportunities. Although CEG has agreed, pursuant to the CEG ROFO Agreement, to grant the Company a right of first offer with respect to certain power generation assets that CEG may elect to sell in the future, CEG is under no obligation to sell any such power generation assets or to accept any related offers from the Company. In addition, CEG has not agreed to commit any minimum level of dedicated resources for the pursuit of renewable power-related acquisitions. There are a number of factors which could materially and adversely impact the extent to which suitable acquisition opportunities are made available from CEG, including that the same professionals within CEG's organization that are involved in acquisitions that are suitable for the Company have responsibilities within CEG's broader asset management business, which may include sourcing acquisition opportunities for CEG. Limits on the availability of such individuals will likewise result in a limitation on the availability of acquisition opportunities for the Company. In making these determinations, CEG may be influenced by factors that result in a misalignment with the Company's interests or conflict of interest.
The Company may be unable to terminate the CEG Master Services Agreement, in certain circumstances.
The CEG Master Services Agreement provides that the Company may terminate the agreement upon 30 days prior written notice to CEG upon the occurrence of any of the following: (i) CEG defaults in the performance or observance of any material term, condition or covenant contained therein in a manner that results in material harm to the Company and the default continues unremedied for a period of 30 days after written notice thereof is given to CEG; (ii) CEG engages in any act of fraud, misappropriation of funds or embezzlement that results in material harm to the Company; (iii) CEG is grossly negligent in the performance of its duties under the agreement and such negligence results in material harm to the Company; or (iv) upon the happening of certain events relating to the bankruptcy or insolvency of CEG. Furthermore, if the Company requests an amendment to the scope of services provided by CEG under the CEG Master Services Agreement and is not able to agree with CEG as to a change to the service fee resulting from a change in the scope of services within 180 days of the request, the Company will be able to terminate the agreement upon 30 days prior notice to CEG. The Company will not be able to terminate the agreement for any other reason, including if CEG experiences a change of control, and the agreement continues in perpetuity, until terminated in accordance with its terms. If CEG's performance does not meet the expectations of investors, and the Company is unable to terminate the CEG Master Services Agreement, the market price of the Class A and Class C common stock could suffer.
If CEG terminates the CEG Master Services Agreement or defaults in the performance of its obligations under the agreement, the Company may be unable to contract with a substitute service provider on similar terms, or at all.
The Company relies on CEG to provide certain services under the CEG Master Services Agreement. The CEG Master Services Agreement provides that CEG may terminate the agreement upon 180 days prior written notice of termination to the Company if the Company defaults in the performance or observance of any material term, condition or covenant contained in the agreement in a manner that results in material harm and the default continues unremedied for a period of 30 days after written notice of the breach is given. If CEG terminates the Management Services Agreement or defaults in the performance of its obligations under the agreement, the Company may be unable to contract with CEG or a substitute service provider on similar terms or at all, and the costs of substituting service providers may be substantial. In addition, in light of CEG's familiarity with the Company's assets, a substitute service provider may not be able to provide the same level of service due to lack of pre-existing synergies.
The liability of CEG is limited under the Company's arrangements with it and the Company has agreed to indemnify CEG against claims that it may face in connection with such arrangements, which may lead CEG to assume greater risks when making decisions relating to the Company than it otherwise might if acting solely for its own account.
Under the CEG Master Services Agreement, CEG does not assume any responsibility other than to provide or arrange for the provision of the services described in the CEG Master Services Agreement in good faith. In addition, under the CEG Master Services Agreement, the liability of CEG and its affiliates is limited to the fullest extent permitted by law to conduct involving bad faith, fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence or, in the case of a criminal matter, action that was known to have been unlawful. In addition, the Company has agreed to indemnify CEG to the fullest extent permitted by law from and against any claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs or expenses incurred by an indemnified person or threatened in connection with the Company's operations, investments and activities or in respect of or arising from the CEG Master Services Agreement or the services provided by CEG, except to the extent that the claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs or expenses are determined to have resulted from the conduct in respect of which such persons have liability as described above. These protections may result in CEG tolerating greater risks when making decisions than otherwise might be the case, including when determining whether to use leverage in connection with acquisitions. The indemnification arrangements to which CEG is a party may also give rise to legal claims for indemnification that are adverse to the Company and holders of its common stock.
Certain of the Company’s PPAs and project-level financing arrangements include provisions that would permit the counterparty to terminate the contract or accelerate maturity in the event GIP or its affiliates ceases to control or own, directly or indirectly, a majority of the voting power of the Company.
Certain of the Company’s PPAs and project-level financing arrangements contain change in control provisions that provide the counterparty with a termination right or the ability to accelerate maturity in the event of a change of control of the Company without the counterparty's consent. These provisions are triggered in the event GIP or its affiliates ceases to own, directly or indirectly, capital stock representing more than 50% of the voting power of the Company’s capital stock outstanding on such date, or, in some cases, if GIP or its affiliates ceases to be the majority owner, directly or indirectly, of the applicable project subsidiary. As a result, if GIP or its affiliates ceases to control, or in some cases, own a majority of the voting power of the Company, the counterparties could terminate such contracts or accelerate the maturity of such financing arrangements. The termination of any of the Company’s PPAs or the acceleration of the maturity of any of the Company’s project-level financing could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
The Company is a “controlled company," controlled by GIP, and as a result, is exempt from certain corporate governance requirements that are designed to provide protection to stockholders of companies that are not controlled companies.
As of December 31, 2020, GIP indirectly controls 54.93% of the Company's combined voting power and is able to elect all of the Company's board of directors. As a result, the Company is considered a "controlled company" for the purposes of the NYSE listing requirements. As a "controlled company," the Company is permitted to, and the Company may, opt out of the NYSE listing requirements that would require (i) a majority of the members of the Company's board of directors to be independent, (ii) that the Company establish a compensation committee and a nominating and governance committee, each comprised entirely of independent directors, or (iii) an annual performance evaluation of the nominating and governance and compensation committees. The NYSE listing requirements are intended to ensure that directors who meet the independence standards are free of any conflicting interest that could influence their actions as directors. While the Company has elected to have a Corporate Governance, Conflicts and Nominating Committee consisting entirely of independent directors and to conduct an annual performance evaluation of this committee, the majority of the members of the Company’s board of directors are not considered independent and the Company's compensation committee is not comprised entirely of independent directors. Therefore, the Company’s stockholders may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the applicable NYSE listing requirements. It is also possible that the interests of GIP may in some circumstances conflict with the Company's interests and the interests of the holders of the Company's Class A and Class C common stock.
Risks Related to Regulation
The electric generation business is subject to substantial governmental regulation and may be adversely affected by changes in laws or regulations, as well as liability under, or any future inability to comply with, existing or future regulations or other legal requirements.
The Company's electric generation business is subject to extensive U.S. federal, state and local laws and regulations. Compliance with the requirements under these various regulatory regimes may cause the Company to incur significant additional costs, and failure to comply with such requirements could result in the shutdown of the non-complying facility, the imposition of liens, fines, and/or civil or criminal liability. Public utilities under the FPA are required to obtain FERC acceptance of their rate schedules for wholesale sales of electric energy, capacity and ancillary services. Except for generating facilities located in Hawaii, in Texas within the footprint of ERCOT, or in Puerto Rico, all of the Company’s generating companies are public utilities under the FPA with market-based rate authority unless exempt from FPA public utility rate regulation. FERC's orders that grant market-based rate authority to wholesale power sellers reserve the right to revoke or revise that authority if FERC subsequently determines that the seller can exercise market power in transmission or generation, create barriers to entry, or engage in abusive affiliate transactions. In addition, public utilities are subject to FERC reporting requirements that impose administrative burdens and that, if violated, can expose the company to criminal and civil penalties or other risks.
The Company's market-based sales are subject to certain rules prohibiting manipulative or deceptive conduct, and if any of the Company's generating companies with market-based rate authority are deemed to have violated those rules, they could be subject to potential disgorgement of profits associated with the violation, penalties, suspension or revocation of market based rate authority. If such generating companies were to lose their market-based rate authority, such companies would be required to obtain FERC's acceptance of a cost-of-service rate schedule and could become subject to the significant accounting, record-keeping, and reporting requirements that are imposed on utilities with cost-based rate schedules. This could have a material adverse effect on the rates the Company is able to charge for power from its facilities.
All of the Company's generating assets are operating either as EWGs or FUCOs as defined under the PUHCA, or as QFs as defined under the PURPA, as amended, and therefore are exempt from certain regulation under the PUHCA and the FPA. If a facility fails to maintain its status as an EWG, FUCO, or a QF or there are legislative or regulatory changes revoking or limiting the exemptions to the PUHCA and/or the FPA, then the Company may be subject to significant accounting, record-keeping, access to books and records and reporting requirements, and failure to comply with such requirements could result in the imposition of penalties and additional compliance obligations.
Substantially all of the Company's generation assets are also subject to the reliability standards promulgated by the designated Electric Reliability Organization (currently the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, or NERC) and approved by FERC. If the Company fails to comply with the mandatory reliability standards, it could be subject to sanctions, including substantial monetary penalties and increased compliance obligations. The Company will also be affected by legislative and regulatory changes, as well as changes to market design, market rules, tariffs, cost allocations, and bidding rules that occur in the existing regional markets operated by RTOs or ISOs, such as PJM. The RTOs/ISOs that oversee most of the wholesale power markets impose, and in the future may continue to impose, mitigation, including price limitations, offer caps, non-performance penalties and other mechanisms to address some of the volatility and the potential exercise of market power in these markets. These types of price limitations and other regulatory mechanisms may have a material adverse effect on the profitability of the Company's generation facilities acquired in the future that sell energy, capacity and ancillary products into the wholesale power markets. The regulatory environment for electric generation has undergone significant changes in the last several years due to state and federal policies affecting wholesale competition and the creation of incentives for the addition of large amounts of new renewable generation and, in some cases, transmission assets. These changes are ongoing and the Company cannot predict the future design of the wholesale power markets or the ultimate effect that the changing regulatory environment will have on the Company's business. In addition, in some of these markets, interested parties have proposed to re-regulate the markets or require divestiture of electric generation assets by asset owners or operators to reduce their market share. Other proposals to re-regulate may be made and legislative or other attention to the electric power market restructuring process may delay or reverse the deregulation process. If competitive restructuring of the electric power markets is reversed, discontinued, or delayed, the Company's business prospects and financial results could be negatively impacted.
The Company is subject to environmental laws and regulations that impose extensive and increasingly stringent requirements on its operations, as well as potentially substantial liabilities arising out of environmental contamination.
The Company's assets are subject to numerous and significant federal, state and local laws, including statutes, regulations, guidelines, policies, directives and other requirements governing or relating to, among other things: protection of wildlife, including threatened and endangered species; air emissions; discharges into water; water use; the storage, handling, use, transportation and distribution of dangerous goods and hazardous, residual and other regulated materials, such as chemicals; the prevention of releases of hazardous materials into the environment; the prevention, presence and remediation of hazardous materials in soil and groundwater, both on and offsite; land use and zoning matters; and workers' health and safety matters. The Company's facilities could experience incidents, malfunctions and other unplanned events that could result in spills or emissions in excess of permitted levels and result in personal injury, penalties and property damage. As such, the operation of the Company's facilities carries an inherent risk of environmental, health and safety liabilities (including potential civil actions, compliance or remediation orders, fines and other penalties), and may result in the assets being involved from time to time in administrative and judicial proceedings relating to such matters. The Company has implemented environmental, health and safety management programs designed to continually improve environmental, health and safety performance. Environmental laws and regulations have generally become more stringent over time. Significant costs may be incurred for capital expenditures under environmental programs to keep the assets compliant with such environmental laws and regulations. If it is not economical to make those expenditures, it may be necessary to retire or mothball facilities or restrict or modify the Company's operations to comply with more stringent standards. These environmental requirements and liabilities could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Government regulations providing incentives for renewable generation could change at any time and such changes may negatively impact the Company's growth strategy.
The Company's growth strategy depends in part on government policies that support renewable generation and enhance the economic viability of owning renewable electric generation assets. Renewable generation assets currently benefit from various federal, state and local governmental incentives such as ITCs, cash grants in lieu of ITCs, loan guarantees, RPS, programs, modified accelerated cost-recovery system of depreciation and bonus depreciation. In December 2015, the U.S. Congress enacted an extension of the 30% solar ITC so that projects that began construction in 2016 through 2019 will continue to qualify for the 30% ITC. Projects beginning construction in 2020 and 2021 will be eligible for the ITC at the rates of 26% and 22%, respectively. The same legislation also extended the 10-year wind PTC for wind projects that began construction in 2016 through 2019.Wind projects that began construction in 2018 or 2019 are eligible for PTCS at 60% and 40% of the statutory rate per kWh, respectively. In December 2019, the U.S. Congress extended the 10-year wind PTC for wind projects that begin construction in 2020, and such projects are eligible for PTCs at 60% of the statutory rate per kWh. The same legislation also extended an 18% ITC in lieu of the PTC for wind projects that begin construction in 2020. In December 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 was signed by the President and extended the solar ITC so that projects that begin construction in 2021 or 2022 will be eligible for the ITC at a rate of 26% and projects beginning construction in 2023 will be eligible for the ITC at a rate of 22%. The same legislation also extended the 10-year wind PTC for wind projects that begin construction in 2021, and such projects are eligible for PTCs at 60% of the statutory rate per kWh or an 18% ITC in lieu of the PTC. The same legislation also added a 30% ITC for offshore wind projects that begin construction prior to January 1, 2026.
Many states have adopted RPS programs mandating that a specified percentage of electricity sales come from eligible sources of renewable energy. However, the regulations that govern the RPS programs, including pricing incentives for renewable energy, or reasonableness guidelines for pricing that increase valuation compared to conventional power (such as a projected value for carbon reduction or consideration of avoided integration costs), may change. If the RPS requirements are reduced or eliminated, it could lead to fewer future power contracts or lead to lower prices for the sale of power in future power contracts, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's future growth prospects. Such material adverse effects may result from decreased revenues, reduced economic returns on certain project company investments, increased financing costs, and/or difficulty obtaining financing. Furthermore, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 included incentives to encourage investment in the renewable energy sector, such as cash grants in lieu of ITCs, bonus depreciation and expansion of the U.S. DOE loan guarantee program. It is uncertain what loan guarantees may be made by the U.S. DOE loan guarantee program in the future.
If the Company is unable to utilize various federal, state and local government incentives to acquire additional renewable assets in the future, or the terms of such incentives are revised in a manner that is less favorable to the Company, it may suffer a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
A portion of the steam and chilled water produced by the Company's thermal assets is sold at regulated rates, and the revenue earned by the Company's GenConn assets is established each year in a rate case; accordingly, the profitability of these assets is dependent on regulatory approval.
Approximately 451 net MWt of capacity from certain of the Company's thermal assets are sold at rates approved by one or more federal or state regulatory commissions, including the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission for the thermal assets. Similarly, the revenues related to approximately 380 MW of capacity from the GenConn assets are established each year by the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. While such regulatory oversight is generally premised on the recovery of prudently incurred costs and a reasonable rate of return on invested capital, the rates that the Company may charge, or the revenue that the Company may earn with respect to this capacity are subject to authorization of the applicable regulatory authorities. There can be no assurance that such regulatory authorities will consider all of the costs to have been prudently incurred or that the regulatory process by which rates or revenues are determined will always result in rates or revenues that achieve full recovery of costs or an adequate return on the Company's capital investments. While the Company's rates and revenues are generally established based on an analysis of costs incurred in a base year, the rates the Company is allowed to charge, and the revenues the Company is authorized to earn, may or may not match the costs at any given time. If the Company's costs are not adequately recovered through these regulatory processes, it could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Risks Related to the Company's Common Stock
The Company may not be able to continue paying comparable or growing cash dividends to holders of its common stock in the future.
The amount of CAFD principally depends upon the amount of cash the Company generates from its operations, which will fluctuate from quarter to quarter based on, among other things:
•the level and timing of capital expenditures the Company makes;
•the level of operating and general and administrative expenses, including reimbursements to CEG for services provided to the Company in accordance with the CEG Master Services Agreement;
•variations in revenues generated by the business, due to seasonality, weather, or otherwise;
•debt service requirements and other liabilities;
•fluctuations in working capital needs;
•the Company's ability to borrow funds and access capital markets;
•restrictions contained in the Company's debt agreements (including project-level financing and, if applicable, corporate debt); and
•other business risks affecting cash levels.
As a result of all these factors, the Company cannot guarantee that it will have sufficient cash generated from operations to pay a specific level of cash dividends to holders of its Class A or Class C common stock. Furthermore, holders of the Company's Class A or Class C common stock should be aware that the amount of CAFD depends primarily on operating cash flow, and is not solely a function of profitability, which can be affected by non-cash items.
The Company may incur other expenses or liabilities during a period that could significantly reduce or eliminate its CAFD and, in turn, impair its ability to pay dividends to holders of the Company's Class A or Class C common stock during the period. Because the Company is a holding company, its ability to pay dividends on the Company's Class A or Class C common stock is restricted and further limited by the ability of the Company's subsidiaries to make distributions to the Company, including restrictions under the terms of the agreements governing the Company's corporate debt and project-level financing. For example, as a result of the PG&E Bankruptcy, between early 2019 and mid-2020, certain of the Company's unconsolidated investments were unable to distribute project dividends to the Company. The project-level financing agreements generally prohibit distributions from the project entities prior to COD and thereafter prohibit distributions to the Company unless certain specific conditions are met, including the satisfaction of financial ratios. The Company's revolving credit facility also restricts the Company's ability to declare and pay dividends if an event of default has occurred and is continuing or if the payment of the dividend would result in an event of default.
Clearway Energy LLC's CAFD will likely fluctuate from quarter to quarter, in some cases significantly, due to seasonality. As a result, the Company may cause Clearway Energy LLC to reduce the amount of cash it distributes to its members in a particular quarter to establish reserves to fund distributions to its members in future periods for which the cash distributions the Company would otherwise receive from Clearway Energy LLC would be insufficient to fund its quarterly dividend. If the Company fails to cause Clearway Energy LLC to establish sufficient reserves, the Company may not be able to maintain its quarterly dividend with respect to a quarter adversely affected by seasonality.
Finally, dividends to holders of the Company's Class A or Class C common stock will be paid at the discretion of the Company's board of directors. The Company's board of directors may decrease the level, or entirely discontinue payment, of dividends.
The Company is a holding company and its only material asset is its interest in Clearway Energy LLC, and the Company is accordingly dependent upon distributions from Clearway Energy LLC and its subsidiaries to pay dividends and taxes and other expenses.
The Company is a holding company and has no material assets other than its ownership of membership interests in Clearway Energy LLC, a holding company that has no material assets other than its interest in Clearway Energy Operating LLC, whose sole material assets are the project companies. None of the Company, Clearway Energy LLC or Clearway Energy Operating LLC has any independent means of generating revenue. The Company intends to continue to cause Clearway Energy Operating LLC's subsidiaries to make distributions to Clearway Energy Operating LLC and, in turn, make distributions to Clearway Energy LLC, and, in turn, to make distributions to the Company in an amount sufficient to cover all applicable taxes payable and dividends, if any, declared by the Company. To the extent that the Company needs funds
for a quarterly cash dividend to holders of the Company's Class A and Class C common stock or otherwise, and Clearway Energy Operating LLC or Clearway Energy LLC is restricted from making such distributions under applicable law or regulation or is otherwise unable to provide such funds (including as a result of Clearway Energy Operating LLC's operating subsidiaries being unable to make distributions), it could materially adversely affect the Company's liquidity and financial condition and limit the Company's ability to pay dividends to holders of the Company's Class A and Class C common stock.
Market interest rates may have an effect on the value of the Company's Class A and Class C common stock.
One of the factors that influences the price of shares of the Company's Class A and Class C common stock is the effective dividend yield of such shares (i.e., the yield as a percentage of the then market price of the Company's shares) relative to market interest rates. An increase in market interest rates, which are currently at low levels relative to historical rates, may lead investors of shares of the Company's Class A and Class C common stock to expect a higher dividend yield and the Company's inability to increase its dividend as a result of an increase in borrowing costs, insufficient CAFD or otherwise, could result in selling pressure on, and a decrease in the market prices of the Company's Class A and Class C common stock as investors seek alternative investments with higher yield.
If the Company is deemed to be an investment company, the Company may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and the Company's activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for the Company to complete strategic acquisitions or effect combinations.
If the Company is deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the Investment Company Act, the Company's business would be subject to applicable restrictions under the Investment Company Act, which could make it impracticable for the Company to continue its business as contemplated. The Company believes it is not an investment company under Section 3(b)(1) of the Investment Company Act because the Company is primarily engaged in a non-investment company business. The Company intends to conduct its operations so that the Company will not be deemed an investment company. However, if the Company were to be deemed an investment company, restrictions imposed by the Investment Company Act, including limitations on the Company's capital structure and the Company's ability to transact with affiliates, could make it impractical for the Company to continue its business as contemplated.
Market volatility may affect the price of the Company's Class A and Class C common stock.
The market price of the Company's Class A and Class C common stock may fluctuate significantly in response to a number of factors, most of which the Company cannot predict or control, including general market and economic conditions, disruptions, downgrades, credit events and perceived problems in the credit markets; actual or anticipated variations in its quarterly operating results or dividends; natural disasters, wildfires and other weather-related events; changes in the Company's investments or asset composition; write-downs or perceived credit or liquidity issues affecting the Company's assets; market perception of GIP or CEG, the Company's business and the Company's assets; the Company's level of indebtedness and/or adverse market reaction to any indebtedness that the Company may incur in the future; the Company's ability to raise capital on favorable terms or at all; loss of any major funding source; changes in market valuations of similar power generation companies; and speculation in the press or investment community regarding the Company, GIP or CEG.
Securities markets in general have experienced extreme volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. Any broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of the Company's Class A and Class C common stock.
Furthermore, any significant disruption to the Company’s ability to access the capital markets, or a significant increase in interest rates, could make it difficult for the Company to successfully acquire attractive projects from third parties and may also limit the Company’s ability to obtain debt or equity financing to complete such acquisitions. If the Company is unable to raise adequate proceeds when needed to fund such acquisitions, the ability to grow the Company’s project portfolio may be limited, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to implement its growth strategy and, ultimately, its business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Provisions of the Company's charter documents or Delaware law could delay or prevent an acquisition of the Company, even if the acquisition would be beneficial to holders of the Company's Class A and Class C common stock, and could make it more difficult to change management.
Provisions of the Company's amended and restated certificate of incorporation and fourth amended and restated bylaws may discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control that holders of the Company's Class A and Class C common stock may consider favorable, including transactions in which such stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares. This is because these provisions may prevent or frustrate attempts by stockholders to replace or remove members of the Company's management. These provisions include:
•a prohibition on stockholder action through written consent;
•a requirement that special meetings of stockholders be called upon a resolution approved by a majority of the Company's directors then in office;
•advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and nominations; and
•the authority of the board of directors to issue preferred stock with such terms as the board of directors may determine.
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder, generally a person that together with its affiliates owns or within the last three years has owned 15% of voting stock, for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. Additionally, the Company's restated certificate of incorporation prohibits any person and any of its associate or affiliate companies in the aggregate, public utility or holding company from acquiring, other than secondary market transactions, an amount of the Company's Class A or Class C common stock sufficient to result in a transfer of control without the prior written consent of the Company's board of directors. Any such change of control, in addition to prior approval from the Company's board of directors, would require prior authorization from FERC. Similar restrictions may apply to certain purchasers of the Company's securities which are holding companies regardless of whether the Company's securities are purchased in offerings by the Company or NRG, in open market transactions or otherwise. A purchaser of the Company's securities which is a holding company will need to determine whether a given purchase of the Company's securities may require prior FERC approval.
Investors may experience dilution of ownership interest due to the future issuance of additional shares of the Company's Class A or Class C common stock.
The Company is in a capital intensive business, and may not have sufficient funds to finance the growth of the Company's business, future acquisitions or to support the Company's projected capital expenditures. As a result, the Company may require additional funds from further equity or debt financings, including tax equity financing transactions, sales under the ATM Program or sales of preferred shares or convertible debt to complete future acquisitions, expansions and capital expenditures and pay the general and administrative costs of the Company's business. In the future, the Company may issue shares under its ATM Program and the Company's previously authorized and unissued securities, resulting in the dilution of the ownership interests of purchasers of the Company's Class A and Class C common stock. Under the Company's restated certificate of incorporation, the Company is authorized to issue 500,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, 500,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, 1,000,000,000 shares of Class C common stock, 1,000,000,000 shares of Class D common stock and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock with preferences and rights as determined by the Company's board of directors. The potential issuance of additional shares of common stock or preferred stock or convertible debt may create downward pressure on the trading price of the Company's Class A and Class C common stock.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish or cease publishing research or reports about the Company, the Company's business or the Company's market, or if they change their recommendations regarding the Company's Class A and/or Class C common stock adversely, the stock price and trading volume of the Company's Class A and/or Class C common stock could decline.
The trading market for the Company's Class A and Class C common stock is influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts may publish about the Company, the Company's business, the Company's market or the Company's competitors. If any of the analysts who may cover the Company change their recommendation regarding the Company's Class A and/or Class C common stock adversely, or provide more favorable relative recommendations about the Company's competitors, the price of the Company's Class A and/or Class C common stock would likely decline. If any analyst who covers the Company were to cease coverage of the Company or fail to regularly publish reports on the Company, the Company could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause the stock price or trading volume of the Company's Class A and/or Class C common stock to decline.
Future sales of the Company's Class A or Class C common stock by GIP may cause the price of the Company's Class A or Class C common stock to fall.
The market price of the Company's Class A or Class C common stock could decline as a result of sales by GIP of such shares (issuable to GIP upon the exchange of some or all of its Clearway Energy LLC Class B or Class D units, respectively) in the market, or the perception that these sales could occur.
The market price of the Company's Class A or Class C common stock may also decline as a result of GIP disposing or transferring some or all of the Company's outstanding Class B or Class D common stock, which disposals or transfers would reduce GIP's ownership interest in, and voting control over, the Company. These sales might also make it more difficult for the Company to sell equity securities at a time and price that the Company deems appropriate. GIP and certain of its affiliates have certain demand and piggyback registration rights with respect to shares of the Company's Class A common stock issuable upon the exchange of Clearway Energy LLC's Class B units and/or Class C common stock issuable upon the exchange of Clearway Energy LLC's Class D units. The presence of additional shares of the Company's Class A and/or Class C common stock trading in the public market, as a result of the exercise of such registration rights, may have a material adverse effect on the market price of the Company's securities.
Risks Related to Taxation
The Company's future tax liability may be greater than expected if the Company does not generate NOLs sufficient to offset taxable income, if federal, state and local tax authorities challenge certain of the Company’s tax positions and exemptions or if changes in federal, state and local tax laws occur.
The Company expects to generate NOLs and carryforward prior year NOL balances to offset future taxable income. Based on the Company's current portfolio of assets, which include renewable assets that benefit from accelerated tax depreciation deductions and federal tax credits, the Company does not expect to pay significant federal income tax for a period of approximately ten years. While the Company expects these losses will be available as a future benefit, in the event that they are not generated as expected, successfully challenged by the IRS or state and local jurisdictions (in a tax audit or otherwise) or subject to future limitations from a potential change in ownership, as discussed below, the Company's ability to realize these benefits may be limited. In addition, the Company’s ability to realize state and local tax exemptions, including property or sales and use tax exemptions, is subject to various tax laws. If these exemptions are successfully challenged by state and local jurisdictions or if a change in tax law occurs, the Company’s ability to realize these exemptions could be affected. A reduction in the Company's expected NOLs, a limitation on the Company's ability to use such losses or tax credits, and challenges by tax authorities to the Company’s tax positions may result in a material increase in the Company's estimated future income, sales/use and property tax liability and may negatively impact the Company's liquidity and financial condition.
The Company's ability to use NOLs to offset future income may be limited.
The Company's ability to use NOLs could be substantially limited if the Company is unable to generate future taxable income or were to experience an "ownership change" as defined under Section 382 of the Code. In general, an "ownership change" would occur if the Company's "5-percent shareholders," as defined under Section 382 of the Code, collectively increased their ownership in the Company by more than 50 percentage points over a rolling three-year period. A corporation that experiences an ownership change will generally be subject to an annual limitation on the use of its pre-ownership change deferred tax assets equal to the equity value of the corporation immediately before the ownership change, multiplied by the long-term tax-exempt rate for the month in which the ownership change occurs. Future sales of any class of the Company's common stock by GIP, as well as future issuances by the Company, could contribute to a potential ownership change.
A valuation allowance may be required for the Company's deferred tax assets.
The Company's expected NOLs and tax credits will be reflected as a deferred tax asset as they are generated until utilized to offset income. Valuation allowances may need to be maintained for deferred tax assets that the Company estimates are more likely than not to be unrealizable, based on available evidence at the time the estimate is made. Valuation allowances related to deferred tax assets can be affected by changes to tax laws, statutory tax rates and future taxable income levels. In the event that the Company was to determine that it would not be able to realize all or a portion of the net deferred tax assets in the future, the Company would reduce such amounts through a charge to income tax expense in the period in which that determination was made, which could have a material adverse impact on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.
Distributions to holders of the Company's Class A and Class C common stock may be taxable.
The amount of distributions that will be treated as taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes will depend on the amount of the Company's current and accumulated earnings and profits. It is difficult to predict whether the Company will generate earnings or profits as computed for federal income tax purposes in any given tax year. Generally, a corporation's earnings and profits are computed based upon taxable income, with certain specified adjustments. Distributions will constitute ordinary dividend income to the extent paid from the Company's current or accumulated earnings and profits. Distributions in excess of the Company’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a nontaxable return of capital to the extent of a stockholder's basis in his or her Class A or Class C common stock. Distributions in excess of the Company's current and accumulated earnings and profits and in excess of a stockholder's basis will be treated as gain from the sale of the common stock.
For U.S. tax purposes, the Company's distributions to its stockholders in 2020 and 2019 are classified for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a nontaxable return of capital and reduction of a U.S. stockholder's tax basis, to the extent of a U.S. stockholder's tax basis in each of the Company's common shares, with any remaining amount being taxed as a capital gain.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This Annual Report on Form 10-K of Clearway Energy, Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries, or the Company, includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. The words "believes," "projects," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "estimates" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance and achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors, risks and uncertainties include the factors described under Item 1A — Risk Factors and the following:
•The Company's ability to maintain and grow its quarterly dividend;
•Potential risks related to COVID-19 or any other pandemic;
•Potential risks related to the Company's relationships with GIP and CEG;
•The Company's ability to successfully identify, evaluate and consummate acquisitions from third parties;
•The Company's ability to acquire assets from GIP or CEG;
•The Company's ability to raise additional capital due to its indebtedness, corporate structure, market conditions or otherwise;
•Changes in law, including judicial decisions;
•Hazards customary to the power production industry and power generation operations such as fuel and electricity price volatility, unusual weather conditions (including wind and solar conditions), catastrophic weather-related or other damage to facilities, unscheduled generation outages, maintenance or repairs, unanticipated changes to fuel supply costs or availability due to higher demand, shortages, transportation problems or other developments, environmental incidents, or electric transmission or gas pipeline system constraints and the possibility that the Company may not have adequate insurance to cover losses as a result of such hazards;
•The Company's ability to operate its businesses efficiently, manage maintenance capital expenditures and costs effectively, and generate earnings and cash flows from its asset-based businesses in relation to its debt and other obligations;
•The willingness and ability of counterparties to the Company's offtake agreements to fulfill their obligations under such agreements;
•The Company's ability to enter into contracts to sell power and procure fuel on acceptable terms and prices as current offtake agreements expire;
•Government regulation, including compliance with regulatory requirements and changes in market rules, rates, tariffs and environmental laws;
•Operating and financial restrictions placed on the Company that are contained in the project-level debt facilities and other agreements of certain subsidiaries and project-level subsidiaries generally, in the Clearway Energy Operating LLC amended and restated revolving credit facility, in the indentures governing the Senior Notes and in the indentures governing the Company's convertible notes;
•Cyber terrorism and inadequate cybersecurity, or the occurrence of a catastrophic loss and the possibility that the Company may not have adequate insurance to cover losses resulting from such hazards or the inability of the Company's insurers to provide coverage;
•The Company's ability to engage in successful mergers and acquisitions activity; and
•The Company's ability to borrow additional funds and access capital markets, as well as the Company's substantial indebtedness and the possibility that the Company may incur additional indebtedness going forward.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The foregoing review of factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K should not be construed as exhaustive.
Item 1B — Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2 — Properties
Listed below are descriptions of the Company's interests in facilities, operations and/or projects owned or leased as of December 31, 2020.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Capacity | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Rated MW | | Net MW(a) | | Owner-ship | | | | | | PPA Terms |
Assets | | Location | | | | | Fuel | | COD | | Counterparty | | Expiration |
Conventional | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Carlsbad | | Carlsbad, CA | | 527 | | | 527 | | | 100 | % | | Natural Gas | | December 2018 | | San Diego Gas & Electric | | 2038 |
El Segundo | | El Segundo, CA | | 550 | | | 550 | | | 100 | % | | Natural Gas | | August 2013 | | SCE | | 2023 |
GenConn Devon | | Milford, CT | | 190 | | | 95 | | | 50 | % | | Natural Gas/Oil | | June 2010 | | Connecticut Light & Power | | 2040 |
GenConn Middletown | | Middletown, CT | | 190 | | | 95 | | | 50 | % | | Natural Gas/Oil | | June 2011 | | Connecticut Light & Power | | 2041 |
Marsh Landing | | Antioch, CA | | 720 | | | 720 | | | 100 | % | | Natural Gas | | May 2013 | | PG&E | | 2023 |
Walnut Creek | | City of Industry, CA | | 485 | | | 485 | | | 100 | % | | Natural Gas | | May 2013 | | SCE | | 2023 |
Total Conventional | | 2,662 | | | 2,472 | | | | | | | | | | | |
Utility Scale Solar | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Agua Caliente | | Dateland, AZ | | 290 | | | 46 | | | 16 | % | | Solar | | June 2014 | | PG&E | | 2039 |
Alpine | | Lancaster, CA | | 66 | | | 66 | | | 100 | % | | Solar | | January 2013 | | PG&E | | 2033 |
Avenal | | Avenal, CA | | 45 | | | 23 | | | 50 | % | | Solar | | August 2011 | | PG&E | | 2031 |
Avra Valley | | Pima County, AZ | | 27 | | | 27 | | | 100 | % | | Solar | | December 2012 | | Tucson Electric Power | | 2032 |
Blythe | | Blythe, CA | | 21 | | | 21 | | | 100 | % | | Solar | | December 2009 | | SCE | | 2029 |
Borrego | | Borrego Springs, CA | | 26 | | | 26 | | | 100 | % | | Solar | | February 2013 | | San Diego Gas and Electric | | 2038 |
Buckthorn Solar (b) | | Fort Stockton, TX | | 154 | | | 154 | | | 100 | % | | Solar | | July 2018 | | City of Georgetown, TX | | 2043 |
CVSR | | San Luis Obispo, CA | | 250 | | | 250 | | | 100 | % | | Solar | | October 2013 | | PG&E | | 2038 |
Desert Sunlight 250 | | Desert Center, CA | | 250 | | | 63 | | | 25 | % | | Solar | | December 2014 | | SCE | | 2034 |
Desert Sunlight 300 | | Desert Center, CA | | 300 | | | 75 | | | 25 | % | | Solar | | December 2014 | | PG&E | | 2039 |
Kansas South | | Lemoore, CA | | 20 | | | 20 | | | 100 | % | | Solar | | June 2013 | | PG&E | | 2033 |
Kawailoa (b) | | Oahu, HI | | 49 | | | 24 | | | 48 | % | | Solar | | November 2019 | | Hawaiian Electric Company | | 2041 |
Oahu Solar Projects (b) | | Oahu, HI | | 61 | | | 58 | | | 95 | % | | Solar | | September 2019 | | Hawaiian Electric Company | | 2041 |
Roadrunner | | Santa Teresa, NM | | 20 | | | 20 | | | 100 | % | | Solar | | August 2011 | | El Paso Electric | | 2031 |
Rosamond Central (b) | | Rosamond, CA | | 192 | | | 96 | | | 50 | % | | Solar | | December 2020 | | Various | | 2035 |
TA High Desert | | Lancaster, CA | | 20 | | | 20 | | | 100 | % | | Solar | | March 2013 | | SCE | | 2033 |
Utah Solar Portfolio (b) | | Various | | 530 | | | 265 | | | 50 | % | | Solar | | July - September 2016 | | PacifiCorp | | 2036 |
Total Utility Scale Solar | | 2,321 | | | 1,254 | | | | | | | | | | | |
Distributed Solar | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
DGPV Fund Projects (b) | | Various | | 286 | | | 286 | | | 100 | % | | Solar | | September 2015 - March 2019 | | Various | | 2030 - 2044 |
Solar Power Partners (SPP) Projects | | Various | | 25 | | | 25 | | | 100 | % | | Solar | | June 2008 - June 2012 | | Various | | 2026 - 2037 |
Other DG Projects | | Various | | 21 | | | 21 | | | 100 | % | | Solar | | December 2010 - October 2015 | | Various | | 2023 - 2039 |
Total Distributed Solar | | 332 | | | 332 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Capacity | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Rated MW | | Net MW(a) | | Owner-ship | | | | | | PPA Terms |
Assets | | Location | | | | | Fuel | | COD | | Counterparty | | Expiration |
Wind | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Alta I | | Tehachapi, CA | | 150 | | | 150 | | | 100 | % | | Wind | | December 2010 | | SCE | | 2035 |
Alta II | | Tehachapi, CA | | 150 | | | 150 | | | 100 | % | | Wind | | December 2010 | | SCE | | 2035 |
Alta III | | Tehachapi, CA | | 150 | | | 150 | | | 100 | % | | Wind | | February 2011 | | SCE | | 2035 |
Alta IV | | Tehachapi, CA | | 102 | | | 102 | | | 100 | % | | Wind | | March 2011 | | SCE | | 2035 |
Alta V | | Tehachapi, CA | | 168 | | | 168 | | | 100 | % | | Wind | | April 2011 | | SCE | | 2035 |
Alta X (b) | | Tehachapi, CA | | 137 | | | 137 | | | 100 | % | | Wind | | February 2014 | | SCE | | 2038 |
Alta XI (b) | | Tehachapi, CA | | 90 | | | 90 | | | 100 | % | | Wind | | February 2014 | | SCE | | 2038 |
Buffalo Bear | | Buffalo, OK | | 19 | | | 19 | | | 100 | % | | Wind | | December 2008 | | Western Farmers Electric Co-operative | | 2033 |
Crosswinds | | Ayrshire, IA | | 21 | | | 21 | | | 99 | % | | Wind | | June 2007 | | Corn Belt Power Cooperative | | 2027 |
Elbow Creek (b) | | Howard County, TX | | 122 | | | 122 | | | 100 | % | | Wind | | December 2008 | | Various | | 2029 |
Elkhorn Ridge | | Bloomfield, NE | | 81 | | | 54 | | | 66.7 | % | | Wind | | March 2009 | | Nebraska Public Power District | | 2029 |
Forward | | Berlin, PA | | 29 | | | 29 | | | 100 | % | | Wind | | April 2008 | | Constellation NewEnergy, Inc. | | 2022 |
Goat Wind | | Sterling City, TX | | 150 | | | 150 | | | 100 | % | | Wind | | April 2008/June 2009 | | Dow Pipeline Company | | 2025 |
Hardin | | Jefferson, IA | | 15 | | | 15 | | | 99 | % | | Wind | | May 2007 | | Interstate Power and Light Company | | 2027 |
Langford (b) | | Christoval, TX | | 160 | | | 160 | | | 100 | % | | Wind | | December 2009/November 2020 | | Goldman Sachs | | 2033 |
Laredo Ridge | | Petersburg, NE | | 80 | | | 80 | | | 100 | % | | Wind | | February 2011 | | Nebraska Public Power District | | 2031 |
Lookout (b) | | Berlin, PA | | 38 | | | 38 | | | 100 | % | | Wind | | October 2008 | | Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative | | 2030 |
Mesquite Star(b) | | Fisher County, TX | | 419 | | | 210 | | | 50 | % | | Wind | | June 2020 | | Various | | 2032 - 2035 |
Ocotillo | | Forsan, TX | | 59 | | | 59 | | | 100 | % | | Wind | | November 2008 | | N/A | | |
Odin | | Odin, MN | | 20 | | | 20 | | | 100 | % | | Wind | | June 2008 | | Missouri River Energy Services | | 2028 |
Pinnacle | | Keyser, WV | | 55 | | | 55 | | | 100 | % | | Wind | | December 2011 | | Maryland Department of General Services and University System of Maryland | | 2031 |
San Juan Mesa | | Elida, NM | | 120 | | | 90 | | | 75 | % | | Wind | | December 2005 | | Southwestern Public Service Company | | 2025 |
Sleeping Bear | | Woodward, OK | | 95 | | | 95 | | | 100 | % | | Wind | | October 2007 | | Public Service Company of Oklahoma | | 2032 |
South Trent | | Sweetwater, TX | | 101 | | | 101 | | | 100 | % | | Wind | | January 2009 | | AEP Energy Partners | | 2029 |
Spanish Fork | | Spanish Fork, UT | | 19 | | | 19 | | | 100 | % | | Wind | | July 2008 | | PacifiCorp | | 2028 |
Spring Canyon II (b) | | Logan County, CO | | 32 | | | 31 | | | 90.1 | % | | Wind | | October 2014 | | Platte River Power Authority | | 2039 |
Spring Canyon III (b) | | Logan County, CO | | 28 | | | 26 | | | 90.1 | % | | Wind | | December 2014 | | Platte River Power Authority | | 2039 |
Taloga | | Putnam, OK | | 130 | | | 130 | | | 100 | % | | Wind | | July 2011 | | Oklahoma Gas & Electric | | 2031 |
Wildorado (b) | | Vega, TX | | 161 | | | 161 | | | 100 | % | | Wind | | April 2007 | | Southwestern Public Service Company | | 2027 |
Total Wind | | 2,901 | | | 2,632 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Capacity | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Rated MW | | Net MW(a) | | Owner-ship | | | | | | PPA Terms |
Assets | | Location | | | | | Fuel | | COD | | Counterparty | | Expiration |
Thermal Generation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CA Fuel Cell | | Tulare, CA | | 3 | | | 3 | | | 100 | % | | Natural Gas | | May 2018 | | City of Tulare | | 2038 |
ECP Uptown Campus | | Pittsburgh, PA | | 6 | | | 6 | | | 100 | % | | Natural Gas | | May 2019 | | Duquesne University | | 2029 |
Energy Center - Pittsburgh | | Pittsburgh, PA | | 7 | | | 7 | | | 100 | % | | Diesel | | January 2019 | | University of Pittsburgh Medical Center | | 2038 |
Energy Center Caguas | | Caguas, PR | | 3 | | | 3 | | | 100 | % | | Natural Gas | | September 2020 | | Viatris Pharmaceuticals | | 2032 |
Paxton Creek Cogen | | Harrisburg, PA | | 12 | | | 12 | | | 100 | % | | Natural Gas | | November 1986 | | Power sold into PJM markets |
Princeton Hospital | | Princeton, NJ | | 5 | | | 5 | | | 100 | % | | Natural Gas | | January 2012 | | Excess power sold to local utility |
Tucson Convention Center | | Tucson, AZ | | 2 | | | 2 | | | 100 | % | | Natural Gas | | January 2003 | | Excess power sold to local utility |
University of Bridgeport | | Bridgeport, CT | | 1 | | | 1 | | | 100 | % | | Natural Gas | | April 2015 | | University of Bridgeport | | 2034 |
Total Thermal Generation | | 39 | | | 39 | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Clearway Energy, Inc. | | 8,255 | | | 6,729 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(a) Net capacity represents the maximum, or rated, generating capacity of the facility multiplied by the Company's percentage ownership in the facility as of December 31, 2020.
(b) Projects are part of tax equity arrangements, as further described in Item 15 — Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.
The following table summarizes the Company's thermal steam and chilled water facilities as of December 31, 2020:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name and Location of Facility | | Thermal Energy Customers (steam/chilled water) | | % Owned | | Rated Megawatt Thermal Equivalent Capacity (MWt) | | Net Megawatt Thermal Equivalent Capacity (MWt) (a) | | Generating Capacity |
Energy Center Minneapolis, MN | | 100 steam | | 100 | % | | 286 | | 286 | | Steam: 1,075 MMBtu/hr. |
| | 55 chilled water | | 100 | % | | 129 | | 129 | | | Chilled water: 38,700 tons |
ECP Uptown Campus, PA | | Duquesne University | | 100 | % | | 53 | | 53 | | | Steam: 181 MMBtu/hr. |
| | Duquesne University | | 100 | % | | 24 | | | 24 | | | Chilled water: 5,790 tons |
Energy Center San Francisco, CA | | 180 steam | | 100 | % | | 133 | | | 133 | | | Steam: 454 MMBtu/hr. |
Energy Center Omaha, NE | | 60 steam | | 100 | % | | 198 | | 198 | | Steam: 675 MMBtu/hr. |
| | 65 chilled water | | 100 | % | | 99 | | 99 | | Chilled water: 28,000 tons |
Energy Center Harrisburg, PA | | 115 steam | | 100 | % | | 94 | | 94 | | Steam: 370 MMBtu/hr. |
| | 5 chilled water | | 100 | % | | 14 | | | 14 | | | Chilled water: 3,900 tons |
Energy Center Phoenix, AZ | | 40 chilled water | | 73 % (b) | | 144 | | 104 | | Chilled water 41,020 tons |
| | | | 24 | % | | 5 | | | 1 | | | Steam: 17 MMBtu/hr. |
Energy Center Pittsburgh, PA | | 25 steam | | 100 | % | | 118 | | 118 | | Steam: 452 MMBtu/hr. |
| | 30 chilled water | | 100 | % | | 68 | | | 68 | | | Chilled water: 22,224 tons |
Energy Center San Diego, CA | | 20 chilled water | | 100 | % | | 31 | | | 31 | | | Chilled water: 9,295 tons |
Energy Center Princeton, NJ | | Princeton HealthCare System | | 100 | % | | 21 | | | 21 | | | Steam: 72 MMBtu/hr. |
| | Princeton HealthCare System | | 100 | % | | 17 | | | 17 | | | Chilled water: 4,700 tons |
Energy Center Caguas, PR | | Viatris Pharmaceuticals | | 100 | % | | 1 | | | 1 | | | Steam: 4 MMBtu/hr. |
| | Viatris Pharmaceuticals | | 100 | % | | 3 | | | 3 | | | Chilled water: 800 tons |
Total generating capacity | | | | | | 1,438 | | | 1,394 | | | |
(a) Net megawatt thermal equivalent capacity represents the maximum, or rated, generating capacity of the facility multiplied by the Company's percentage ownership in the facility as of December 31, 2020.
(b) Net MWt capacity excludes 43 MWt available under the right-to-use provisions contained in agreements between one of the Company's thermal facilities and certain of its customers.
Item 3 — Legal Proceedings
See Item 15 — Note 16, Commitments and Contingencies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion of the material legal proceedings to which the Company is a party or of which any of its properties is subject.
Item 4 — Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5 — Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information, Equity Holders and Dividends
The Company's Class A common stock and Class C common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trade under the ticker symbols "CWEN.A" and "CWEN," respectively. The Company's Class B common stock and Class D common stock are not publicly traded.
As of January 31, 2021, there were two holders of record of the Class A common stock, one holder of record of the Class B common stock, three holders of record of the Class C common stock and one holder of record of the Class D common stock.
On February 12, 2021 the Company declared a quarterly dividend on its Class A and Class C common stock of $0.324 per share payable on March 15, 2021, to stockholders of record as of March 1, 2021.
The Company's Class A and Class C common stock dividends are subject to available capital, market conditions, and compliance with associated laws and regulations. The Company expects that, based on current circumstances, comparable cash dividends will continue to be paid in the foreseeable future.
Stock Performance Graph
The performance graph below compares the Company's cumulative total stockholder return on the Company's Class A common stock and Class C common stock from December 31, 2015 through December 31, 2020, with the cumulative total return of the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index, or S&P 500, and the Philadelphia Utility Sector Index, or UTY.
The performance graph shown below is being furnished and compares each period assuming that $100 was invested on December 31, 2015 in each of the Class A common stock of the Company, the Class C common stock of the Company, the stocks included in the S&P 500 and the stocks included in the UTY, and that all dividends were reinvested.
Comparison of Cumulative Total Return
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, 2015 | | December 31, 2016 | | December 31, 2017 | | December 31, 2018 | | December 31, 2019 | December 31, 2020 |
Clearway Energy, Inc. Class A common stock | | $ | 100.00 | | | $ | 117.84 | | | $ | 153.68 | | | $ | 148.04 | | | $ | 175.91 | | $ | 284.42 | |
Clearway Energy, Inc. Class C common stock | | 100.00 | | | 113.84 | | | 144.49 | | | 141.44 | | | 171.67 | | 286.76 | |
S&P 500 | | 100.00 | | | 111.96 | | | 136.40 | | | 130.42 | | | 171.49 | | 203.04 | |
UTY | | 100.00 | | | 117.39 | | | 132.45 | | | 137.10 | | | 173.87 | | 178.61 | |
Item 6 — Selected Financial Data
The historical data in the table below should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes thereto in Item 15 and Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fiscal year ended December 31, |
(In millions, except per share data) | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
Statement of Income Data: | | | |
Operating Revenues | | | | | | | | | |
Total operating revenues | $ | 1,199 | | | $ | 1,032 | | | $ | 1,053 | | | $ | 1,009 | | | $ | 1,035 | |
Operating Costs and Expenses | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of operations | 366 | | | 337 | | | 327 | | | 322 | | | 305 | |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 428 | | | 401 | | | 336 | | | 338 | | | 306 | |
Impairment losses | 24 | | | 33 | | | — | | | 44 | | | 185 | |
General and administrative | 34 | | | 29 | | | 20 | | | 19 | | | 16 | |
Transaction and integration costs | 9 | | | 3 | | | 20 | | | 3 | | | 1 | |
Development costs | 5 | | | 5 | | | 3 | | | — | | | — | |
Total operating costs and expenses | 866 | | | 808 | | | 706 | | | 726 | | | 813 | |
Operating Income | 333 | | | 224 | | | 347 | | | 283 | | | 222 | |
Other Income (Expense) | | | | | | | | | |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates | 7 | | | 83 | | | 74 | | | 71 | | | 60 | |
Impairment loss on investment | (8) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
Gain on sale of unconsolidated affiliate | 49 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
Other income, net | 4 | | | 9 | | | 8 | | | 4 | | | 3 | |
Loss on debt extinguishment | (24) | | | (16) | | | (7) | | | (3) | | | — | |
Interest expense | (415) | | | (404) | | | (306) | | | (307) | | | (284) | |
Total other expense, net | (387) | | | (328) | | | (231) | | | (235) | | | (221) | |
(Loss) Income Before Income Taxes | (54) | | | (104) | | | 116 | | | 48 | | | 1 | |
Income tax expense (benefit) | 8 | | | (8) | | | 62 | | | 72 | | | (1) | |
Net (Loss) Income | (62) | | | (96) | | | 54 | | | (24) | | | 2 | |
Less: Pre-acquisition net income (loss) of Drop Down Assets | — | | | — | | | 4 | | | 7 | | | (4) | |
Net (Loss) Income Excluding Pre-acquisition Net Income (Loss) of Drop Down Assets | (62) | | | (96) | | | 50 | | | (31) | | | 6 | |
Less: Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (87) | | | (85) | | | 2 | | | (15) | | | (51) | |
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Clearway Energy, Inc. | $ | 25 | | | $ | (11) | | | $ | 48 | | | $ | (16) | | | $ | 57 | |
Earnings Per Share Attributable to Clearway Energy, Inc. Class A and Class C Common Stockholders | | | | | | | | | |
Earnings (loss) per Weighted Average Class A and Class C Common Share - Basic and Diluted | $ | 0.22 | | | $ | (0.10) | | | $ | 0.46 | | | $ | (0.16) | | | $ | 0.58 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Dividends per Class A common share | $ | 1.05 | | | $ | 0.80 | | | $ | 1.258 | | | $ | 1.098 | | | $ | 0.945 | |
Dividends per Class C common share | $ | 1.05 | | | $ | 0.80 | | | $ | 1.258 | | | $ | 1.098 | | | $ | 0.945 | |
Other Financial Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Capital expenditures | $ | 124 | | | $ | 228 | | | $ | 83 | | | $ | 190 | | | $ | 20 | |
Cash Flow Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Net cash provided by (used in): | | | | | | | | | |
Operating activities | $ | 545 | | | $ | 477 | | | $ | 498 | | | $ | 517 | | | $ | 577 | |
Investing activities | (62) | | | (468) | | | (185) | | | (442) | | | (131) | |
Financing activities | (435) | | | (175) | | | (46) | | | (257) | | | (202) | |
Balance Sheet Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 268 | | | $ | 155 | | | $ | 407 | | | $ | 148 | | | $ | 322 | |
Property, plant and equipment, net | 7,217 | | | 6,063 | | | 5,245 | | | 5,410 | | | 5,579 | |
Total assets | 10,592 | | | 9,700 | | | 8,500 | | | 8,489 | | | 8,988 | |
Long-term debt, including current maturities | 6,969 | | | 6,780 | | | 5,982 | | | 5,998 | | | 6,049 | |
Total liabilities | 7,877 | | | 7,437 | | | 6,276 | | | 6,330 | | | 6,365 | |
Total stockholders' equity | 2,715 | | | 2,263 | | | 2,224 | | | 2,159 | | | 2,623 | |
Item 7 — Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and the Results of Operations
As you read this discussion and analysis, refer to the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations to this Form 10-K. Also refer to Item 1 — Business and Item 1A — Risk Factors, which include detailed discussions of various items impacting the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition. Discussions of the year ended December 31, 2018 that are not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and year-to-year comparisons of the year ended December 31, 2019 and the year ended December 31, 2018 can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and the Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.
The discussion and analysis below has been organized as follows:
•Executive Summary, including a description of the business and significant events that are important to understanding the results of operations and financial condition;
•Results of operations, including an explanation of significant differences between the periods in the specific line items of the consolidated statements of operations;
•Financial condition addressing liquidity position, sources and uses of cash, capital resources and requirements, commitments, and off-balance sheet arrangements;
•Known trends that may affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition in the future; and
•Critical accounting policies which are most important to both the portrayal of the Company's financial condition and results of operations, and which require management's most difficult, subjective or complex judgment.
Executive Summary
Introduction and Overview
Clearway Energy, Inc. together with its consolidated subsidiaries, or the Company, is a publicly-traded energy infrastructure investor in and owner of modern, sustainable and long-term contracted assets across North America. The Company is indirectly owned by Global Infrastructure Partners III. Global Infrastructure Management, LLC is an independent fund manager that invests in infrastructure assets in the energy and transport sectors, and Global Infrastructure Partners III is its third equity fund. The Company is sponsored by GIP through GIP's portfolio company, CEG.
The Company is one of the largest renewable energy owners in the U.S. with over 4,200 net MW of installed wind and solar generation projects. The Company also owns approximately 2,500 net MW of environmentally-sound, highly efficient natural gas-fired generation facilities as well as a portfolio of district energy systems. Through this environmentally-sound, diversified and primarily contracted portfolio, the Company endeavors to provide its investors with stable and growing dividend income. Substantially all of the Company's generation assets are under long-term contractual arrangements for the output or capacity from these assets. The weighted average remaining contract duration of these offtake agreements was approximately 13 years as of December 31, 2020 based on CAFD.
Significant Events
Third Party Acquisitions
•On February 10, 2021, the Company reached an agreement to acquire 100% of the equity interests in Mount Storm Holdings I LLC, or Mt Storm, for approximately $96 million subject to certain purchase price adjustments. Mt Storm is a 264 MW wind project located in Grant County, West Virginia. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.
•On February 3, 2021, the Company acquired an additional 35% equity interest in the Agua Caliente solar project from NRG Energy, Inc. for $202 million. Agua Caliente is a 290 MW solar project located in Dateland, Arizona in which Clearway previously owned a 16% equity interest. The project has a 25-year PPA with PG&E, with approximately 19 years remaining under the agreement. Following the close of the transaction, the Company owns a 51% equity interest in Agua Caliente. The Company will remove its equity method investment and consolidate its interest in Agua Caliente from the date of the acquisition.
Drop Down Transactions
•On January 12, 2021, the Company acquired 100% of CEG's equity interest and a third party investor's minority interest in Rattlesnake Flat, LLC, which owns the Rattlesnake Wind Project, a 160 net MW wind facility located in Adams County, WA which achieved commercial operations in January 2021, for $132 million in cash consideration and expects its net capital commitment to be $119 million after proceeds from a state sales and use tax refund which are expected to be received in 2021.
•On December 21, 2020, subsidiaries of the Company entered into the Lighthouse Partnership Agreements providing for the Company’s co-investment in a 1,204 MW portfolio of renewable energy projects developed by CEG. In addition, the agreements included an amendment of the partnership that owns the 419 MW Mesquite Star wind project, providing the Company with additional project cash flows after the first half of 2031. As described below, the Company had previously acquired an interest in Mesquite Star Pledgor LLC, which was subsequently renamed Lighthouse Renewable Holdco LLC. The 1,204 MW portfolio of renewable energy projects includes:
◦Five geographically diversified wind, solar and solar plus storage assets under development totaling 1,012 MW, and
◦The 192 MW Rosamond Central solar project, located in Kern County, California. On December 21, 2020, the Company acquired 100% of the Class A membership interests of Rosie TargetCo LLC, which consolidates its interest in a tax equity fund that owns the project, for approximately $24 million in cash consideration. Rosie TargetCo LLC is a partnership, whose Class B membership interests are owned by a third party investor. The Company is entitled to a 50% cash equity interest in Rosamond Central through its Class A membership interests.
For the above-mentioned transactions, the Company expects to invest an estimated $215 million in corporate capital by the end of 2022, subject to closing adjustments and the projects achieving certain milestones. The expected net corporate capital includes the $24 million already invested in Rosamond Central in 2020 and the purchase price adjustment received concurrent with the partnership agreement amendment for Mesquite Star.
•On November 20, 2020, the Company acquired from Clearway Renew LLC, a subsidiary of CEG, and a third party investor, 100% of the cash equity interests in Langford Holding LLC, which owns the Langford wind project, for total cash consideration of approximately $64 million. The Langford wind project is a 160 MW wind project located in West Texas which was repowered and achieved commercial operations in November 2020.
•On November 2, 2020, the Company acquired from CEG (i) the Class B membership interests in DGPV Holdco 1, DGPV Holdco 2 and DGPV Holdco 3, or the DGPV Holdco Entities and (ii) an SREC contract for an aggregate of $44 million in cash consideration. In connection with the acquisition of the Class B membership interests, the Company consolidated their interest in the underlying distributed solar tax equity funds within DGPV Holdco 1 and DGPV Holdco 2. The Company had previously consolidated DGPV Holdco 3 effective in May 2020.
•On November 2, 2020, the CEG ROFO Agreement was amended to (i) add the assets comprising the Lighthouse Partnership Agreements from CEG to the ROFO pipeline (ii) memorialize as a ROFO asset the contract related to the monetization of renewable energy credits associated with assets within the DGPV Holdco Entities, which was acquired at the same time; and (iii) extend the third-party negotiation periods for CEG's residual interest in Kawailoa and Oahu assets as well as the assets comprising the cash equity partnership offer from CEG to November 2, 2021.
•On September 1, 2020, the Company, through its indirect subsidiary Mesquite Star HoldCo LLC, acquired the Class A membership interests in Mesquite Star Pledgor LLC from Clearway Renew LLC, a subsidiary of CEG, for $74 million in cash consideration inclusive of a purchase price adjustment received in the fourth quarter of 2020 concurrent with the partnership amendment referenced below. Mesquite Star Pledgor LLC is the primary beneficiary and consolidates its interest in a tax equity fund that owns the Mesquite Star wind project, a 419 MW utility scale wind project located in Fisher County, Texas. A majority of the project’s output is backed by contracts with investment grade counterparties with a 12 year weighted average contract life. As described above, Mesquite Star Pledgor LLC was renamed Lighthouse Renewable Holdco LLC and the Class B membership interests were sold to a third party investor. The investor and the Company amended the terms of the related partnership and as a result, the Company now consolidates its interest in the Mesquite Star wind project, through its consolidation of Lighthouse Renewable Holdco LLC.
•On April 17, 2020, the Company entered into binding agreements related to the previously announced drop down offer from CEG to enable the Company to acquire and invest in a portfolio of renewable energy projects. The following projects are included in the drop down:
◦CEG's interest in Repowering Partnership II LLC (Repowering 1.0), which the Company acquired on May 11, 2020 for cash consideration of $70 million,
◦100% of the equity interests in Rattlesnake Flat, LLC, which owns the Rattlesnake Wind Project, a 160 net MW wind facility located in Adams County, WA which the company acquired on January 12, 2021 as mentioned above, and
◦On February 26, 2021, the Company, through an indirect subsidiary, entered into an amended partnership agreement with CEG to repower the Pinnacle Wind Project, a 55 net MW wind facility located in Mineral County, WV. The amended agreement commits the Company to invest an estimated $67 million in net corporate capital, subject to closing adjustments, and no longer requires an additional payment in 2031. The existing Pinnacle Wind power purchase agreements will continue to run through 2031. Commercial operations and corporate capital funding for the Pinnacle Wind Repowering Partnership are expected to occur in the second half of 2021.
For the above mentioned transactions, the agreements commit the Company to invest an estimated $256 million in net corporate capital, subject to closing adjustments.
Sale of Assets or Investments
•On May 14, 2020, the Company sold its interests in RPV Holdco 1 LLC, or RPV Holdco, to a third party for net proceeds of approximately $75 million. The Company previously accounted for its interest in RPV Holdco as an equity method investment. The sale of the investment resulted in a gain of approximately $49 million.
•On March 3, 2020, the Company through Thermal LLC, sold 100% of its interests in Energy Center Dover and Energy Center Smyrna to DB Energy Assets, LLC for approximately $15 million.
Corporate-Level Financing
•On May 21, 2020, Clearway Energy Operating LLC completed the sale of an additional $250 million aggregate principal amount of the 2028 Senior Notes. The 2028 Senior Notes bear interest at 4.75% and mature on March 15, 2028. Interest on the 2028 Senior Notes is payable semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 of each year, and interest payments commenced on September 15, 2020. The 2028 Senior Notes are unsecured obligations of Clearway Energy Operating LLC and are guaranteed by Clearway Energy LLC and by certain of Clearway Energy Operating LLC's wholly owned current and future subsidiaries. The proceeds from the additional 2028 Senior Notes were used to repay the $45 million outstanding principal amount of the Company's 2020 Convertible Notes on June 1, 2020, as well as to fund the repayment of outstanding borrowings under the Company's revolving credit facility and for general corporate purposes.
Project-Level Financing Activities
•On November 2, 2020, DG-CS Master Borrower LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Clearway Energy Operating LLC, entered into a financing arrangement, which included the issuance of a $467 million term loan, as well as $30 million in letters of credit in support of debt service. The notes bear interest at 3.51% and mature on September 30, 2040. The proceeds from the loan were utilized to repay existing project-level debt outstanding for Chestnut Borrower LLC, Renew Solar CS 4 Borrower LLC, DGPV 4 Borrower LLC and Puma Class B LLC of $107 million, $102 million, $92 million and $73 million respectively and unwind related interest rate swaps in the amount of $42 million. The remaining proceeds were utilized to pay related fees and expenses and in part to acquire the Class B membership interests in the DGPV Holdco Entities and an SREC contract from CEG as further described in Item 15 — Note 3, Acquisitions and Dispositions. Concurrent with the refinancing, the projects were transferred under DG-CS Master Borrower LLC and the obligations under the financing arrangement are supported by the Company's interest in the projects. Prior to the acquisition of CEG's Class B membership interests mentioned above, the Company invested approximately $10 million in the DG investment partnerships with CEG during 2020, bringing total capital invested in these investment partnerships to $266 million.
•On September 30, 2020, the Alpine, Blythe and Roadrunner projects were transferred under NIMH Solar LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Clearway Energy Operating LLC. Concurrently, total project-level debt outstanding for Alpine, Blythe and Roadrunner of $158 million was assigned to NIMH Solar LLC. The consolidated facility was amended to a term loan for $193 million, as well as $16 million in letters of credit in support of debt service and project obligations. The term loan bears interest at an annual interest rate of LIBOR, plus an applicable margin of 2.00% per annum through the third anniversary of closing, and 2.125% per annum thereafter through the maturity date in September 2024. As a result of the amendment the Company received $35 million and the funds were utilized to pay related fees and expenses and along with existing project level cash provided a distribution to Clearway Energy Operating LLC of $45 million. The obligations under the financing arrangement are supported by the Company’s interests in the projects.
•On September 1, 2020, Utah Solar Holdings, LLC, or Utah Solar, entered into a financing arrangement, which included the issuance of approximately $296 million in senior secured notes supported by the Company’s interest in the Four Brothers, Granite Mountain and Iron Springs projects, or the Utah projects (previously defined as the Utah Solar Portfolio). The notes bear interest at 3.59% per annum and mature on December 31, 2036. The proceeds from the issuance were utilized to repay existing debt outstanding of approximately $247 million for the Utah projects and to unwind the related interest rate swaps in the amount of $33 million. The remaining proceeds were utilized to pay related fees and expenses, with the remaining $9 million distributed to Clearway Energy Operating LLC.
Black Start Services at Marsh Landing
•As of July 2020, all necessary regulatory approvals were obtained with respect to the Company's Marsh Landing project to provide black start capability in the greater San Francisco Bay area, which would restart Marsh Landing in the event of a blackout, under a five-year contract with the California Independent System Operator to support their emergency restoration of the electrical grid. The project has commenced construction activities and is expected to achieve commercial operations in the second quarter of 2021.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company Bankruptcy
•On July 1, 2020, PG&E emerged from bankruptcy and assumed the Company's contracts without modification. In addition, PG&E paid to the Company's applicable projects the portion of the invoices corresponding to the electricity delivered for the period between January 1 and January 28, 2019. These invoices related to the pre-petition period services and any payment therefore required the approval by the Bankruptcy Court. Subsequent to PG&E's
emergence from bankruptcy the Company entered into waiver agreements with the lenders to the respective financing agreements related to the PG&E Bankruptcy and all previously restricted distributions were paid out of distribution reserve accounts at the Company's subsidiaries affected by the PG&E Bankruptcy.
Environmental Matters and Regulatory Matters
Details of environmental matters and regulatory matters are presented in Item 1 — Business, Regulatory Matters and Item 1A — Risk Factors. Details of some of this information relate to costs that may impact the Company's financial results.
Trends or Matters Affecting Results of Operations and Future Business Performance
Wind and Solar Resource Availability
The availability of the wind and solar resources affects the financial performance of the wind and solar facilities, which may impact the Company’s overall financial performance. Due to the variable nature of the wind and solar resources, the Company cannot predict the availability of the wind and solar resources and the potential variances from expected performance levels from quarter to quarter. To the extent the wind and solar resources are not available at expected levels, it could have a negative impact on the Company’s financial performance for such periods.
Recent Developments Affecting Industry Conditions and the Company’s Business
COVID-19
In response to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Company has implemented preventative measures and developed corporate and regional response plans to protect the health and safety of its employees, customers and other business counterparties, while supporting the Company’s suppliers and customers’ operations to the best of its ability in the circumstances. The Company also has modified certain business practices (including discontinuing all non-essential business travel, implementing a temporary work-from-home policy for employees who can execute their work remotely and encouraging employees to adhere to local and regional social distancing, more stringent hygiene and cleaning protocols across the Company’s facilities and operations and self-quarantining recommendations) to support efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and to conform to government restrictions and best practices encouraged by governmental and regulatory authorities. The Company continues to evaluate these measures, response plans and business practices in light of the evolving effects of COVID-19.
There is considerable uncertainty regarding the extent to which COVID-19 will continue to spread and the extent and duration of governmental and other measures implemented to try to slow the spread of the virus, such as large-scale travel bans and restrictions, border closures, quarantines, shelter-in-place orders and business and government shutdowns. Restrictions of this nature may cause the Company, its suppliers and other business counterparties to experience operational delays and delays in the delivery of materials and supplies and may cause milestones or deadlines relating to various projects to be missed.
As of the date of this report, the Company has not experienced any material financial or operational impacts related to COVID-19. All of the Company’s facilities have remained operational. The Company has experienced a decrease in volumetric sales at certain Thermal locations in part due to COVID-19 related impacts which has not resulted in any material financial impacts to the Company. The Company believes that all of its accounts receivable balances as of December 31, 2020 are collectible. The Company will continue to assess collectability based on any future developments.
The Company cannot predict the full impact that COVID-19 will have on the Company’s financial expectations, its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, its ability to make distributions to its stockholders, the market prices of its common stock and its ability to satisfy its debt service obligations at this time, due to numerous uncertainties. The ultimate impacts will depend on future developments, including, among others, the ultimate geographic spread of the virus, the consequences of governmental and other measures designed to prevent the spread of the virus, the development of effective treatments, the duration of the outbreak, actions taken by governmental authorities, customers, suppliers and other third parties, workforce availability and the timing and extent to which normal economic and operating conditions resume. For additional discussion regarding risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, see Part I, Item 1A Risk Factors.
February 2021 Winter Events in Texas
During February 2021, Texas experienced extreme winter weather conditions. Certain of the Company's wind projects were unable to operate and experienced outages due to the weather conditions. These projects are now operating within expectations. The Company continues to assess the full financial exposure related to the circumstances, including potential mitigants, ongoing discussions with contractual counterparties, any potential disputes which may result and any state
sponsored solutions to address the financial impacts caused by the circumstances. Based on available information, the Company currently estimates a direct cash impact between $20 million and $30 million in 2021.
Consolidated Results of Operations
The following table provides selected financial information:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended December 31, |
(In millions) | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | |
Operating Revenues | | | | | | |
Energy and capacity revenues | $ | 1,234 | | | $ | 1,072 | | | $ | 1,084 | | |
Other revenues | 53 | | | 40 | | | 39 | | |
Contract amortization | (88) | | | (71) | | | (70) | | |
Mark-to-market for economic hedges | — | | | (9) | | | — | | |
Total operating revenues | 1,199 | | | 1,032 | | | 1,053 | | |
Operating Costs and Expenses | | | | | | |
Cost of fuels | 73 | | | 74 | | | 74 | | |
| | | | | | |
Operations and maintenance | 219 | | | 191 | | | 184 | | |
Other costs of operations | 74 | | | 72 | | | 69 | | |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 428 | | | 401 | | | 336 | | |
Impairment losses | 24 | | | 33 | | | — | | |
General and administrative | 34 | | | 29 | | | 20 | | |
Transaction and integration costs | 9 | | | 3 | | | 20 | | |
Development costs | 5 | | | 5 | | | 3 | | |
Total operating costs and expenses | 866 | | | 808 | | | 706 | | |
Operating Income | 333 | | | 224 | | | 347 | | |
Other Income (Expense) | | | | | | |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates | 7 | | | 83 | | | 74 | | |
Impairment loss on investment | (8) | | | — | | | — | | |
Gain on sale of unconsolidated affiliate | 49 | | | — | | | — | | |
Other income, net | 4 | | | 9 | | | 8 | | |
Loss on debt extinguishment | (24) | | | (16) | | | (7) | | |
Interest expense, net | (415) | | | (404) | | | (306) | | |
Total other expense, net | (387) | | | (328) | | | (231) | | |
(Loss) Income Before Income Taxes | (54) | | | (104) | | | 116 | | |
Income tax expense (benefit) | 8 | | | (8) | | | 62 | | |
Net (Loss) Income | (62) | | | (96) | | | 54 | | |
Less: Pre-acquisition net income of Drop Down Assets | — | | | — | | | 4 | | |
Net (Loss) Income Excluding Pre-acquisition Net Income of Drop Down Assets | (62) | | | (96) | | | 50 | | |
Less: Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (87) | | | (85) | | | 2 | | |
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Clearway Energy, Inc. | $ | 25 | | | $ | (11) | | | $ | 48 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended December 31, |
Business metrics: | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
Renewables MWh generated/sold (in thousands) (a) | 7,460 | | | 6,584 | | | 7,197 | |
Thermal MWt sold (in thousands) | 1,927 | | | 2,153 | | | 2,042 | |
Thermal MWh sold (in thousands) | 68 | | | 176 | | | 48 | |
Conventional MWh generated (in thousands) (a)(b) | 1,475 | | | 1,095 | | | 1,656 | |
Conventional equivalent availability factor | 94.9 | % | | 94.9 | % | | 94.3 | % |
(a) Volumes do not include the MWh generated/sold by the Company's equity method investments.
(b) Volumes generated are not sold as the Conventional facilities sell capacity rather than energy.
Management’s discussion of the results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
Gross Margin
The Company calculates gross margin in order to evaluate operating performance as operating revenues less cost of sales, which includes cost of fuel, contract and emission credit amortization and mark-to-market for economic hedging activities.
Economic Gross Margin
In addition to gross margin, the Company evaluates its operating performance using the measure of Economic Gross Margin, which is not a GAAP measure and may not be comparable to other companies’ presentations or deemed more useful than the GAAP information provided elsewhere in this report. Economic Gross Margin should be viewed as a supplement to and not a substitute for the Company's presentation of gross margin, which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Economic Gross Margin is not intended to represent gross margin. The Company believes that Economic Gross Margin is useful to investors as it is a key operational measure reviewed by the Company's chief operating decision maker. Economic Gross Margin is defined as energy and capacity revenue, plus other revenues, less cost of fuels. Economic Gross Margin excludes the following components from GAAP gross margin: contract amortization, mark-to-market results, emissions credit amortization and (losses) gains on economic hedging activities. Mark-to-market results consist of unrealized gains and losses on contracts that are not yet settled.
The below tables present the composition of gross margin, as well as the reconciliation to Economic Gross Margin for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Conventional | | Renewables | | Thermal | | | | Total |
(In millions) | |
Year ended December 31, 2020 | | | | | | | | | |
Energy and capacity revenues | $ | 461 | | | $ | 609 | | | $ | 164 | | | | | $ | 1,234 | |
Other revenues | — | | | 21 | | | 32 | | | | | 53 | |
Cost of fuels | (4) | | | — | | | (69) | | | | | (73) | |
Contract amortization | (24) | | | (61) | | | (3) | | | | | (88) | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Gross margin | 433 | | | 569 | | | 124 | | | | | 1,126 | |
Contract amortization | 24 | | | 61 | | | 3 | | | | | 88 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Economic gross margin | $ | 457 | | | $ | 630 | | | $ | 127 | | | | | $ | 1,214 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Year ended December 31, 2019 | | | | | | | | | |
Energy and capacity revenues | $ | 353 | | | $ | 545 | | | $ | 174 | | | | | $ | 1,072 | |
Other revenues | — | | | 10 | | | 30 | | | | | 40 | |
Cost of fuels | (2) | | | — | | | (72) | | | | | (74) | |
Contract amortization | (7) | | | (61) | | | (3) | | | | | (71) | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Mark-to-market for economic hedging activities | — | | | (9) | | | — | | | | | (9) | |
Gross margin | 344 | | | 485 | | | 129 | | | | | 958 | |
Contract amortization | 7 | | | 61 | | | 3 | | | | | 71 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Mark-to-market for economic hedging activities | — | | | 9 | | | — | | | | | 9 | |
Economic gross margin | $ | 351 | | | $ | 555 | | | $ | 132 | | | | | $ | 1,038 | |
Gross margin increased by $168 million during the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to the same period in 2019, primarily due to:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Segment | | | | (In millions) |
Conventional | | Increase is due primarily to the acquisition of Carlsbad Energy in December 2019 | | $ | 89 | |
Renewables | | Increases of $32 million from the consolidation of the DGPV Holdco Entities, increase of $22 million in wind projects primarily related to a $17 million increase due to the completion of the repowering of Elbow Creek and Wildorado, an increase of $21 million due to the Oahu and Kawailoa facilities achieving COD in late 2019 and a $9 million increase due to the prior year outage at CVSR. | | 84 | |
Thermal | | Decreases of $5 million related to the sale of Dover on March 2, 2020 and $3 million primarily due to decrease in volumetric sales at certain locations related to COVID-19, offset by an increase of $3 million related to the acquisition of the Duquesne University Energy System on May 1, 2019 | | (5) | |
| | | | $ | 168 | |
Operations and Maintenance Expense
Operations and maintenance expense increased by $28 million during the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, due to a $17 million increase in the Conventional segment primarily related to the acquisition of the Carlsbad Energy Center in December 2019 and an $11 million increase in maintenance primarily related to the consolidation of the DGPV Holdco entities within the Renewables segment.
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion
Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense increased by $27 million during the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to 2019, due to a $30 million increase in the Conventional segment related to the acquisition of Carlsbad Energy in December 2019 and a $3 million increase in the Thermal segment due primarily to accelerated depreciation related to Duquesne, partially offset by a $6 million decrease in the Renewables segment. In 2019, the Company accelerated depreciation at the Wildorado and Elbow Creek projects, in connection with the repowering activities, which resulted in additional depreciation expense for the two projects of $39 million in the prior period. The current period includes incremental depreciation of $33 million consisting of accelerated depreciation of approximately $11 million for the repowering of Pinnacle, additional depreciation of $11 million related to the Oahu and Kawailoa projects which reached COD in late 2019 and $11 million of additional depreciation due to the consolidation of the Chestnut and CS4 Funds in May 2020.
Impairment Losses
The Company recorded impairment losses of $24 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily related to several wind projects within the Renewables segment, as further described in Item 15 — Note 9, Asset Impairments.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses increased by $5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, primarily due to an increase in MSA fees charged by CEG and an increase in personnel costs.
Transaction and Integration Costs
Transaction and integration expenses increased $6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 primarily due to the increased number of Drop Down transactions.
Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Affiliates
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates decreased by $76 million during the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. This change was driven by decreases in HLBV earnings for the DGPV Holdco Entities, as well as HLBV losses for Mesquite Star which was acquired September 1, 2020, partially offset by increases in HLBV earnings for the Desert Sunlight, RPV and Utah investments.
Impairment Loss on Investment
The Company recorded an $8 million impairment loss during the year ended December 31, 2020, related to San Juan Mesa, an equity method investment within the Renewables segment as further described in Item 15 — Note 9, Asset Impairments.
Gain on Sale of Unconsolidated Affiliate
On May 14, 2020, the Company sold its interests in RPV Holdco 1 LLC to a third party which resulted in a gain on sale of investment of approximately $49 million, as further described in Item 15 — Note 3, Acquisition and Dispositions.
Loss on Debt Extinguishment
The Company recorded loss on debt extinguishment of $24 million during the year ended December 31, 2020, which reflects the write-off of previously deferred debt issance costs, primarily related to the repayment of debt and related refinancing activities in the Renewables segment as further described in Item 15 — Note 10, Long-term Debt.
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased by $11 million during the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 primarily due to:
| | | | | | | | |
| | (In millions) |
Additional interest expense for Carlsbad Energy Center which was acquired on December 5, 2019 | | $ | 27 | |
Increase in Corporate interest expense due primarily to additional revolver borrowings and the issuance of the additional Senior Notes due 2028 | | 8 | |
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps | | 6 | |
Reclassification of earnings previously deferred in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income to the statement of operations in connection with project-level debt refinancing activities | | (8) | |
| | |
Decrease in interest expense due to lower principal balances of project level debt primarily related to refinancing, offset slightly by an increase in interest expense related to Oahu and Kawailoa which were capitalized in 2019 and the consolidation of the DGPV Holdco Entities in 2020 | | (22) | |
| | $ | 11 | |
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recorded income tax expense of $8 million on pretax loss of $54 million. For the same period in 2019, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $8 million on pretax loss of $104 million. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the overall effective tax rate was different than the statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the taxable earnings and losses allocated to partners’ interest in Clearway Energy LLC, which includes the effects of applying the hypothetical liquidation at book value, or HLBV, method of accounting for book purposes to certain partnerships.
For the year ended December 31, 2019, the overall effective tax rate was different than the statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the taxable earnings and losses allocated to partners’ interest in Clearway Energy LLC, which includes the effects of applying the hypothetical liquidation at book value, or HLBV, method of accounting for book purposes to certain partnerships.
A reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% to the Company's effective rate is as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| 2020 | | 2019 |
| (In millions, except percentages) |
| | | |
Loss Before Income Taxes | $ | (54) | | | $ | (104) | |
Tax at 21% | (11) | | | (22) | |
State taxes, net of federal benefit | (4) | | | (7) | |
| | | |
Impact of non-taxable partnership earnings | 24 | | | 24 | |
Investment tax credits | — | | | (1) | |
Production tax credits, including prior year true-up | (1) | | | (1) | |
Rate change | 2 | | | — | |
Other | (2) | | | (1) | |
Income tax expense (benefit) | $ | 8 | | | $ | (8) | |
Effective income tax rate | (14.8) | % | | 7.7 | % |
The effective income tax rate may vary from period to period depending on, among other factors, the geographic and business mix of earnings and losses, earnings and losses allocated to partners' interest in Clearway Energy LLC which includes the effects of applying the HLBV method of accounting for book purposes to certain partnerships, and changes in valuation allowances in accordance with ASC 740. These factors and others, including the Company's history of pre-tax earnings and losses, are taken into account in assessing the ability to realize deferred tax assets.
Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company had income of $26 million attributable to CEG's economic interest in Clearway Energy LLC, offset by losses of $20 million attributable to CEG's interests in the Kawailoa, Oahu and Repowering partnerships and losses of $93 million attributable to noncontrolling interests with respect to its tax equity financing arrangements and the application of the HLBV method.
For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company had a loss of $14 million attributable to CEG's economic interest in Clearway Energy LLC, as well as $21 million of net losses attributable to CEG's interests in the Repowering, Oahu, and Kawailoa partnerships. The Company also recorded a net loss of $57 million attributable to noncontrolling interests with respect to tax equity financing arrangements and the application of the HLBV method, primarily reflecting tax benefits allocated to tax equity investors in periods immediately subsequent to COD. This was partially offset by $7 million of income attributable to a third party's interest in the Kawailoa partnership.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company's principal liquidity requirements are to meet its financial commitments, finance current operations, fund capital expenditures, including acquisitions from time to time, service debt and pay dividends. As a normal part of the Company's business, depending on market conditions, the Company will from time to time consider opportunities to repay, redeem, repurchase or refinance its indebtedness. Changes in the Company's operating plans, lower than anticipated sales, increased expenses, acquisitions or other events may cause the Company to seek additional debt or equity financing in future periods. There can be no guarantee that financing will be available on acceptable terms or at all. Debt financing, if available, could impose additional cash payment obligations and additional covenants and operating restrictions.
Current Liquidity Position
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company's liquidity was approximately $894 million and $842 million, respectively, comprised of cash, restricted cash and availability under the Company's revolving credit facility.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| As of December 31, |
| 2020 | | 2019 |
| (In millions) |
Cash and cash equivalents: | | | |
Clearway Energy, Inc. and Clearway Energy LLC, excluding subsidiaries | $ | 119 | | | $ | 30 | |
Subsidiaries | 149 | | | 125 | |
Restricted cash: | | | |
Operating accounts | 73 | | | 129 | |
Reserves, including debt service, distributions, performance obligations and other reserves | 124 | | | 133 | |
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ | 465 | | | $ | 417 | |
Revolving credit facility availability | $ | 429 | | | $ | 425 | |
Total liquidity | $ | 894 | | | $ | 842 | |
The Company's liquidity includes $197 million and $262 million of restricted cash balances as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Restricted cash consists primarily of funds to satisfy the requirements of certain debt arrangements and funds held within the Company's projects that are restricted in their use. As of December 31, 2020, these restricted funds were comprised of $73 million designated to fund operating expenses, approximately $24 million designated for current debt service payments, and $45 million restricted for reserves including debt service, performance obligations and other reserves, as well as capital expenditures. The remaining $55 million is held in distribution reserve accounts.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility and $66 million in letters of credit outstanding. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company borrowed $265 million under the revolving credit facility, and subsequently repaid $265 million utilizing the proceeds from the issuance of additional 2028 Senior Notes, as described below, and cash on hand. The Company had $195 million outstanding under the revolving credit facility and a total of $70 million in letters of credit outstanding as of February 26, 2021.
On July 1, 2020, PG&E emerged from bankruptcy and assumed the Company's contracts without modification. Subsequent to July 1, 2020, the Company collected all remaining receivables due from PG&E for pre-petition periods and received all distributions that were previously restricted from subsidiaries affected by the PG&E Bankruptcy.
Management believes that the Company's liquidity position, cash flows from operations and availability under its revolving credit facility will be adequate to meet the Company's financial commitments; debt service obligations; growth, operating and maintenance capital expenditures; and to fund dividends to holders of the Company's Class A common stock and Class C common stock. Management continues to regularly monitor the Company's ability to finance the needs of its operating, financing and investing activity within the dictates of prudent balance sheet management.
Credit Ratings
Credit rating agencies rate a firm's public debt securities. These ratings are utilized by the debt markets in evaluating a firm's credit risk. Ratings influence the price paid to issue new debt securities by indicating to the market the Company's ability to pay principal, interest and preferred dividends. Rating agencies evaluate a firm's industry, cash flow, leverage, liquidity and hedge profile, among other factors, in their credit analysis of a firm's credit risk.
The following table summarizes the credit ratings for the Company and its Senior Notes as of December 31, 2020. The ratings outlook is stable.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| S&P | | Moody's | | |
Clearway Energy, Inc. | BB | | Ba2 | | |
5.75% Senior Notes, due 2025 | BB | | Ba2 | | |
5.000% Senior Notes, due 2026 | BB | | Ba2 | | |
4.750% Senior Notes, due 2028 | BB | | Ba2 | | |
Sources of Liquidity
The Company's principal sources of liquidity include cash on hand, cash generated from operations, proceeds from sales of assets, borrowings under new and existing financing arrangements and the issuance of additional equity and debt securities as appropriate given market conditions. As described in Item 15 — Note 10, Long-term Debt, to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company's financing arrangements consist of corporate level debt, which includes Senior Notes and the revolving credit facility, the ATM Programs, and project-level financings for its various assets.
Revolving Credit Facility
The Company has a total of $429 million available under the revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2020. The facility will continue to be used for general corporate purposes including financing of future acquisitions and posting letters of credit.
DG-CS Master Borrower LLC
On November 2, 2020, DG-CS Master Borrower LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Clearway Energy Operating LLC, entered into a financing arrangement, which included the issuance of a $467 million term loan, as well as $30 million in letters of credit in support of debt service. The notes bear interest at 3.51% and mature on September 30, 2040. The proceeds from the loan were utilized to repay existing project-level debt outstanding for Chestnut Borrower LLC, Renew Solar CS 4 Borrower LLC, DGPV 4 Borrower LLC and Puma Class B LLC of $107 million, $102 million, $92 million and $73 million, respectively and unwind related interest rate swaps in the amount of $42 million. The remaining proceeds were utilized to pay related fees and expenses and in part to acquire the Class B membership interests in the DGPV Holdco Entities and an SREC contract from CEG as further described in Item 15 — Note 5, Investments Accounted for by the Equity Method and Variable Interest Entities.
Utah Solar Holdings, LLC
On September 1, 2020, Utah Solar Holdings, LLC, or Utah Solar, entered into a financing arrangement, which included the issuance of approximately $296 million in senior secured notes supported by the Company’s interest in the Four Brothers, Granite Mountain and Iron Springs projects, or the Utah projects (previously defined as the Utah Solar Portfolio). The notes bear interest at 3.59% per annum and mature on December 31, 2036. The proceeds from the issuance were utilized to repay existing debt outstanding of approximately $247 million for the Utah projects and to unwind the related interest rate swaps in the amount of $33 million. The remaining proceeds were utilized to pay related fees and expenses, with the remaining $9 million distributed to Clearway Energy Operating LLC.
NIMH Solar LLC
On September 30, 2020, the Alpine, Blythe and Roadrunner projects were transferred under NIMH Solar LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Clearway Energy Operating LLC. Concurrently, total project-level debt outstanding for Alpine, Blythe and Roadrunner of $158 million was assigned to NIMH Solar LLC. The consolidated facility was amended to a term loan for $193 million, as well as $16 million in letters of credit in support of debt service and project obligations. The term loan bears annual interest at an annual rate of LIBOR, plus an applicable margin, which is 2.00% per annum through the third anniversary of closing, and 2.125% per annum thereafter through the maturity date in September 2024. As a result of the amendment the Company received $35 million and the funds were utilized to pay related fees and expenses and along with existing project level cash provided a distribution to Clearway Energy Operating LLC of $45 million. The obligations under the financing arrangement are supported by the Company’s interests in the projects.
2028 Senior Notes
On May 21, 2020, Clearway Energy Operating LLC completed the sale of an additional $250 million aggregate principal amount of the 2028 Senior Notes. The 2028 Senior Notes bear interest at 4.75% and mature on March 15, 2028. The net proceeds were utilized to repay the $45 million outstanding principal amount of the Company's 2020 Convertible Notes on June 1, 2020, as well as repay amounts outstanding under the Company’s revolving credit facility and for general corporate purposes.
ATM Programs
As of December 31, 2020, approximately $126 million of Class C common stock remains available for issuance under the 2020 ATM Program. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company sold 2,690,455 shares of Class C common stock for net proceeds of $63 million under the ATM Programs. The Company utilized the proceeds to acquire 2,690,455 Class C units of Clearway Energy LLC. The Company concluded the 2016 ATM program on June 30, 2020.
Sale of Interest in RPV Holdco 1
On May 14, 2020, the Company sold its interests in RPV Holdco 1 LLC to a third party for net proceeds of approximately $75 million.
Sale of Energy Center Dover LLC and Energy Center Smyrna LLC Assets
On March 3, 2020, the Company, through Thermal LLC, sold 100% of its interests in Energy Center Dover LLC and Energy Center Smyrna LLC to DB Energy Assets, LLC for approximately $15 million.
Uses of Liquidity
The Company's requirements for liquidity and capital resources, other than for operating its facilities, are categorized as: (i) debt service obligations, as described more fully in Item 15 — Note 10, Long-term Debt, to the Consolidated Financial Statements; (ii) capital expenditures; (iii) acquisitions and investments; and (iv) cash dividends to investors.
Debt Service Obligations
Principal payments on debt as of December 31, 2020, are due in the following periods:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Description | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2024 | | 2025 | | There-after | | Total | | |
| (In millions) | | |
Clearway Energy Operating LLC Senior Notes, due 2025 | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 600 | | | — | | | 600 | | | |
Clearway Energy Operating LLC Senior Notes, due 2026 | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 350 | | | 350 | | | |
Clearway Energy Operating LLC Senior Notes, due 2028 | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 850 | | | 850 | | | |
Total Corporate-level debt | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 600 | | | 1,200 | | | 1,800 | | | |
Project-level debt: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Alta Wind I-V lease financing arrangements, due 2034 and 2035 | 45 | | | 47 | | | 49 | | | 51 | | | 54 | | | 554 | | | 800 | | | |
Alta Wind Asset Management LLC | 1 | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | 9 | | | 14 | | | |
Alta Wind Realty Investments LLC, due 2031 | 2 | | | 2 | | | 2 | | | 2 | | | 2 | | | 15 | | | 25 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Borrego, due 2024 and 2038 | 3 | | | 3 | | | 3 | | | 3 | | | 3 | | | 42 | | | 57 | | | |
Buckthorn Solar, due 2025 | 3 | | | 3 | | | 4 | | | 4 | | | 112 | | | — | | | 126 | | | |
Carlsbad Holdco, due 2038 | 6 | | | 7 | | | 2 | | | 2 | | | 3 | | | 190 | | | 210 | | | |
Carlsbad Energy Holdings LLC, due 2027 | 20 | | | 21 | | | 22 | | | 23 | | | 25 | | | 45 | | | 156 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Carlsbad Energy Holdings LLC, due 2038 | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 407 | | | 407 | | | |
CVSR, due 2037 | 23 | | | 25 | | | 26 | | | 28 | | | 30 | | | 543 | | | 675 | | | |
CVSR Holdco Notes, due 2037 | 7 | | | 9 | | | 9 | | | 9 | | | 9 | | | 133 | | | 176 | | | |
DG-CS Master Borrower LLC, due 2040 | 26 | | | 28 | | | 28 | | | 29 | | | 30 | | | 326 | | | 467 | | | |
Duquesne, due 2059 | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 95 | | | 95 | | | |
El Segundo Energy Center, due 2023 | 57 | | | 63 | | | 130 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 250 | | | |
Energy Center Minneapolis Series D, E, F, G, H Notes, due 2025-2037 | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 4 | | | 323 | | | 327 | | | |
Laredo Ridge, due 2028 | 6 | | | 7 | | | 7 | | | 9 | | | 11 | | | 38 | | | 78 | | | |
Kawailoa Solar Portfolio LLC, due 2026 | 2 | | | 2 | | | 2 | | | 3 | | | 3 | | | 69 | | | 81 | | | |
Marsh Landing, due 2023 | 62 | | | 65 | | | 19 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 146 | | | |
NIMH Solar, due 2024 | 14 | | | 14 | | | 14 | | | 149 | | | — | | | — | | | 191 | | | |
Oahu Solar Holdings LLC, due 2026 | 3 | | | 3 | | | 3 | | | 3 | | | 3 | | | 74 | | | 89 | | | |
Rosie Class B, due 2027 | 2 | | | 2 | | | 3 | | | 3 | | | 3 | | | 67 | | | 80 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Tapestry, due 2031 | 10 | | | 11 | | | 11 | | | 12 | | | 13 | | | 86 | | | 143 | | | |
Utah Solar Holdings, due 2036 | 17 | | | 16 | | | 15 | | | 14 | | | 14 | | | 214 | | | 290 | | | |
Walnut Creek, due 2023 | 53 | | | 55 | | | 18 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 126 | | | |
WCEP Holdings, LLC due 2023 | 4 | | | 5 | | | 26 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 35 | | | |
Other | 18 | | | 18 | | | 37 | | | 14 | | | 14 | | | 98 | | | 199 | | | |
Total project-level debt | 384 | | | 407 | | | 431 | | | 359 | | | 334 | | | 3,328 | | | 5,243 | | | |
Total debt | $ | 384 | | | $ | 407 | | | $ | 431 | | | $ | 359 | | | $ | 934 | | | $ | 4,528 | | | $ | 7,043 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Capital Expenditures
The Company's capital spending program is mainly focused on maintenance capital expenditures, consisting of costs to maintain the assets currently operating, such as costs to replace or refurbish assets during routine maintenance, and growth capital expenditures consisting of costs to construct new assets, costs to complete the construction of assets where construction is in process, and capital expenditures related to acquiring additional thermal customers.
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, the Company used approximately $124 million, $228 million, and $83 million, respectively, to fund capital expenditures, including maintenance capital expenditures of $23 million, $22 million and $36 million, respectively. Growth capital expenditures in 2020 include $59 million in the Renewables segment, $48 million of which were incurred in connection with the repowering of Elbow Creek and Wildorado facilities completed in the first quarter of 2020, $3 million incurred in connection with the Rosamond project, and $8 million incurred in the Oahu Partnership and the Kawailoa Partnership. In addition, the conventional segment incurred growth capital expenditures of $8 million related to the Marsh Landing black start project. The Company also incurred $34 million of growth capital expenditures in the Thermal segment in connection with various development projects.
Growth capital expenditures in 2019 include $180 million in the Renewables segment, $157 million of which were incurred in connection with the Repowering Partnership entered by the Company in August 2018, as well as $29 million incurred in the Oahu Partnership and the Kawailoa Partnership.
Growth capital expenditures in 2018 include $33 million in the Renewables segment in connection with the construction of the Buckthorn Solar Drop Down Asset, of which $10 million was incurred by NRG during the construction of Buckthorn Solar prior to its acquisition by the Company on March 30, 2018.
The Company estimates $28 million of maintenance capital expenditures for 2021. These estimates are subject to continuing review and adjustment and actual capital expenditures may vary from these estimates.
Acquisitions and Investments
The Company intends to acquire generation assets developed and constructed by CEG, as well as generation and thermal infrastructure assets from third parties where the Company believes its knowledge of the market and operating expertise provides a competitive advantage, and to utilize such acquisitions as a means to grow its CAFD.
Mt Storm Agreement — On February 10, 2021, the Company reached an agreement to acquire 100% of the equity interests in Mount Storm Holdings I LLC, or Mt Storm, for approximately $96 million subject to certain purchase price adjustments. Mt Storm is a 264 MW wind project located in Grant County, West Virginia. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.
Agua Caliente Acquisition — On February 3, 2021, the Company acquired an additional 35% equity interest in the Agua Caliente solar project from NRG Energy, Inc. for $202 million. Agua Caliente is a 290 MW solar project located in Dateland, Arizona in which the Company previously owned a 16% equity interest. The project has a 25-year PPA with PG&E, with approximately 19 years remaining under the agreement. Following the close of the transaction the Company will own a 51% equity interest in Agua Caliente.
Rattlesnake Drop Down — On January 12, 2021, the Company acquired 100% of CEG's equity interest and a third party investor's minority interest in Rattlesnake Flat, LLC, which owns the Rattlesnake Wind Project, a 160 net MW wind facility located in Adams County, WA which achieved commercial operations in January 2021, for $132 million in cash consideration and expects its net capital commitment to be $119 million after proceeds from a state sales and use tax refund which are expected to be received in 2021.
Lighthouse Partnership Agreements — On December 21, 2020, subsidiaries of the Company entered into the Lighthouse Partnership Agreements providing for the Company’s co-investment in a 1,204 MW portfolio of renewable energy projects developed by CEG. In addition, the agreements included an amendment of the partnership that owns the 419 MW Mesquite Star wind project, providing the Company with additional project cash flows after the first half of 2031. As described below, the Company had previously acquired an interest in Mesquite Star Pledgor LLC, which was subsequently renamed Lighthouse Renewable Holdco LLC. The 1,204 MW portfolio of renewable energy projects includes:
◦Five geographically diversified wind, solar and solar plus storage assets under development totaling 1,012 MW, and
◦The 192 MW Rosamond Central solar project, located in Kern County, California. On December 21, 2020, the Company acquired 100% of the Class A membership interests of Rosie Target Co LLC, which
consolidates its interest in a tax equity fund that owns the project, for $23 million in cash consideration and an additional $1 million adjustment concurrent with the tax equity investor's final funding which was paid in January 2021. Rosie Target Co LLC is a partnership, whose Class B membership interests are owned by a third party investor. The Company is entitled to a 50% cash equity interest in Rosamond Central through its Class A membership interests.
For the above-mentioned transactions, the Company expects to invest an estimated $215 million in corporate capital by the end of 2022, subject to closing adjustments and the projects achieving certain milestones. The expected net corporate capital includes the $24 million already invested in Rosamond Central in 2020 and the purchase price adjustment received concurrent with the partnership agreement amendment for Mesquite Star.
Langford Drop Down — On November 20, 2020, the Company acquired from Clearway Renew LLC, a subsidiary of CEG, and a third party investor, 100% of the cash equity interests in Langford Holding LLC, which owns the Langford wind project, for total cash consideration of approximately $64 million. The Langford wind project is a 160 MW wind project located in West Texas which was repowered and achieved commercial operations in November 2020. The investment was funded with existing liquidity.
DGPV Holdco Residual Interest from CEG — On November 2, 2020, the Company acquired the Class B membership interests in DGPV Holdco 1, DGPV Holdco 2 and DGPV Holdco 3, or DGPV Holdco Entities, as well as a SREC contract, from Renew DG Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of CEG for $44 million in cash consideration. In connection with the acquisition of the Class B membership interests, the Company consolidated their interest in the underlying distributed solar tax equity funds within DGPV Holdco 1 and DGPV Holdco 2. The Company had previously consolidated DGPV Holdco 3 effective in May 2020.
DG Investment Partnerships with CEG — Prior to the acquisition of CEG's Class B membership interests mentioned above, the Company invested approximately $10 million in the DG investment partnerships with CEG during 2020, bringing total capital invested in these investment partnerships to $266 million.
Mesquite Star Drop Down — On September 1, 2020, the Company, through its indirect subsidiary Mesquite Star HoldCo LLC, acquired the Class A membership interests in Mesquite Star Pledgor LLC from Clearway Renew LLC, a subsidiary of CEG, for $74 million in cash consideration inclusive of a purchase price adjustment received in the fourth quarter of 2020 concurrent with the partnership amendment referenced below. Mesquite Star Pledgor LLC is the primary beneficiary and consolidates its interest in a tax equity fund that owns the Mesquite Star wind project, a 419 MW utility scale wind project located in Fisher County, Texas. A majority of the project’s output is backed by contracts with investment grade counterparties with a 12 year weighted average contract life. As described above, Mesquite Star Pledgor LLC was renamed Lighthouse Renewable Holdco LLC and the Class B membership interests were sold to a third party investor. The investor and the Company amended the terms of the related partnership and as a result, the Company now consolidates its interest in the Mesquite Star wind project, through its consolidation of Lighthouse Renewable Holdco LLC.
Agreements to Acquire and Invest in a Portfolio of Renewable Energy Projects from CEG — On April 17, 2020, the Company entered into binding agreements related to the previously announced dropdown offer from CEG to enable the Company to acquire and invest in a portfolio of renewable energy projects. The following projects are included in the drop down agreements.
•CEG's interest in Repowering Partnership II LLC (Repowering 1.0), which the Company acquired on May 11, 2020 for cash consideration of $70 million,
•100% of the equity interests in Rattlesnake Flat, LLC, which owns the Rattlesnake Wind Project, a 160 net MW wind facility located in Adams County, WA which the company acquired on January 12, 2021 as mentioned above, and
•On February 26, 2021, the Company, through an indirect subsidiary, entered into an amended partnership agreement with CEG to repower the Pinnacle Wind Project, a 55 net MW wind facility located in Mineral County, WV. The amended agreement commits the Company to invest an estimated $67 million in net corporate capital, subject to closing adjustments, and no longer requires an additional payment in 2031. The existing Pinnacle Wind power purchase agreements will continue to run through 2031. Commercial operations and corporate capital funding for the Pinnacle Wind Repowering Partnership are expected to occur in the second half of 2021.
For the above mentioned transactions, the agreements commit the Company to invest an estimated $256 million in net corporate capital, subject to closing adjustments.
2020 Convertible Notes
On June 1, 2020, the Company repaid at maturity its outstanding $45 million of 2020 Convertible Notes utilizing the proceeds from the issuance of additional 2028 Senior Notes as described above.
Cash Dividends to Investors
The Company intends to use the amount of cash that it receives from its distributions from Clearway Energy LLC to pay quarterly dividends to the holders of its Class A common stock and Class C common stock. Clearway Energy LLC intends to distribute to its unit holders in the form of a quarterly distribution all of the CAFD that is generated each quarter less reserves for the prudent conduct of the business, including among others, maintenance capital expenditures to maintain the operating capacity of the assets. CAFD is defined as Adjusted EBITDA plus cash distributions/return of investment from unconsolidated affiliates, adjustments to reflect CAFD generated by unconsolidated investments that were not able to distribute project dividends prior to PG&E's emergence from bankruptcy on July 1, 2020 and subsequent release post-bankruptcy, cash receipts from notes receivable, cash distributions from noncontrolling interests, adjustments to reflect sales-type lease cash payments, less cash distributions to noncontrolling interests, maintenance capital expenditures, pro-rata Adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated affiliates, cash interest paid, income taxes paid, principal amortization of indebtedness, Walnut Creek investment payments, changes in prepaid and accrued capacity payments, and adjusted for development expenses. Dividends on the Class A common stock and Class C common stock are subject to available capital, market conditions, and compliance with associated laws, regulations and other contractual obligations. The Company expects that, based on current circumstances, comparable cash dividends will continue to be paid in the foreseeable future.
The following table lists the dividends paid on the Company's Class A common stock and Class C common stock during the year ended December 31, 2020:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fourth Quarter 2020 | | Third Quarter 2020 | | Second Quarter 2020 | | First Quarter 2020 |
Dividends per Class A share | $ | 0.3180 | | | $ | 0.3125 | | | $ | 0.2100 | | | $ | 0.2100 | |
Dividends per Class C share | $ | 0.3180 | | | $ | 0.3125 | | | $ | 0.2100 | | | $ | 0.2100 | |
On February 12, 2021, the Company declared a quarterly dividend on its Class A and Class C common stock of $0.324 per share payable on March 15, 2021, to stockholders of record as of March 1, 2021.
Cash Flow Discussion
Year Ended December 31, 2020 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2019
The following table reflects the changes in cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to 2019:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year ended December 31, | 2020 | | 2019 | | Change |
(In millions) | |
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 545 | | | $ | 477 | | | $ | 68 | |
Net cash used in investing activities | (62) | | | (468) | | | 406 | |
Net cash used in financing activities | (435) | | | (175) | | | (260) | |
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
| | | | | |
Changes to net cash provided by operating activities were driven by: | (In millions) |
Increase in operating income adjusted for non-cash items | $ | 76 | |
Increase in dividend distributions received from unconsolidated affiliates | 27 | |
Decrease in working capital driven primarily by the timing of accounts receivable collections and payments of accounts payable | (35) | |
| |
| $ | 68 | |
| |
| |
Net Cash Used In Investing Activities
| | | | | |
Changes to net cash used in investing activities were driven by: | (In millions) |
Decrease in capital expenditures primarily driven by 2019 growth capital expenditures in the Renewables segment related to repowering of Elbow Creek and Wildorado | $ | 104 | |
Acquisition of Duquesne University District Energy System on May 1, 2019 | 100 | |
Increase in proceeds received from sale of assets in 2020 primarily due to sale of RPV Holdco, Energy Center Dover LLC and Energy Center Smyrna LLC compared to the proceeds from the sale of HSD Solar in 2019 | 70 | |
Payments for partnership interests in 2019 | 48 | |
Decrease in cash paid for Drop Down Assets due to acquisition of Carlsbad in 2019 compared to Drop Down Assets acquired in 2020 | 39 | |
Increase in net distributions from unconsolidated affiliates in 2020 | 23 | |
Increase in cash due to consolidation of DGPV Holdco 3 LLC in May 2020 | 17 | |
Other | 5 | |
| $ | 406 | |
| |
| |
Net Cash Used In Financing Activities
| | | | | |
Changes in net cash used in financing activities were driven by: | (In millions) |
Decrease in proceeds from issuance of long-term debt net of payments made in 2020 primarily driven by repayments of Renewable project level debt in 2020 partially offset by a reduction in Corporate level debt repayments in 2020 compared to 2019 | $ | (169) | |
Payment to buy out CEG's noncontrolling interest in Repowering Partnership II LLC on May 11, 2020 | (70) | |
Increase in dividends paid to common stockholders in 2020 | (56) | |
Decrease in net proceeds received from issuance of common stock | (38) | |
Increase in net contributions received from noncontrolling interests in 2020 compared to 2019, primarily from tax equity contributions in Wildorado TE Holdco and Rosie TE Holdco received in 2020 | 73 | |
| |
| |
| |
| $ | (260) | |
| |
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NOLs, Deferred Tax Assets and Uncertain Tax Position Implications, under ASC 740
As of December 31, 2020, the Company has a cumulative federal NOL carry forward balance of $1.2 billion for financial statement purposes, of which $0.9 billion will begin expiring between 2033 to 2037 if unutilized. The Company does not anticipate any federal income tax payments for 2021. Additionally, as of December 31, 2020, the Company has a cumulative state NOL carryforward balance of $726 million for financial statement purposes, which will expire between 2023 to 2040 if unutilized. The Company does not anticipate significant income tax payments for state and local jurisdictions in 2021. Based on the Company's current and expected NOL balances generated primarily by accelerated tax depreciation of its property, plant and equipment, the Company does not expect to pay significant federal income tax for a period of approximately ten years inclusive of any NOL carryovers subject to an 80% limitation against future taxable income for taxable years beginning after 2020 pursuant to the Tax Act as modified by the CARES Act (defined below).
As of December 31, 2020, the Company has an interest disallowance carry forward of $46 million as a result of the proposed §163(j) regulation, which was enacted as part of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act. The disallowed interest deduction has an indefinite carry forward period and any limitations on the utilization of this carry forward have been factored into our valuation allowance analysis.
On March 27, 2020 the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, or CARES Act, was signed into law, which includes modifications to the business interest expense disallowance and net operating loss provisions. The Company expects to utilize $39 million of previously disallowed interest expense during 2020 as a result of the modifications. The Company will continue to assess the effects of the CARES Act and ongoing government guidance related to COVID-19 that may be issued, but does not expect the CARES Act to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
On June 29, 2020, governor of California signed Assembly Bill 85, or AB 85, suspending California net operating loss utilization and imposing a cap on the amount of business incentive credits companies can utilize, effective for tax years 2020, 2021, and 2022. After assessing the law change, the Company expects AB 85 to have an immaterial impact on the consolidated financial statements.
The Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities for income tax returns filed in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. The Company is not subject to U.S. federal or state income tax examinations for years prior to 2013.
The Company has no uncertain tax benefits.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Obligations under Certain Guarantee Contracts
The Company may enter into guarantee arrangements in the normal course of business to facilitate commercial transactions with third parties.
Retained or Contingent Interests
The Company does not have any material retained or contingent interests in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity.
Obligations Arising Out of a Variable Interest in an Unconsolidated Entity
Variable interest in equity investments — As of December 31, 2020, the Company has several investments with an ownership interest percentage of 50% or less in energy and an energy-related entity that is accounted for under the equity method. GenConn is a variable interest entity for which the Company is not the primary beneficiary. The Company's pro-rata share of non-recourse debt held by unconsolidated affiliates was approximately $481 million as of December 31, 2020. This indebtedness may restrict the ability of these subsidiaries to issue dividends or distributions to the Company. See also Item 15 — Note 5, Investments Accounted for by the Equity Method and Variable Interest Entities, to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments
The Company has a variety of contractual obligations and other commercial commitments that represent prospective cash requirements in addition to the Company's capital expenditure programs. The following table summarizes the Company's contractual obligations. See Item 15 — Note 10, Long-term Debt, Note 16, Commitments and Contingencies, and Note 17, Leases to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| By Remaining Maturity at December 31, |
| 2020 | | 2019 |
Contractual Cash Obligations | Under 1 Year | | 1-3 Years | | 3-5 Years | | Over 5 Years | | Total | | Total |
| (In millions) |
Long-term debt (including estimated interest) | $ | 709 | | | $ | 1,431 | | | $ | 1,809 | | | $ | 5,611 | | | $ | 9,560 | | | $ | 9,021 | |
Operating leases | 23 | | | 46 | | | 46 | | | 476 | | | 591 | | | 382 | |
Fuel purchase and transportation obligations | 9 | | | 5 | | | — | | | — | | | 14 | | | 31 | |
Other liabilities (a) | 37 | | | 39 | | | 35 | | | 182 | | | 293 | | | 302 | |
Total | $ | 778 | | | $ | 1,521 | | | $ | 1,890 | | | $ | 6,269 | | | $ | 10,458 | | | $ | 9,736 | |
(a) Includes water right agreements, service and maintenance agreements, and LTSA commitments.
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
The Company may enter into fuel purchase contracts and other energy-related financial instruments to mitigate variability in earnings due to fluctuations in spot market prices and to hedge fuel requirements at certain generation facilities. In addition, in order to mitigate interest rate risk associated with the issuance of variable rate debt, the Company enters into interest rate swap agreements.
The tables below disclose the activities of non-exchange traded contracts accounted for at fair value in accordance with ASC 820. Specifically, these tables disaggregate realized and unrealized changes in fair value; disaggregate estimated fair values at December 31, 2020, based on their level within the fair value hierarchy defined in ASC 820; and indicate the maturities of contracts at December 31, 2020. For a full discussion of the Company's valuation methodology of its contracts, see Derivative Fair Value Measurements in Item 15 — Note 6, Fair Value of Financial Instruments, to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
| | | | | |
Derivative Activity (Losses)/Gains | (In millions) |
Fair value of contracts as of December 31, 2019 | $ | (92) | |
Contracts realized or otherwise settled during the period | 101 | |
Contracts added during the period | (80) | |
| |
Changes in fair value | (101) | |
Fair value of contracts as of December 31, 2020 | $ | (172) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fair value of contracts as of December 31, 2020 |
| Maturity | | |
Fair Value Hierarchy (Losses)/Gains | 1 Year or Less | | Greater Than 1 Year to 3 Years | | Greater Than 3 Years to 5 Years | | Greater Than 5 Years | | Total Fair Value |
| (In millions) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Level 2 | (33) | | | (47) | | | (24) | | | (24) | | | (128) | |
Level 3 | (5) | | | (8) | | | (10) | | | (21) | | | (44) | |
Total | $ | (38) | | | $ | (55) | | | $ | (34) | | | $ | (45) | | | $ | (172) | |
The Company has elected to disclose derivative assets and liabilities on a trade-by-trade basis and does not offset amounts at the counterparty master agreement level. As discussed below in Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk -Commodity Price Risk, the Company measures the sensitivity of the portfolio to potential changes in market prices using VaR, a statistical model which attempts to predict risk of loss based on market price and volatility. The Company's risk management policy places a limit on one-day holding period VaR, which limits the net open position.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The Company's discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations are based upon the consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements and related disclosures in compliance with GAAP requires the application of appropriate technical accounting rules and guidance as well as the use of estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. The application of these policies necessarily involves judgments regarding future events, including the likelihood of success of particular projects, legal and regulatory challenges and the fair value of certain assets and liabilities. These judgments, in and of themselves, could materially affect the financial statements and disclosures based on varying assumptions, which may be appropriate to use. In addition, the financial and operating environment may also have a significant effect, not only on the operation of the business, but on the results reported through the application of accounting measures used in preparing the financial statements and related disclosures, even if the nature of the accounting policies has not changed.
On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates these estimates, utilizing historic experience, consultation with experts and other methods the Company considers reasonable. Actual results may differ substantially from the Company's estimates. Any effects on the Company's business, financial position or results of operations resulting from revisions to these estimates are recorded in the period in which the information that gives rise to the revision becomes known.
The Company's significant accounting policies are summarized in Item 15 — Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company identifies its most critical accounting policies as those that are the most pervasive and important to the portrayal of the Company's financial position and results of operations, and that require the most difficult, subjective and/or complex judgments by management regarding estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain. The Company's critical accounting policies include income taxes and valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, impairment of long lived assets and other intangible assets.
| | | | | |
Accounting Policy | Judgments/Uncertainties Affecting Application |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
Income Taxes and Valuation Allowance for Deferred Tax Assets | Ability to withstand legal challenges of tax authority decisions or appeals |
| Anticipated future decisions of tax authorities |
| Application of tax statutes and regulations to transactions |
| Ability to utilize tax benefits through carry backs to prior periods and carry forwards to future periods |
Impairment of Long Lived Assets | Recoverability of investments through future operations |
| Regulatory and political environments and requirements |
| Estimated useful lives of assets |
| Operational limitations and environmental obligations |
| Estimates of future cash flows |
| Estimates of fair value |
| Judgment about triggering events |
Acquisition Accounting | Identification of assets acquired |
| Inputs for fair values of assets and liabilities acquired |
| Application of appropriate fair value methodologies |
Income Taxes and Valuation Allowance for Deferred Tax Assets
As of December 31, 2020, the Company had a valuation allowance of $15 million. The valuation allowance is related to a deferred tax asset expected to result in a capital loss for which no existing capital gains or tax planning strategies to utilize the asset in the future are available, as well as state net operating losses the Company expects to expire unutilized. Other than for this expected capital loss and state NOL mentioned above, the Company believes it is more likely than not that the results of future operations will generate sufficient taxable income which includes the future reversal of existing taxable temporary differences to realize deferred tax assets. The Company considered the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act upon timing and future realization of net deferred tax assets, the profit before tax generated in recent years, as well as projections of future earnings and estimates of taxable income in arriving at this conclusion. The realization of deferred tax assets is primarily dependent upon earnings in federal and various state and local jurisdictions.
Considerable judgment is required to determine the tax treatment of a particular item that involves interpretations of complex tax laws. The project-level entities, as former subsidiaries of NRG, are no longer subject to federal audit examination for years prior to 2015 but are subject to state and local audit for multiple years in various jurisdictions. The Company is subject to U.S. federal, state, and local income tax examinations for all years beginning in 2013.
Evaluation of Assets for Impairment and Other-Than-Temporary Decline in Value
In accordance with ASC 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment, or ASC 360, property, plant and equipment and certain intangible assets are evaluated for impairment whenever indicators of impairment exist. Examples of such indicators or events are:
•Significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset;
•Significant adverse change in the manner an asset is being used or its physical condition;
•Adverse business climate;
•Accumulation of costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected for the construction or acquisition of an asset;
•Current-period loss combined with a history of losses or the projection of future losses; and
•Change in the Company's intent about an asset from an intent to hold to a greater than 50% likelihood that an asset will be sold or disposed of before the end of its previously estimated useful life.
Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the assets to the future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset, considering project specific assumptions for long-term energy prices, escalated future project operating costs and expected plant operations. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. The fair value may be determined by factoring in the probability weighting of different courses of action available to the Company as appropriate. Generally, fair value will be determined using valuation techniques such as the present value of expected future cash flows or comparable values determined by transactions in the market. The Company uses its best estimates in making these evaluations and considers various factors, including forward price curves for energy, fuel costs and operating costs. However, actual future market prices and project costs could vary from the assumptions used in the Company's estimates, and the impact of such variations could be material.
Annually, during the fourth quarter, the Company revises its views of energy prices, including the Company's long-term view of power prices, which is primarily informed by present conditions, forecasted generation and operating and capital expenditures, in connection with the preparation of its annual budget.
The Company recorded certain long-lived asset impairments in 2020, as described below and in Item 15 — Note 9, Asset Impairments, to the Consolidated Financial Statements, with respect to several wind projects.
During the fourth quarter of 2020 in the preparation and review of its annual budget, the Company updated its long-term estimates of operating and capital expenditures and revised its assessment of long-term merchant power prices which was primarily informed by present conditions and does not contemplate future policy changes which could impact renewable energy power prices. As a result, the Company updated its estimated future cash flows and determined that the future cash flows for several wind projects within the Renewables segment no longer supported the recoverability of the related long-lived asset. As such, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $24 million, which primarily relates to property, plant, and equipment to reflect the assets at fair market value. The fair value of the facilities were determined using an income approach by applying a discounted cash flow methodology to the long-term budgets for each respective plant. The income approach included key inputs such as forecasted merchant power prices, operations and maintenance expense, and discount rates. The resulting fair value is a Level 3 fair value measurement.
The Company is also required to evaluate its equity method investments to determine whether or not they are impaired. ASC 323, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures, or ASC 323, provides the accounting requirements for these investments. The standard for determining whether an impairment must be recorded under ASC 323 is whether the value is considered to be an other-than-temporary decline in value. The evaluation and measurement of impairments under ASC 323 involves the same uncertainties as described for long-lived assets that the Company owns directly and accounts for in accordance with ASC 360. Similarly, the estimates that the Company makes with respect to its equity method investments are subjective, and the impact of variations in these estimates could be material. Additionally, if the projects in which the Company holds these investments recognize an impairment under the provisions of ASC 360, the Company would record its proportionate share of that impairment loss and would evaluate its investment for an other-than-temporary decline in value under ASC 323. During the fourth quarter of 2020, as the Company updated its estimated cash flows in connection with the preparation and review of the Company's annual budget, the Company determined that there was a significant decrease in the estimated future cash flows for its equity method investment in San Juan Mesa, a facility in the Renewables segment. The decrease in the forecasted cash flows which is primarily driven by a decline in forecasted revenue in future merchant periods, is significant enough to be considered an indication of a decline in value of the investment that is not temporary. The Company concluded there was an other-than-temporary impairment of its investment and recorded an impairment loss of $8 million to reflect the investment at fair market value.
Certain of the Company’s projects have useful lives that extend well beyond the contract period and therefore, management’s view of long-term energy prices in the post-contract periods may have a significant impact on the expected future cash flows for these projects. Accordingly, if management lowers its view of long-term energy prices in certain markets, it is possible that some of the Company’s other long-lived assets may be impaired.
Acquisition Accounting
The Company applies ASC 805, Business Combinations, when accounting for acquisitions, with identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed recorded at their estimated fair values at acquisition date. For many of the Company's acquisitions, the Company applies ASC 805-50, which provides that acquisitions of entities under common control are recorded at historical cost, except in the case where the ultimate parent has a different basis, such as when an acquiree did not elect to apply pushdown accounting. In those circumstances, the Company may also be required to record its acquired assets and liabilities at fair value. As further described in Item 15 - Note 3, Acquisitions and Dispositions, the Company recorded the assets acquired in the acquisitions of Langford and the DGPV Holdco Entities at GIP's basis which was fair value.
Significant judgment is required in determining the acquisition date fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, predominantly with respect to property, plant and equipment, power purchase agreements, asset retirement obligations and other contractual arrangements. Evaluations include numerous inputs including forecasted cash flows that incorporate the specific attributes of each asset including age, useful life, equipment condition and technology, as well as current replacement costs for similar assets. Other key inputs that require judgment include discount rates, comparable market transactions, estimated useful lives and probability of future transactions. The Company evaluates all available information, as well as all appropriate methodologies, when determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. In addition, once the appropriate fair values are determined, the Company must determine the remaining useful life for property, plant and equipment and the amortization period and method of amortization for each finite-lived intangible asset.
Recent Accounting Developments
See Item 15 — Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of recent accounting developments.
Item 7A — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The Company is exposed to several market risks in its normal business activities. Market risk is the potential loss that may result from market changes associated with the Company's power generation or with an existing or forecasted financial or commodity transaction. The types of market risks the Company is exposed to are commodity price risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk, and credit risk.
Commodity Price Risk
Commodity price risks result from exposures to changes in spot prices, forward prices, volatilities, and correlations between various commodities, such as electricity, natural gas and emissions credits. The Company manages the commodity price risk of its merchant generation operations by entering into derivative or non-derivative instruments to hedge the variability in future cash flows from forecasted power sales or purchases of fuel. The portion of forecasted transactions hedged may vary based upon management's assessment of market, weather, operation and other factors. See Item 15 — Note 7, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.
Based on a sensitivity analysis using simplified assumptions, the impact of a $0.50 per MMBtu decrease in natural gas prices across the term of the derivative contracts would cause no change to the net value of natural gas derivatives, and an increase of $0.50 MMBtu in natural gas prices across the term of the derivative contracts would cause an increase of approximately $1 million to the net value of natural gas derivatives as of December 31, 2020. The impact of a $0.50 per MWh increase or decrease in power prices across the term of the derivative contracts would cause a change of approximately $3 million to the net value of power derivatives as of December 31, 2020.
Interest Rate Risk
The Company is exposed to fluctuations in interest rates through its issuance of variable rate debt. Exposures to interest rate fluctuations may be mitigated by entering into derivative instruments known as interest rate swaps, caps, collars and put or call options. These contracts reduce exposure to interest rate volatility and result in primarily fixed rate debt obligations when taking into account the combination of the variable rate debt and the interest rate derivative instrument. See Item 15 — Note 7, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.
Most of the Company's project subsidiaries enter into interest rate swaps, intended to hedge the risks associated with interest rates on non-recourse project level debt. See Item 15 — Note 10, Long-term Debt, to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information about interest rate swaps of the Company's project subsidiaries.
If all of the above swaps had been discontinued on December 31, 2020, the Company would have owed the counterparties $134 million. Based on the credit ratings of the counterparties, the Company believes its exposure to credit risk due to nonperformance by counterparties to its hedge contracts to be insignificant.
The Company has long-term debt instruments that subject it to the risk of loss associated with movements in market interest rates. As of December 31, 2020, a 1% change in interest rates would result in an approximately $1 million change in interest expense on a rolling twelve-month basis.
As of December 31, 2020, the fair value of the Company's debt was $7,020 million and the carrying value was $7,048 million. The Company estimates that a 1% decrease in market interest rates would have increased the fair value of its long-term debt by $412 million.
Liquidity Risk
Liquidity risk arises from the general funding needs of the Company's activities and in the management of the Company's assets and liabilities.
Counterparty Credit Risk
Credit risk relates to the risk of loss resulting from non-performance or non-payment by counterparties pursuant to the terms of their contractual obligations. The Company monitors and manages credit risk through credit policies that include: (i) an established credit approval process, and (ii) the use of credit mitigation measures such as prepayment arrangements or volumetric limits. Risks surrounding counterparty performance and credit could ultimately impact the amount and timing of expected cash flows. The Company seeks to mitigate counterparty risk by having a diversified portfolio of counterparties. See Item 15 — Note 6, Fair Value of Financial Instruments, to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information about concentration of credit risk.
Item 8 — Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The financial statements and schedules are listed in Part IV, Item 15 of this Form 10-K.
Item 9 — Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A — Controls and Procedures
Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures and Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including its principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act. Based on this evaluation, the Company's principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended December 31, 2020, that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Inherent Limitations over Internal Controls
The Company's internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. The Company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
1. Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the Company's assets;
2. Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that the Company's receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of its management and directors; and
3. Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company's assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
Internal control over financial reporting cannot provide absolute assurance of achieving financial reporting objectives because of its inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error and circumvention by collusion or overriding of controls. Accordingly, even an effective internal control system may not prevent or detect material misstatements on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company's management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including its principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on the Company's evaluation under the framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013), the Company's management concluded that its internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2020.
The effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, has been audited by KPMG LLP, the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report which is included in this Form 10-K.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
Clearway Energy, Inc.:
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Clearway Energy, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and financial statement schedules (“Schedule I- Condensed Financial Information of Registrant” and “Schedule II- Valuation and Qualifying Accounts”) (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our report dated March 1, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
(signed) KPMG LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 1, 2021
Item 9B — Other Information
None.
PART III
Item 10 — Information about Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Directors
Nathaniel Anschuetz, 33, has served as a director since August 2018. Mr. Anschuetz is a Principal at GIP. Prior to joining GIP in 2012, Mr. Anschuetz was an Analyst in the Power & Utilities Coverage Group at Citigroup from June 2010 through June 2012. Mr. Anschuetz is also a member of the Board of Directors of Clearway Energy Group LLC and MAP RE/ES. Mr. Anschuetz graduated with cum laude honors from Columbia College in 2010 with an A.B. in Economics and Operations Research, and a concentration in Sustainable Development. Mr. Anschuetz's financial expertise provides significant value to the Company's board of directors.
Jonathan Bram, 55, has served as Chairman of the board of directors of the Company since August 2018. Mr. Bram is a Founding Partner of GIP and serves on its Investment and Operating Committees. He leads GIP’s Power industry investment team in North America. Prior to the formation of GIP in 2006, Mr. Bram spent 15 years at Credit Suisse as a Managing Director in the Investment Banking Division, where he served as Co-Head of the Global Industrial and Services Group. From 2002 to 2004, he was Chief Operating Officer of the Investment Banking Division and prior to that time he was co-head of corporate finance for the 150 person U.S. Energy Group. Mr. Bram represented the firm in raising more than $30 billion of debt and equity capital for electric utilities and independent power generators globally. These companies and projects included renewable power facilities that utilized wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric technologies. Mr. Bram is also a member of the Board of Directors of Clearway Energy Group LLC and previously served on the boards of Terra-Gen Power, Guacolda Energia, S.A. and Channelview Cogeneration. Mr. Bram holds an A.B. in Economics from Columbia College. Mr. Bram’s significant experience in investment banking for, and investments in, energy and power companies, as well as his leadership role at GIP, provide strong financial and transactional experience to the Company's board of directors.
Brian R. Ford, 72, has served as a director since July 2013 and Lead Independent Director since January 2019. Mr. Ford was the Chief Executive Officer of Washington Philadelphia Partners, LP, a real estate investment company, from 2008 through 2010. He retired as a partner from Ernst & Young LLP in June 2008 where he had been employed since 1971. Mr. Ford currently serves on the board of various companies, including FS Investment Corporation portfolios, a specialty finance company that invests primarily in the debt securities of private U.S. middle-market companies, since 2013, where he also serves as the chairman of the audit committee. He also serves on the boards of Drexel University and BAYADA Home Health. From 2013 to 2020, Mr. Ford served on the board of AmeriGas Propane, Inc., where he also served as a member of its audit and corporate governance committees. Mr. Ford received his B.S. in Economics from Rutgers University. Mr. Ford's extensive experience in accounting and public company matters provides strong financial, audit and accounting skills to the Company's board of directors.
Bruce MacLennan, 54, has served as a director since August 2018. Mr. MacLennan is a Partner of GIP and serves on its Investment and Operating Committees. Prior to joining GIP at its formation in 2006, Mr. MacLennan spent eight years at Credit Suisse, where he most recently served as a Director in the Investment Banking Division. Previously, he spent six years at Citibank and Citicorp Securities in New York and Tokyo. Mr. MacLennan holds an A.B. from Harvard University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Clearway Energy Group LLC and MAP RE/ES and previously served on the Board of Competitive Power Ventures. Mr. MacLennan’s significant experience in investment banking for, and investments in, energy and power companies, as well as his leadership role at GIP, provide strong financial and transactional experience to the Company's board of directors.
Ferrell P. McClean, 74, has served as a director since July 2013. Ms. McClean was a Managing Director and the Senior Advisor to the head of the Global Oil & Gas Group in Investment Banking at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. from 2000 through the end of 2001. She joined J.P. Morgan & Co. Incorporated in 1969 and founded the Leveraged Buyout and Restructuring Group within the Mergers & Acquisitions Group in 1986. From 1991 until 2000, Ms. McClean was a Managing Director and co-headed the Global Energy Group within the Investment Banking Group at J.P. Morgan & Co. She retired as a director of GrafTech International in 2014, El Paso Corporation in 2012 and Unocal Corporation in 2005. Ms. McClean's experience in investment banking for industrial companies as well as her experience and understanding of financial accounting, finance and disclosure matters enables her to provide essential guidance to the Company's board of directors and management team.
Daniel B. More, 64, has served as a director since February 2019. Mr. More has been a Senior Advisor with Guggenheim Securities since October 2015. Mr. More retired as a Managing Director and Global Head of Utility Mergers & Acquisitions of the Investment Banking Division of Morgan Stanley in 2014. He held such position since 1996. Mr. More has been an investment banker since 1978 and has specialized in the utility sector since 1986. Mr. More has served as a director of SJW Group since April 2015. He served as a director of Saeta Yield from February 2015 to June 2018 and served as a director of the New York Independent System Operator from April 2014 until February 2016. Mr. More’s extensive experience in investment banking, including capital raising and strategic initiatives, combined with experience as a director of energy industry companies, provides significant value to the Company's board of directors.
E. Stanley O'Neal, 69, has served as a director since August 2018. Mr. O'Neal served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. until October 2007. He became Chief Executive Officer of Merrill Lynch in 2002 and was elected Chairman of the Board in 2003. Mr. O’Neal was employed with Merrill Lynch for 21 years, serving as President and Chief Operating Officer from July 2001 to December 2002; President of U.S. Private Client from February 2000 to July 2001; Chief Financial Officer from 1998 to 2000 and Executive Vice President and Co-head of Global Markets and Investment Banking from 1997 to 1998. Before joining Merrill Lynch, Mr. O’Neal was employed at General Motors Corporation where he held a number of financial positions of increasing responsibility. Currently, Mr. O’Neal is chairman of the nominating and governance committee and a member of the committee of Arconic Corp., an aluminum manufacturing company and the former parent company of Alcoa Inc. Mr. O’Neal is also a director and member of the nominating and governance committee of Element Solutions Inc. (formerly Platform Specialty Products Corporation), a global, diversified producer of high technology specialty chemical products and provider of technical services. Mr. O’Neal was a director of General Motors Corporation from 2001 to 2006, chairman of the board of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. from 2003 to 2007, and a director of American Beacon Advisors, Inc. (investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission) from 2009 to September 2012. Mr. O’Neal’s extensive executive experience, financial expertise and leadership skills enable him to provide unique guidance to the Company's board of directors and management team.
Christopher S. Sotos, 49, has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since May 2016, and as a director since May 2013. Mr. Sotos had also served in various positions at NRG, including most recently as Executive Vice President - Strategy and Mergers and Acquisitions from February 2016 through May 2016 and Senior Vice President - Strategy and Mergers and Acquisitions from November 2012 through February 2016. In this role, he led NRG’s corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances and other special projects for NRG. Previously, he served as NRG’s Senior Vice President and Treasurer from March 2008 to September 2012, where he was responsible for all treasury functions, including raising capital, valuation, debt administration and cash management. Mr. Sotos also previously served as a director of FuelCell Energy, Inc. from September 2014 to April 2019. As President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Mr. Sotos provides the Company's board of directors with management’s perspective regarding the Company’s day to day operations and overall strategic plan. Mr. Sotos also brings strong financial and accounting skills to the Company's board of directors.
Scott Stanley, 64, has served as a director since August 2018. Mr. Stanley has been employed by GIP as an Operating Principal since April 2007, and in August 2018 was appointed as an Operating Partner. Mr. Stanley holds a B.S. in Ceramic Engineering from The Ohio State University and has 39 years of experience in operational roles, including prior assignments with General Electric, Honeywell, and United Technologies Corporation. Working predominantly in the transport sector with GIP, Mr. Stanley has held roles as Chief Operating Officer with London City Airport, Gatwick Airport, and Pacific National and was also on the Board of Directors at Edinburgh Airport. Mr. Stanley is also a member of the Board of Directors of Clearway Energy Group LLC and Italo S.p.A. and previously served on the Board of Directors of Naturgy Energy Group, S.A. Mr. Stanley adds significant operational expertise to the Company's board of directors.
Executive Officers
Christopher S. Sotos has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since May 2016, and as a director of the Company since May 2013. For additional biographical information for Mr. Sotos, see above under “Directors.”
Chad Plotkin, 45, has served as the Company's Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since November 2016. From January 2016 until his appointment as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Plotkin served as Senior Vice President, Finance and Strategy. Prior to this, he served in varying capacities at NRG, including as Vice President of Investor Relations of both the Company and NRG from September 2015 to January 2016 and from January 2012 to February 2015 and Vice President of Finance of NRG from February 2015 to September 2015. From October 2007 to January 2012, Mr. Plotkin served in various capacities in the Strategy and Mergers and Acquisitions group of NRG, including as Vice President, beginning in December 2010.
Kevin P. Malcarney, 54, has served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since May 11, 2018. Mr. Malcarney served as Interim General Counsel of the Company from March 16, 2018. Mr. Malcarney was previously Vice President and Deputy General Counsel and served in various other roles at NRG Energy, Inc. since September 2008. Prior to NRG, Mr. Malcarney worked at two major law firms in Princeton, NJ and Philadelphia, PA, and handled mergers and acquisitions, project financing and general corporate matters.
Code of Ethics
The Company has adopted a code of ethics entitled "Clearway Energy, Inc. Code of Business Conduct and Ethics" that applies to all of our directors and employees, including our Officers (e.g., our CEO, CFO, and Principal Accounting Officer). It may be accessed through the "Corporate Governance" section of the Company's website at http://www.clearwayenergy.com. The Company also elects to disclose the information required by Form 8-K, Item 5.05, "Amendments to the Registrant's Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics," through the Company's website, and such information will remain available on this website for at least a 12-month period. A copy of the "Clearway Energy, Inc. Code of Business Conduct and Ethics" is available in print to any stockholder who requests it.
Other information required by this Item will be incorporated by reference to the similarly named section of the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement for its 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Item 11 — Executive Compensation
Information required by this Item will be incorporated by reference to the similarly named section of the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement for its 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Item 12 — Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Securities Authorized for Issuance under the Clearway Energy, Inc. Amended and Restated 2013 Equity Compensation Plan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Plan Category | (a) Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights | | (b) Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights | | (c) Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in Column (a)) (1) |
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders - Class A common stock | 19,699 | | | $ | — | | | — |
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders - Class C common stock | 724,988 | | | — | | | 908,335 | |
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | — | | | N/A | | — | |
Total | 744,687 | | | $ | — | | | 908,335 | |
(1) Beginning in May 2015, awards to be granted and associated dividend equivalent rights to be issued under the Clearway Energy, Inc. Amended and Restated 2013 Equity Incentive Plan convert to Class C common stock upon vesting.
Other information required by this Item will be incorporated by reference to the similarly named section of the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement for its 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Item 13 — Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Information required by this Item will be incorporated by reference to the similarly named section of the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement for its 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Item 14 — Principal Accounting Fees and Services
Information required by this Item will be incorporated by reference to the similarly named section of the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement for its 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
PART IV
Item 15 — Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
(a)(1) Financial Statements
The following consolidated financial statements of Clearway Energy, Inc. and related notes thereto, together with the reports thereon of KPMG LLP, are included herein:
Consolidated Statements of Operations — Years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income — Years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
Consolidated Balance Sheets — As of December 31, 2020 and 2019
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows — Years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity — Years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules
The following schedules of Clearway Energy, Inc. are filed as part of Item 15 of this report and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements:
Schedule I — Clearway Energy, Inc. Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, are included in Clearway Energy, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K pursuant to the requirements of Rule 5-04(c) of Regulation S-X
Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable, and therefore, have been omitted
(a)(3) Exhibits: See Exhibit Index submitted as a separate section of this report
(b) Exhibits
See Exhibit Index submitted as a separate section of this report
(c) Not applicable
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
Clearway Energy, Inc.:
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Clearway Energy, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three‑year period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and financial statement schedules, (“Schedule I-Condensed Financial Information of Registrant” and “Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts”) (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three‑year period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated March 1, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Changes in Accounting Principle
As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for Revenue from Contracts with Customers as of January 1, 2018 due to the adoption of Topic 606.
As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for Leases as of January 1, 2019 due to the adoption of Topic 842.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of a critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Evaluation over the recoverability of certain long-lived assets
As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, long-lived assets that are held and used are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate their carrying value may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is tested by comparing the carrying amount of the assets to the future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset, through considering project specific assumptions for long-term energy
prices, escalated future project operating costs, and expected plant operations. An impairment loss is indicated if the total future undiscounted cash flows expected from an asset are less than its carrying value. An impairment charge is measured as the difference between the asset’s carrying value and its fair value.
We identified the evaluation of the recoverability of certain long-lived assets as a critical audit matter. Especially subjective auditor judgment was required to evaluate the long-term energy prices used in the Company’s future undiscounted cash flows. Specifically, for certain asset groups tested for recoverability, the long-term energy prices in the post contracted periods used in the determination of future undiscounted cash flows were challenging to evaluate as small changes to this assumption could have a significant effect on the Company’s assessment of the recoverability of certain long-lived assets.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls related to the Company’s process to evaluate the recoverability of long-lived assets, including selection of long-term forecasted energy prices used in the determination of future undiscounted cash flows. We involved valuation professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in evaluating the long-term energy prices determined by the Company. Specifically, the valuation professionals evaluated the long-term energy prices used by the Company by comparing them to energy price curves prepared by reputable third-party vendors that provide energy price forecasts in the applicable power markets.
(signed) KPMG LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2012.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 1, 2021
CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended December 31, |
(In millions, except per share amounts) | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
Operating Revenues | | | | | |
Total operating revenues | $ | 1,199 | | | $ | 1,032 | | | $ | 1,053 | |
Operating Costs and Expenses | | | | | |
Cost of operations | 366 | | | 337 | | | 327 | |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 428 | | | 401 | | | 336 | |
Impairment losses | 24 | | | 33 | | | — | |
General and administrative | 34 | | | 29 | | | 20 | |
Transaction and integration costs | 9 | | | 3 | | | 20 | |
Development costs | 5 | | | 5 | | | 3 | |
Total operating costs and expenses | 866 | | | 808 | | | 706 | |
Operating Income | 333 | | | 224 | | | 347 | |
Other Income (Expense) | | | | | |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates | 7 | | | 83 | | | 74 | |
Impairment loss on investment | (8) | | | — | | | — | |
Gain on sale of unconsolidated affiliate | 49 | | | — | | | — | |
Other income, net | 4 | | | 9 | | | 8 | |
Loss on debt extinguishment | (24) | | | (16) | | | (7) | |
Interest expense | (415) | | | (404) | | | (306) | |
Total other expense, net | (387) | | | (328) | | | (231) | |
(Loss) Income Before Income Taxes | (54) | | | (104) | | | 116 | |
Income tax expense (benefit) | 8 | | | (8) | | | 62 | |
Net (Loss) Income | (62) | | | (96) | | | 54 | |
Less: Pre-acquisition net income of Drop Down Assets | — | | | — | | | 4 | |
Net (Loss) Income Excluding Pre-acquisition Net Income (Loss) of Drop Down Assets | (62) | | | (96) | | | 50 | |
| | | | | |
Less: Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (87) | | | (85) | | | 2 | |
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Clearway Energy, Inc. | $ | 25 | | | $ | (11) | | | $ | 48 | |
Earnings Per Share Attributable to Clearway Energy, Inc. Class A and Class C Common Stockholders | | | | | |
Weighted average number of Class A common shares outstanding - basic and diluted | 35 | | | 35 | | | 35 | |
| | | | | |
Weighted average number of Class C common shares outstanding - basic | 80 | | | 74 | | | 69 | |
Weighted average number of Class C common shares outstanding - diluted | 81 | | | 74 | | | 69 | |
Earnings (Loss) per Weighted Average Class A and Class C Common Share - Basic and Diluted | $ | 0.22 | | | $ | (0.10) | | | $ | 0.46 | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Dividends Per Class A Common Share | $ | 1.05 | | | $ | 0.80 | | | $ | 1.258 | |
Dividends Per Class C Common Share | $ | 1.05 | | | $ | 0.80 | | | $ | 1.258 | |
.
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended December 31, |
| 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
(In millions) | |
Net (Loss) Income | $ | (62) | | | $ | (96) | | | $ | 54 | |
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of tax | | | | | |
Unrealized gain on derivatives, net of income tax expense of $—, $1, and $2 | 1 | | 7 | | 22 |
Other comprehensive income | 1 | | | 7 | | | 22 | |
Comprehensive (Loss) Income | (61) | | | (89) | | | 76 | |
Less: Pre-acquisition net income of Drop Down Assets | — | | | — | | | 4 | |
Less: Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (87) | | | (81) | | | 14 | |
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Clearway Energy, Inc. | $ | 26 | | | $ | (8) | | | $ | 58 | |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, 2020 | | December 31, 2019 |
ASSETS | (In millions) |
Current Assets | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 268 | | | $ | 155 | |
Restricted cash | 197 | | | 262 | |
Accounts receivable — trade | 143 | | | 116 | |
Accounts receivable — affiliates | — | | | 2 | |
Inventory | 42 | | | 40 | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
Prepayments and other current assets | 58 | | | 33 | |
Total current assets | 708 | | | 608 | |
Property, plant and equipment, net | 7,217 | | | 6,063 | |
Other Assets | | | |
Equity investments in affiliates | 741 | | | 1,183 | |
Intangible assets, net | 1,370 | | | 1,428 | |
Deferred income taxes | 104 | | | 92 | |
Derivative instruments | 1 | | | — | |
Right-of-use assets, net | 337 | | | 223 | |
Other non-current assets | 114 | | | 103 | |
Total other assets | 2,667 | | | 3,029 | |
Total Assets | $ | 10,592 | | | $ | 9,700 | |
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | | | |
Current Liabilities | | | |
Current portion of long-term debt | $ | 384 | | | $ | 1,824 | |
Accounts payable — trade | 72 | | | 74 | |
Accounts payable — affiliates | 17 | | | 31 | |
Derivative instruments | 38 | | | 16 | |
Accrued interest expense | 44 | | | 41 | |
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 79 | | | 71 | |
Total current liabilities | 634 | | | 2,057 | |
Other Liabilities | | | |
Long-term debt | 6,585 | | | 4,956 | |
Derivative instruments | 135 | | | 76 | |
Long-term lease liabilities | 345 | | | 227 | |
Other non-current liabilities | 178 | | | 121 | |
Total non-current liabilities | 7,243 | | | 5,380 | |
Total Liabilities | 7,877 | | | 7,437 | |
Commitments and Contingencies | | | |
Stockholders' Equity | | | |
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued | — | | | — | |
Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D common stock, $0.01 par value; 3,000,000,000 shares authorized (Class A 500,000,000, Class B 500,000,000, Class C 1,000,000,000, Class D 1,000,000,000); 201,635,990 shares issued and outstanding (Class A 34,599,645, Class B 42,738,750, Class C 81,558,845, Class D 42,738,750) at December 31, 2020 and 198,819,999 shares issued and outstanding (Class A 34,599,645, Class B 42,738,750, Class C 78,742,854, Class D 42,738,750) at December 31, 2019 | 1 | | | 1 | |
Additional paid-in capital | 1,922 | | | 1,936 | |
Accumulated deficit | (84) | | | (72) | |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (14) | | | (15) | |
Noncontrolling interest | 890 | | | 413 | |
Total Stockholders' Equity | 2,715 | | | 2,263 | |
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | $ | 10,592 | | | $ | 9,700 | |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended December 31, |
| 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
Cash Flows from Operating Activities | (In millions) |
Net (loss) income | $ | (62) | | | $ | (96) | | | $ | 54 | |
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities: | | | | | |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates | (7) | | | (83) | | | (74) | |
Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates | 61 | | | 34 | | | 70 | |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 428 | | | 401 | | | 335 | |
Amortization of financing costs and debt discounts | 15 | | | 17 | | | 24 | |
Amortization of intangibles and out-of-market contracts | 90 | | | 71 | | | 70 | |
Loss on debt extinguishment | 24 | | | 16 | | | 7 | |
Reduction in carrying amount of right-of-use assets | 4 | | | 7 | | | — | |
Gain on sale of unconsolidated affiliate | (49) | | | — | | | — | |
Impairment losses | 32 | | | 33 | | | — | |
Change in deferred income taxes | 8 | | | (8) | | | 62 | |
Changes in derivative instruments | 44 | | | 85 | | | (16) | |
Loss on disposal of asset components | 3 | | | 9 | | | — | |
Cash used in changes in other working capital | | | | | |
Changes in prepaid and accrued liabilities for tolling agreements | (1) | | | 1 | | | — | |
Changes in other working capital | (45) | | | (10) | | | (34) | |
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities | 545 | | | 477 | | | 498 | |
Cash Flows from Investing Activities | | | | | |
Acquisitions | — | | | (100) | | | (11) | |
Partnership interest acquisition | — | | | (29) | | | — | |
Acquisition of Drop Down Assets, net of cash acquired | (122) | | | (161) | | | (126) | |
Buyout of Wind TE Holdco noncontrolling interest | — | | | (19) | | | — | |
Capital expenditures | (124) | | | (228) | | | (83) | |
Cash receipts from notes receivable | — | | | — | | | 13 | |
Return of investment from unconsolidated affiliates | 79 | | | 56 | | | 45 | |
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates | (11) | | | (13) | | | (34) | |
Proceeds from sale of assets | 90 | | | 20 | | | — | |
Consolidation of DGPV Holdco 3 LLC | 17 | | | — | | | — | |
| | | | | |
Other | 9 | | | 6 | | | 11 | |
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities | (62) | | | (468) | | | (185) | |
Cash Flows from Financing Activities | | | | | |
Net contributions from noncontrolling interests | 247 | | | 174 | | | 91 | |
Buyout of Repowering Partnership II LLC noncontrolling interest | (70) | | | — | | | — | |
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock | 62 | | | 100 | | | 153 | |
Payments of dividends and distributions | (211) | | | (155) | | | (238) | |
Proceeds from the revolving credit facility | 265 | | | 152 | | | 35 | |
Payments for the revolving credit facility | (265) | | | (152) | | | (90) | |
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt | 1,084 | | | 1,215 | | | 827 | |
Payments of debt issuance costs | (20) | | | (25) | | | (14) | |
Payments for long-term debt | (1,527) | | | (1,484) | | | (810) | |
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities | (435) | | | (175) | | | (46) | |
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash | 48 | | | (166) | | | 267 | |
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Period | 417 | | | 583 | | | 316 | |
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at End of Period | $ | 465 | | | $ | 417 | | | $ | 583 | |
| | | | | |
Supplemental Disclosures | | | | | |
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized | $ | (325) | | | $ | (313) | | | $ | (292) | |
Non-cash investing and financing activities: | | | | | |
Reductions to fixed assets for accrued capital expenditures | (18) | | | (2) | | | (15) | |
Non-cash adjustment for change in tax basis | 21 | | | 28 | | | (7) | |
Non-cash contributions from CEG, NRG, net of distributions | $ | 6 | | | $ | 36 | | | $ | 38 | |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In millions) | Preferred Stock | | Common Stock | | Additional Paid-In Capital | | Accumulated Deficit | | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | | Non-controlling Interest | | Total Stockholders' Equity |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balances at December 31, 2017 | $ | — | | | $ | 1 | | | $ | 1,843 | | | $ | (69) | | | $ | (28) | | | $ | 412 | | | $ | 2,159 | |
Net income | — | | | — | | | — | | | 48 | | | — | | | 2 | | | 50 | |
Pre-acquisition net loss of acquired Drop Down Assets | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 4 | | | 4 | |
Unrealized gain on derivatives, net of tax | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 10 | | | 12 | | | 22 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Payments for the Buckthorn Solar Drop Down Asset and UPMC | — | | | — | | | 1 | | | — | | | — | | | (53) | | | (52) | |
Equity component of tendered 2020 Convertible Notes and 2019 Convertible Notes | — | | | — | | | (3) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (3) | |
Capital contributions from tax equity investors, net of distributions, cash | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 106 | | | 106 | |
Distributions and return of capital to NRG, net of contributions, cash | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (11) | | | (11) | |
Distributions and return of capital to NRG, net of contributions, non-cash | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 38 | | | 38 | |
Stock-based compensation | — | | | — | | | 4 | | | (1) | | | — | | | — | | | 3 | |
Proceeds from the issuance of Class C common stock | — | | | — | | | 153 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 153 | |
Non-cash adjustment for change in tax basis of property, plant and equipment | — | | | — | | | (7) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (7) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common stock dividends | — | | | — | | | (94) | | | (36) | | | — | | | (108) | | | (238) | |
Balances at December 31, 2018 | $ | — | | | $ | 1 | | | $ | 1,897 | | | $ | (58) | | | $ | (18) | | | $ | 402 | | | $ | 2,224 | |
Net loss | — | | | — | | | — | | | (11) | | | — | | | (85) | | | (96) | |
Unrealized gain on derivatives, net of tax | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 3 | | | 4 | | | 7 | |
Buyout of Wind TE Holdco non-controlling interest | — | | | — | | | (5) | | | — | | | — | | | (14) | | | (19) | |
Carlsbad Drop Down | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (35) | | | (35) | |
Contributions from tax equity interests, net of distributions, cash | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 242 | | | 242 | |
Distributions to CEG, net of contributions, cash | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (68) | | | (68) | |
Cumulative effect of change in the accounting principle | — | | | — | | | — | | | (2) | | | — | | | (1) | | | (3) | |
Contributions from CEG net of distributions, non-cash | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 36 | | | 36 | |
Stock-based compensation | — | | | — | | | 3 | | | (1) | | | — | | | — | | | 2 | |
Proceeds from the issuance of Class C Common Stock | — | | | — | | | 100 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 100 | |
Non-cash adjustment for change in tax basis | — | | | — | | | 28 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 28 | |
Common stock dividends | — | | | — | | | (87) | | | — | | | — | | | (68) | | | (155) | |
Balances at December 31, 2019 | $ | — | | | $ | 1 | | | $ | 1,936 | | | $ | (72) | | | $ | (15) | | | $ | 413 | | | $ | 2,263 | |
Net income (loss) | — | | | — | | | — | | | 25 | | | — | | | (87) | | | (62) | |
Unrealized gain on derivatives, net of tax | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 1 | | | — | | | 1 | |
Contributions from CEG, non-cash | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 6 | | | 6 | |
Contributions from CEG, cash | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 6 | | | 6 | |
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, non-cash | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (2) | | | (2) | |
Contributions from noncontrolling interests, net of distributions, cash | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 240 | | | 240 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
DGPV Drop Down and Consolidation | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (20) | | | (20) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Mesquite Star Drop Down and Consolidation | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 361 | | | 361 | |
Langford Drop Down | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 76 | | | 76 | |
Rosamond Central Drop Down | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 57 | | | 57 | |
Lighthouse Partnership Yield Protection Agreement | — | | | — | | | (15) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (15) | |
Buyout of Repowering Partnership II LLC non-controlling interest | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (70) | | | (70) | |
Stock-based compensation | — | | | — | | | 2 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 2 | |
Non-cash adjustment for change in tax basis | — | | | — | | | 21 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 21 | |
Net proceeds from the issuance of common stock under the ATM Programs | — | | | — | | | 62 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 62 | |
Common stock dividends and distributions to CEG | — | | | — | | | (84) | | | (37) | | | — | | | (90) | | | (211) | |
Balances at December 31, 2020 | $ | — | | | $ | 1 | | | $ | 1,922 | | | $ | (84) | | | $ | (14) | | | $ | 890 | | | $ | 2,715 | |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 — Nature of Business
Clearway Energy, Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries, or the Company, is a publicly-traded energy infrastructure investor in and owner of modern, sustainable and long-term contracted assets across North America. On August 31, 2018, NRG Energy, Inc., or NRG, transferred its full ownership interest in the Company to Clearway Energy Group LLC, or CEG, the holder of NRG's renewable energy development and operations platform, and subsequently sold 100% of its interest in CEG to GIP, referred to hereinafter as the GIP Transaction. As a result of the GIP Transaction, GIP indirectly acquired a 45.2% economic interest in Clearway Energy LLC and a 55% voting interest in the Company. GIP is an independent fund manager that invests in infrastructure assets in energy and transport sectors. The Company is sponsored by GIP through its portfolio company, CEG.
The Company is one of the largest renewable energy owners in the U.S. with over 4,200 net MW of installed wind and solar generation projects. The Company also owns approximately 2,500 net MW of environmentally-sound, highly efficient generation facilities as well as a portfolio of district energy systems. Through this environmentally-sound, diversified and primarily contracted portfolio, the Company endeavors to provide its investors with stable and growing dividend income. Substantially all of the Company's generation assets are under long-term contractual arrangements for the output or capacity from these assets.
The Company consolidates the results of Clearway Energy LLC through its controlling interest, with CEG's interest shown as non-controlling interest in the financial statements. The holders of the Company's outstanding shares of Class A and Class C common stock are entitled to dividends as declared. CEG receives its distributions from Clearway Energy LLC through its ownership of Clearway Energy LLC Class B and Class D units.
The Company owns 57.61% of the economic interests of Clearway Energy LLC, with CEG retaining 42.39% of the economic interests of Clearway Energy LLC as of December 31, 2020. For further discussion, see Note 12, Stockholders' Equity.
The following table represents the structure of the Company as of December 31, 2020:
Substantially all of the Company's generation assets are under long-term contractual arrangements for the output or capacity from these assets. The thermal assets are comprised of district energy systems and combined heat and power plants that produce steam, hot water and/or chilled water and, in some instances, electricity at a central plant. Certain district energy systems are subject to rate regulation by state public utility commissions (although they may negotiate certain rates) while the other district energy systems have rates determined by negotiated bilateral contracts.
Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The Company's consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The ASC is the source of authoritative GAAP to be applied by nongovernmental entities. In addition, the rules and interpretative releases of the SEC under authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants.
The consolidated financial statements include the Company's accounts and operations and those of its subsidiaries in which it has a controlling interest. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The usual condition for a controlling financial interest is ownership of a majority of the voting interests of an entity. However, a controlling financial interest may also exist through arrangements that do not involve controlling voting interests. As such, the Company applies the guidance of ASC 810, Consolidations, or ASC 810, to determine when an entity that is insufficiently capitalized or not controlled through its voting interests, referred to as a variable interest entity, or VIE, should be consolidated.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash
Cash and cash equivalents include highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase. Cash and cash equivalents held at project subsidiaries was $149 million and $125 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the statements of cash flows.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended December 31, |
| 2020 | | 2019 | |
| (In millions) |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 268 | | | $ | 155 | | |
Restricted cash | 197 | | | 262 | | |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the statements of cash flows | $ | 465 | | | $ | 417 | | |
Restricted cash consists primarily of funds held to satisfy the requirements of certain debt agreements and funds held within the Company's projects that are restricted in their use. As of December 31, 2020, these restricted funds comprised of $73 million designated to fund operating expenses, approximately $24 million designated for current debt service payments, and $45 million restricted for reserves including debt service, performance obligations and other reserves, as well as capital expenditures. The remaining $55 million is held in distributions reserve accounts.
Accounts Receivable — Trade and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Accounts receivable — trade are reported on the balance sheet at the invoiced amount adjusted for any write-offs and the allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is reviewed periodically based on amounts past due and significance. The allowance for doubtful accounts was immaterial as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Inventory
Inventory consists principally of spare parts and fuel oil. Spare parts inventory is valued at weighted average cost, unless evidence indicates that the weighted average cost will not be recovered with a normal profit in the ordinary course of business. Fuel oil inventory is valued at the lower of weighted average cost or market. The Company removes fuel inventories as they are used in the production of steam, chilled water or electricity. Spare parts inventory are removed when they are used for repairs, maintenance or capital projects.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost or, in the case of third party business acquisitions, fair value; however impairment adjustments are recorded whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying values may not be recoverable. Significant additions or improvements extending asset lives are capitalized as incurred, while repairs and maintenance that do not improve or extend the life of the respective asset are charged to expense as incurred. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives. Certain assets and their related accumulated depreciation amounts are adjusted for asset retirements and disposals with the resulting gain or loss included in cost of operations in the consolidated statements of operations. For further discussion of the Company's property, plant and equipment refer to Note 4, Property, Plant and Equipment, to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Construction in-progress represents cumulative construction costs, including the costs incurred for the purchase of major equipment and engineering costs and capitalized interest. Once the project achieves commercial operation, the Company reclassifies the amounts recorded in construction in progress to facilities and equipment.
Development costs include project development costs, which are expensed in the preliminary stages of a project and capitalized when the project is deemed to be commercially viable. Commercial viability is determined by one or a series of actions including, among others, Board of Director approval pursuant to a formal project plan that subjects the Company to significant future obligations that can only be discharged by the use of a Company asset. When a project is available for operations, capitalized interest and capitalized project development costs are reclassified to property, plant and equipment and depreciated on a straightline basis over the estimated useful life of the project's related assets. Capitalized costs are charged to expense if a project is abandoned or management otherwise determines the costs to be unrecoverable.
Asset Impairments
Long-lived assets that are held and used are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate their carrying values may not be recoverable. Such reviews are performed in accordance with ASC 360. An impairment loss is indicated if the total future estimated undiscounted cash flows expected from an asset are less than its carrying value. An impairment charge is measured by the difference between an asset's carrying amount and fair value with the difference recorded in operating costs and expenses in the statements of operations. Fair values are determined by a variety of valuation methods, including appraisals, sales prices of similar assets and present value techniques. For further discussion of the Company's long-lived asset impairments, refer to Note 9, Asset Impairments, to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Investments accounted for by the equity method are reviewed for impairment in accordance with ASC 323, Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures, which requires that a loss in value of an investment that is an other-than-temporary decline should be recognized. The Company identifies and measures losses in the value of equity method investments based upon a comparison of fair value to carrying value.
Debt Issuance Costs
Debt issuance costs are capitalized and amortized as interest expense on a basis which approximates the effective interest method over the term of the related debt. Debt issuance costs related to the long term debt are presented as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt in both the current and prior periods. Debt issuance costs related to the senior secured revolving credit facility line of credit are recorded as a non-current asset on the balance sheet and are amortized over the term of the credit facility.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets represent contractual rights held by the Company. The Company recognizes specifically identifiable intangible assets including power purchase agreements, leasehold rights, customer relationships, customer contracts and development rights when specific rights and contracts are acquired. These intangible assets are amortized primarily on a straight-line basis. For further discussion of the Company's intangible assets, refer to Note 8, Intangible Assets, to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the guidance in ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, or Topic 606, using the modified retrospective method applied to contracts which were not completed as of the adoption date, with no adjustment required to the financial statements upon adoption. Following the adoption of the new standard, the Company’s revenue recognition of its contracts with customers remains materially consistent with its historical practice. The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. The Company's policies with respect to its various revenue streams are detailed below. In general, the Company applies the invoicing practical expedient to recognize revenue for the revenue streams detailed below, except in circumstances where the invoiced amount does not represent the value transferred to the customer.
Thermal Revenues
Steam and chilled water revenue is recognized as the Company transfers the product to the customer, based on customer usage as determined by meter readings taken at month-end. Some locations read customer meters throughout the month, and recognize estimated revenue for the period between meter read date and month-end. For thermal contracts, the Company’s performance obligation to deliver steam and chilled water is satisfied over time and revenue is recognized based on the invoiced amount. The Thermal Business subsidiaries collect and remit state and local taxes associated with sales to their customers, as required by governmental authorities. These taxes are presented on a net basis in the income statement.
As contracts for steam and chilled water are long-term contracts, the Company has performance obligations under these contracts that have not yet been satisfied. These performance obligations have transaction prices that are both fixed and variable, and that vary based on the contract duration, customer type, inception date and other contract-specific factors. For the fixed price contracts, the Company cannot accurately estimate the amount of its unsatisfied performance obligations as it will vary based on customer usage, which will depend on factors such as weather and customer activity.
Power Purchase Agreements, or PPAs
The majority of the Company’s revenues are obtained through PPAs or other contractual agreements. Energy, capacity and, where applicable, renewable attributes, from the majority of the Company’s renewable energy assets and certain conventional energy plants is sold through long-term PPAs and tolling agreements to a single counterparty, which is often a utility or commercial customer. The majority of these PPAs are accounted for as leases. Previously ASC 840, and currently, ASC 842, requires the minimum lease payments received to be amortized over the term of the lease and contingent rentals are recorded when the achievement of the contingency becomes probable. Judgment is required by management in determining the economic life of each generating facility, in evaluating whether certain lease provisions constitute minimum payments or represent contingent rent and other factors in determining whether a contract contains a lease and whether the lease is an operating lease or capital lease.
Certain of these leases have no minimum lease payments and all of the rental income under these leases is recorded as contingent rent on an actual basis when the electricity is delivered. The contingent rental income recognized in the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $589 million, $537 million and $583 million, respectively. See Note 17, Leases for additional information related to the Company's PPAs accounted for as leases.
Renewable Energy Credits, or RECs
As stated above, renewable energy credits, or RECs, are usually sold through long-term PPAs. Revenue from the sale of self-generated RECs is recognized when the related energy is generated and simultaneously delivered even in cases where there is a certification lag as it has been deemed to be perfunctory.
In a bundled contract to sell energy, capacity and/or self-generated RECs, all performance obligations are deemed to be delivered at the same time and hence, timing of recognition of revenue for all performance obligations is the same and occurs over time. In such cases, it is often unnecessary to allocate transaction price to multiple performance obligations.
Disaggregated Revenues
The following tables represent the Company’s disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers for the year ended December 31, 2020, along with the reportable segment for each category:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended December 31, 2020 |
(In millions) | Conventional Generation | | Renewables | | Thermal | | | | Total |
Energy revenue(a) | $ | 10 | | | $ | 609 | | | $ | 101 | | | | | $ | 720 | |
Capacity revenue(a) | 451 | | | — | | | 63 | | | | | 514 | |
Other revenues | — | | | 21 | | | 32 | | | | | 53 | |
Contract amortization | (24) | | | (61) | | | (3) | | | | | (88) | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total operating revenue | 437 | | | 569 | | | 193 | | | | | 1,199 | |
Less: Lease revenue | (461) | | | (554) | | | (2) | | | | | (1,017) | |
Less: Contract amortization | 24 | | | 61 | | | 3 | | | | | 88 | |
Total revenue from contracts with customers | $ | — | | | $ | 76 | | | $ | 194 | | | | | $ | 270 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
(a) See Note 17, Leases for the amounts of energy and capacity revenue that relate to leases and are accounted for under ASC 842.
The following tables represent the Company’s disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers for the year ended December 31, 2019, along with the reportable segment for each category:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended December 31, 2019 |
(In millions) | Conventional Generation | | Renewables | | Thermal | | | | Total |
Energy revenue(a) | $ | 5 | | | $ | 545 | | | $ | 120 | | | | | $ | 670 | |
Capacity revenue(a) | 348 | | | — | | | 54 | | | | | 402 | |
Other revenues | — | | | 10 | | | 30 | | | | | 40 | |
Contract amortization | (7) | | | (61) | | | (3) | | | | | (71) | |
Mark-to-market for economic hedges | — | | | (9) | | | — | | | | | (9) | |
Total operating revenue | 346 | | | 485 | | | 201 | | | | | 1,032 | |
Less: Lease revenue | (353) | | | (509) | | | (2) | | | | | (864) | |
Less: Contract amortization | 7 | | | 61 | | | 3 | | | | | 71 | |
Total revenue from contracts with customers | $ | — | | | $ | 37 | | | $ | 202 | | | | | $ | 239 | |
(a) See Note 17, Leases for the amounts of energy and capacity revenue that relate to leases and are accounted for under ASC 840
The following tables represent the Company’s disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers for the year ended December 31, 2018, along with the reportable segment for each category:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended December 31, 2018 |
(In millions) | Conventional Generation | | Renewables | | Thermal | | | | Total |
Energy revenue(a) | $ | 5 | | | $ | 572 | | | $ | 120 | | | | | $ | 697 | |
Capacity revenue(a) | 337 | | | — | | | 50 | | | | | 387 | |
Other revenues | — | | | 13 | | | 26 | | | | | 39 | |
Contract amortization | (5) | | | (62) | | | (3) | | | | | (70) | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total operating revenue | 337 | | | 523 | | | 193 | | | | | 1,053 | |
Less: Lease revenue | (342) | | | (534) | | | (2) | | | | | (878) | |
Less: Contract amortization | 5 | | | 62 | | | 3 | | | | | 70 | |
Total revenue from contracts with customers | $ | — | | | $ | 51 | | | $ | 194 | | | | | $ | 245 | |
Contract Amortization
Assets and liabilities recognized from power sales agreements assumed through acquisitions related to the sale of electric capacity and energy in future periods for which the fair value has been determined to be significantly less (more) than market are amortized to revenue over the term of each underlying contract based on actual generation and/or contracted volumes or on a straight-line basis, where applicable.
Contract Balances
The following table reflects the net amount of contract assets and liabilities included on the Company’s balance sheet as of December 31, 2020:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In millions) | | December 31, 2020 | | December 31, 2019 | | |
Accounts receivable, net - Contracts with customers | | $ | 57 | | | $ | 34 | | | |
Accounts receivable, net - Leases | | 86 | | | 82 | | | |
Total accounts receivable, net | | $ | 143 | | | $ | 116 | | | |
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company accounts for derivative financial instruments under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, or ASC 815, which requires the Company to record all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value unless they qualify for a NPNS exception. Changes in the fair value of non-hedge derivatives are immediately recognized in earnings. Changes in the fair value of derivatives accounted for as hedges, if elected for hedge accounting, are either:
•Recognized in earnings as an offset to the changes in the fair value of the related hedged assets, liabilities and firm commitments; or
•Deferred and recorded as a component of accumulated OCI until the hedged transactions occur and are recognized in earnings.
The Company's primary derivative instruments are interest rate instruments used to mitigate variability in earnings due to fluctuations in interest rates, power purchase or sale contracts used to mitigate variability in earnings due to fluctuations in market prices and fuels purchase contracts used to control customer reimbursable fuel cost. On an ongoing basis, the Company qualitatively assesses the effectiveness of its derivatives that are designated as hedges for accounting purposes in order to determine that each derivative continues to be highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of hedged items. If necessary, the Company will perform an analysis to measure the statistical correlation between the derivative and the associated hedged item to determine the effectiveness of such a contract designated as a hedge. The Company will discontinue hedge accounting if it is determined that the hedge is no longer effective. In this case, the gain or loss previously deferred in accumulated OCI would be frozen until the underlying hedged item is delivered unless the transaction being hedged is no longer probable of occurring in which case the amount in OCI would be immediately reclassified into earnings. If the derivative instrument is terminated, the effective portion of this derivative deferred in accumulated OCI will be frozen until the underlying hedged item is delivered.
Revenues and expenses on contracts that qualify for the NPNS exception are recognized when the underlying physical transaction is delivered. While these contracts are considered derivative financial instruments under ASC 815, they are not recorded at fair value, but on an accrual basis of accounting. If it is determined that a transaction designated as NPNS no longer meets the scope exception, the fair value of the related contract is recorded on the balance sheet and immediately recognized through earnings.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of accounts receivable, notes receivable and derivative instruments, which are concentrated within entities engaged in the energy and financial industries. These industry concentrations may impact the overall exposure to credit risk, either positively or negatively, in that the customers may be similarly affected by changes in economic, industry or other conditions. In addition, many of the Company's projects have only one customer. See Item 1A, Risk Factors, Risks related to the Company's Business, for a discussion on the Company’s dependence on major customers. See Note 6, Fair Value of Financial Instruments, for a further discussion of derivative concentrations and Note 13, Segment Reporting, for concentration of counterparties.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts receivable - affiliate, accounts payable, current portion of account payable - affiliate, and accrued expenses and other current liabilities approximate fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments. See Note 6, Fair Value of Financial Instruments, for a further discussion of fair value of financial instruments.
Asset Retirement Obligations
Asset retirement obligations, or AROs, are accounted for in accordance with ASC 410-20, Asset Retirement Obligations, or ASC 410-20. Retirement obligations associated with long-lived assets included within the scope of ASC 410-20 are those for which a legal obligation exists under enacted laws, statutes, and written or oral contracts, including obligations arising under the doctrine of promissory estoppel, and for which the timing and/or method of settlement may be conditional on a future event. ASC 410-20 requires an entity to recognize the fair value of a liability for an ARO in the period in which it is incurred and a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made.
Upon initial recognition of a liability for an ARO, the asset retirement cost is capitalized by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset by the same amount. Over time, the liability is accreted to its future value, while the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. The Company's AROs are primarily related to the future dismantlement of equipment on leased property and environmental obligations related to site closures and fuel storage facilities. The Company records AROs as part of other non-current liabilities on its balance sheet.
The following table represents the balance of ARO obligations as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, along with the additions and accretion related to the Company's ARO obligations for the year ended December 31, 2020:
| | | | | |
(In millions) | |
Balance as of December 31, 2019 | $ | 75 | |
Revisions in estimates for current obligations | 9 | |
Additions | 26 | |
| |
Accretion — expense | 7 | |
Balance as of December 31, 2020 | $ | 117 | |
Guarantees
The Company enters into various contracts that include indemnification and guarantee provisions as a routine part of its business activities. Examples of these contracts include operation and maintenance agreements, service agreements, commercial sales arrangements and other types of contractual agreements with vendors and other third parties, as well as affiliates. These contracts generally indemnify the counterparty for tax, environmental liability, litigation and other matters, as well as breaches of representations, warranties and covenants set forth in these agreements. Because many of the guarantees and indemnities the Company issues to third parties and affiliates do not limit the amount or duration of its obligations to perform under them, there exists a risk that the Company may have obligations in excess of the amounts agreed upon in the contracts mentioned above. For those guarantees and indemnities that do not limit the liability exposure, the Company may not be able to estimate what the liability would be, until a claim is made for payment or performance, due to the contingent nature of these contracts.
Investments Accounted for by the Equity Method
The Company has investments in various energy projects accounted for by the equity method, several of which are VIEs, where the Company is not a primary beneficiary, as described in Note 5, Investments Accounted for by the Equity Method and Variable Interest Entities. The equity method of accounting is applied to these investments in affiliates because the ownership structure prevents the Company from exercising a controlling influence over the operating and financial policies of the projects. Under this method, equity in pre-tax income or losses of the investments is reflected as equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates. Distributions from equity method investments that represent earnings on the Company's investment are included within cash flows from operating activities and distributions from equity method investments that represent a return of the Company's investment are included within cash flows from investing activities.
Sale-Leaseback Arrangements
The Company is party to sale-leaseback arrangements that provide for the sale of certain assets to a third party and simultaneous leaseback to the Company. In accordance with ASC 840-40, Sale-Leaseback Transactions, if the seller-lessee retains, through the leaseback, substantially all of the benefits and risks incident to the ownership of the property sold, the sale-leaseback transaction is accounted for as a financing arrangement. An example of this type of continuing involvement would include an option to repurchase the assets or the buyer-lessor having the option to sell the assets back to the Company. This provision is included in most of the Company’s sale-leaseback arrangements. As such, the Company accounts for these arrangements as financings.
Under the financing method, the Company does not recognize as income any of the sale proceeds received from the lessor that contractually constitutes payment to acquire the assets subject to these arrangements. Instead, the sale proceeds received are accounted for as financing obligations and leaseback payments made by the Company are allocated between interest expense and a reduction to the financing obligation. Interest on the financing obligation is calculated using the Company’s incremental borrowing rate at the inception of the arrangement on the outstanding financing obligation. Judgment is required to determine the appropriate borrowing rate for the arrangement and in determining any gain or loss on the transaction that would be recorded either at the end of or over the lease term.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation, or ASC 718. The fair value of the Company's relative performance stock units, or RPSUs, are estimated on the date of grant using the Monte Carlo valuation model. The Company uses the Class A and Class C common stock price on the date of grant as the fair value of the Company's restricted stock units, or RSUs. Forfeiture rates are estimated based on an analysis of the Company's historical forfeitures, employment turnover, and expected future behavior. The Company recognizes compensation expense for both graded and cliff vesting awards on a straightline basis over the requisite service period for the entire award. The Company incurred total stock compensation expense of $3 million, $4 million and $3 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, which was primarily recorded in general and administrative expense on the Company's consolidated statements of operations.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes, or ASC 740, which requires that the Company use the asset and liability method of accounting for deferred income taxes and provide deferred income taxes for all significant temporary differences.
The Company has two categories of income tax expense or benefit — current and deferred, as follows:
•Current income tax expense or benefit consists solely of current taxes payable less applicable tax credits, and
•Deferred income tax expense or benefit is the change in the net deferred income tax asset or liability, excluding amounts charged or credited to accumulated other comprehensive income.
The Company reports some of its revenues and expenses differently for financial statement purposes than for income tax return purposes, resulting in temporary and permanent differences between the Company's financial statements and income tax returns. The tax effects of such temporary differences are recorded as either deferred income tax assets or deferred income tax liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The Company measures its deferred income tax assets and deferred income tax liabilities using income tax rates that are currently in effect. The Company believes it is more likely than not that the results of future operations will generate sufficient taxable income which includes the future reversal of existing taxable temporary differences to realize deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances. In arriving at this conclusion to utilize projections of future profit before tax in its estimate of future taxable income, including the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the Company considered the profit before tax generated in recent years. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the net deferred tax assets to an amount that is more-likely-than-not to be realized.
The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740, which applies to all tax positions related to income taxes. Under ASC 740, tax benefits are recognized when it is more-likely-than-not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination by the authorities. The benefit recognized from a position that has surpassed the more-likely-than-not threshold is the largest amount of benefit that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon settlement. The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to uncertain tax benefits as a component of income tax expense.
In accordance with ASC 740 and as discussed further in Note 14, Income Taxes, changes to existing net deferred tax assets, valuation allowances, or changes to uncertain tax benefits, are recorded to income tax expense.
Prior to the GIP Transaction, the Company was included in certain NRG consolidated unitary tax return filings which was reflected in the state effective tax rate. For tax returns filed during December 31, 2018, NRG allocated $22 million to the Company in tax-effected state NOLs, driven primarily from losses generated by NRG after the GIP Transaction. The Company expects to be able to utilize these NOLs in future periods.
Following the GIP Transaction, the Company files under a separate standalone methodology, resulting in a higher state effective tax rate due to a larger percentage of activity allocated to high-tax jurisdictions.
Business Combinations
The Company accounts for its business combinations in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations, or ASC 805. For third party acquisitions, ASC 805 requires an acquirer to recognize and measure in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at fair value at the acquisition date. It also recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired or a gain from a bargain purchase in the business combination and determines what information to disclose to enable users of an entity's financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. In addition, transaction costs are expensed as incurred. For business acquisitions that relate to entities under common control, ASC 805 requires retrospective combination of the entities for all annual periods presented as if the combination has been in effect from the beginning of the earliest financial statement period presented or from the date the entities were under common control (if later than the beginning of the earliest financial statement period). The difference between the cash paid and historical value of the entities' equity is recorded as a distribution/contribution from/to CEG with the offset to noncontrolling interest. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions impact the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements. They also impact the reported amounts of net earnings during the reporting periods. Actual results could be different from these estimates.
In recording transactions and balances resulting from business operations, the Company uses estimates based on the best information available. Estimates are used for such items as plant depreciable lives, tax provisions, uncollectible accounts, AROs, acquisition accounting and legal costs incurred in connection with recorded loss contingencies, among others. In addition, estimates are used to test long-lived assets for impairment and to determine the fair value of impaired assets. As better information becomes available or actual amounts are determinable, the recorded estimates are revised. Consequently, operating results can be affected by revisions to prior accounting estimates.
Tax Equity Arrangements
Certain portions of the Company’s noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries represent third-party interests in the net assets under certain tax equity arrangements, which are consolidated by the Company, that have been entered into to finance the cost of wind facilities eligible for certain tax credits. Additionally, certain portions of the Company’s investments in unconsolidated affiliates reflect the Company’s interests in tax equity arrangements, that are not consolidated by the Company, that have been entered into to finance the cost of solar energy systems, under operating leases or PPAs, that are eligible for certain tax credits. The Company has determined that the provisions in the contractual agreements of these structures represent substantive profit sharing arrangements. Further, the Company has determined that the appropriate methodology for calculating the noncontrolling interest and investment in unconsolidated affiliates that reflects the substantive profit sharing arrangements is a balance sheet approach utilizing the hypothetical liquidation at book value, or HLBV, method. Under the HLBV method, the amounts reported as noncontrolling interests and investment in unconsolidated affiliates represent the amounts the investors to the tax equity arrangements would hypothetically receive at each balance sheet date under the liquidation provisions of the contractual agreements, assuming the net assets of the funding structures were liquidated at their recorded amounts determined in accordance with GAAP. The investors’ interests in the results of operations of the funding structures are determined as the difference in noncontrolling interests and investment in unconsolidated affiliates at the start and end of each reporting period, after taking into account any capital transactions between the structures and the funds’ investors. The calculations utilized to apply the HLBV method include estimated calculations of taxable income or losses for each reporting period.
Reclassification
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified for comparative purposes.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-4, Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The amendments provide for optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria is met. These amendments apply only to contracts that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The guidance is effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The Company intends to apply the amendments to all its eligible contract modifications where applicable during the reference rate reform period. As of December 31, 2020, the Company has not elected any optional expedients provided in the standard.
Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), or Topic 842 using the modified retrospective transition method. The Company elected available practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which among other items, allowed the Company to carry forward its historical lease classification and not reassess existing leases under the new definition of a lease in ASC 842. In addition, the Company also elected to account for lease and non-lease components as a single lease component. The adoption of the standard resulted in the recording of operating lease liabilities of $165 million and related ROU assets of $159 million. There was no impact to the Company’s consolidated statement of operations or cash flows.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The amendments in this ASU simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740, Income Taxes. The amendments also improve consistent application of and simplify GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. The guidance is effective January 1, 2021, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect the effect of the new guidance to be material on its consolidated financial statements.
Note 3 — Acquisitions and Dispositions
2021 Acquisitions
Rattlesnake Drop Down — On January 12, 2021, the Company acquired 100% of CEG's equity interest and a third party investor's minority interest in Rattlesnake Flat, LLC, which owns the Rattlesnake Wind Project, a 160 net MW wind facility located in Adams County, WA for $132 million in cash consideration.
Agua Caliente Acquisition — On February 3, 2021, the Company acquired an additional 35% equity interest in the Agua Caliente solar project from NRG Energy, Inc. for $202 million. Agua Caliente is a 290 MW solar project located in Dateland, Arizona in which Clearway previously owned a 16% equity interest. The project has a 25-year PPA with PG&E, with approximately 19 years remaining under the agreement. Following the close of the transaction, the Company owns a 51% equity interest in Agua Caliente. The Company will remove its equity method investment and consolidate its interest in Agua Caliente from the date of the acquisition.
2020 Acquisitions
Langford Drop Down — On November 20, 2020, the Company acquired 100% of the Class B membership interest in Langford Holding LLC from CEG for $55 million as well as a minority interest from a third party investor for $9 million. Langford Holding LLC indirectly consolidates its interest in the Langford wind project as further described in Note 5, Investments Accounted for by the Equity Method and Variable Interest Entities. The Langford project is a 160 MW wind project located in West Texas which achieved repowering commercial operations in November 2020. The Langford operations are included in the Company's Renewables segment and the acquisition was funded with cash on hand. The acquisition was determined to be an asset acquisition and not a business combination, therefore the Company consolidated the financial information for Langford on a prospective basis. The membership interests acquired by the Company relate to interests under common control by GIP and were recorded at historical cost, which reflects GIP's basis recorded at fair value. The difference between the cash paid of $64 million and the historical value of the Company's acquired interests of $21 million was recorded as an adjustment to noncontrolling interest.
The following is a summary of assets and liabilities transferred in connection with the acquisition as of November 20, 2020:
| | | | | | | | |
(In millions) | | Langford |
Current Assets | | $ | 4 | |
Property, plant and equipment, net | | 138 | |
Other non-current assets | | 15 | |
Total assets | | 157 | |
| | |
Other current and non-current liabilities | | 17 | |
Total liabilities | | 17 | |
Noncontrolling interests | | 119 | |
Net assets less noncontrolling interests | | $ | 21 | |
Rosamond Central Drop Down — On December 21, 2020, Rosamond Solar Investment LLC, a subsidiary of the Company, acquired 100% of the Class A membership interests of Rosie TargetCo LLC from Renew Development HoldCo LLC, a subsidiary of CEG, for $23 million in cash consideration and an additional $1 million adjustment concurrent with the tax equity investor's final funding which was paid in January 2021. Rosie Target Co LLC is the primary beneficiary and consolidates its interest in a tax equity fund that owns the 192 MW Rosamond Central solar project, located in Kern County, California as further described in Note 5, Investments Accounted for by the Equity Method and Variable Interest Entities. The Rosamond Central operations are included in the Company's Renewables segment. The acquisition was determined to be an asset acquisition and not a business combination, and therefore, the Company consolidated the financial information for Rosamond Central on a prospective basis. The membership interests acquired by the Company relate to interests under common control by GIP and were recorded at historical cost. The difference between the cash paid of $24 million and the historical value of the Company's acquired interests of $28 million was recorded as an adjustment to noncontrolling interest.
The following is a summary of assets and liabilities transferred in connection with the acquisition as of December 21, 2020:
| | | | | | | | |
(In millions) | | Rosamond Central |
Current Assets | | $ | 49 | |
Property, plant and equipment, net | | 246 | |
| | |
Other non-current assets | | 1 | |
Total assets | | 296 | |
| | |
Long-term debt | | 205 | |
Other current and non-current liabilities | | 11 | |
Total liabilities | | 216 | |
Noncontrolling interests | | 52 | |
Net assets less noncontrolling interests | | $ | 28 | |
Mesquite Star Drop Down — On September 1, 2020, the Company, through its indirect subsidiary Lighthouse Renewable Class A LLC, acquired the Class A membership interests in Lighthouse Renewable Holdco LLC (formerly Mesquite Star Pledgor LLC) from Clearway Renew LLC, a subsidiary of CEG, for $74 million in cash consideration inclusive of a purchase price adjustment received in the fourth quarter of 2020 concurrent with the partnership amendment referenced below. Lighthouse Renewable Holdco LLC indirectly owns 100% of the Class B membership interests in Mesquite Star Tax Equity Holdco LLC, a tax equity partnership that it consolidates as the primary beneficiary, and owns the Mesquite Star wind project, a 419 MW utility scale wind project located in Fisher County, Texas. A majority of the project’s output is backed by contracts with investment grade counterparties with a 12 year weighted average contract life. The Mesquite Star operations are reflected in the Company's Renewables segment and the acquisition was funded with cash on hand. The Company initially recorded its interest in Lighthouse Renewable Class A LLC as an equity method investment. The membership interests acquired by the Company relate to interests under common control by GIP and were recorded at historical cost. The difference between the $74 million cash paid and the historical value of the Company's acquired interests of $83 million was recorded as an adjustment to noncontrolling interest.
On December 21, 2020, Clearway Renew LLC sold the Class B membership interest in Lighthouse Renewable Holdco LLC to a third party investor as further described in Note 5, Investments Accounted for by the Equity Method and Variable Interest Entities. The investor and the Company amended the terms of the related partnership and as a result, the Company now consolidates its interest in the Mesquite Star wind project, through its consolidation of Lighthouse Renewable Holdco LLC. The membership interests acquired by the Company relate to interests under common control by GIP and were recorded at historical cost. The difference between the carrying value of the Company's equity method investment of $58 million and the historical value of the net assets consolidated for Mesquite Star of $63 million was recorded as an adjustment to noncontrolling interest.
The following table shows the balances that were consolidated effective on December 21, 2020:
| | | | | |
(In millions) | Mesquite Star |
Current assets | $ | 22 | |
Property, plant and equipment, net | 443 | |
Other non-current assets | 31 | |
Total assets | 496 | |
| |
Other current and non-current liabilities | 87 | |
Total liabilities | 87 | |
Noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests | 346 | |
Net assets less noncontrolling interests | $ | 63 | |
DG Residual Interest and SREC Contract Drop Down — On November 2, 2020, the Company acquired the Class B membership interests in DGPV Holdco 1, DGPV Holdco 2 and DGPV Holdco 3, or DGPV Holdco Entities, from Renew DG Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of CEG, for approximately $20 million in cash consideration and an SREC contract for approximately $24 million in cash consideration. The Company previously held the Class A membership interests in the DGPV Holdco Entities and accounted for its interests in DGPV Holdco 1 and DGPV Holdco 2 as equity method investments, while DGPV Holdco 3 was consolidated by the Company effective May 29, 2020 as further described in Note 5, Investments Accounted for by the Equity Method and Variable Interest Entities. Subsequent to the acquisition of the remaining interests in the DGPV Holdco Entities, the Company transferred its interests to DG-CS Master Borrower LLC, and issued debt that was utilized to repay existing project-level debt outstanding and unwind interest rate swaps for certain of the tax equity arrangements related to the underlying project funds, as further described in Note 10, Long-term Debt. The acquired SREC contract is a contract to receive incremental cash flows related to renewable energy credits from certain underlying solar projects. The membership interests acquired by the Company relate to interests under common control by GIP and were recorded at historical cost, which reflects GIP's basis recorded at fair value. The difference between the cash paid for the residual interest of the DGPV Holdco Entities and the historical value of the net assets consolidated less the carrying value of the equity method investments was recorded as an adjustment to noncontrolling interest.
The following table shows the balances that were consolidated:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| November 2, 2020 | | May 29, 2020 |
(In millions) | DGPV Holdco 1 and 2 (a) | | DGPV Holdco 3 (b) |
Current assets | $ | 29 | | | $ | 32 | |
Property, plant and equipment, net | 324 | | | 331 | |
Intangible assets, net | 19 | | | 1 | |
Other non-current assets | 52 | | | 37 | |
Total assets | 424 | | | 401 | |
| | | |
Long-term debt | 160 | | | 206 | |
Other current and non-current liabilities | 54 | | | 84 | |
Total liabilities | 214 | | | 290 | |
Noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests | 5 | | | 6 | |
Net assets less noncontrolling interests | $ | 205 | | | $ | 105 | |
(a) Includes DGPV 1, LLC, DGPV 2, LLC, CA Fund, LLC, DGPV 4 Borrower LLC and Puma Class B LLC
(b) Includes Renew Solar CS4 Fund LLC and Chestnut Fund LLC
The fair value of property, plant and equipment determined at GIP's acquisition date was determined primarily based on an income method using discounted cash flows and validated using a cost approach based on the replacement cost of the assets less economic depreciation. This methodology was utilized as the forecasted cash flows incorporate specific attributes of each asset including age, useful life, equipment condition and technology. The fair value of intangible assets was determined utilizing a variation of the income approach determined by discounting incremental cash flows associated with the contracts to present value. Primary assumptions utilized included estimates of generation, contractual prices, operating expenses and the weighted average cost of capital reflective of a market participant. These assumptions are considered to be a Level 3 measurement as defined in ASC 820, as they utilize inputs that are not observable in the market.
2019 Acquisitions
Duquesne University District Energy System Acquisition — On May 1, 2019, the Company, through its indirect subsidiary ECP Uptown Campus LLC, acquired the Duquesne University district energy system, totaling 87 combined MWt, located in Pittsburgh, PA. As part of the acquisition, Duquesne University entered into a 40-year Energy Services Agreement through which ECP Uptown Campus LLC will fulfill the university's electricity, chilled water and steam requirements in exchange for monthly capacity payments. The Duquesne University District Energy System operations are reflected in the Company's Thermal segment. The total investment for the project was approximately $107 million.
Carlsbad Drop Down — On December 6, 2019, the Company acquired 100% of GIP's membership interests in CBAD Holdings, LLC, which indirectly owns Carlsbad Energy Center LLC, a 527 MW natural gas fired power project located in Carlsbad, California, or the Carlsbad Drop Down Asset. The project has a 20-year power purchase and tolling agreement with San Diego Gas and Electric Company, which expires in 2038. The purchase price for the Carlsbad Drop Down was $184 million in cash, plus assumption of $803 million in project level financing including non-recourse senior notes, as further described in Note 10, Long-term Debt. The acquisition was funded with proceeds from the Clearway Energy, Inc. equity issuance, as described in Note 12, Stockholders' Equity, as well as borrowings from the Company's revolving credit facility. The Carlsbad acquisition is the result of the Company having elected its option to purchase Carlsbad pursuant to the ROFO agreement, as amended, by and among the Company, CEG and GIP. The Carlsbad operations are reflected in the Company's Conventional segment. The assets and liabilities transferred to the Company relate to interests under common control by GIP and were recorded at historical cost in accordance with ASC 805-50, Business Combinations - Related Issues. The difference between the cash paid and the historical value of the entities' equity was recorded as a distribution to GIP and decreased the balance of its noncontrolling interest. The acquisition was determined to be an asset acquisition and not a business combination, therefore the Company consolidated the financial information for Carlsbad on a prospective basis.
The following is a summary of assets and liabilities transferred in connection with the acquisition as of December 6, 2019:
| | | | | | | | |
(In millions) | | CBAD Holdings, LLC |
Current Assets | | $ | 36 | |
Property, plant and equipment, net | | 572 | |
Intangible assets, net | | 337 | |
Other non-current assets | | 51 | |
Total assets | | 996 | |
| | |
Debt(a) | | 791 | |
Other current and non-current liabilities(b) | | 56 | |
Total liabilities | | 847 | |
Net assets acquired | | $ | 149 | |
(a) Excludes net debt issuance costs of $12 million.
(b) Other current liabilities and non-current liabilities include a contingent liability of $5 million assumed by the Company during the acquisition.
2018 Acquisitions
UPMC Thermal Project Asset Acquisition — On June 19, 2018, upon reaching substantial completion, the Company acquired from NRG the UPMC Thermal Project for cash consideration of $84 million. In addition, the Company had a payable of $4 million to NRG as of December 31, 2018, $3 million of which was paid in January 2019 upon final completion of the project pursuant to the EPC agreement, and $1 million was paid in January 2020. The project added 73 MWt of thermal equivalent capacity and 7.5 MW of emergency backup electrical capacity to the Company's portfolio. The UPMC Thermal project operations are reflected in the Company's Thermal segment. The acquisition was funded with the proceeds from the sale of the Series E and Series F Notes. The assets transferred to the Company relate to interests under common control by NRG and were recorded at book value in accordance with ASC 805-50, Business Combinations - Related Issues. The difference between the purchase price and book value of the assets was recorded as a distribution to NRG and decreased the balance of its noncontrolling interest. The acquisition was determined to be an asset acquisition and not a business combination, therefore the Company consolidated the financial information for UPMC Thermal project on a prospective basis.
Central CA Fuel Cell 1, LLC — On April 18, 2018, the Company acquired the Central CA Fuel Cell 1, LLC project in Tulare, California from FuelCell Energy Finance, Inc. for cash consideration of $11 million. The project added 2.8 MW of thermal capacity to the Company's portfolio, with a 20-year PPA contract with the City of Tulare. The operations of Central CA Fuel Cell are reflected in the Company's Thermal segment.
Buckthorn Solar Drop Down Asset — On March 30, 2018, the Company acquired 100% of NRG's interests in Buckthorn Renewables, LLC, which owns a 154 MW construction-stage utility-scale solar generation project located in Texas, or the Buckthorn Solar Drop Down Asset, for cash consideration of $42 million. The Company also assumed non-recourse debt of $183 million and non-controlling interest of $19 million attributable to the Class A member. The Company converted $132 million of non-recourse debt to a term loan and the remainder of the outstanding debt was paid down with the contribution from
the Class A member in the amount of $80 million upon the project reaching substantial completion in May 2018. The purchase price for the Buckthorn Solar Drop Down Asset was funded with cash on hand and borrowings from the Company's revolving credit facility. The assets and liabilities transferred to the Company related to interests under common control by NRG and were recorded at historical cost in accordance with ASC 805-50, Business Combinations - Related Issues. The difference between the cash paid and historical value of the entities' equity was recorded as a distribution to NRG and decreased the balance of its noncontrolling interest. Since the transaction constituted a transfer of net asset under common control, the guidance required retrospective combination of the entities for all periods presented as if the combination had been in effect since the inception of common control. The project sells power under a 25-year PPA to the City of Georgetown, Texas, which commenced in July 2018. The operations of the Buckthorn project are reflected in the Company's Renewables segment.
2020 Dispositions
Sale of RPV Holdco 1 LLC — On May 14, 2020, the Company sold its interests in RPV Holdco 1 LLC to a third party for net proceeds of approximately $75 million. The Company previously accounted for its interest in RPV Holdco 1 LLC as an equity method investment. The sale of the investment resulted in a gain of approximately $49 million.
Sale of Energy Center Dover LLC and Energy Center Smyrna LLC Assets — On March 3, 2020, the Company, through Clearway Thermal LLC, sold 100% of its interests in Energy Center Dover LLC and Energy Center Smyrna LLC to DB Energy Assets, LLC for cash proceeds of approximately $15 million.
2019 Dispositions
Sale of HSD Solar Holdings, LLC Assets — On October 8, 2019, the Company, through HSD Solar Holdings, LLC, or HSD, sold 100% of its interests in certain distributed generation solar facilities totaling 6 MW to the offtaker under the PPA, for cash consideration of $20 million, as a result of the offtaker exercising its right to purchase the project pursuant to the PPA. In conjunction with the sale, the Company repaid in full the non-recourse lease financing associated with the HSD projects. The repaid amount was net of cash released at closing and totaled $23 million.
Note 4 — Property, Plant and Equipment
The Company’s major classes of property, plant, and equipment were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, 2020 | | December 31, 2019 | | Depreciable Lives |
| (In millions) | | |
Facilities and equipment | $ | 9,254 | | | $ | 7,676 | | | 2 - 45 Years |
Land and improvements | 224 | | | 173 | | | |
Construction in progress (a) | 62 | | | 94 | | | |
Total property, plant and equipment | 9,540 | | | 7,943 | | | |
Accumulated depreciation | (2,323) | | | (1,880) | | | |
Net property, plant and equipment | $ | 7,217 | | | $ | 6,063 | | | |
(a) As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, construction in progress includes $14 million and $10 million of capital expenditures that relate to prepaid long-term service agreements in the Conventional segment, respectively.
Depreciation expense related to property, plant and equipment during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $420 million, $395 million and $330 million, respectively. The Company accelerated depreciation of the Pinnacle wind project in connection with the repowering project in 2020, which resulted in additional depreciation expense in the amount of $9 million. The Company accelerated depreciation of the Wildorado Wind and Elbow Creek projects in connection with the repowering project in 2019, which resulted in additional depreciation expense in the amount of $54 million.
The Company recorded long-lived asset impairments during the year ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, as further described in Note 9, Asset Impairments.
Note 5 — Investments Accounted for by the Equity Method and Variable Interest Entities
Equity Method Investments
The Company's maximum exposure to loss as of December 31, 2020 is limited to its equity investment in the unconsolidated entities, as further summarized in the table below:
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Name | | Economic Interest | | Investment Balance |
| | | | (In millions) |
Utah Solar Portfolio (a) | | 50% | | $ | 255 | |
Desert Sunlight | | 25% | | 244 | |
Agua Caliente Solar(b) | | 16% | | 83 | |
GenConn(c) | | 50% | | 90 | |
San Juan Mesa | | 75% | | 33 | |
Elkhorn Ridge | | 66.7% | | 38 | |
Avenal | | 50% | | (2) | |
| | | | $ | 741 | |
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(a) Economic interest based on cash to be distributed. Four Brothers Solar, LLC, Granite Mountain Holdings, LLC and Iron Springs Holdings, LLC are tax equity structures and VIEs. The related allocations are described below.
(b) On February 3, 2021, the Company acquired an additional 35% equity interest in Agua Caliente Solar and following the close of the transaction owns 51% equity interests in Agua Caliente and will remove its equity method investment and consolidate its interest from the date of the acquisition.
(c) GenConn is a variable interest entity.
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had $10 million and $138 million respectively, of undistributed earnings from its equity method investments.
The Company acquired its interest in Desert Sunlight on June 30, 2015, for $285 million, which resulted in a difference between the purchase price and the basis of the acquired assets and liabilities of $171 million. The difference is attributable to the fair value of the property, plant and equipment and power purchase agreements. In addition, the difference between the basis of the acquired assets and liabilities and the purchase price for the Utah Solar Portfolio (Four Brothers Solar, LLC, Granite Mountain Holdings, LLC and Iron Springs Holdings, LLC) of $106 million is attributable to the fair value of the property, plant and equipment. The Company is amortizing the related basis differences to equity in earnings over the related useful life of the underlying assets acquired.
The Company's pro-rata share of non-recourse debt held by unconsolidated affiliates was $481 million as of December 31, 2020.
The following tables present summarized financial information for the Company's equity method investments:
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| Year Ended December 31, |
| 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
Income Statement Data: | (In millions) |
GenConn | | | | | |
Operating revenues | $ | 60 | | | $ | 60 | | | $ | 65 | |
Operating income | 26 | | | 27 | | | 32 | |
Net income | 17 | | | 17 | | | 22 | |
Desert Sunlight | | | | | |
Operating revenues | 209 | | | 205 | | | 208 | |
Operating income | 142 | | | 123 | | | 129 | |
Net income | 88 | | | 58 | | | 84 | |
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Other(a) | | | | | |
Operating revenues | 299 | | | 318 | | | 332 | |
Operating income | 138 | | | 110 | | | 126 | |
Net income | $ | 60 | | | $ | 50 | | | $ | 86 | |
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| | | 2020 | | 2019 |
Balance Sheet Data: | | | (In millions) |
GenConn | | | | |
Current assets | | $ | 40 | | | $ | 37 | |
Non-current assets | | 344 | | | 342 | |
Current liabilities | | 17 | | | 16 | |
Non-current liabilities | | 185 | | | 176 | |
Desert Sunlight | | | | |
Current assets | | 132 | | | 209 | |
Non-current assets | | 1,244 | | | 1,296 | |
Current liabilities | | 71 | | | 545 | |
Non-current liabilities | | 921 | | | 484 | |
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Other (a) | | | | |
Current assets | | 177 | | | 279 | |
Non-current assets | | 2,201 | | | 3,412 | |
Current liabilities | | 114 | | | 809 | |
Non-current liabilities | | 700 | | | 500 | |
Redeemable noncontrolling interest | | $ | — | | | $ | (1) | |
(a) Includes Agua Caliente, Elkhorn Ridge, Utah Solar Portfolio, San Juan Mesa, DGPV Holdco 1, DGPV Holdco 2 and DGPV Holdco 3. DGPV Holdco 1, DGPV Holdco 2 and DGPV Holdco 3. were consolidated by the Company during 2020 and are therefore excluded from the summarized balance sheet data as of December 31, 2020.
Variable Interest Entities, or VIEs
Entities that are Consolidated
The Company has a controlling financial interest in certain entities which have been identified as VIEs under ASC 810, Consolidations, or ASC 810. These arrangements are primarily related to tax equity arrangements entered into with third parties in order to monetize certain tax credits associated with wind and solar facilities and are further described below.
DGPV Holdco 3 Consolidation — DGPV Holdco 3 LLC or DGPV Holdco 3 owned approximately 113 MW of Distributed Solar capacity, based on cash to be distributed, with a weighted average remaining contract life of approximately 21 years. On May 29, 2020, the final construction projects for DGPV Holdco 3 were placed in service which resulted in a reconsideration event for consolidation of the entity. Upon the reconsideration event, the Company determined that it was the primary beneficiary of DGPV Holdco 3, as it is entitled to 99% of allocations of income and cash distributions from the entity. As such, effective on May 29, 2020, the Company consolidates DGPV Holdco 3, and records the interest owned by CEG as noncontrolling interest. DGPV Holdco 3 owns an interest in two tax equity funds with tax equity investors, both of which are consolidated by DGPV Holdco 3, and the interests owned by the tax equity investors are shown as noncontrolling interests. The Company removed its equity method investment in DGPV Holdco 3 of $155 million as of May 29, 2020 and recorded the difference between the net assets consolidated and the investment balance as a reduction to noncontrolling interests. The Company acquired CEG's interest in DGPV Holdco 3 on November 2, 2020 as further described in Note 3, Acquisitions and Dispositions and below.
Prior to the reconsideration event described above, the Company invested $10 million of cash in DGPV Holdco 3 during the first half of 2020.
DGPV Tax Equity Funds — As described in Note 3, Acquisitions and Dispositions, on November 2, 2020, the Company acquired the Class B membership interests in DGPV Holdco 1, DGPV Holdco 2 and DGPV Holdco 3, or the DGPV Holdco Entities, from Renew DG Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of CEG. The Company previously held the Class A membership interests in the DGPV Holdco Entities and accounted for its interests in DGPV Holdco 1 and DGPV Holdco 2 as equity method investments, while DGPV Holdco 3 was consolidated by the Company effective May 29, 2020 as further described above. Concurrent with the acquisition, the Company transferred its interests to DG-CS Master Borrower LLC. Effective with the acquisition of the Class B membership interests of the DGPV Holdco Entities, the Company consolidates all of the DGPV Holdco Entities, including DG-CS Master Borrower LLC, and its subsidiaries, which consist of seven projects including six tax equity funds that collectively own approximately 172 distributed solar projects with a combined 286 MW of capacity. Each of the six tax equity funds is a VIE, where the Company is the primary beneficiary and consolidates the fund, with the tax equity investor's interest shown as noncontrolling interest or redeemable noncontrolling interest. The Company utilizes the HLBV method to determine its share of the income or losses in the investees. The Company removed its equity method investments in DGPV Holdco 1 and DGPV Holdco 2 of $144 million as of November 2, 2020 and recorded the difference between the net assets consolidated and the investment balance as a reduction to noncontrolling interests.
Langford Tax Equity Partnership, LLC — As described in Note 3, Acquisitions and Dispositions, on November 20, 2020, the Company acquired 100% of the Class B membership interest in Langford Holding LLC from CEG for $55 million as well as 100% of the Class A membership interests in Langford Holding LLC from a third party investor for $9 million. Langford Holding LLC owns 100% of the membership interests in Langford Class B Holdco LLC, which owns 100% of the Class B interest in Langford Tax Equity Partnership LLC, which indirectly owns 100% of the interest in a 160 MW wind project. Langford Tax Equity Partnership LLC is a variable interest entity. The Company is the primary beneficiary, through its position as managing member, and indirectly consolidates Langford Tax Equity Partnership LLC, through Langford Class B Holdco LLC. The Class A member is a tax equity investor whose interest is reflected as noncontrolling interest on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. The project achieved repowering COD in November 2020. The Company utilizes the HLBV method for income or loss allocation to the tax equity investor's noncontrolling interest.
Lighthouse Partnership Arrangements
Lighthouse Renewable Holdco LLC — As described in Note 3, Acquisitions and Dispositions, on September 1, 2020, the Company, through its indirect subsidiary Lighthouse Renewable Class A LLC, acquired the Class A membership interests in Lighthouse Renewable Holdco LLC (formerly Mesquite Star Pledgor LLC) from Clearway Renew LLC, a subsidiary of CEG. Lighthouse Renewable Holdco LLC is a VIE and at the time of the acquisition the Company was not the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, the Company recorded the acquired interest as an equity method investment.
On December 21, 2020, CEG sold its Class B membership interest in Lighthouse Renewable Holdco LLC to a third-party investor which resulted in a reconsideration event for consolidation of the entity. Upon the reconsideration event, the Company determined that it was the primary beneficiary of Lighthouse Renewable Holdco LLC. As such, effective on
December 21, 2020, the Company consolidates Lighthouse Renewable Holdco LLC, and shows the Class B interests owned by the third party investor as noncontrolling interests on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. Through its Class A membership interests, the Company receives 50.01% of income and distributable cash. In addition, Lighthouse Renewable Holdco LLC holds the Class B interests in a tax equity fund, Mesquite Star Tax Equity Holdco LLC, that holds the Mesquite Star project. The tax equity investor's interest is shown as noncontrolling interest. The HLBV method is utilized to allocate the income or losses of Mesquite Star Tax Equity Holdco LLC.
Rosie TargetCo LLC — As described in Note 3, Acquisitions and Dispositions, on December 21, 2020, the Company acquired 100% of CEG's Class A membership interests of Rosie TargetCo LLC which owns 100% interest in Rosie Class B LLC, which in turn owns 100% of the Class B membership interest of Rosie TE Holdco LLC. The Company consolidates Rosie TargetCo LLC as a VIE as the Company is the primary beneficiary, through its role as managing member. The Class B membership interest of Rosie TargetCo LLC is owned by a third-party investor and is reflected as noncontrolling interest on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. Through its Class A membership interests in Rosie TargetCo LLC, the Company receives 50% of income and distributable cash. Rosie TargetCo indirectly consolidates Rosie TE Holdco LLC, which is also a VIE. The tax equity investor's interest is shown as noncontrolling interest. The HLBV method is utilized to allocate the income or losses of Rosie TE Holdco LLC.
Yield Protection Agreement — In connection with the Lighthouse Partnership Agreements, the Company entered into an agreement which provides for a reallocation of cash distributions to the third-party investor in order to ensure that the investor achieves a target return. The agreement provides for the reallocation of up to 80% of cash distributed to the Company's Class A members beginning after the 15th year of the arrangement. The Company is accounting for this agreement as a guarantee and has recorded the fair value of its estimated liability under the arrangement of $15 million as a non-current liability with a corresponding offset to additional paid-in capital.
Kawailoa Partnership — On August 31, 2018, the Company entered into an agreement with Clearway Renew LLC, a subsidiary of CEG, to acquire the Class A membership interests in the Kawailoa Solar Partnership LLC, or Kawailoa Partnership, for $9 million in cash consideration. The purpose of the partnership is to own, finance, operate, and maintain the Kawailoa Solar project, a 49 MW utility-scale solar generation project, an indirect subsidiary of the Kawailoa Partnership, located in Oahu, Hawaii. The Kawailoa Solar project is contracted to sell power under a 22-year PPA with Hawaiian Electric Company, or HECO. The Kawailoa Solar project is 51% owned by the Kawailoa Partnership, with the remaining 49% owned by a third-party investor. The Kawailoa Partnership consolidates the Kawailoa Solar project through its controlling majority interest. On May 7, 2019, the Company made an initial capital contribution of $2 million, which represents 20% of its total anticipated capital contributions. The Company assumed non-recourse debt of $120 million, as further described in Note 10, Long-term Debt, and non-controlling interests attributable to third parties in the amount of $21 million. Effective May 1, 2019, the Company, as a Class A member, is the primary beneficiary through its position as managing member and consolidates Kawailoa Partnership. Allocations of income and taxable items are equal to the distributions of available cash, which is currently 95% to the Company and 5% to Clearway Renew LLC. The Company's acquisition of the Class A membership interests in the Kawailoa Partnership was accounted for as a transfer of assets under common control and was recorded at historical cost in accordance with ASC 805-50, Business Combinations — Related Issues. The difference between the cash paid and payable recorded and the historical value of the assets was recorded as a distribution to CEG and decreased the balance of its noncontrolling interest.
Upon reaching COD in November of 2019, the Kawailoa Solar project's fixed assets were placed in service and began to depreciate. On December 22, 2019, Kawailoa Solar Holdings LLC, a tax equity fund, received its final equity contribution of $61 million. The proceeds were utilized to repay the ITC bridge loan in the amount of $57 million, and the construction debt was converted to term debt (and upsized, with an additional $5 million drawn). Distributions were paid to the third-party investor and Clearway Renew LLC, funded by the excess of the tax equity investment and the term loan upsizing above the amount of the bridge loan repayment and related fees. On December 27, 2019, the Company made its substantial completion contribution of $7 million into the Kawailoa Partnership, which was also utilized to make a distribution to Clearway Renew LLC. In addition, the Company started applying HLBV to allocate income attributable to the tax equity investor during the fourth quarter of 2019.
Oahu Partnership — On August 31, 2018, the Company entered into an agreement with Clearway Renew LLC, a subsidiary of CEG, to acquire the Class A membership interests in the Zephyr Oahu Partnership LLC, or Oahu Partnership, for $20 million in cash consideration. The purpose of the partnership is to own, finance, operate, and maintain the Oahu Solar projects, which consist of Lanikuhana and Waipio, utility-scale solar generation projects with rated capacity of 15 MW and 46 MW, respectively, the indirect subsidiaries of the Oahu Partnership, located in Oahu, Hawaii. The Oahu Solar projects are contracted to sell power under a 22-year PPA with HECO. The Oahu Partnership consolidates the Oahu Solar projects through its controlling majority interest. On March 8, 2019, the Company made an initial capital contribution of $4 million, which represents 20% of its total anticipated capital contributions. The Company also assumed non-recourse debt of $143 million, as
further described in Note 10, Long-term Debt, and $18 million of non-controlling interest attributable to a tax equity investor's initial contribution. Effective March 8, 2019, the Company, as a Class A member, is the primary beneficiary through its position as managing member and consolidates Oahu Partnership. Allocations of income and taxable items are equal to the distributions of available cash, which is currently 95% to the Company and 5% to Clearway Renew LLC. The Company's acquisition of the Class A membership interests in the Oahu Partnership was accounted for as a transfer of assets under common control and was recorded at historical cost in accordance with ASC 805-50, Business Combinations - Related Issues. The difference between the cash paid and payable recorded and the historical value of the assets was recorded as a contribution from CEG and increased the balance of its noncontrolling interest.
Upon reaching COD in September 2019, the Oahu Solar projects' fixed assets were placed in service and began to depreciate. On November 12, 2019, the tax equity investor made its final tax-equity contribution of $71 million and the proceeds were utilized to repay the related ITC bridge loan in the amount of $67 million, and the construction loan was converted to term debt. The Company paid the remaining 80% of the equity commitment in the amount of $16 million to Clearway Renew LLC when the Oahu Solar projects reached certain milestones in December 2019. In addition, the Company started applying HLBV to allocate income attributable to the tax equity investor during the third quarter of 2019.
Wind TE Holdco — As of December 31, 2018, Wind TE Holdco was a VIE and the Company, as the holder of Class B shares and the primary beneficiary through its position as managing member consolidated Wind TE Holdco. The Class A shares of Wind TE Holdco were owned by a tax equity investor, who received 99% of allocations of taxable income and other items.
On January 2, 2019, the Company bought out 100% of the Class A membership interests from the TE Investor, for cash consideration of $19 million. The Company recorded the difference between the value of the interest bought and the cash received to equity and allocated it between non-controlling interest and additional paid in capital based on the economic ownership interest between CEG and public interest as of January 2, 2019.
Repowering Partnership II LLC — On August 30, 2018, Wind TE Holdco, an indirect subsidiary of the Company, formed Repowering Partnership LLC with Clearway Renew LLC, an indirect subsidiary of CEG, in order to facilitate the repowering of wind facilities of two of its indirect subsidiaries, Elbow Creek Wind Project LLC, or Elbow Creek, and Wildorado Wind LLC, or Wildorado Wind. Wind TE Holdco contributed its interests in the two facilities and Clearway Renew LLC contributed a turbine supply agreement, including title to certain components that qualify for production tax credits. Wind TE Holdco is the managing member of the partnership and consolidates the entity, which is a VIE. Clearway Renew LLC is initially entitled to allocations of 21% of income, which is reflected in Wind TE Holdco’s noncontrolling interests.
On June 14, 2019, Repowering Partnership LLC was replaced with Repowering Partnership II LLC as the owner of the Elbow Creek and Wildorado Wind projects, as well as Repowering Partnership Holdco LLC, which concurrently entered into a financing agreement for construction debt commitment totaling $352 million, as further described in Note 10, Long-term Debt.
Repowering of the Elbow Creek project was completed and on November 26, 2019, a third party tax equity investor purchased 100% of the Class A membership interests in Elbow Creek Repowering Tax Equity Holdco LLC, or Elbow TE Holdco for $89 million pursuant to a membership interest purchase agreement dated June 14, 2019. The Company also contributed $4 million. In connection with the completion of the Elbow Creek repowering, the construction loan of $93 million was repaid with the proceeds from the combined proceeds from the tax equity investor and the Company. The Company began applying HLBV during the fourth quarter to allocate income between the partners of Elbow TE Holdco. In connection with the closing, the allocations of income at Repowering Partnership II LLC (which indirectly consolidates both projects) changed to 59.63% for Wind TE Holdco LLC (the Company member) and 40.37% for CWSP Wildorado Elbow Holding LLC (the CEG member). In addition, approximately half of the repowered Wildorado equipment was placed in service in December 2019, with the remaining equipment being placed in service in January of 2020. In connection with repowering of the projects, the Company revised the remaining useful life of the property, plant and equipment that was replaced, resulting in additional expense of $54 million during the year ended December 31, 2019 related to accelerated depreciation.
On February 7, 2020, a third party tax equity investor purchased 100% of the Class A membership interests in Wildorado TE Holdco, for $148 million. In addition, the Company contributed $112 million to Wildorado TE Holdco. The combined proceeds were used to repay construction debt under the Repowering Partnership Holdco credit agreement, as described in Note 10, Long-term Debt. The third party tax equity investor, or Wildorado Investor, will receive 99% of allocations of taxable income and other items until the Wildorado Investor obtains a specified return on its initial investment, or the last day of the PTC period, whichever occurs sooner. At such time, the allocations to the Wildorado Investor will change to 5%. Until such time, the Wildorado Investor will receive a variable percentage of cash distributions. Wildorado TE Holdco is a VIE and the Repowering Partnership II LLC is the primary beneficiary through its position as managing member. As a result, the Company consolidates Wildorado TE Holdco, with the Wildorado Investor's interest shown as noncontrolling interest. In connection with
the Wildorado TE Holdco closing, the allocations of income at Repowering Partnership II LLC changed to 60.14% for Wind TE Holdco LLC (the Company member) and 39.86% for CWSP Wildorado Elbow Holding LLC (the CEG member).
On May 11, 2020, the Company acquired CEG's interest in Repowering Partnership II LLC, for cash consideration of $70 million. Repowering Partnership II LLC is no longer a VIE and subsequent to the acquisition, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Repowering Partnership II LLC continues to own interests in two VIEs, Wildorado Repowering Tax Equity Holdco LLC, or Wildorado TE Holdco, and Elbow Creek Repowering Tax Equity Holdco LLC, or Elbow Creek TE Holdco. The Company removed the related noncontrolling interest balance of $8 million and recorded the difference between the cash paid and the noncontrolling interest balance removed as a reduction to noncontrolling interests. The Company utilizes the HLBV method to determine the net income or loss allocated to tax equity noncontrolling interest.
Buckthorn Renewables, LLC — On March 30, 2018, the Company acquired 100% of NRG’s interest in a 154 MW construction-stage utility-scale solar generation project, Buckthorn Renewables, LLC, which owns 100% interest in Buckthorn Solar Portfolio, LLC, which in turn owns 100% of the Class B membership interests in Buckthorn Holdings, LLC. Buckthorn Holdings, LLC is a tax equity fund, which is a variable interest entity that is consolidated by Buckthorn Solar Portfolio, LLC. The Company is the primary beneficiary, through its position as managing member, and indirectly consolidates Buckthorn Holdings, LLC through Buckthorn Solar Portfolio, LLC. The Class A member is a tax equity investor who made its initial contribution of $19 million on March 30, 2018, which is reflected as noncontrolling interest on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The project achieved substantial completion in May 2018, at which time the remaining tax equity contributions of $80 million were funded. The Company utilizes the HLBV method for income or loss allocation to the tax equity investor's noncontrolling interest.
Alta TE Holdco — On June 30, 2015, the Company sold an economic interest in Alta TE Holdco to a financial institution in order to monetize certain cash and tax attributes, primarily PTCs. The financial institution, or Alta Investor, receives 99% of allocations of taxable income and other items until the flip point, which occurs when the Alta Investor obtains a specified return on its initial investment, at which time the allocations to the Alta Investor change to 5%. The Company receives 94.34% until the flip point, at which time the allocations to the Company of CAFD will change to 97.12%, unless the flip point will not have occurred by a specified date, which would result in 100% of CAFD allocated to the Alta Investor until the flip point occurs. Alta TE Holdco is a VIE and the Company is the primary beneficiary through its position as managing member, and therefore consolidates Alta TE Holdco, with the Alta Investor's interest shown as noncontrolling interest. The Company utilizes the HLBV method to determine the net income or loss allocated to the noncontrolling interest.
Spring Canyon — The Company holds 90.1% of the Class B interests in Spring Canyon II, a 32 MW wind facility, and Spring Canyon III, a 28 MW wind facility, each located in Logan County, Colorado, and Invenergy Wind Global LLC owns 9.9% of the Class B interests. The projects are financed with a partnership flip tax-equity structure with a financial institution, who owns the Class A interests, to monetize certain cash and tax attributes, primarily PTCs. Until the flip point, the Class A member receives a variable percentage of cash distributions based on the projects’ production level during the prior year. The Class A member received 34.81% of the cash distributions and the Company and Invenergy received 65.19% during the period ended December 31, 2017. After the flip point, cash distributions are allocated 5% to the Class A member and 95% to the Company and Invenergy. Spring Canyon is a VIE and the Company is the primary beneficiary through its position as managing member, and therefore consolidates Spring Canyon. The Class A member and Invenergy's interests are shown as noncontrolling interest. The Company utilizes the HLBV method to determine the net income or loss allocated to the Class A member. Net income or loss attributable to the Class B interests is allocated to Invenergy's noncontrolling interest based on its 9.9% ownership interest.
Summarized financial information for the Company's consolidated VIEs consisted of the following as of December 31, 2020:
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(In millions) | Oahu Solar Partnership | | Kawailoa Partnership | | Wildorado TE Holdco | | DGPV Funds(a) | | Lighthouse Renewable Holdco LLC | | Rosie TargetCo LLC | | Langford TE Partnership LLC | | Alta TE Holdco | | Buckthorn Renewables, LLC | | Other (b) |
Other current and non-current assets | $ | 23 | | | $ | 21 | | | $ | 14 | | | $ | 105 | | | $ | 48 | | | $ | 40 | | | $ | 15 | | | $ | 56 | | | $ | 2 | | | $ | 21 | |
Property, plant and equipment | 179 | | | 141 | | | 240 | | | 778 | | | 444 | | | 258 | | | 138 | | | 356 | | | 210 | | | 184 | |
Intangible assets | — | | | — | | | — | | | 2 | | | — | | | — | | | 2 | | | 225 | | | — | | | 1 | |
Total assets | 202 | | | 162 | | | 254 | | | 885 | | | 492 | | | 298 | | | 155 | | | 637 | | | 212 | | | 206 | |
Current and non-current liabilities | 122 | | | 111 | | | 11 | | | 77 | | | 82 | | | 118 | | | 18 | | | 44 | | | 9 | | | 33 | |
Total liabilities | 122 | | | 111 | | | 11 | | | 77 | | | 82 | | | 118 | | | 18 | | | 44 | | | 9 | | | 33 | |
Noncontrolling interest | 14 | | | 31 | | | 123 | | | 4 | | | 347 | | | 150 | | | 108 | | | 33 | | | 58 | | | 99 | |
Net assets less noncontrolling interests | $ | 66 | | | $ | 20 | | | $ | 120 | | | $ | 804 | | | $ | 63 | | | $ | 30 | | | $ | 29 | | | $ | 560 | | | $ | 145 | | | $ | 74 | |
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(a) DGPV Funds is comprised of DGPV Fund 2 LLC, Clearway & EFS Distributed Solar LLC, DGPV Fund 4 LLC, Golden Puma Fund LLC, Renew Solar CS4 Fund LLC and Chestnut Fund LLC
(b) Other is comprised of Crosswinds, Hardin, Elbow Creek Holdco and Spring Canyon projects
Entities that are not Consolidated
The Company has interests in entities that are considered VIEs under ASC 810, Consolidation, but for which it is not considered the primary beneficiary. The Company accounts for its interests in these entities under the equity method of accounting.
Utah Solar Portfolio Assets — The company acquired 100% of the Class A equity interests in the Utah Solar Portfolio from NRG. The portfolio comprised of Four Brothers Solar, LLC, Granite Mountain Holdings, LLC, and Iron Springs Holdings, LLC. The Class B interests of the Utah Solar Portfolio are owned by a tax equity investor, or TE Investor, who receives 99% of allocations of taxable income and other items until the flip point, which occurs on the last day of the calendar month on which the Class B member does not have an agreed upon adjusted capital account deficit, but not prior to the 10th day after the five year anniversary of the last project to achieve its placed in service date, at which time the allocations to the TE Investor change to 50%. The Company generally receives 50% of distributable cash throughout the term of the tax-equity arrangements. The three entities comprising the Utah Solar Portfolio are VIEs. As the Company is not the primary beneficiary, the Company uses the equity method of accounting to account for its interests in the Utah Solar Portfolio. The Company utilizes the HLBV method to determine its share of the income or losses in the investees.
Note 6 — Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair Value Accounting under ASC 820
ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three levels as follows:
•Level 1—quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access as of the measurement date.
•Level 2—inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are directly observable for the asset or liability or indirectly observable through corroboration with observable market data.
•Level 3—unobservable inputs for the asset or liability only used when there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.
In accordance with ASC 820, the Company determines the level in the fair value hierarchy within which each fair value measurement in its entirety falls, based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
For cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable — affiliate, accounts receivable, accounts payable, current portion of accounts payable — affiliate, accrued expenses and other liabilities, the carrying amount approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of those instruments and are classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.
The estimated carrying amounts and fair values of the Company’s recorded financial instruments not carried at fair market value are as follows:
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| As of December 31, 2020 | | As of December 31, 2019 |
| Carrying Amount | | Fair Value | | Carrying Amount | | Fair Value |
| (In millions) |
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Liabilities: | | | | | | | |
Long-term debt, including current portion (a) | $ | 7,048 | | | $ | 7,020 | | | $ | 6,858 | | | $ | 6,957 | |
(a) Excludes net debt issuance costs, which are recorded as a reduction to long-term debt on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
The fair value of the Company's publicly-traded long-term debt is based on quoted market prices and is classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of debt securities, non-publicly traded long-term debt and certain notes receivable of the Company are based on expected future cash flows discounted at market interest rates, or current interest rates for similar instruments with equivalent credit quality and are classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy. The following table presents the level within the fair value hierarchy for long-term debt, including current portion as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:
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| As of December 31, 2020 | | As of December 31, 2019 |
| Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 |
| (In millions) |
Long-term debt, including current portion | $ | 1,905 | | | $ | 5,115 | | | $ | 1,736 | | | $ | 5,221 | |
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Recurring Fair Value Measurements
The Company records its derivative assets and liabilities at fair market value on its consolidated balance sheet. The following table presents assets and liabilities measured and recorded at fair value on the Company's consolidated balance sheets on a recurring basis and their level within the fair value hierarchy:
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| | | As of December 31, 2020 | | As of December 31, 2020 | | As of December 31, 2019 | | As of December 31, 2019 |
| | | Fair Value | | Fair Value (a) | | Fair Value (a) | | Fair Value (a) |
(In millions) | | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 |
Derivative assets | | | | | | | | | |
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Interest rate contracts | | | $ | 1 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
Other financial instruments (b) | | | — | | | 29 | | | — | | | — | |
Total assets | | | $ | 1 | | | $ | 29 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
Derivative liabilities | | | | | | | | | |
Commodity contracts | | | $ | — | | | $ | 44 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 9 | |
Interest rate contracts | | | 129 | | | — | | | 83 | | | — | |
Total liabilities | | | $ | 129 | | | $ | 44 | | | $ | 83 | | | $ | 9 | |
(a) There were no derivative assets classified as Level 1, or Level 3 and no liabilities classified as Level 1 as of December 31, 2020 and no derivative assets classified as Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 and no liabilities classified as Level 1 as of December 31, 2019.
(b) SREC contract acquired on November 2, 2020.
The following table reconciles the beginning and ending balances for instruments that are recognized at fair value in the condensed consolidated financial statements using significant unobservable inputs:
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| | | | Year ended December 31, |
| | | | | | 2020 | | 2019 |
(In millions) | | | | Fair Value Measurement Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |
Beginning balance | | | | | | $ | (9) | | | $ | — | |
Total losses for the period included in earnings | | | | | | — | | | (3) | |
Purchases | | | | | | (6) | | | (6) | |
Ending balance | | | | | | $ | (15) | | | $ | (9) | |
Change in unrealized losses included in earnings for derivatives held as of December 31, | | | | | | $ | 1 | | | $ | (3) | |
Derivative and Financial Instruments Fair Value Measurements
The Company's contracts are non-exchange-traded and valued using prices provided by external sources. For the Company’s energy contracts, management uses quoted observable forward prices. To the extent that observable forward prices are not available, the quoted prices reflect the average of the forward prices from the prior year, adjusted for inflation. As of December 31, 2020, contracts valued with prices provided by models and other valuation techniques make up 25% of derivative liabilities and 100% of other financial instruments.
The Company’s significant positions classified as Level 3 include physical power executed in illiquid markets. The significant unobservable inputs used in developing fair value include illiquid power tenors and location pricing, which is derived by extrapolating pricing and as a basis to liquid locations. The tenor pricing and basis spread are based on observable market data when available or derived from historic prices and forward market prices from similar observable markets when not available.
The following table quantifies the significant unobservable inputs used in developing the fair value of the Company's Level 3 positions as of December 31, 2020:
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| December 31, 2020 |
| Fair Value | | Input/Range |
| Assets | Liabilities | Valuation Technique | Significant Unobservable Input | Low | High | Weighted Average |
(In millions) | | | | |
Power Contracts | $ | — | | $ | (44) | | Discounted Cash Flow | Forward Market Price (per MWh) | $ | 8.64 | | $ | 42.37 | | $ | 17.93 | |
Other Financial Instruments | $ | 29 | | — | | Discounted Cash Flow | Forecast annual generation levels of certain DG solar facilities | 80,872 MWh | 131,374 MWh | 126,063 MWh |
The following table provides sensitivity of fair value measurements to increases/(decreases) in significant unobservable inputs as of December 31, 2020:
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Significant Observable Input | Position | Change In Input | Impact on Fair Value Measurement |
Forward Market Price Power | Buy | Increase/(Decrease) | Higher/(Lower) |
Forward Market Price Power | Sell | Increase/(Decrease) | Lower/(Higher) |
Forecast Generation Level | Sell | Increase/(Decrease) | Higher/(Lower) |
The fair value of each contract is discounted using a risk-free interest rate. In addition, a credit reserve is applied to reflect credit risk, which is, for interest rate swaps, calculated based on credit default swaps using the bilateral method. For commodities, to the extent that the Net Exposure under a specific master agreement is an asset, the Company uses the counterparty’s default swap rate. If the Net Exposure under a specific master agreement is a liability, the Company uses a proxy of its own default swap rate. For interest rate swaps and commodities, the credit reserve is added to the discounted fair value to reflect the exit price that a market participant would be willing to receive to assume the liabilities or that a market participant would be willing to pay for the assets. As of December 31, 2020, the non-performance reserve was a $6 million gain recorded primarily to interest expense in the consolidated statement of operations. It is possible that future market prices could vary from those used in recording assets and liabilities and such variations could be material.
Concentration of Credit Risk
In addition to the credit risk discussion as disclosed in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, the following item is a discussion of the concentration of credit risk for the Company's financial instruments. Credit risk relates to the risk of loss resulting from non-performance or non-payment by counterparties pursuant to the terms of their contractual obligations. The Company monitors and manages credit risk through credit policies that include: (i) an established credit approval process; (ii) monitoring of counterparties' credit limits on as needed basis; (iii) as applicable, the use of credit mitigation measures such as margin, collateral, prepayment arrangements, or volumetric limits; (iv) the use of payment netting agreements; and (v) the use of master netting agreements that allow for the netting of positive and negative exposures of various contracts associated with a single counterparty. Risks surrounding counterparty performance and credit could ultimately impact the amount and timing of expected cash flows. The Company seeks to mitigate counterparty risk by having a diversified portfolio of counterparties.
Counterparty credit exposure includes credit risk exposure under certain long-term agreements, including solar and other PPAs. As external sources or observable market quotes are not available to estimate such exposure, the Company estimates the exposure related to these contracts based on various techniques including but not limited to internal models based on a fundamental analysis of the market and extrapolation of observable market data with similar characteristics. The majority of these power contracts are with utilities with strong credit quality and public utility commission or other regulatory support. However, such regulated utility counterparties can be impacted by changes in government regulations or adverse financial conditions, which the Company is unable to predict.
Note 7 — Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
ASC 815 requires the Company to recognize all derivative instruments on the balance sheet as either assets or liabilities and to measure them at fair value each reporting period unless they qualify for a NPNS exception. The Company may elect to designate certain derivatives as cash flow hedges, if certain conditions are met, and defer the change in fair value of the derivatives to accumulated OCI/OCL, until the hedged transactions occur and are recognized in earnings. For derivatives that are not designated as cash flow hedges or do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment, the changes in the fair value will be immediately recognized in earnings. Certain derivative instruments may qualify for the NPNS exception and are therefore exempt from fair value accounting treatment. ASC 815 applies to the Company's energy related commodity contracts and interest rate swaps.
Interest Rate Swaps
The Company enters into interest rate swap agreements in order to hedge the variability of expected future cash interest payments. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had interest rate derivative instruments on non-recourse debt extending through 2044, a portion of which were designated as cash flow hedges. Under the interest rate swap agreements, the Company pays a fixed rate and the counterparties to the agreements pay a variable interest rate.
Energy Related Commodities
As of December 31, 2020, the Company had energy-related derivative instruments extending through 2032. At December 31, 2020, these contracts were not designated as cash flow or fair value hedges.
Volumetric Underlying Derivative Transactions
The following table summarizes the net notional volume buy/(sell) of the Company's open derivative transactions broken out by commodity as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Total Volume |
| | | December 31, 2020 | | December 31, 2019 |
Commodity | Units | | (In millions) |
Natural Gas | MMBtu | | 1 | | | 2 | |
Power | MWh | | (8) | | | (2) | |
Interest | Dollars | | $ | 1,600 | | | $ | 1,788 | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
The following table summarizes the fair value within the derivative instrument valuation on the balance sheet:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fair Value |
| | Derivative Assets (a) | | Derivative Liabilities |
| | December 31, 2020 | | December 31, 2020 | | December 31, 2019 |
| | (In millions) |
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges: | | | | | | |
Interest rate contracts current | | $ | — | | | $ | 8 | | | $ | 3 | |
Interest rate contracts long-term | | — | | | 15 | | | 11 | |
Total Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges | | $ | — | | | $ | 23 | | | $ | 14 | |
Derivatives Not Designated as Cash Flow Hedges: | | | | | | |
Interest rate contracts current | | — | | | 25 | | | 13 | |
Interest rate contracts long-term | | 1 | | | 81 | | | 56 | |
Commodity contracts current | | — | | | 5 | | | — | |
Commodity contracts long-term | | — | | | 39 | | | 9 | |
Total Derivatives Not Designated as Cash Flow Hedges | | 1 | | | 150 | | | 78 | |
Total Derivatives | | $ | 1 | | | $ | 173 | | | $ | 92 | |
(a)There were no derivative assets as of December 31, 2019.
The Company has elected to present derivative assets and liabilities on the balance sheet on a trade-by-trade basis and does not offset amounts at the counterparty master agreement level. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, there was no outstanding collateral paid or received. The following tables summarize the offsetting of derivatives by counterparty master agreement level:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Position |
As of December 31, 2020 | Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/Liabilities | | Derivative Instruments | | Net Amount |
Commodity contracts | (In millions) |
| | | | | |
Derivative liabilities | (44) | | | — | | | (44) | |
Total commodity contracts | (44) | | | — | | | (44) | |
Interest rate contracts | | | | | |
Derivative assets | $ | 1 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1 | |
Derivative liabilities | (129) | | | — | | | (129) | |
Total interest rate contracts | (128) | | | — | | | (128) | |
Total derivative instruments | $ | (172) | | | $ | — | | | $ | (172) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Position |
As of December 31, 2019 | Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/Liabilities | | Derivative Instruments | | Net Amount |
Commodity contracts | (In millions) |
| | | | | |
Derivative liabilities | (9) | | | (1) | | | (10) | |
Total commodity contracts | (9) | | | (1) | | | (10) | |
Interest rate contracts | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Derivative liabilities | (83) | | | 1 | | | (82) | |
Total interest rate contracts | (83) | | | 1 | | | (82) | |
Total derivative instruments | $ | (92) | | | $ | — | | | $ | (92) | |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The following table summarizes the effects on the Company’s accumulated OCL balance attributable to interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedge derivatives, net of tax:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended December 31, |
| 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
| (In millions) |
Accumulated OCL beginning balance | $ | (31) | | | $ | (38) | | | $ | (60) | |
Reclassified from accumulated OCL to income due to realization of previously deferred amounts | 8 | | | 16 | | | 14 | |
Mark-to-market of cash flow hedge accounting contracts | (7) | | | (9) | | | 8 | |
Accumulated OCL ending balance, net of income tax benefit of $5, $6 and $7, respectively | $ | (30) | | | $ | (31) | | | $ | (38) | |
Accumulated OCL attributable to noncontrolling interests | (16) | | | (16) | | | (20) | |
Accumulated OCL attributable to Clearway Energy, Inc. | $ | (14) | | | $ | (15) | | | $ | (18) | |
Losses expected to be realized from OCL during the next 12 months, net of income tax benefit of $4 | $ | (9) | | | | | |
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCL into income are recorded to interest expense.
Impact of Derivative Instruments on the Statements of Income
The Company has interest rate derivative instruments that are not designated as cash flow hedges. The effect of interest rate hedges is recorded to interest expense. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 the impact to the consolidated statements of income was a loss of $38 million, a loss of $65 million and a gain of $15 million, respectively.
The Company has long-term power hedge derivatives, for which changes in fair value are recorded in operating income. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 the impact to the consolidated statements of income was a loss of $4 million and a loss of $9 million, respectively. There were no long-term power hedge derivatives outstanding during 2018.
A portion of the Company’s derivative commodity contracts relates to its Thermal Business for the purchase of fuel/electricity commodities based on the forecasted usage of the thermal district energy centers. Realized gains and losses on these contracts are reflected in the costs that are permitted to be billed to customers through the related customer contracts or tariffs and, accordingly, no gains or losses are reflected in the consolidated statements of operations for these contracts.
See Note 6, Fair Value of Financial Instruments, for a discussion regarding concentration of credit risk.
Note 8 — Intangible Assets
Intangible Assets — The Company's intangible assets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 primarily reflect intangible assets established from its business acquisitions and are comprised of the following:
•PPAs — Established predominantly with the acquisitions of the Alta Wind Portfolio, Walnut Creek, Tapestry, Laredo Ridge and Carlsbad Energy Center. These represent the fair value of the PPAs acquired. These are amortized on a straight-line basis, over the term of the PPA.
•Leasehold Rights — Established with the acquisition of the Alta Wind Portfolio, this represents the fair value of contractual rights to receive royalty payments equal to a percentage of PPA revenue from certain projects. These are
amortized as a reduction to operating revenue on a straight-line basis over the term of the PPAs.
•Customer relationships — Established with the acquisition of Energy Center Omaha and Energy Center Phoenix, these intangibles represent the fair value at the acquisition date of the businesses' customer base. The customer relationships related to Energy Center Omaha are amortized as a reduction to operating revenue, which approximates the expected discounted future net cash flows by year.
•Customer contracts — Established with the acquisition of Energy Center Phoenix, these intangibles represent the fair value at the acquisition date of contracts that primarily provide chilled water, steam and electricity to its customers. These contracts are amortized to revenues based on expected volumes.
•Emission Allowances — These intangibles primarily consist of SO2 and NOx emission allowances established with the El Segundo, Walnut Creek and Carlsbad Energy Center acquisitions. These emission allowances are held-for-use and are amortized to cost of operations, with NOx allowances amortized on a straight-line basis and SO2 allowances amortized based on units of production.
•Other — Consists of a) the acquisition date fair value of the contractual rights to a ground lease for South Trent and to utilize certain interconnection facilities for Blythe, as well as land rights acquired in connection with the acquisition of Elbow Creek and Langford Wind and b) development rights related to certain solar businesses acquired in 2010 and 2011.
The following tables summarize the components of intangible assets subject to amortization:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year ended December 31, 2020 | PPAs | | Leasehold Rights | | Customer Relationships | | Customer Contracts | | Emission Allowances | | | | Other | | Total |
(In millions) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
January 1, 2020 | $ | 1,630 | | | $ | 86 | | | $ | 66 | | | $ | 15 | | | $ | 17 | | | | | $ | 8 | | | $ | 1,822 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Consolidation of DGPV Holdco Entities | 23 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | | — | | | 23 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other | 8 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | | 4 | | | 12 | |
December 31, 2020 | $ | 1,661 | | | $ | 86 | | | $ | 66 | | | $ | 15 | | | $ | 17 | | | | | $ | 12 | | | $ | 1,857 | |
Less accumulated amortization | (431) | | | (26) | | | (11) | | | (11) | | | (3) | | | | | (5) | | | (487) | |
Net carrying amount | $ | 1,230 | | | $ | 60 | | | $ | 55 | | | $ | 4 | | | $ | 14 | | | | | $ | 7 | | | $ | 1,370 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year ended December 31, 2019 | PPAs | | Leasehold Rights | | Customer Relationships | | Customer Contracts | | Emission Allowances | | | | Other | | Total |
(In millions) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
January 1, 2019 | $ | 1,280 | | | $ | 86 | | | $ | 66 | | | $ | 15 | | | $ | 9 | | | | | $ | 8 | | | $ | 1,464 | |
Acquisition of Carlsbad | 350 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 8 | | | | | — | | | 358 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
December 31, 2019 | $ | 1,630 | | | $ | 86 | | | $ | 66 | | | $ | 15 | | | $ | 17 | | | | | $ | 8 | | | $ | 1,822 | |
Less accumulated amortization | (347) | | | (22) | | | (9) | | | (10) | | | (2) | | | | | (4) | | | (394) | |
Net carrying amount | $ | 1,283 | | | $ | 64 | | | $ | 57 | | | $ | 5 | | | $ | 15 | | | | | $ | 4 | | | $ | 1,428 | |
The Company recorded amortization expense of $91 million during the year ended December 31, 2020, $73 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 and $71 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Of these amounts, $88 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and $72 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 and $70 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, were recorded to contract amortization expense and reduced operating revenues in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company estimates the future amortization expense for its intangibles for the next five years as follows:
| | | | | | |
| (In millions) | |
| | |
2021 | $ | 91 | | |
2022 | 91 | | |
2023 | 88 | | |
2024 | 85 | | |
2025 | $ | 84 | | |
Note 9 — Asset Impairments
2020 Impairment Losses
During the fourth quarter of 2020 in the preparation and review of its annual budget, the Company updated its long-term estimates of operating and capital expenditures and revised its assessment of long-term merchant power prices which was primarily informed by present conditions and does not contemplate future policy changes, which could impact renewable energy power prices. As a result, the Company updated its estimated future cash flows and determined that the future cash flows for several wind projects within the Renewables segment no longer supported the recoverability of the related long-lived asset. As such, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $24 million, which primarily relates to property, plant, and equipment to reflect the assets at fair market value. The fair value of the facilities were determined using an income approach by applying a discounted cash flow methodology to the long-term budgets for each respective plant. The income approach included key inputs such as forecasted merchant power prices, operations and maintenance expense, and discount rates. The resulting fair value is a Level 3 fair value measurement.
Additionally, during the fourth quarter of 2020, as the Company updated its estimated cash flows in connection with the preparation and review of the Company's annual budget, the Company determined that there was a significant decrease in the estimated future cash flows for its equity method investment in San Juan Mesa, a facility in the Renewables segment located in Elida, New Mexico. The decrease in the forecasted cash flows which is primarily driven by a decline in forecasted revenue in future merchant periods, is significant enough to be considered an indication of a decline in value of the investment that is not temporary. The Company concluded there was an other-than-temporary impairment of its investment and recorded an impairment loss of $8 million to reflect the investment at fair market value. The resulting fair value is a Level 3 fair value measurement.
2019 Impairment Losses
The Company recorded an impairment loss of $19 million related to a facility in the Thermal segment during the second quarter of 2019. The impairment was triggered by a potential sale negotiation with a third party which resulted in signing the purchase and sale agreement in September, as further described in Note 3, Acquisitions and Dispositions. The fair value of the facility was determined using an income approach by applying a discounted cash flow methodology to the long-term budgets for each respective plant. The income approach utilized estimates of discounted future cash flows, which were Level 3 fair value measurement and include key inputs, such as forecasted power prices, operations and maintenance expense, and discount rates. The Company measured the impairment loss as the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the assets.
Additionally, during the fourth quarter of 2019, as a result of the preparation and review of its annual budget and assessment of long-term merchant power prices, the Company updated its estimated future cash flows and determined that the future cash flows for several wind projects within the Renewables segment no longer supported the recoverability of the related long-lived asset. As such, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $14 million to reflect the assets at fair market value. The fair value of the facilities was determined using an income approach by applying a discounted cash flow methodology to the long-term budgets for each respective plant. The income approach included key inputs such as forecasted merchant power prices, operations and maintenance expense, and discount rates. The resulting fair value is a Level 3 fair value measurement.
Note 10 — Long-term Debt
The Company's borrowings, including short term and long term portions consisted of the following:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, 2020 | | December 31, 2019 | | Interest rate % (a) | | Letters of Credit Outstanding at December 31, 2020 |
| (In millions, except rates) | | |
2020 Convertible Notes | — | | | 45 | | | 3.250 | | | |
2024 Senior Notes | — | | | 88 | | | 5.375 | | | |
2025 Senior Notes | 600 | | | 600 | | | 5.750 | | | |
2026 Senior Notes | 350 | | | 350 | | | 5.000 | | | |
2028 Senior Notes | 850 | | | 600 | | | 4.750 | | | |
Clearway Energy LLC and Clearway Energy Operating LLC Revolving Credit Facility, due 2023 (b) | — | | | — | | | L+1.50 | | $ | 66 | |
Project-level debt: | | | | | | | |
Alpine, due 2022(e) | — | | | 119 | | | L+2.00 | | — | |
Alta Wind I-V lease financing arrangements, due 2034 and 2035 | 800 | | | 844 | | | 5.696- 7.015 | | 44 | |
Alta Wind Asset Management LLC, due 2031 | 14 | | | 15 | | | L+2.50 | | — | |
Alta Wind Realty Investments LLC, due 2031 | 25 | | | 27 | | | 7.000 | | — | |
Borrego, due 2024 and 2038 | 57 | | | 60 | | | Various | | 4 | |
Buckthorn Solar, due 2025 | 126 | | | 129 | | | L+1.750 | | 22 | |
Carlsbad Holdco, due 2038 | 210 | | | 216 | | | 4.210 | | | 4 | |
Carlsbad Energy Holdings LLC, due 2027 | 156 | | | 175 | | | L+1.625 | | 63 | |
Carlsbad Energy Holdings LLC, due 2038 | 407 | | | 407 | | | 4.120 | | — | |
CVSR, due 2037 | 675 | | | 696 | | | 2.339 - 3.775 | | — | |
CVSR Holdco Notes, due 2037 | 176 | | | 182 | | | 4.680 | | | 13 | |
DG-CS Master Borrower LLC, due 2040 | 467 | | | — | | | 3.510 | | | 30 | |
Duquesne, due 2059 | 95 | | | 95 | | | 4.620 | | | — | |
El Segundo Energy Center, due 2023 | 250 | | | 303 | | | L+1.875 - L+2.500 | | 138 | |
Energy Center Minneapolis Series D, E, F, G, H Notes, due 2025-2037 | 327 | | | 328 | | | various | | — | |
Laredo Ridge, due 2028 | 78 | | | 84 | | | L+2.125 | | 10 | |
Kawailoa Solar Portfolio LLC, due 2026 | 81 | | | 82 | | | L+1.375 | | 14 | |
Marsh Landing, due 2023 | 146 | | | 206 | | | L+2.125 | | 27 | |
NIMH Solar, due 2024 | 191 | | | — | | | L+2.00 | | 11 | |
Oahu Solar Holdings LLC, due 2026 | 89 | | | 91 | | | L+1.375 | | 10 | |
Repowering Partnership Holdco LLC, due 2020 | — | | | 228 | | | L+0.85 | | — | |
Rosie Class B LLC, due 2027 | 80 | | | — | | | L+1.75 | | 19 | |
Tapestry, due 2031 | 143 | | | 156 | | | L+1.375 | | 17 | |
Utah Solar Holdings, due 2036 | 290 | | | — | | | 3.590 | | | 11 | |
Utah Solar Portfolio, due 2022 | — | | | 254 | | | L+1.625 | | — | |
Walnut Creek, due 2023 | 126 | | | 175 | | | L+1.75 | | 73 | |
WCEP Holdings, LLC, due 2023 | 35 | | | 39 | | | L+3.00 | | — | |
Other(c) | 199 | | | 264 | | | various | | 50 | |
Subtotal project-level debt | 5,243 | | | 5,175 | | | | | |
Total debt | 7,043 | | | 6,858 | | | | | |
Less current maturities | (384) | | | (1,824) | | | | | |
Less net debt issuance costs | (79) | | | (78) | | | | | |
Add premiums (d) | 5 | | | — | | | | | |
Total long-term debt | $ | 6,585 | | | $ | 4,956 | | | | | |
(a) As of December 31, 2020, L+ equals 3 month LIBOR plus x%, except Rosie Class B, due 2027 where L+ equals 1 month LIBOR plus x%
(b) Applicable rate is determined by the borrower leverage ratio, as defined in the credit agreement
(c) December 31, 2019 includes Blythe and Roadrunner debt outstanding of $14 million and $28 million, respectively which were transferred to NIMH in the third quarter of 2020, as described below
(d) Premiums relate to the 2028 Senior Notes
The financing arrangements listed above contain certain covenants, including financial covenants that the Company is required to be in compliance with during the term of the respective arrangement. As of December 31, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all of the required principal, interest, sinking fund and redemption covenants.
Clearway Energy LLC and Clearway Energy Operating LLC Revolving Credit Facility
On December 20, 2019, the Company entered into the Fifth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement to provide for an increase of 0.50x to the borrower leverage ratio, as defined in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, for the last two fiscal quarters of 2020 and to implement certain other technical modifications.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility and $66 million in letters of credit outstanding. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company borrowed $265 million under the revolving credit facility, and subsequently repaid $265 million utilizing the proceeds from the issuance of additional 2028 Senior Notes, as described below, and cash on hand. The Company had $195 million outstanding under the revolving credit facility and a total of $70 million in letters of credit outstanding as of February 26, 2021.
2028 Senior Notes
On May 21, 2020, the Company completed the issuance of an additional $250 million in aggregate principal amount of its 4.750% Senior Notes due 2028. The 2028 Senior Notes bear interest at 4.75% and mature on March 15, 2028. Interest on the 2028 Senior Notes is payable semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 of each year, and interest payments will commence on September 15, 2020. The 2028 Senior Notes are unsecured obligations of Clearway Energy Operating, LLC and are guaranteed by Clearway Energy, LLC and by certain of Clearway Energy Operating LLC’s wholly owned current and future subsidiaries. The notes were issued at a price of 102% of par plus accrued interest from December 11, 2019. The net proceeds were utilized to repay the $45 million outstanding principal amount of the Company's 2020 Convertible Notes on June 1, 2020, as well as to repay amounts outstanding under the Company’s revolving credit facility and for general corporate purposes.
On December 11, 2019, the Company completed the sale of $600 million aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes due 2028. The proceeds from the 2028 Senior Notes were partially used to repay the 2024 Senior Notes, as further described below.
2020 Convertible Notes
The 2020 Convertible Notes matured on June 1, 2020 and the Company repaid the outstanding principal amount of $45 million. The repayment was funded by the issuance of the 2028 Senior Notes.
2024 Senior Notes Redemption
On January 3, 2020, the Company redeemed the $88 million aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Senior Notes that remained outstanding following the Company's tender offer for the 2024 Senior Notes in December 2019. The redemption was effectuated at a premium of 102.7% for a total consideration of $90 million and as a result, the Company recorded a loss on debt extinguishment in the amount of $3 million, which also included the write off of previously deferred financing fees related to the 2024 Senior Notes.
2024 Senior Notes Tender Offer
On December 13, 2019, the Company repurchased an aggregate principal amount of $412 million or 82.4%, of the 2024 Senior Notes as part of the previously cash tender offer announced on December 11, 2019. Concurrently with the launch of the tender offer, the Company exercised its right to optionally redeem any 2024 Senior Notes not validly tendered and purchased in the tender offer, pursuant to the terms of the indenture governing the 2024 Senior Notes. The redemption of the Senior Notes due 2024 in December were effectuated at a premium of 103% for a total consideration of $424 million and as a result, the Company recorded a loss on extinguishment in the amount of $12 million. In addition, the Company recorded a $2 million debt extinguishment loss in connection with the write off of the deferred financing fees related to the 2024 Senior Notes.
2019 Convertible Notes
The 2019 Convertible Notes matured on February 1, 2019 and the Company paid off the remaining balance of an aggregate principal amount of $170 million. In January 2019, the Company repurchased an aggregate principal amount of $50 million of the 2019 Convertible Notes in open market transactions. The Company repurchased an aggregate principal amount of $125 million of the 2019 Convertible Notes during 2018.
Project level Debt
PG&E Bankruptcy
On July 1, 2020, PG&E emerged from bankruptcy and assumed the Company's contracts without modification. In addition, PG&E paid to the Company's applicable projects the portion of the invoices corresponding to the electricity delivered
between January 1 and January 28, 2019. These invoices related to the pre-petition period services and any payment therefore required the approval of the Bankruptcy Court. Subsequent to PG&E's emergence from bankruptcy, the Company entered into waiver agreements with the lenders to the respective financing agreements related to the PG&E Bankruptcy.
Rosamond Central (Rosie Class B LLC)
On December 21, 2020 as part of the acquisition of Rosie TargetCo LLC, as further descried in Note 3, Acquisitions and Dispositions, the Company assumed the Amended and Restated Financing Agreement, which provided for a construction loan of up to $91 million, a cash equity bridge loan of up to $24 million and an investment tax credit loan of up to $132 million.
On December 31, 2020, Rosie Class B, LLC converted the construction loan to a $80 million term loan and repaid the investment tax credit loan of $130 million, utilizing tax equity funding. The term loan bears annual interest at a rate of LIBOR plus an applicable margin, which is 1.75% per annum through the third anniversary of the term conversion, and 2.00% per annum thereafter through the maturity date of December 31, 2027. In addition, Rosie Class B LLC is party to several letter of credit facility agreements, not to exceed $23 million. As of December 31, 2020, a total of $19 million in letters of credit were outstanding.
Repowering Partnership Holdco LLC, due 2020
On June 14, 2019, as part of the Repowering Partnership, the Company entered into a financing agreement for non-recourse debt for a total commitment amount of $352 million related to the construction for the repowering activities at Wildorado and Elbow Creek. The debt consisted of a construction loan at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 0.85%. The Company borrowings were utilized to repay $109 million of the outstanding balance, including accrued interest, under the Viento financing agreement, to reimburse Clearway Renew LLC for previous contributions into the Repowering Partnership and pay construction invoices. On November 26, 2019, the construction loan of $93 million related to the repowering activities at Elbow Creek was repaid with the proceeds from the tax equity investor. On February 7, 2020, the construction loan of $260 million related to the repowering activities at Wildorado was repaid with the proceeds from the tax equity investor.
Consolidation of DGPV Holdco 3
Upon consolidation of DGPV Holdco 3, as described in Note 5, Investments Accounted for by the Equity Method and Variable Interest Entities, the Company consolidates additional non-recourse debt for certain subsidiaries as further described below.
Renew CS4 Borrower LLC, or CS4 Borrower, a consolidated subsidiary of DGPV Holdco 3, is party to a credit agreement for construction loans up to $97 million, an investment tax credit bridge loan, or ITC bridge loan, for up to $90 million and letter of credit facilities up to $5 million. The construction loan and the ITC bridge loan both have an interest rate of LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 2.00% per annum. As of June 30, 2020, all construction loans were converted to term loans and the ITC bridge loans were repaid in connection with tax equity funding. The term loan was repaid on November 2, 2020 with the proceeds of the term loan issued by DG-CS Master Borrower LLC, as described below.
Chestnut Borrower LLC, a consolidated subsidiary of DGPV Holdco 3, is party to a credit agreement for term loans of up to $120 million and letters of credit of up to $8 million. The loans were repaid on November 2, 2020 with the proceeds of the term loan issued by DG-CS Master Borrower LLC, as described below
DG-CS Master Borrower LLC
On November 2, 2020, DG-CS Master Borrower LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Clearway Energy Operating LLC, entered into a financing arrangement, which included the issuance of a $467 million term loan, as well as $30 million in letters of credit in support of debt service. The term loan bears interest at 3.51% and mature on September 30, 2040. The proceeds from the loan were utilized to repay existing project-level debt outstanding for Chestnut Borrower LLC, Renew Solar CS 4 Borrower LLC, DGPV 4 Borrower LLC and Puma Class B LLC of $107 million, $102 million, $92 million and $73 million, respectively and unwind related interest rate swaps in the amount of $42 million. The remaining proceeds were utilized to pay related fees and expenses and in part to acquire the Class B membership interests in the DGPV Holdco Entities and an SREC contract from CEG as further described in Note 5, Investments Accounted for by the Equity Method and Variable Interest Entities. Concurrent with the refinancing, the projects were transferred under DG-CS Master Borrower LLC and the obligations under the financing arrangement are supported by the Company's interest in the projects.
Utah Solar Holdings, LLC
On September 1, 2020, Utah Solar Holdings, LLC, or Utah Solar, entered into a financing arrangement, which included the issuance of approximately $296 million in senior secured notes supported by the Company’s interest in the Utah projects (Four Brothers, Granite Mountain and Iron Springs, previously defined as the Utah Solar Portfolio), as well as $16 million in letters of credit in support of debt service obligations. The notes bear interest at 3.59% per annum and mature on December 31, 2036. The proceeds from the issuance were utilized to repay existing debt outstanding of approximately $247 million for the Utah projects and to unwind the related interest rate swaps in the amount of $33 million. The remaining proceeds were utilized to pay related fees and expenses, with the remaining $9 million distributed to Clearway Energy Operating LLC.
NIMH Solar LLC
On September 30, 2020, the Alpine, Blythe and Roadrunner projects were transferred under NIMH Solar LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Clearway Energy Operating LLC. Concurrently, total project-level debt outstanding for Alpine, Blythe and Roadrunner of $158 million was assigned to NIMH Solar LLC. The consolidated facility was amended to a term loan for $193 million, as well as $16 million in letters of credit in support of debt service and project obligations. The term loan bears annual interest rate of LIBOR, plus an applicable margin, which is 2.00% per annum through the third anniversary of closing, and 2.125% per annum thereafter through the maturity date in September 2024. As a result of the amendment the Company received $35 million which was utilized to pay related fees and expenses and along with existing project level cash, provided a distribution to Clearway Energy Operating LLC of $45 million. The obligations under the financing arrangement are supported by the Company’s interests in the projects.
Carlsbad Drop Down Asset Debt
On December 6, 2019, as part of the Carlsbad Drop Down acquisition, as further described in Note 3, Acquisitions and Dispositions, the Company assumed $803 million of senior secured, non-recourse notes related to Carlsbad Holdco LLC and Carlsbad Energy Holding LLC. The Carlsbad Holdco LLC notes bear an interest rate of 4.21%, and are fully amortizing over 19 years. In addition, Carlsbad Holdco LLC is party to a letter of credit facility agreement with the issuing banks for an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $10 million. Fees on the unused commitment are 0.65%.
Carlsbad Energy Holdings LLC is party to a note payable agreement with financial institutions for the issuance of up to $407 million of senior secured notes that bear interest at a rate of 4.12%, and mature on October 31, 2038. Carlsbad Energy Holdings LLC is also party to a term loan agreement with issuing banks for an aggregate principal amount of $194 million at an issuance rate of LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 1.625% until February 25, 2022, 1.750% until February 25, 2025, and 1.875% until maturity. Fees on the unused commitment are 0.50%. upon completion of the project. The agreement also includes a letter of credit facility with an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $83 million, and a working capital loan facility with an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $4 million.
Agua Caliente Borrower 2 Debt Repayment
On October 21, 2019, the Company, through Agua Caliente Borrower 2 LLC, repaid $40 million of the outstanding notes balance, including accrued interest and premiums, issued under the Agua Caliente Holdco Financing Agreement. The repayment was funded with Company's existing liquidity.
Duquesne University
On May 1, 2019, as part of the Duquesne University district energy system acquisition, ECP Uptown Campus LLC issued non-recourse debt of $95 million, excluding financing fees. The debt consists of senior notes at an interest rate of 4.62% that mature on May 1, 2059. Interest on the notes are payable semi-annually in arrears. The proceeds of the debt, along with cash on hand, were utilized to fund the purchase price of the acquisition.
Oahu Solar Holdings LLC
Due to the Company consolidating the Oahu Partnership, as further described in Note 5, Investments Accounted for by the Equity Method and Variable Interest Entities, the Company assumed non-recourse debt of $143 million related to Oahu Solar Holdings, LLC. The debt consists of a construction loan and an ITC bridge loan with a total commitment amount of $162 million, both at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.375%. On November 13, 2019, $90 million of non-recourse debt was converted to a term loan with an expected maturity of November 2026, and the remainder of the non-recourse debt was repaid with the final contribution from the tax equity investor of $67 million upon the project reaching substantial completion. Interest on the term loan is payable quarterly in arrears.
Kawailoa Solar Portfolio LLC
Due to the Company consolidating the Kawailoa Partnership, as further described in Note 5, Investments Accounted for by the Equity Method and Variable Interest Entities, the Company assumed non-recourse debt of $120 million related to Kawailoa Solar Portfolio, LLC. The debt consists of a construction loan and an ITC bridge loan, with a total commitment amount of $137 million both at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.375%. On December 23, 2019, $82 million of non-recourse debt was converted to a term loan with an expected maturity of December 2026, and the remainder of the non-recourse debt was repaid with the final contribution from the tax equity investor of $57 million upon the project reaching substantial completion. Interest on the term loan is payable quarterly in arrears.
South Trent Refinancing
On June 14, 2019, the Company, through South Trent Wind LLC, refinanced $49 million of non-recourse debt due 2020 at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.625% by issuing $46 million of new non-recourse financing due 2028 at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.350%.
Tapestry Refinancing
On April 29, 2019, the Company, through Tapestry Wind LLC, refinanced $147 million of non-recourse debt due 2021 at interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.75% by issuing $164 million of new non-recourse financing due 2031 at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.375%.
Interest Rate Swaps — Project Financings
Many of the Company's project subsidiaries entered into interest rate swaps, intended to hedge the risks associated with interest rates on non-recourse project level debt. These swaps amortize in proportion to their respective loans and are floating for a fixed rate where the project subsidiary pays its counterparty the equivalent of a fixed interest payment on a predetermined notional value and will receive quarterly the equivalent of a floating interest payment based on the same notional value. All interest rate swap payments by the project subsidiary and its counterparty are made quarterly and the LIBOR is determined in advance of each interest period.
The following table summarizes the swaps, some of which are forward starting as indicated, related to the Company's project level debt as of December 31, 2020:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | % of Principal | | Fixed Interest Rate | | Floating Interest Rate | | Notional Amount at December 31, 2020 (In millions) | | Effective Date | | Maturity Date |
Avra Valley | | 87 | % | | 2.33 | % | | 3-Month LIBOR | | 38 | | | November 30, 2012 | | November 30, 2030 |
Alta Wind Asset Management | | 100 | % | | 2.47 | % | | 3-Month LIBOR | | 14 | | | May 22, 2013 | | May 15, 2031 |
Borrego | | 100 | % | | 0.476 | % | | 3-Month LIBOR | | 13 | | | June 30, 2020 | | December 31, 2024 |
Buckthorn Solar | | 82 | % | | Various | | 3-Month LIBOR | | 103 | | | February 28, 2018 | | December 31, 2041 |
Carlsbad | | 100 | % | | Various | | 3-Month LIBOR | | 156 | | | Various | | September 30, 2027 |
El Segundo | | 100 | % | | Various | | 3-Month LIBOR | | 250 | | | Various | | Various |
Kansas South | | 75 | % | | 2.368 | % | | 6-Month LIBOR | | 17 | | | June 28, 2013 | | December 31, 2030 |
Kawailoa Solar | | 94 | % | | Various | | 3-Month LIBOR | | 76 | | | November 30, 2019 | | October 31, 2040 |
Laredo Ridge | | 100 | % | | Various | | 3-Month LIBOR | | 78 | | | December 17, 2014 | | December 31, 2028 |
Marsh Landing | | 100 | % | | Various | | 3-Month LIBOR | | 146 | | | June 28, 2013 | | June 30, 2023 |
NIMH Solar LLC | | 100 | % | | Various | | 3-Month LIBOR | | 191 | | | September 30, 2020 | | Various |
Oahu Solar | | 96 | % | | Various | | 3-Month LIBOR | | 86 | | | November 30, 2019 | | October 31, 2040 |
Rosie Class B | | 95 | % | | 1.446 | % | | 3-Month LIBOR | | 76 | | | December 31, 2020 | | July 29, 2044 |
South Trent | | 90 | % | | 3.847 | % | | 3-Month LIBOR | | 35 | | | June 14, 2019 | | June 30, 2028 |
Tapestry | | 75 | % | | Various | | 3-Month LIBOR | | 107 | | | Various | | Various |
Tapestry | | 50 | % | | 3.57 | % | | 3-Month LIBOR | | 12 | | | December 21, 2021 | | December 21, 2029 |
Viento Funding II | | 100 | % | | 3.03 | % | | 6-Month LIBOR | | 33 | | | Various | | Various |
Viento Funding II | | 100 | % | | 4.985 | % | | 6-Month LIBOR | | 21 | | | July 11, 2023 | | June 30, 2028 |
Walnut Creek Energy | | 90 | % | | 3.543 | % | | 3-Month LIBOR | | 114 | | | June 28, 2013 | | May 31, 2023 |
WCEP Holdings | | 100 | % | | 4.003 | % | | 3-Month LIBOR | | 34 | | | June 28, 2013 | | May 31, 2023 |
Total | | | | | | | | $ | 1,600 | | | | | |
Annual Maturities
Annual payments based on the maturities of the Company's debt, for the years ending after December 31, 2020, are as follows:
| | | | | |
| (In millions) |
2021 | $ | 384 | |
2022 | 407 | |
2023 | 431 | |
2024 | 359 | |
2025 | 934 | |
Thereafter | 4,528 | |
Total | $ | 7,043 | |
Note 11 — Earnings (Loss) Per Share
Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Shares issued during the year are weighted for the portion of the year that they were outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is computed in a manner consistent with that of basic earnings per share while giving effect to all potentially dilutive common shares that were outstanding during the period.
The reconciliation of the Company's basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share is shown in the following table:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
(In millions, except per share data) (a) | Common Class A | | Common Class C | | Common Class A | | Common Class C | | Common Class A | | Common Class C |
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Clearway Energy, Inc. common stockholders | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income (loss) attributable to Clearway Energy, Inc. | $ | 7 | | | $ | 18 | | | $ | (4) | | | $ | (7) | | | $ | 16 | | | $ | 32 | |
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — basic | 35 | | | 80 | | | 35 | | | 74 | | | 35 | | | 69 | |
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — diluted | 35 | | | 81 | | | 35 | | | 74 | | | 35 | | | 69 | |
Earnings (loss) per weighted average common share — basic and diluted | $ | 0.22 | | | $ | 0.22 | | | $ | (0.10) | | | $ | (0.10) | | | $ | 0.46 | | | $ | 0.46 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
(a) Net income (loss) attributable to Clearway Energy, Inc. and basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share might not recalculate due to presenting values in millions rather than whole dollars.
The following table summarizes the Company's outstanding equity instruments that are anti-dilutive and were not included in the computation of the Company's diluted earnings per share:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
| (In millions of shares) |
2019 Convertible Notes - Common Class A | — | | | — | | | 9 | |
2020 Convertible Notes - Common Class C | — | | | 2 | | | 8 | |
Note 12 — Stockholders' Equity
2019 Class C Common Stock Issuance
The Company sold a total of 5,405,405 shares of Class C common stock for net proceeds of $100 million on December 2, 2019. The Company utilized the proceeds of the offering to acquire 5,405,405 Class C units of Clearway Energy LLC.
2018 Class C Common Stock Issuance
On September 27, 2018, Clearway Energy, Inc. issued and sold 3,916,449 shares of Class C common stock for net proceeds of $75 million. The Company utilized the proceeds of the offering to acquire 3,916,449 Class C units of Clearway Energy LLC.
At-the-Market Equity Offering Program, or the ATM Programs
On August 6, 2020, Clearway Energy, Inc. entered into an equity distribution agreement with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and UBS Securities LLC, as sales agents. Pursuant to the terms of the equity distribution agreement, Clearway Energy, Inc. may offer and sell shares of its Class C common stock from time to time through the sales agents up to an aggregate sales price of $150 million through an at-the-market equity offering program, or the 2020 ATM Program.
On August 9, 2016, Clearway Energy, Inc. entered into an equity distribution agreement, or EDA, with Barclays Capital Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and RBC Capital Markets, LLC, as sales agents. Pursuant to the terms of the equity distribution agreement Clearway Energy, Inc., offered and sold shares of its Class C common stock from time to time through the sales agents up to an aggregate sales price of $150 million through an at-the-market equity offering program, or the 2016 ATM Program. As of June 30, 2020, the Company had completed the issuance of shares of Class C common stock totaling $150 million in gross proceeds under the 2016 ATM Program.
The following table summarizes Class C common stock shares sold under the ATM Programs during the year end December 31, 2020 :
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Number of shares sold | | Gross Proceeds from the sale of shares(a) (in millions) |
2020 ATM Program | 940,790 | | | $ | 24 | |
2016 ATM Program | 1,749,665 | | | 39 | |
Total Class C common stock sold during the year ended December 31, 2020 | 2,690,455 | | | $ | 63 | |
(a) The Company incurred commission fees of $0.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2020.
As of December 31, 2020, approximately $126 million of Class C common stock remains available for issuance under the 2020 ATM Program.
The Company utilized the proceeds of the sales under the ATM Programs to acquire 2,690,455 Class C units of Clearway Energy LLC and, as a result, as of December 31, 2020 the Company owned 57.61% of the economic interests of Clearway Energy LLC, with CEG retaining 42.39% of the economic interests of Clearway Energy LLC.
Dividends to Class A and Class C common stockholders
The following table lists the dividends paid on the Company's Class A and Class C common stock during the year ended December 31, 2020:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fourth Quarter 2020 | | Third Quarter 2020 | | Second Quarter 2020 | | First Quarter 2020 |
Dividends per Class A share | $ | 0.3180 | | | $ | 0.3125 | | | $ | 0.2100 | | | $ | 0.2100 | |
Dividends per Class C share | $ | 0.3180 | | | $ | 0.3125 | | | $ | 0.2100 | | | $ | 0.2100 | |
Dividends on the Class A and Class C common stock are subject to available capital, market conditions, and compliance with associated laws, regulations and other contractual obligations. The Company expects that, based on current circumstances, comparable cash dividends will continue to be paid in the foreseeable future.
On February 12, 2021, the Company declared a quarterly dividend on its Class A and Class C common stock of $0.324 per share payable on March 15, 2021, to stockholders of record as of March 1, 2021.
The Company also authorized 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. None of the shares of preferred stock have been issued.
Distributions to CEG
The following table lists the distributions paid to CEG during the year ended December 31, 2020 on Clearway Energy LLC's Class B and D units:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fourth Quarter 2020 | | Third Quarter 2020 | | Second Quarter 2020 | | First Quarter 2020 |
Distributions per Class B unit | $ | 0.3180 | | | $ | 0.3125 | | | $ | 0.2100 | | | $ | 0.2100 | |
Distributions per Class D unit | $ | 0.3180 | | | $ | 0.3125 | | | $ | 0.2100 | | | $ | 0.2100 | |
The portion of the distributions paid by Clearway Energy LLC to CEG is recorded as a reduction to the Company's noncontrolling interest balance. The portion of the distributions paid by Clearway Energy LLC to the Company was utilized to fund the dividends to the Class A and Class C common stockholders described above.
On February 12, 2021, Clearway Energy LLC declared a quarterly distribution on its Class B and Class D units of $0.324 per unit payable to CEG on March 15, 2021.
Note 13 — Segment Reporting
The Company’s segment structure reflects how management currently operates and allocates resources. The Company's businesses are segregated based on conventional power generation, renewable businesses which consist of solar and wind, and the thermal and chilled water business. The Corporate segment reflects the Company's corporate costs and includes eliminating entries. The Company's chief operating decision maker, its Chief Executive Officer, evaluates the performance of its segments based on operational measures including adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or Adjusted EBITDA, and CAFD, as well as Economic Gross Margin and net income (loss).
The Company generated more than 10% of its revenues from the following customers for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
Customer | Conventional | | Renewables | | Conventional | | Renewables | | Conventional | | Renewables |
SCE | 18% | | 16% | | 21% | | 19% | | 20% | | 20% |
PG&E | 10% | | 8% | | 12% | | 10% | | 12% | | 11% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended December 31, 2020 |
(In millions) | Conventional Generation | | Renewables | | Thermal | | Corporate (a) | | Total |
Operating revenues | $ | 437 | | | $ | 569 | | | $ | 193 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,199 | |
Cost of operations | 90 | | | 147 | | | 131 | | | (2) | | | 366 | |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 132 | | | 264 | | | 32 | | | — | | | 428 | |
Impairment losses | — | | | 24 | | | — | | | — | | | 24 | |
General and administrative | — | | | — | | | 3 | | | 31 | | | 34 | |
Transaction and integration costs | — | | | — | | | — | | | 9 | | | 9 | |
Development costs | — | | | — | | | 5 | | | — | | | 5 | |
Operating income (loss) | 215 | | | 134 | | | 22 | | | (38) | | | 333 | |
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates | 8 | | | (1) | | | — | | | — | | | 7 | |
Impairment loss on investment | — | | | (8) | | | — | | | — | | | (8) | |
Gain on sale of unconsolidated affiliates | — | | | — | | | — | | | 49 | | | 49 | |
Other income, net | 1 | | | 3 | | | — | | | — | | | 4 | |
Loss on debt extinguishment | — | | | (21) | | | — | | | (3) | | | (24) | |
Interest expense, net | (84) | | | (216) | | | (19) | | | (96) | | | (415) | |
Income (loss) before income taxes | 140 | | | (109) | | | 3 | | | (88) | | | (54) | |
Income tax benefit | — | | | — | | | — | | | 8 | | | 8 | |
Net Income (Loss) | 140 | | | (109) | | | 3 | | | (96) | | | (62) | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Clearway Energy, Inc. | $ | 140 | | | $ | 3 | | | $ | 3 | | | $ | (121) | | | $ | 25 | |
Balance Sheet | | | | | | | | | |
Equity investment in affiliates | $ | 90 | | | $ | 651 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 741 | |
Capital expenditures (b) | 12 | | | 44 | | | 50 | | | — | | | 106 | |
Total Assets | $ | 2,575 | | | $ | 7,157 | | | $ | 627 | | | $ | 233 | | | $ | 10,592 | |
(a) Includes eliminations
(b) Includes accruals
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended December 31, 2019 |
(In millions) | Conventional Generation | | Renewables | | Thermal | | Corporate | | Total |
Operating revenues | $ | 346 | | | $ | 485 | | | $ | 201 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,032 | |
Cost of operations | 60 | | | 143 | | | 134 | | | — | | | 337 | |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 103 | | | 271 | | | 27 | | | — | | | 401 | |
Impairment losses | — | | | 14 | | | 19 | | | — | | | 33 | |
General and administrative | — | | | 1 | | | 3 | | | 25 | | | 29 | |
Transaction and integration costs | — | | | — | | | — | | | 3 | | | 3 | |
Development costs | — | | | — | | | 5 | | | — | | | 5 | |
Operating income (loss) | 183 | | | 56 | | | 13 | | | (28) | | | 224 | |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates | 9 | | | 74 | | | — | | | — | | | 83 | |
Other income, net | 2 | | | 6 | | | — | | | 1 | | | 9 | |
Loss on debt extinguishment | — | | | (1) | | | — | | | (15) | | | (16) | |
Interest expense, net | (59) | | | (239) | | | (18) | | | (88) | | | (404) | |
Income (loss) before income taxes | 135 | | | (104) | | | (5) | | | (130) | | | (104) | |
Income tax benefit | — | | | — | | | — | | | (8) | | | (8) | |
Net Income (Loss) | 135 | | | (104) | | | (5) | | | (122) | | | (96) | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Clearway Energy, Inc. | $ | 135 | | | $ | (33) | | | $ | (5) | | | $ | (108) | | | $ | (11) | |
Balance Sheet | | | | | | | | | |
Equity investments in affiliates | $ | 94 | | | $ | 1,089 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,183 | |
Capital expenditures (a) | 4 | | | 185 | | | 34 | | | — | | | 223 | |
Total Assets | $ | 2,753 | | | $ | 6,186 | | | $ | 633 | | | $ | 128 | | | $ | 9,700 | |
(a) Includes accruals.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended December 31, 2018 |
(In millions) | Conventional Generation | | Renewables | | Thermal | | Corporate | | Total |
Operating revenues | $ | 337 | | | $ | 523 | | | $ | 193 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,053 | |
Cost of operations | 61 | | | 139 | | | 127 | | | — | | | 327 | |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 102 | | | 211 | | | 23 | | | — | | | 336 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
General and administrative | — | | | — | | | 1 | | | 19 | | | 20 | |
Transaction and integration costs | — | | | — | | | — | | | 20 | | | 20 | |
Development costs | — | | | — | | | 2 | | | 1 | | | 3 | |
Operating income (loss) | 174 | | | 173 | | | 40 | | | (40) | | | 347 | |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates | 11 | | | 63 | | | — | | | — | | | 74 | |
Other income, net | 1 | | | 4 | | | 1 | | | 2 | | | 8 | |
Loss on debt extinguishment | — | | | — | | | — | | | (7) | | | (7) | |
Interest expense, net | (51) | | | (154) | | | (12) | | | (89) | | | (306) | |
Income (loss) before income taxes | 135 | | | 86 | | | 29 | | | (134) | | | 116 | |
Income tax expense | — | | | — | | | — | | | 62 | | | 62 | |
Net Income (Loss) | 135 | | | 86 | | | 29 | | | (196) | | | 54 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Clearway Energy, Inc. | $ | 135 | | | $ | 186 | | | $ | 29 | | | $ | (302) | | | $ | 48 | |
Note 14 — Income Taxes
Effective Tax Rate
The income tax provision consisted of the following amounts:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
| (In millions) |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Deferred | | | | | |
U.S. Federal | $ | 7 | | | $ | (4) | | | $ | 28 | |
State | 1 | | | (4) | | | 34 | |
Total — deferred | 8 | | | (8) | | | 62 | |
Total income tax expense (benefit) | $ | 8 | | | $ | (8) | | | $ | 62 | |
| | | | | |
A reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% to the Company's effective rate is as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
| (In millions, except percentages) |
Income Before Income Taxes | $ | (54) | | | $ | (104) | | | $ | 116 | |
Tax at 21% | (11) | | | (22) | | | 24 | |
State taxes, net of federal benefit | (4) | | | (7) | | | 8 | |
Deferred state rate change due to deconsolidation from NRG | — | | | — | | | 20 | |
| | | | | |
Impact of non-taxable equity earnings | 24 | | | 24 | | | 8 | |
Investment tax credits | — | | | (1) | | | (3) | |
Production tax credits, including prior year true-up | (1) | | | (1) | | | (1) | |
Valuation allowance adjustment | — | | | — | | | 3 | |
Rate Change | 2 | | | — | | | — | |
Other | (2) | | | (1) | | | 3 | |
Income tax expense (benefit) | $ | 8 | | | $ | (8) | | | $ | 62 | |
Effective income tax rate | (14.8) | % | | 7.7 | % | | 53.4 | % |
For the year ended December 31, 2020, the overall effective tax rate was different than the statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the taxable earnings and losses allocated to partners’ interest in Clearway Energy LLC, which includes the effects of applying HLBV method of accounting for book purposes of certain partnerships.
For the year ended December 31, 2019, the overall effective tax rate was different than the statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the taxable earnings and losses allocated to partners’ interest in Clearway Energy LLC, which includes the effects of applying HLBV method of accounting for book purposes of certain partnerships.
For the year ended December 31, 2018, the overall effective tax rate was different than the statutory rate of 21% primarily due to higher state income tax rate following the Company’s separation from NRG, as well as taxable earnings and losses allocated to partners’ interest in Clearway Energy LLC, which includes the effects of applying HLBV method of accounting for book purposes of certain partnerships. In 2018, the Company completed the accounting for all of the income tax effects related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which resulted in no material adjustments in 2018 to the provisional amounts recorded in 2017.
For tax purposes, Clearway Energy LLC is treated as a partnership; therefore, the Company and CEG each record their respective share of taxable income or loss.
The temporary differences, which gave rise to the Company's deferred tax assets, consisted of the following:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| As of December 31, |
| 2020 | | 2019 |
| (In millions) |
Deferred tax liabilities: | | | |
Investment in projects | $ | 226 | | | $ | 227 | |
Total deferred tax liabilities | 226 | | | 227 | |
Deferred tax assets: | | | |
| | | |
| | | |
Interest expense disallowance carryforward - Investment in Projects | 11 | | | 50 | |
Production tax credits | 9 | | | 9 | |
Investment tax credits | 5 | | | 5 | |
U.S. Federal net operating loss carryforwards | 260 | | | 215 | |
Capital loss carryforwards | 12 | | | 12 | |
State net operating loss carryforwards | 48 | | | 43 | |
Total deferred tax assets | 345 | | | 334 | |
Valuation allowance | (15) | | | (15) | |
Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance | 330 | | | 319 | |
Net deferred noncurrent tax asset | $ | 104 | | | $ | 92 | |
The primary driver for the increase in the net deferred tax asset from $92 million to $104 million as of December 31, 2020, is the increase in federal and state NOLs, partially offset by utilization of the interest disallowance carryforward. As discussed in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, NRG allocated $22 million to the Company in tax-effected state NOLs, which was recorded as a non-cash adjustments to the consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Tax Receivable and Payable
As of December 31, 2020, the Company has no current or long term tax receivable or payable to be recorded.
Deferred Tax Assets and Valuation Allowance
Net deferred tax balance — As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company recorded a net deferred tax asset of $104 million and $92 million, respectively. The Company believes it is more likely than not that the results of future operations will generate sufficient taxable income which includes the future reversal of existing taxable temporary differences to realize deferred tax assets. The Company considered the profit before tax generated in recent years, as well as projections of future earnings and estimates of taxable income in arriving at this conclusion. The Company believes that $15 million, a deferred tax asset, for which there are no existing capital gains or available tax planning strategies to utilize the asset in the future may not be realized, resulting in the recording of a valuation allowance.
NOL carryforwards — As of December 31, 2020, the Company had domestic NOLs carryforwards for federal income tax purposes of $260 million and cumulative state NOLs of $48 million tax-effected.
Interest disallowance carryforward — As of December 31, 2020, the Company has a deferred tax asset of $11 million related to disallowed interest expense under the proposed IRC §163(j) regulation.
The disallowed interest deduction has an indefinite carry forward period and any limitations on the utilization of this carryforward have been factored into the valuation allowance analysis.
Uncertain Tax Positions
The Company had no identified uncertain tax positions that require evaluation as of December 31, 2020.
Note 15 — Related Party Transactions
In addition to the transactions and relationships described elsewhere in the notes to the consolidated financial statements, certain subsidiaries of CEG provide services to the Company's project entities. Amounts due to CEG subsidiaries are recorded as accounts payable - affiliates and amounts due to the Company from CEG subsidiaries are recorded as accounts receivable - affiliates in the Company's balance sheet. The disclosures below summarize the Company's material related party transactions with CEG and its subsidiaries that are included in the Company's operating revenues and operating costs.
As discussed in Note 1, Nature of Business, on August 31, 2018, NRG sold 100% of its interest in CEG to GIP, and as a result, CEG and its subsidiaries are considered related parties during the year ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, and NRG and its subsidiaries were considered related parties during the first eight months of the year ended December 31, 2018.
Related Party Transactions with CEG entities
O&M Services Agreements by and between the Company and Clearway Renewable Operation & Maintenance LLC
Various wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company in the Renewables segment are party to administrative services agreements with Clearway Renewable Operation & Maintenance LLC, or RENOM, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CEG, which provides operation and maintenance, or O&M, services to these subsidiaries. The Company incurred total expenses for these services of $37 million and $31 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company incurred total expenses of $11 million for the period from September 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. There was a balance of $10 million and $7 million due to RENOM as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Administrative Services Agreements by and between the Company and CEG
Various wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company are parties to administrative services agreements with Clearway Asset Services and Clearway Solar Asset Management, two wholly-owned subsidiaries of CEG, which provide various administrative services to the Company's subsidiaries. The Company incurred expenses under these agreements of $10 million and $7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company incurred expenses under these agreements of $3 million for the period from September 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. There was a balance of $2 million and $1 million due to CEG as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
CEG Master Services Agreements
The Company is a party to Master Services Agreements with CEG, or MSAs, pursuant to which CEG and certain of its affiliates or third party service providers provide certain services to the Company, including operational and administrative services, which include human resources, information systems, external affairs, accounting, procurement and risk management services, and the Company provides certain services to CEG, including accounting, internal audit, tax and treasury services, in exchange for the payment of fees in respect of such services. The Company incurred net expenses of $2 million and $1 million under these agreements for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Related Party Transactions with NRG entities prior to the GIP Transaction
The following transactions relate to the period prior to sale of NRG's interest in CEG to GIP on August 31, 2018 and therefore were considered to be related party transactions for all the periods prior to August 31, 2018:
O&M Services Agreements by and between the Company and NRG Renew Operation & Maintenance LLC
Various wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company in the Renewables segment were party to administrative services agreements with NRG Renew Operation & Maintenance LLC, or RENOM, formerly wholly-owned subsidiary of NRG, which provided O&M, services to these subsidiaries. The Company incurred total expenses for these services of $29 million for the eight months ended August 31, 2018.
Administrative Services Agreements by and between the Company and NRG
Various wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company were parties to administrative services agreements with Clearway Asset Services (formerly NRG Asset Services) and Clearway Solar Asset Management (formerly NRG Solar Asset Management), two wholly-owned subsidiaries of CEG, which provided various administrative asset services to the Company's subsidiaries prior to GIP Transaction. The Company reimbursed costs under this agreement of $6 million for the eight months ended August 31, 2018.
Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) between the Company and NRG Power Marketing
Elbow Creek and Dover were parties to PPAs with NRG Power Marketing and generate revenue under the PPAs, which were recorded to operating revenues in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. For the eight months ended August 31, 2018, Elbow Creek and Dover, collectively, generated revenues of $8 million.
Energy Marketing Services Agreement by and between Thermal entities and NRG Power Marketing
Energy Center Dover LLC, Energy Center Minneapolis, Energy Center Phoenix LLC and Energy Center Paxton LLC, or Thermal entities, were parties to Energy Marketing Services Agreements with NRG Power Marketing, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NRG. Under the agreements, NRG Power Marketing procured fuel and fuel transportation for the operation of Thermal entities. For the eight months ended August 31, 2018, the Thermal entities purchased $7 million of natural gas from NRG Power Marketing.
Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Services Agreements by and between the Company's subsidiaries and NRG
Certain of the Company's subsidiaries are party to O&M Services Agreements with NRG, pursuant to which NRG subsidiaries provide necessary and appropriate services to operate and maintain the subsidiaries' plant operations, businesses and thermal facilities. NRG is reimbursed for the provided services, as well as for all reasonable and related expenses and expenditures, and payments to third parties for services and materials rendered to or on behalf of the parties to the agreements. NRG is not entitled to any management fee or mark-up under the agreements. The fees incurred under these agreements were $27 million for the eight months ended August 31, 2018.
O&M Services Agreements by and between GenConn and NRG
GenConn incurs fees under two O&M agreements with wholly-owned subsidiaries of NRG. For the eight months ended August 31, 2018, the aggregate fees incurred under the agreements were $4 million.
Administrative Services Agreement by and between Marsh Landing and NRG West Coast LLC
Marsh Landing is a party to an administrative services agreement with NRG West Coast LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of NRG. The Company reimbursed costs under this agreement of $11 million for the eight months ended August 31, 2018.
Project Administrative Services Agreement by and between ESEC and NRG West Coast LLC
During 2018, ESEC, NRG West Coast LLC and NRG Power Marketing LLC, or PML, entered into confirmation agreements under the Project Administration Services Agreement between ESEC and NRG West Coast LLC, whereby PML purchased California Carbon Allowances which ESEC could subsequently purchase for the purposes of ESEC’s compliance with the California Cap-and-Trade Program. ESEC reimbursed costs under these agreements of $11 million for the eight months ended August 31, 2018.
Management Services Agreement by and between the Company and NRG
Prior to the GIP Transaction, NRG provided the Company with various operational, management, and administrative services, which include human resources, accounting, tax, legal, information systems, treasury and risk management, as set forth in the Management Services Agreement. The costs incurred under the Management Services Agreement included certain direct expenses incurred by NRG on behalf of the Company in addition to the base management fee. Costs incurred under this agreement were $7 million for the eight months ended August 31, 2018.
On August 31, 2018, in connection with the consummation of the GIP Transaction, the Clearway Energy, Inc. entered into a Termination Agreement with Clearway Energy LLC, Clearway Energy Operating LLC and NRG terminating the Management Services Agreement, dated as of July 22, 2013, by and among the Company, Clearway Energy LLC, Clearway Energy Operating LLC and NRG. Concurrently with entering into the Termination Agreement on August 31, 2018, the Company entered into a Transition Services Agreement with NRG, or the NRG TSA, as further described below.
Subsequent to the GIP Transaction, the Company entered into the NRG TSA, pursuant to which NRG or certain of its affiliates began providing transitional services to the Company following the consummation of the GIP Transaction, in exchange for the payment of a fee in respect of such services. Expenses related to the NRG TSA are recorded in acquisition-related transaction and integration costs in the consolidated statements of operations.
EPC Agreement by and between ECP and NRG
NRG Business Services LLC, a subsidiary of NRG, and Energy Center Pittsburgh LLC, or ECP, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into an EPC agreement for the construction of a 73 MWt district energy system for ECP to provide 150 pph of steam, 6,750 tons of chilled water and 7.5 MW of emergency backup power service to UPMC Mercy. The initial term of the energy services agreement with UPMC Mercy will be for a period of twenty years from the service commencement date. On June 19, 2018, as discussed in Note 3, Acquisitions and Dispositions, ECP purchased the UPMC Thermal Project assets from NRG Business Services LLC for cash consideration of $84 million, subject to working capital adjustments. The Company paid an additional $3 million to NRG upon final completion of the project in January 2019 pursuant to the EPC agreement.
Note 16 — Commitments and Contingencies
Gas and Transportation Commitments
The Company has entered into contractual arrangements to procure power, fuel and associated transportation services. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company purchased $32 million, $38 million, and $39 million, respectively, under such arrangements. As further described in Note 15, Related Party Transactions, these purchases include intercompany transactions through August 31, 2018 between certain Thermal entities and NRG Power Marketing under the Energy Marketing Services Agreements in the amount of $7 million for the eight months ended August 31, 2018.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company's commitments under such outstanding agreements are estimated as follows:
| | | | | |
Period | (In millions) |
2021 | $ | 9 | |
2022 | 3 | |
2023 | 2 | |
2024 | — | |
2025 | — | |
Thereafter | — | |
Total | $ | 14 | |
Contingencies
The Company's material legal proceedings are described below. The Company believes that it has valid defenses to these legal proceedings and intends to defend them vigorously. The Company records reserves for estimated losses from contingencies when information available indicates that a loss is probable and the amount of the loss, or range of loss, can be reasonably estimated. As applicable, the Company has established an adequate reserve for the matters discussed below. In addition, legal costs are expensed as incurred. Management assesses such matters based on current information and makes a judgment concerning its potential outcome, considering the nature of the claim, the amount and nature of damages sought and the probability of success. The Company is unable to predict the outcome of the legal proceedings below or reasonably estimate the scope or amount of any associated costs and potential liabilities. As additional information becomes available, management adjusts its assessment and estimates of such contingencies accordingly. Because litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties and unfavorable rulings or developments, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of the Company's liabilities and contingencies could be at amounts that are different from its currently recorded reserves and that such difference could be material.
In addition to the legal proceedings noted below, the Company and its subsidiaries are party to other litigation or legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. In management's opinion, the disposition of these ordinary course matters will not materially adversely affect the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Nebraska Public Power District Litigation
On January 11, 2019, Nebraska Public Power District, or NPPD, sent written notice to certain of the Company’s subsidiaries which own the Laredo Ridge and Elkhorn Ridge wind projects alleging an event of default under each of the PPAs between NPPD and the projects. NPPD alleges that the Company moved forward with certain transactions without obtaining the consent of NPPD. NPPD threatened to terminate the applicable PPAs by February 11, 2019 if the alleged default was not cured. The Company filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska relating to the Laredo Ridge project, and a similar motion in the District Court of Knox County, Nebraska for the Elkhorn Ridge project, to enjoin NPPD from taking any actions related to the PPAs. On February 19, 2019, the U.S. District Court in the Laredo Ridge matter approved a stipulation between the parties to provide for an injunction preventing NPPD from terminating the PPA pending disposition of the litigation. On February 26, 2019, the Knox County District Court approved a similar stipulation relating to the Elkhorn Ridge project. On April 13, 2020, the U.S. District Court granted the wind projects' motion for summary judgment and permanently enjoined NPPD from terminating the PPAs in reliance on the alleged events of default. The U.S. District Court decision was appealed by NPPD on May 11, 2020 and the case in the Knox County District Court remains pending, but has been stayed pending the outcome of the U.S. District Court case. Argument before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit is scheduled for March 18, 2021. The Company believes the allegations of NPPD are meritless and the Company is vigorously defending its rights under the PPAs.
Buckthorn Solar Litigation
On October 8, 2019, the City of Georgetown, Texas, or Georgetown, filed a petition in the District Court of Williamson County, Texas naming Buckthorn Westex, LLC, the Company’s subsidiary that owns the Buckthorn Westex solar project, as the defendant, alleging fraud by nondisclosure and breach of contract in connection with the project and the PPA, and seeking (i) rescission and/or cancellation of the PPA, (ii) declaratory judgment that the alleged breaches constitute an event of default under the PPA entitling Georgetown to terminate, and (iii) recovery of all damages, costs of court, and attorneys’ fees. On November 15, 2019, Buckthorn Westex filed an original answer and counterclaims (i) denying Georgetown’s claims, (ii) alleging Georgetown has breached its contracts with Buckthorn Westex by failing to pay amounts due, and (iii) seeking relief in the form of (x) declaratory judgment that Georgetown’s alleged failure to pay amounts due constitute breaches of and an event of default under the PPA and that Buckthorn did not commit any events of default under the PPA, (y) recovery of costs, expenses, interest, and attorneys’ fees, and (z) such other relief to which it is entitled at law or in equity. Buckthorn Westex believes the allegations of Georgetown are meritless, and Buckthorn Westex is vigorously defending its rights under the PPA.
Note 17 — Leases
Accounting for Leases
The Company evaluates each arrangement at inception to determine if it contains a lease. Substantially all of the Company’s leases are operating leases.
Lessee
The Company records its operating lease liabilities at the present value of the lease payments over the lease term at lease commencement date. Lease payments include fixed payment amounts, as well as variable rate payments based on an index initially measured at lease commencement date. Variable payments, including payments based on future performance and based on index changes, are recorded as the expense is incurred. The Company determines the relevant lease term by evaluating whether renewal and termination options are reasonably certain to be exercised. The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate to calculate the present value of the lease payments, based on information available at the lease commencement date.
The Company’s leases consist of land leases for numerous operating asset locations, real estate leases and equipment leases. The terms and conditions for these leases vary by the type of underlying asset.
Lease expense for the year ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 was comprised of the following:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In millions) | | December 31, 2020 | | December 31, 2019 |
Operating lease cost - Fixed | | $ | 19 | | | $ | 13 | |
| | | | |
Operating lease cost - Variable | | 9 | | | 8 | |
Total lease cost | | $ | 28 | | | $ | 21 | |
Operating lease information as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 was as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(In millions, except term and rate) | | December 31, 2020 | | December 31, 2019 |
ROU Assets - operating leases, net (a) | | $ | 337 | | | $ | 223 | |
| | | | |
Short-term lease liability - operating leases (b) | | $ | 8 | | | $ | 7 | |
Long-term lease liability - operating leases (a) | | 345 | | | 227 | |
Total lease liability | | $ | 353 | | | $ | 234 | |
| | | | |
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years) | | 25 | | 25 |
Weighted average discount rate | | 4.3 | % | | 4.4 | % |
| | | | |
Cash paid for operating leases | | $ | 19 | | | $ | 15 | |
(a) Increase in ROU Assets and lease liabilities is primarily due to the acquisition of Drop Down Assets, as further described in Note 3, Acquisitions and Dispositions
(b) Short-term lease liability balances are included within the accrued expenses and other current liabilities line item of the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019
Maturities of operating lease liabilities as of December 31, 2020 are as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
(In millions) | | |
2021 | | $ | 23 | |
2022 | | 23 | |
2023 | | 23 | |
2024 | | 23 | |
2025 | | 23 | |
Thereafter | | 476 | |
Total lease payments | | 591 | |
Less imputed interest | | (238) | |
Total lease liability - operating leases | | $ | 353 | |
Oahu Solar Lease Agreements
The Oahu Solar projects are party to various land lease agreements with a wholly owned subsidiary of CEG. The projects are leasing the land for a period of 35 years, with the ability to renew the lease for two additional five year periods. The Company has a lease liability of $20 million and $21 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 and corresponding right-of-use asset of $18 million and $19 million related to the leases as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Rosamond Lease Agreement
The Rosamond Central project is party to a land lease agreement with a wholly owned subsidiary of CEG. The project is leasing the land for a period of 35 years, with the ability to renew the lease for two additional five year periods. The Company has a lease liability of $12 million as of December 31, 2020 and corresponding right-of-use asset of $11 million related to the lease as of December 31, 2020.
Lessor
The majority of the Company’s revenue is obtained through PPAs or other contractual agreements that are accounted for as leases. These leases are comprised of both fixed payments and variable payments contingent upon volumes or performance metrics. The terms of the leases are further described in Item 2 — Properties of this Form 10-K. Many of the leases have renewal options at the end of the lease term. Termination may be allowed under specific circumstances in the lease arrangements, such as under an event of default. All but one of the Company’s leases are operating leases. The remaining lease met the criteria of a sales-type lease and the impact of this sales-type lease to the consolidated financial statements was immaterial. Certain of these leases have both lease and non-lease components, and the Company allocates the transaction price to the components based on standalone selling prices.
The following amounts of energy and capacity revenue are related to the Company’s operating leases.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Conventional Generation | | Renewables | | Thermal | | Total |
December 31, 2020 | | (In millions) |
Energy revenue | | $ | 10 | | | $ | 554 | | | $ | 2 | | | $ | 566 | |
Capacity revenue | | 451 | | | — | | | — | | | 451 | |
Operating revenue | | $ | 461 | | | $ | 554 | | | $ | 2 | | | $ | 1,017 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Conventional Generation | | Renewables | | Thermal | | Total |
December 31, 2019 | | (In millions) |
Energy revenue | | $ | 5 | | | $ | 509 | | | $ | 2 | | | $ | 516 | |
Capacity revenue | | 348 | | | — | | | — | | | 348 | |
Operating revenue | | $ | 353 | | | $ | 509 | | | $ | 2 | | | $ | 864 | |
Minimum future rent payments for the remaining periods related to the Conventional segment operating leases were as follows as of December 31, 2020:
| | | | | |
(In millions) | |
2021 | $ | 444 | |
2022 | 450 | |
2023 | 259 | |
2024 | 106 | |
2025 | 107 | |
Thereafter | 1,498 | |
Total lease payments | $ | 2,864 | |
Property, plant and equipment, net related to the Company’s operating leases were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
(In millions) | December 31, 2020 | | December 31, 2019 |
Property, plant and equipment | $ | 7,201 | | | $ | 6,942 | |
Accumulated depreciation | (1,964) | | | (1,649) | |
Net property, plant and equipment | $ | 5,237 | | | $ | 5,293 | |
Energy Center Caguas Sales-Type Lease Agreement
On November 1, 2018, the Company, through its indirect subsidiary Energy Center Caguas LLC, entered into an Energy Services Agreement (ESA) for its Viatris (formerly Mylan) facility in Puerto Rico. The ESA was determined to be a sales-type lease, as the present value of the lease payments is greater than substantially all of the fair value of the facility. As a result, upon the service commencement date of the contract, the Company recorded a lease receivable of approximately $12 million which represents the net present value of the lease investment. The Company is permitted to receive approximately $1 million per year in fixed payments under the ESA, which expires in September 2032 based upon a service commencement date in September 2020, with options to extend the term for two additional five year periods upon mutual agreement of the parties.
Minimum future rent payments for the remaining periods related to the Thermal segment sales-type lease were as follows as of December 31, 2020:
| | | | | |
(In millions) | |
2021 | $ | 1 | |
2022 | 1 | |
2023 | 1 | |
2024 | 1 | |
2025 | 1 | |
Thereafter | 9 | |
Total sales-type lease payments | $ | 14 | |
Note 18 — Unaudited Quarterly Data
Below is summarized unaudited quarterly financial data for the periods ending December 31, 2020 and 2019.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Quarter Ended |
| December 31, | | September 30, | | June 30, | | March 31, |
| 2020 |
| (In millions, except per share data) |
Operating Revenues | $ | 280 | | | $ | 332 | | | $ | 329 | | | $ | 258 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Operating Income | 28 | | | 123 | | | 130 | | | 52 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Net (Loss) Income | (73) | | | 42 | | | 76 | | | (107) | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Net (Loss) Income Attributable to Clearway Energy, Inc. | $ | (25) | | | $ | 32 | | | $ | 47 | | | $ | (29) | |
Weighted average number of Class A common shares outstanding — basic and diluted | 35 | | | 35 | | | 35 | | | 35 | |
| | | | | | | |
Weighted average number of Class C common shares outstanding — basic and diluted | 81 | | | 81 | | | 80 | | | 79 | |
| | | | | | | |
(Loss) Earnings per Weighted Average Common Share Basic and Diluted | $ | (0.20) | | | $ | 0.27 | | | $ | 0.41 | | | $ | (0.26) | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Quarter Ended |
| December 31, | | September 30, | | June 30, | | March 31, |
| 2019 |
| (In millions, except per share data) |
Operating Revenues | $ | 235 | | | $ | 296 | | | $ | 284 | | | $ | 217 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Operating Income | 6 | | | 90 | | | 87 | | | 41 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Net (Loss) Income | (48) | | | 35 | | | (36) | | | (47) | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Net (Loss) Income Attributable to Clearway Energy, Inc. | $ | (6) | | | $ | 39 | | | $ | (24) | | | $ | (20) | |
Weighted average number of Class A common shares outstanding — basic | 35 | | | 35 | | | 35 | | | 35 | |
Weighted average number of Class A common shares outstanding — diluted | 35 | | | 35 | | | 35 | | | 35 | |
Weighted average number of Class C common shares outstanding — basic | 75 | | | 73 | | | 73 | | | 73 | |
Weighted average number of Class C common shares outstanding — diluted | 75 | | | 75 | | | 73 | | | 73 | |
(Loss) Earnings per Weighted Average Common Share Basic and Diluted | $ | (0.06) | | | $ | 0.36 | | | $ | (0.22) | | | $ | (0.18) | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Schedule I
Clearway Energy, Inc. (Parent)
Condensed Financial Information of Registrant
Condensed Statements of Operations
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended December 31, |
(In millions) | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
Total operating costs and expenses | $ | 2 | | | $ | 2 | | | $ | 1 | |
Equity in (losses) earnings of consolidated subsidiaries | (52) | | | (101) | | | 135 | |
Loss on debt extinguishment | — | | | — | | | (7) | |
Interest expense | — | | | (1) | | | (11) | |
Total other (expense) income, net | (52) | | | (102) | | | 117 | |
(Loss) Income Before Income Taxes | (54) | | | (104) | | | 116 | |
Income tax expense (benefit) | 8 | | | (8) | | | 62 | |
Net (Loss) Income | (62) | | | (96) | | | 54 | |
Less: Pre-acquisition net income of Drop Down Assets | — | | | — | | | 4 | |
Less: Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (87) | | | (85) | | | 2 | |
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Clearway Energy, Inc. | $ | 25 | | | $ | (11) | | | $ | 48 | |
See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.
Schedule I
Clearway Energy, Inc. (Parent)
Condensed Balance Sheets
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, | | December 31, |
| 2020 | | 2019 |
ASSETS | (In millions) |
| | | |
Current Assets | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | — | | | $ | 3 | |
Accounts receivable — affiliates | 3 | | | 2 | |
Note receivable - Clearway Energy Operating LLC | 1 | | | 44 | |
| | | |
Other Assets | | | |
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries | 2,612 | | | 2,173 | |
| | | |
| | | |
Deferred income taxes | 104 | | | 92 | |
Total Assets | $ | 2,720 | | | $ | 2,314 | |
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | | | |
Current Liabilities | | | |
Current portion of long-term debt | — | | | 44 | |
| | | |
Other current liabilities | — | | | 1 | |
Other Liabilities | | | |
| | | |
Other non-current liabilities | 5 | | | 6 | |
Total Liabilities | 5 | | | 51 | |
| | | |
Stockholders' Equity | | | |
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued | — | | | — | |
Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D common stock, $0.01 par value; 3,000,000,000 shares authorized (Class A 500,000,000, Class B 500,000,000, Class C 1,000,000,000, Class D 1,000,000,000); 201,635,990 shares issued and outstanding (Class A 34,599,645, Class B 42,738,750, Class C 81,558,845 Class D 42,738,750) at December 31, 2020 and 1,198,819,999 shares issued and outstanding (Class A 34,599,645, Class B 42,738,750, Class C 78,742,854, Class D 42,738,750) at December 31, 2019 | 1 | | | 1 | |
Additional paid-in capital | 1,922 | | | 1,936 | |
Accumulated deficit | (84) | | | (72) | |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (14) | | | (15) | |
Noncontrolling interest | 890 | | | 413 | |
Total Stockholders' Equity | 2,715 | | | 2,263 | |
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | $ | 2,720 | | | $ | 2,314 | |
See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.
Schedule I
Clearway Energy, Inc. (Parent)
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Years ended December 31, |
| 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
| (In millions) |
| | | | | |
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Operating Activities | $ | (3) | | | $ | (5) | | | $ | 3 | |
Cash Flows from Investing Activities | | | | | |
Investments in consolidated affiliates | (59) | | | (87) | | | (150) | |
Cash advances for notes receivable - affiliate | (3) | | | — | | | — | |
Cash received from notes receivable - affiliate | 45 | | | 215 | | | 359 | |
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities | (17) | | | 128 | | | 209 | |
Cash Flows from Financing Activities | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Payments for long-term debt | (45) | | | (220) | | | (367) | |
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock | 62 | | | 100 | | | 153 | |
| | | | | |
Cash received from Clearway Energy LLC for the payment of dividends | 121 | | | 87 | | | 130 | |
Payment of dividends | (121) | | | (87) | | | (130) | |
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities | 17 | | | (120) | | | (214) | |
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents | (3) | | | 3 | | | (2) | |
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period | 3 | | | — | | | 2 | |
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period | $ | — | | | $ | 3 | | | $ | — | |
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See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.
Schedule I
Clearway Energy, Inc. (Parent)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
Note 1 — Background and Basis of Presentation
Background
Clearway Energy, Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries, or the Company, is a publicly-traded energy infrastructure investor in and owner of modern, sustainable and long-term contracted assets across North America. On August 31, 2018, NRG Energy, Inc., or NRG, transferred its full ownership interest in the Company to Clearway Energy Group LLC, or CEG, the holder of NRG's renewable energy development and operations platform, and subsequently sold 100% of its interest in CEG to Global Infrastructure Partners III, or GIP, referred to hereinafter as the NRG Transaction. As a result of the NRG Transaction, GIP indirectly acquired a 45.2% economic interest in Clearway Energy LLC and a 55% voting interest in the Company. GIP is an independent fund manager that invests in infrastructure assets in energy and transport sectors. The Company is sponsored by GIP through GIP's portfolio company, Clearway Energy Group.
The Company is one of the largest renewable energy owners in the U.S. with over 4,200 net MW of installed wind and solar generation projects. The Company also owns approximately 2,500 net MW of environmentally-sound, highly efficient generation facilities as well as a portfolio of district energy systems. Through this environmentally-sound, diversified and primarily contracted portfolio, the Company endeavors to provide its investors with stable and growing dividend income. Substantially all of the Company's generation assets are under long-term contractual arrangements for the output or capacity from these assets.
The Company consolidates the results of Clearway Energy LLC through its controlling interest, with CEG's interest shown as noncontrolling interest in the financial statements. The holders of the Company's outstanding shares of Class A and Class C common stock are entitled to dividends as declared. CEG receives its distributions from Clearway Energy LLC through its ownership of Clearway Energy LLC Class B and Class D units.
As a result of the Class C common stock issuance under the ATM Programs during the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, the Company owns 57.61% of the economic interests of Clearway Energy LLC, with CEG retaining 42.39% of the economic interests of Clearway Energy LLC as of December 31, 2020.
Basis of Presentation
The condensed parent-only company financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Rule 12-04 of Regulation S-X, as the restricted net assets of Clearway Energy, Inc.’s subsidiaries exceed 25% of the consolidated net assets of Clearway Energy, Inc. The parent's 100% investment in its subsidiaries has been recorded using the equity basis of accounting in the accompanying condensed parent-only financial statements. These statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of Clearway Energy, Inc.
On December 6, 2019, the Company acquired 100% of GIP's membership interests in CBAD Holdings, LLC, which indirectly owns Carlsbad Energy Center LLC, a 527 megawatt natural gas fired power project located in Carlsbad, California, or the Carlsbad Drop Down Asset. The assets transferred to the Company relate to interests under common control by GIP and were recorded at book value in accordance with ASC 805-50, Business Combinations - Related Issues. The difference between the purchase price and book value of the assets was recorded as a distribution to CEG and decreased the balance of its noncontrolling interest. The acquisition was determined to be an asset acquisition and not a business combination, therefore no recast of the historical financial information was deemed necessary. For further discussion, see Note 3, Acquisitions and Dispositions to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Note 2 — Long-Term Debt
For a discussion of Clearway Energy, Inc.’s financing arrangements, see Note 10, Long-term Debt, to the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Note 3 — Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees
See Note 14, Income Taxes, and Note 16, Commitments and Contingencies, to the Company's consolidated financial statements for a detailed discussion of Clearway Energy, Inc.’s commitments and contingencies.
Note 4 — Dividends
Cash distributions paid to Clearway Energy, Inc. by its subsidiary, Clearway Energy LLC, were $121 million, $87 million, and $130 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
SCHEDULE II. VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Balance at Beginning of Period | | Charged to Costs and Expenses | | Charged to Other Accounts | | | | Balance at End of Period |
| (In millions) |
Income tax valuation allowance, deducted from deferred tax assets | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended December 31, 2020 | $ | 15 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 15 | |
Year Ended December 31, 2019 | 15 | | | — | | | — | | | | | 15 | |
Year Ended December 31, 2018 | 10 | | | 5 | | | — | | | | | 15 | |
EXHIBIT INDEX
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Number | | Description | | Method of Filing | |
2.1* | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.10 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on March 1, 2018. | |
2.2* | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on December 9, 2019. | |
2.3 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on November 20, 2020. | |
3.1 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 4, 2020. | |
3.2 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 5, 2018. | |
4.1 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 5, 2018. | |
4.2 | | Indenture, dated February 11, 2014, among NRG Yield, Inc., NRG Yield Operating LLC and NRG Yield LLC, as Guarantors, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, re: the Company’s 3.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2019. | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 11, 2014. | |
4.3 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 11, 2014. | |
4.4 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 5, 2014. | |
4.5 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 5, 2014. | |
4.6 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 5, 2014. | |
4.7 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 13, 2014. | |
4.8 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 27, 2015. | |
4.9 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 16, 2015. | |
4.10 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 8, 2015. | |
4.11 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 29, 2015. | |
4.12 | |
| | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 29, 2015. | |
4.13 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.13 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2019. | |
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4.14 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.14 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2019. | |
4.15 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 18, 2016. | |
4.16 | |
| | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 18, 2016. | |
4.17 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 18, 2016. | |
4.18 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Clearway Energy LLC's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 31, 2018. | |
4.19 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Clearway Energy LLC's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 31, 2018. | |
4.20 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 12, 2018. | |
4.21 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 12, 2018. | |
4.22 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 2, 2018. | |
4.23 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 2, 2018. | |
4.24 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 6, 2018. | |
4.25 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 6, 2018. | |
4.26 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 2, 2018. | |
4.27 | |
| | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 2, 2018. | |
4.28 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 2, 2018. | |
4.29 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 31, 2018. | |
4.30 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 31, 2018.
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4.31 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 31, 2018.
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4.32 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 12, 2018. | |
4.33 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 12, 2018. | |
4.34 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 12, 2018.
| |
4.35 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 12, 2019. | |
4.36 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 12, 2019. | |
4.37 | |
| | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 12, 2019.
| |
4.38 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 22, 2019. | |
4.39 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 22, 2019. | |
4.40 | |
| | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 22, 2019.
| |
4.41 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 12, 2019. | |
4.42 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 12, 2019.
| |
4.43 | | | | Filed herewith. | |
4.44 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 8, 2020. | |
4.45 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 8, 2020. | |
4.46 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 8, 2020. | |
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4.47 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 3, 2020. | |
4.48 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 3, 2020. | |
4.49 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 3, 2020. | |
4.50 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 21, 2020. | |
4.51 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 21, 2020. | |
4.52 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 21, 2020. | |
4.53 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 20, 2020. | |
4.54 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 20, 2020. | |
4.55 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 20, 2020. | |
4.56 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 19, 2020. | |
4.57 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 19, 2020. | |
4.58 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 19, 2020. | |
4.59 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 4, 2020. | |
4.60 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 4, 2020. | |
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4.61 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 4, 2020. | |
4.62 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 29, 2020. | |
4.63 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 29, 2020. | |
4.64 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 29, 2020. | |
4.65 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 5, 2021. | |
4.66 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 5, 2021. | |
4.67 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 5, 2021. | |
10.1 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 5, 2018. | |
10.2 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 5, 2018. | |
10.3.1 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 5, 2018. | |
10.3.2 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 14, 2019. | |
10.3.3 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 6, 2019. | |
10.3.4 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 9, 2019. | |
10.3.5 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 5, 2020. | |
10.4 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 5, 2018. | |
10.5 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 5, 2018. | |
10.6 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 5, 2018. | |
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10.7 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 5, 2018. | |
10.9† | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2019. | |
10.10 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2019. | |
10.11.1 | | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated April 25, 2014, by and among NRG Yield Operating LLC, NRG Yield LLC, Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent, the lenders party thereto, Royal Bank of Canada, Goldman Sachs Bank USA and Bank of America, N.A., as L/C Issuers and RBC Capital Markets as Sole Left Lead Arranger and Sole Left Lead Book Runner. | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 28, 2014. | |
10.11.2 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 4, 2015.
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10.11.3 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 12, 2018. | |
10.11.4 | | Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and Administrative Agent Resignation and Appointment Agreement, dated as of April 30, 2018, by and among NRG Yield Operating LLC, NRG Yield LLC, the guarantors party thereto, Royal Bank of Canada, as Resigning Administrative Agent, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Successor Administrative Agent, and the lenders party thereto. | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 3, 2018. | |
10.11.5 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 6, 2018. | |
10.11.6 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 23, 2019.
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10.12† | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A, filed on August 9, 2016. | |
10.13† | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 1, 2018. | |
10.14† | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2019. | |
10.15† | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2019. | |
10.16† | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2019. | |
10.17† | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2019. | |
10.18† | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 2, 2020. | |
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10.19† | | | | Filed herewith.
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10.20† | | | | Filed herewith.
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10.21^ | | Consent and Indemnity Agreement, dated as of February 6, 2018, by and among NRG Energy, Inc., NRG Repowering Holdings LLC, NRG Yield, Inc., and GIP III Zephyr Acquisition Partners, L.P., and NRG Yield Operating LLC (solely with respect to Sections E.5, E.6 and G.12). | | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on March 1, 2018. | |
10.22 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2019. | |
10.23 | | Amended and Restated Exchange Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2015, by and among NRG Energy, Inc., NRG Yield, Inc., and NRG Yield LLC and, pursuant to a joinder thereto, dated as of August 31, 2018, Zephyr Renewables LLC. | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 15, 2015. | |
10.24 | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 15, 2015. | |
10.25*^ | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 20, 2020. | |
10.26*^ | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 20, 2020. | |
10.27*^ | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 20, 2020. | |
10.28†* | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 22, 2020. | |
10.29†* | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 22, 2020. | |
10.30†* | | | | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 22, 2020. | |
10.31*^ | | | | Filed herewith. | |
21.1 | | | | Filed herewith. | |
23.1 | | | | Filed herewith. | |
24.1 | | | | Included on the signature page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. | |
31.1 | | | | Filed herewith. | |
31.2 | | | | Filed herewith. | |
31.3 | | | | Filed herewith. | |
32 | | | | Furnished herewith. | |
101 INS | | Inline XBRL Instance Document. | | Filed herewith. | |
101 SCH | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema. | | Filed herewith. | |
101 CAL | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase. | | Filed herewith. | |
101 DEF | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase. | | Filed herewith. | |
101 LAB | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase. | | Filed herewith. | |
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101 PRE | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase. | | Filed herewith. | |
104 | | Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page interactive date file does not appear in Exhibit 104 because its Inline XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | | | |
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† | | Indicates exhibits that constitute compensatory plans or arrangements. |
* | | This filing excludes schedules pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K, which the registrant agrees to furnish supplementary to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request by the Commission. |
^ | | Information in this exhibit identified by the mark “[***]” is confidential and has been excluded pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K because it (i) is not material and (ii) would likely cause competitive harm to the Registrant if disclosed.
|
Item 16 — Form 10-K Summary
None.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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| CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC. (Registrant) | |
| | |
| /s/ CHRISTOPHER S. SOTOS | |
| Christopher S. Sotos | |
| Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | |
|
Date: March 1, 2021 | | |
|
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Christopher S. Sotos, Kevin P. Malcarney and Michael A. Brown, each or any of them, such person's true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution for such person and in such person's name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this report on Form 10-K, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary or desirable to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or his or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Signature | | Title | | Date |
/s/ CHRISTOPHER S. SOTOS | | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | | March 1, 2021 |
Christopher S. Sotos | | (Principal Executive Officer) | |
/s/ CHAD PLOTKIN | | Chief Financial Officer | | March 1, 2021 |
Chad Plotkin | | (Principal Financial Officer) | |
/s/ SARAH RUBENSTEIN | | Vice President, Accounting & Controller | | March 1, 2021 |
Sarah Rubenstein | | (Principal Accounting Officer) | |
/s/ JONATHAN BRAM | | Chairman of the Board | | March 1, 2021 |
Jonathan Bram | | |
/s/ NATHANIEL ANSCHUETZ | | Director | | March 1, 2021 |
Nathaniel Anschuetz | | |
/s/ BRIAN FORD | | Director | | March 1, 2021 |
Brian Ford | | |
/s/ BRUCE MACLENNAN | | Director | | March 1, 2021 |
Bruce MacLennan | | |
/s/ FERRELL MCCLEAN | | Director | | March 1, 2021 |
Ferrell McClean | | |
/s/ DANIEL B. MORE | | Director | | March 1, 2021 |
Daniel B. More | | |
/s/ E. STANLEY O'NEAL | | Director | | March 1, 2021 |
E. Stanley O'Neal | | |
/s/ SCOTT STANLEY | | Director | | March 1, 2021 |
Scott Stanley | | |
DocumentDESCRIPTION OF THE REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES
REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
As of December 31, 2020, Clearway Energy, Inc. (the “Registrant” or “Clearway Inc.”) had two classes of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”): (i) Common Stock, Class A, par value $0.01 per share, and (ii) Common Stock, Class C, par value $0.01 per share. In addition, Clearway Energy Operating LLC (“Clearway Operating LLC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Clearway Energy LLC (“Clearway LLC”), which is a direct subsidiary of Clearway Inc., had two classes of securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act as of December 31, 2020: (i) 5.750% unsecured senior notes due 2025 and (ii) 5.00% unsecured senior notes due 2026 (collectively, the “Clearway Operating LLC Senior Notes”). A description of the Clearway Operating LLC Senior Notes is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.37 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Clearway LLC.
Description of Clearway Inc.’s Capital Stock
The following description of Clearway Inc.’s common stock is a summary and does not purport to be complete. It is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to Clearway Inc.’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, and Clearway Inc.’s fourth amended and restated bylaws, which are exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and are incorporated by reference herein. The following description may not contain all of the information that is important to you. To understand them fully, you should read Clearway Inc.’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, and Clearway Inc.’s fourth amended and restated bylaws and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”).
Authorized Capitalization
Our authorized capital stock consists, as of December 31, 2020, of:
(i)500,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class A common stock”), of which 34,599,645 shares are issued and outstanding;
(ii) 500,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class B common stock”), of which 42,738,750 shares are issued and outstanding;
(iii) 1,000,000,000 shares of Class C common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class C common stock”), of which 78,742,854 shares are issued and outstanding;
(iv) 1,000,000,000 shares of Class D common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class D common stock”), of which 42,738,750 shares are issued and outstanding; and
(v) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, none of which are issued and outstanding.
In addition, as of December 31, 2020, (i) an aggregate of 908,335 shares of Class A common stock and Class C common stock are reserved for issuance under Clearway Inc.’s equity- based compensation plans, (ii) an aggregate of 42,738,750 shares of Class A common stock are reserved for issuance upon the exchange of Class B units of Clearway LLC and (iii) an aggregate of 42,738,750 shares of Class C common stock are reserved for issuance upon the exchange of Class D units of Clearway LLC. Unless Clearway Inc.’s Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”) determines otherwise, Clearway Inc. will issue all shares of its capital stock in uncertificated form.
Class A Common Stock
Voting Rights
Each share of Class A common stock entitles the holder to one vote with respect to each matter presented to Clearway Inc.’s stockholders on which the holders of Class A common stock are entitled to vote. Holders of shares of Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock and Class D common stock vote together as a single class on all matters presented to stockholders for their vote or approval, except as otherwise required by applicable law or the listing requirements of any exchange on which shares of Clearway Inc.’s common stock are listed. Holders of Class A common stock do not have cumulative voting rights. Except in respect of matters relating to the election and removal of directors on the Board of Directors and as otherwise provided in Clearway Inc.’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or required by law, all matters to be voted on by holders of the Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock and Class D common stock must be approved by a majority, on a combined basis, of such shares present in person or by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter. In the case of election of directors, all matters to be voted on by stockholders must be approved by a plurality of the votes entitled to be cast by all shares of common stock on a combined basis.
Dividend Rights
Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding preferred stock, the holders of Clearway Inc.’s outstanding shares of Class A common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors out of legally available funds. Dividends upon shares of the Class A common stock may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting, and may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of capital stock. The holders of shares of Class A common stock and Class C common stock will share ratably in all dividends as may be declared by the Board of Directors in respect of the outstanding common stock. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any of Clearway Inc.’s funds available for dividends, such sums as the Board of Directors deems proper as reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any of Clearway Inc.’s property or for any proper purpose, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve. Furthermore, because Clearway Inc. is a holding company, its ability to pay dividends on the Class A common stock is limited by restrictions on the ability of its subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other distributions to Clearway Inc., including restrictions under the terms of the agreements governing its indebtedness.
Liquidation Rights
In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Clearway Inc.’s affairs, holders of shares of Class A common stock would be entitled to share ratably in Clearway Inc.’s assets that are legally available for distribution to stockholders after payment of its debts and other liabilities and the liquidation preference of any of the outstanding shares of preferred stock, subject only to the right of the holders of shares of Class B common stock and Class D common stock to receive payment for the par value of their shares in connection with Clearway Inc.’s liquidation.
Other Rights
Holders of shares of Clearway Inc.’s Class A common stock have no preemptive, conversion or other rights to subscribe for additional shares. All outstanding shares are, when sold, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of shares of Class A common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that Clearway Inc. may designate and issue in the future.
Listing
The Class A common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “CWEN.A.”
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for the Class A common stock is Computershare Shareowner Services, LLC.
Class B Common Stock
Voting Rights
Each share of Class B common stock entitles the holder to one vote with respect to each matter presented to Clearway Inc.’s stockholders on which the holders of Class B common stock are entitled to vote. Holders of shares of Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock and Class D common stock vote together as a single class on all matters presented to Clearway Inc.’s stockholders for their vote or approval, except as otherwise required by applicable law or the listing requirements of any exchange on which shares of Clearway Inc.’s common stock are listed. Holders of shares of Class B common stock do not have cumulative voting rights. Except in respect of matters relating to the election and removal of directors on the Board of Directors and as otherwise provided in Clearway Inc.’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or required by law, all matters to be voted on by holders of shares of Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock and Class D common stock must be approved by a majority, on a combined basis, of such shares present in person or by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter. In the case of election of directors, all matters to be voted on by Clearway Inc.’s stockholders must be approved by a plurality of the votes entitled to be cast by all shares of common stock on a combined basis.
Dividend and Liquidation Rights
Holders of shares of Class B common stock do not have any right to receive dividends, other than dividends payable solely in shares of Class B common stock in the event of payment of a dividend in shares of common stock payable to holders of Class A common stock and Class C common stock, or to receive a distribution upon liquidation or winding up except for their right to receive payment for the par value of their shares of Class B common stock in connection with Clearway Inc.’s liquidation.
Mandatory Redemption
Shares of Class B common stock are subject to redemption at a price per share equal to par value upon the conversion of Class B units of Clearway LLC to Class A units of Clearway LLC. Shares of Class B common stock so redeemed are automatically cancelled and are not available to be reissued.
Class C Common Stock
Voting Rights
Each share of Class C common stock entitles the holder to 1/100th of one vote with respect to each matter presented to Clearway Inc.’s stockholders on which the holders of Class C common stock are entitled to vote. Holders of shares of Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock and Class D common stock vote together as a single class on all matters presented to stockholders for their vote or approval, except as otherwise required by applicable law or the listing requirements of any exchange on which shares of Clearway Inc.’s common stock are listed. Holders of shares of Class C common stock do not have cumulative voting rights. Except in respect of matters relating to the election and removal of directors on the Board of Directors and as otherwise provided in Clearway Inc.’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or required by law, all matters to be voted on by holders of shares of the Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock and Class D common stock must be approved by a majority, on a combined basis, of such shares present in person or by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter. In the case of election of directors, all matters to be voted on by stockholders must be approved by a plurality of the votes entitled to be cast by all shares of common stock on a combined basis.
Dividend Rights
Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding preferred stock, the holders of Clearway Inc.’s outstanding shares of Class C common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors out of legally available funds. Dividends upon shares of Class C common stock may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting, and may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of capital stock. The holders of shares of Class C common stock and Class A common stock will share ratably in all dividends as may be declared by the Board of Directors in respect of the outstanding common stock. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any of Clearway Inc.’s funds available for dividends, such sums as the Board of Directors deems proper as reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any of Clearway Inc.’s property or for any proper purpose, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve. Furthermore, because Clearway Inc. is a holding company, its ability to pay dividends on shares of Class C common stock is limited by restrictions on the ability of its subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other distributions to Clearway Inc., including restrictions under the terms of the agreements governing its indebtedness.
Liquidation Rights
In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Clearway Inc.’s affairs, holders of shares of Class C common stock would be entitled to share ratably in Clearway Inc.’s assets that are legally available for distribution to stockholders after payment of its debts and other liabilities and the liquidation preference of any of the outstanding shares of preferred stock, subject only to the right of the holders of shares of Class B common stock and Class D common stock to receive payment for the par value of their shares in connection with Clearway Inc.’s liquidation.
Other Rights
Holders of shares of Clearway Inc.’s Class C common stock have no preemptive, conversion or other rights to subscribe for additional shares. All outstanding shares are, when issued, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of shares of Class C common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that Clearway Inc. may designate and issue in the future.
Equal Status
Except as expressly provided in Clearway Inc.’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, including with respect to voting rights, shares of Class C common stock have the same rights and privileges and rank equally, share ratably and are identical in all respects to the shares of Class A common stock as to all matters, including in the event of a liquidation or in connection with a change of control. In the event of any merger, consolidation, or other business combination requiring the approval of Clearway Inc.’s stockholders entitled to vote thereon (whether or not Clearway Inc. is the surviving entity), the holders of shares of Class C common stock shall receive the same amount and form of consideration on a per share basis as the consideration, if any, received by holders of shares of Class A common stock in connection with such merger, consolidation or combination (and if holders of shares of Class A common stock are entitled to make an election as to the amount or form of consideration that such holders shall receive in any such merger, consolidation or combination with respect to their shares of Class A common stock, then the holders of shares of Class C common stock shall be entitled to make the same election as to their shares of Class C common stock). In the event of any (i) tender or exchange offer to acquire any shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock by any third party pursuant to an agreement to which Clearway Inc. is a party; or (ii) any tender or exchange offer or any other redemption or repurchase by Clearway Inc. to acquire any shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock, the holders of shares of Class C common stock shall receive the same amount and form of consideration on a per share basis as the consideration received by holders of shares of Class A common stock (and if holders of shares of Class A common stock are entitled to make an election as to the amount or form of consideration that such holders shall receive in any such tender or exchange
offer or other repurchase with respect to their shares of Class A common stock, then the holders of shares of Class C common stock shall be entitled to make the same election as to their shares of Class C common stock).
Listing
The Class C common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “CWEN.”
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for the Class C common stock is Computershare Shareowner Services, LLC.
Class D Common Stock
Voting Rights
Each share of Class D common stock entitles the holder to 1/100th of one vote with respect to each matter presented to Clearway Inc.’s stockholders on which the holders of Class D common stock are entitled to vote. Holders of shares of Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock and Class D common stock vote together as a single class on all matters presented to Clearway Inc.’s stockholders for their vote or approval, except as otherwise required by applicable law or the listing requirements of any exchange on which shares of Clearway Inc.’s amended and common stock are listed. Holders of shares of Class D common stock do not have cumulative voting rights. Except in respect of matters relating to the election and removal of directors on the Board of Directors and as otherwise provided in Clearway Inc.’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or required by law, all matters to be voted on by holders of shares of Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock, and Class D common stock must be approved by a majority, on a combined basis, of such shares present in person or by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter. In the case of election of directors, all matters to be voted on by Clearway Inc.’s stockholders must be approved by a plurality of the votes entitled to be cast by all shares of common stock on a combined basis.
Dividend and Liquidation Rights
Holders of shares of Class D common stock do not have any right to receive dividends, other than dividends payable solely in shares of Class D common stock in the event of payment of a dividend in shares of common stock payable to holders of Class A common stock and Class C common stock, or to receive a distribution upon liquidation or winding up except for their right to receive payment for the par value of their shares of Class D common stock in connection with Clearway Inc.’s liquidation.
Mandatory Redemption
Shares of Class D common stock are subject to redemption at a price per share equal to par value upon the conversion of Class D units of Clearway LLC. Shares of Class D common stock so redeemed are automatically cancelled and are not available to be reissued.
Authorized but Unissued Capital Stock
Delaware law does not require stockholder approval for any issuance of authorized shares. However, the listing requirements of the NYSE, which would apply so long as the shares of Class A common stock and Class C common stock remain listed on the NYSE, require stockholder approval of certain issuances equal to or exceeding 20% of the then outstanding voting power or the then outstanding number of shares of Class A common stock and Class C common stock. These additional shares may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings, to raise additional capital or to facilitate acquisitions.
One of the effects of the existence of unissued and unreserved common stock or preferred stock may be to enable the Board of Directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management, which issuance could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of Clearway Inc. by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and thereby protect the continuity of Clearway Inc.’s management and possibly deprive the stockholders of opportunities to sell their shares at prices higher than prevailing market prices.
Preferred Stock
Under Clearway Inc.’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, Clearway Inc. will continue to be authorized to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, none of which is issued and outstanding.
The Board of Directors is authorized to provide for the issuance of shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the preferences, powers and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including the dividend rate, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption rights and liquidation preference and to fix the number of shares to be included in any such series without any further vote or action by Clearway Inc.’s stockholders. Any preferred stock so issued may rank senior to Clearway Inc.’s common stock with respect to the payment of dividends or amounts upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or both. The issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of Clearway Inc. without further action by the stockholders and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of the holders of common stock. The issuance of preferred stock with voting and conversion rights may adversely affect the voting power of the holders of common stock, including the loss of voting control to others. At present, Clearway Inc. has no plans to issue any preferred stock.
Antitakeover Effects of Delaware Law and Clearway Inc.’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
In addition to the disproportionate voting rights that Global Infrastructure Investors III, LLC (“GIP”) has as a result of its indirect ownership of Class B common stock and Class D common stock, some provisions of Delaware law contain, and Clearway Inc.’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and Clearway Inc.’s fourth amended and restated bylaws described below contain, a number of provisions which may have the effect of encouraging persons considering unsolicited tender offers or other unilateral takeover proposals to negotiate with the Board of Directors rather than pursue non-negotiated takeover attempts, which Clearway Inc. believes may result in an improvement of the terms of any such acquisition in favor of Clearway Inc.’s stockholders. However, they also give the Board of Directors the power to discourage acquisitions that some stockholders may favor.
Undesignated Preferred Stock
The ability to authorize undesignated preferred stock will make it possible for the Board of Directors to issue preferred stock with superior voting, special approval, dividend or other rights or preferences on a discriminatory basis that could impede the success of any attempt to acquire Clearway Inc.. These and other provisions may have the effect of deferring, delaying or discouraging hostile takeovers, or changes in control or management of the company.
Meetings and Elections of Directors
Special Meetings of Stockholders. Clearway Inc.’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by the Board of Directors by a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors then in office.
Elimination of Stockholder Action by Written Consent. Clearway Inc.’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and its fourth amended and restated bylaws provide that holders of Clearway Inc.’s common stock cannot act by written consent in lieu of a meeting.
Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring on the Board of Directors and any newly created directorship may be filled only by a majority of the directors remaining in office (even if less than a quorum), subject to the rights of holders of any series of preferred stock.
Amendments
Amendments of Certificate of Incorporation. The provisions described above under “—Special Meetings of Stockholders,” “—Elimination of Stockholder Action by Written Consent” and “—Vacancies” may be amended only by the affirmative vote of holders of at least two-thirds of the combined voting power of outstanding shares of Clearway Inc.’s capital stock entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
Amendment of Bylaws. The Board of Directors has the power to make, alter, amend, change or repeal Clearway Inc.’s bylaws or adopt new bylaws by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors then in office.
Notice Provisions Relating to Stockholder Proposals and Nominees
Clearway Inc.’s fourth amended and restated bylaws also impose some procedural requirements on stockholders who wish to make nominations in the election of directors or propose any other business to be brought before an annual or special meeting of stockholders.
Specifically, a stockholder may (i) bring a proposal before an annual meeting of stockholders, (ii) nominate a candidate for election to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting of stockholders, or (iii) nominate a candidate for election to the Board of Directors at a special meeting of stockholders that has been called for the purpose of electing directors, only if such stockholder delivers timely notice to Clearway Inc.’s corporate secretary. The notice must be in writing and must include certain information and comply with the delivery requirements as set forth in the bylaws.
To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received at Clearway Inc.’s principal executive offices:
•in the case of a nomination or other business in connection with an annual meeting of stockholders, not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days before or delayed more than 70 days after the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder must be delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by Clearway Inc.;
•in the case of a nomination in connection with a special meeting of stockholders, not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day before such special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by Clearway Inc..
With respect to special meetings of stockholders, Clearway Inc.’s fourth amended and restated bylaws provide that only such business shall be conducted as shall have been stated in the notice of the meeting.
Delaware Antitakeover Law
Clearway Inc. is presently subject to Section 203 of the DGCL. Section 203 provides that, subject to certain exceptions specified in the law, a Delaware corporation shall not engage in certain “business combinations” with any “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder unless:
•prior to such time, the Board of Directors approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;
•upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding certain shares; or
•at or subsequent to that time, the business combination is approved by the Board of Directors and by the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.
Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to certain exceptions, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with that person’s affiliates and associates, owns, or within the previous three years did own, 15% or more of Clearway Inc.’s voting stock.
Under certain circumstances, Section 203 makes it more difficult for a person who would be an “interested stockholder” to effect various business combinations with a corporation for a three-year period. The provisions of Section 203 may encourage companies interested in acquiring Clearway Inc. to negotiate in advance with the Board of Directors because the stockholder approval requirement would be avoided if the Board of Directors approves either the business combination or the transaction that results in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder. These provisions also may make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
Amendments
Any amendments to Clearway Inc.’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, subject to the rights of holders of Clearway Inc.’s preferred stock, regarding the provisions thereof summarized under “—Antitakeover Effects of Delaware Law and Clearway Inc.’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws” will require the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all shares of common stock then outstanding.
Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Clearway Energy LLC
The following is a description of the material terms of the fourth amended and restated limited liability company agreement of Clearway LLC.
Governance
Clearway Inc. serves as the sole managing member of Clearway LLC. As such, Clearway Inc., and effectively the Board of Directors, controls the business and affairs of Clearway LLC and is responsible for the management of its business. No other member of Clearway LLC, in its capacity as such, has any authority or right to control the management of Clearway LLC or to bind it in connection with any matter. Any amendment, supplement or waiver of the Clearway LLC operating agreement must be approved by a majority of Clearway Inc.’s independent directors.
Voting and Economic Rights of Members
Clearway LLC has issued four classes of units: Class A units and Class C units, which may only be issued to Clearway Inc., as the sole managing member, and Class B units and Class D units, which may only be issued to GIP and held by GIP or its permitted transferees. Units of each of the four classes have equivalent economic and other rights, except that upon issuance, each holder of a Class B unit will also be issued a share of Clearway Inc.’s Class B common stock and each holder of a Class D unit will also be issued a share of Clearway Inc.’s Class D common stock. Each Class B unit is exchangeable for a share of Clearway Inc.’s Class A common stock, subject to equitable adjustments for stock splits, dividends and reclassifications in accordance with the terms of the Amended
and Restated Exchange Agreement (as described below), and each Class D unit is exchangeable for a share of Clearway Inc.’s Class C common stock, subject to equitable adjustments for stock splits, dividends and reclassifications in accordance with the terms of the Amended and Restated Exchange Agreement. When GIP or its permitted transferee exchanges a Class B unit of Clearway LLC for a share of Clearway Inc.’s Class A common stock, Clearway Inc. will automatically redeem and cancel a corresponding share of Class B common stock, and the Class B unit will automatically convert into a Class A unit of Clearway LLC issued to Clearway Inc. When GIP or its permitted transferee exchanges a Class D unit of Clearway LLC for a share of Clearway Inc.’s Class C common stock, Clearway Inc. will automatically redeem and cancel a corresponding share of Clearway Inc.’s Class D common stock, and the Class D unit will automatically convert into a Class C unit of Clearway LLC issued to us. None of the units have any voting rights.
Net profits and net losses and distributions by Clearway LLC are allocated and made to holders of units in accordance with the respective number of membership units of Clearway LLC held. Clearway LLC will make distributions to Clearway Inc. and GIP for the purpose of funding tax obligations in respect of income of Clearway LLC that is allocated to the members of Clearway LLC. However, Clearway LLC may not make any distributions to its members if doing so would violate any agreement to which it is then a party or any law then applicable to it, have the effect of rendering it insolvent or result in it having net capital lower than that required by applicable law. Additionally, because all of Clearway Inc.’s operations are conducted through Clearway Operating LLC, and Clearway Operating LLC’s Amended and Restated Credit Agreement restricts the ability of Clearway Operating LLC to make distributions to Clearway LLC, Clearway LLC may not have any funds available to make distributions to Clearway Inc. and GIP (including with respect to tax obligations).
Coordination of Clearway Inc. and Clearway LLC
At any time Clearway Inc. issues a share of its Class A common stock or Class C common stock for cash, the net proceeds therefrom will promptly be transferred to Clearway LLC and Clearway LLC will either:
•transfer a newly issued Class A unit of Clearway LLC to Clearway Inc. in the case of the issuance of a share of Class A common stock, or transfer a newly issued Class C unit of Clearway LLC to Clearway Inc. in the case of the issuance of a share of Class C common stock; or
•use the net proceeds to purchase a Class B unit of Clearway LLC from GIP in the case of the issuance of a share of Class A common stock, which Class B unit will automatically convert into a Class A unit of Clearway LLC when transferred to Clearway Inc. or use the net proceeds to purchase a Class D unit of Clearway LLC from GIP in the case of the issuance of a share of Class C common stock, which Class D unit will automatically convert into a Class C unit of Clearway LLC when transferred to Clearway Inc.
In the event Clearway LLC purchases a Class B unit or a Class D unit of Clearway LLC from GIP, Clearway Inc. will concurrently redeem and cancel the corresponding share of its Class B common stock or Class D common stock, as applicable.
If Clearway Inc. issues other classes or series of equity securities, Clearway LLC will issue, and Clearway Inc. will use the net proceeds therefrom to purchase, an equal amount of units with designations, preferences and other rights and terms that are substantially the same as Clearway Inc.’s newly-issued equity securities. Conversely, if Clearway Inc. elects to redeem any shares of its Class A common stock or Class C common stock (or its equity securities of other classes or series) for cash, Clearway LLC will, immediately prior to such redemption, redeem an equal number of Class A units or Class C units (or its units of the corresponding classes or series) held by Clearway Inc. upon the same terms and for the same price, as the shares of Class A common stock or Class C common stock (or equity securities of such other classes or series) so redeemed.
Issuances and Transfer of Units
Class A units and Class C units may only be issued to Clearway Inc., as the sole managing member of Clearway LLC, and are non-transferable except upon redemption by Clearway LLC. Class B units and Class D units
may only be issued to GIP. Class B units and Class D units may not be transferred without Clearway Inc.’s consent, which may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, except GIP may transfer Class B units or Class D units to any of its direct or indirect limited partners or other equityholders and to permitted transferee (including an affiliate) without Clearway Inc.’s consent. GIP may not transfer any Class B units or Class D units to any person unless GIP transfers an equal number of shares of Clearway Inc.’s Class B common stock or Class D common stock, as applicable, to the same transferee.
Amended and Restated Exchange Agreement
Clearway Inc. entered into an amended and restated exchange agreement pursuant to which GIP (as successor-in-interest to NRG Energy, Inc.) (and certain permitted assignees and permitted transferees who acquire Class B units or Class D units of Clearway LLC) may from time to time cause Clearway LLC to exchange its Class B units for shares of Clearway Inc.’s Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications, or to exchange its Class D units for shares of Clearway Inc.’s Class C common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends, and reclassifications (the “Amended and Restated Exchange Agreement”). The Amended and Restated Exchange Agreement also provides that, subject to certain exceptions, holders do not have the right to cause Clearway LLC to exchange Class B or Class D units if Clearway LLC determines that such exchange would be prohibited by law or regulation or would violate other agreements to which Clearway Inc. may be subject, and Clearway Inc. may impose additional restrictions on exchange that it determines necessary or advisable so that Clearway LLC is not treated as a “publicly traded partnership” for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
When GIP or its permitted transferee exchanges a Class B unit of Clearway LLC for a share of Clearway Inc.’s Class A common stock, Clearway Inc. will automatically redeem and cancel a corresponding share of Clearway Inc.’s Class B common stock and the Class B unit will automatically convert into a Class A unit when issued to Clearway Inc. Similarly, when GIP or its permitted transferee exchanges a Class D unit of Clearway LLC for a share of Clearway Inc.’s Class C common stock, Clearway Inc. will automatically redeem and cancel a corresponding share of Clearway Inc.’s Class D common stock and the Class D unit will automatically convert into a Class C unit when issued to Clearway Inc. As a result, when a holder exchanges its Class B units for shares of Clearway Inc.’s Class A common stock, or its Class D units for shares of Clearway Inc.’s Class C common stock, Clearway Inc.’s interest in Clearway LLC will be correspondingly increased. Clearway Inc. has reserved for issuance 42,738,750 shares of Clearway Inc.’s Class A common stock, which is the aggregate number of shares of Class A common stock expected to be issued over time upon the exchange of all Class B units of Clearway LLC currently outstanding, and 42,738,750 shares of Clearway Inc.’s Class C common stock, which is the aggregate number of shares of Class C common stock expected to be issued over time upon the exchange of all Class D units of Clearway LLC currently outstanding.
Indemnification and Exculpation
To the extent permitted by applicable law, Clearway LLC will indemnify its managing member, Clearway Inc.’s authorized officers and Clearway Inc.’s other employees and agents from and against any losses, liabilities, damages, costs, expenses, fees or penalties incurred in connection with serving in such capacities, provided that the acts or omissions of these indemnified persons are not the result of fraud, intentional misconduct or a violation of the implied contractual duty of good faith and fair dealing, or any lesser standard of conduct permitted under applicable law.
Such authorized officers and other employees and agents will not be liable to Clearway LLC, its members or their affiliates for damages incurred as a result of any acts or omissions of these persons, provided that the acts or omissions of these exculpated persons are not the result of fraud, intentional misconduct or a violation of the implied contractual duty of good faith and fair dealing, or any lesser standard of conduct permitted under applicable law.
Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement
Clearway Inc. entered into an amended and restated registration rights agreement with GIP (as successor-in-interest to NRG) pursuant to which GIP and its affiliates will be entitled to demand registration rights, including the right to demand that a shelf registration statement be filed, and “piggyback” registration rights, for shares of Clearway Inc.’s Class A common stock that are issuable upon exchange of Class B units of Clearway LLC that it owns, and for shares of Clearway Inc.’s Class C common stock that are issuable upon exchange of Class D units of Clearway LLC that it owns.
DocumentExhibit 10.19
Clearway Energy, Inc.
Executive Change-in-Control
and General Severance Plan
(Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2021)
Contents
| | | | | |
Article 1. Establishment and Term of the Plan | |
Article 2. Definitions | |
Article 3. Severance Benefits | |
Article 4. Ineligibility | |
Article 5. Restrictive Covenants | |
Article 6. Certain Change in Control Payments | |
Article 7. Legal Fees and Notice | |
Article 8. Successors and Assignment | |
Article 9. Miscellaneous | |
Clearway Energy, Inc.
Executive Change-in-Control
and General Severance Plan
Article 1.Establishment and Term of the Plan
a.Establishment of the Plan
. Clearway Energy, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”) originally adopted this plan known as the “Executive Change-in-Control and General Severance Plan” (the “Plan”) effective January 1, 2017. The Plan was amended and restated by the Company as of January 1, 2018, again as of January 1, 2019 and February 18, 2020, and is hereby further amended and restated as of January 1, 2021. The Plan provides Severance Benefits to Senior Vice Presidents and Executive Vice Presidents of the Company (each an “Executive” and collectively the “Executives”) upon certain terminations of employment from the Company.
The Company considers the establishment and maintenance of a sound and vital management to be essential to protecting and enhancing the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. In this connection, the Company recognizes that, as is the case with many publicly held corporations, the possibility of a Change in Control may arise and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and questions which it may raise among management, may result in the departure or distraction of management personnel to the detriment of the Company and its stockholders.
Accordingly, the Board has determined that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of members of the Company’s management to their assigned duties without distraction in circumstances arising from the possibility of a Change in Control of the Company.
b.Initial Term
. This Plan commenced on January 1, 2017 (the “Effective Date”) and shall continue for a period of three (3) years (the “Initial Term”).
c.Successive Periods
. The term of this Plan shall automatically be extended for one (1) additional year at the end of the Initial Term, and then again after each successive one (1) year period thereafter (each such one (1) year period following the Initial Term is referred to as a “Successive Period”). However, the Committee may terminate this Plan at the end of the Initial Term, or at the end of any Successive Period thereafter, by giving the Executives written notice of intent to terminate the Plan, delivered at least six (6) months prior to the end of such Initial Term or Successive Period. If such notice is properly delivered by the Company, this Plan, along with all corresponding rights, duties, and covenants, shall automatically expire at the end of the Initial Term or Successive Period then in progress.
d.Change-in-Control Renewal
. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1.3 above, in the event that a Change in Control of the Company occurs during the Initial Term or any Successive Period, upon the effective date of such Change in Control, the term of this Plan shall automatically and irrevocably be renewed for a period of two (2) years from the effective date of such Change in Control. Further, this Plan may be assigned to the successor in such Change in Control, as further provided in Article 8 herein. This Plan shall thereafter automatically terminate following such two (2) year Change-in-Control renewal period; provided that such termination shall not affect or diminish the rights of Executives who become entitled to benefits or payments under this Plan.
Article 2.Definitions
Whenever used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below and, when the meaning is intended, the initial letter of the word is capitalized.
1.“Accountants” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 6.
2.“Affiliate” means (i) any subsidiary corporation of the Company (or its successors), (ii) any corporation, trade or business (including, without limitation, a partnership or limited liability company) which is directly or indirectly controlled fifty percent (50%) or more (whether by ownership of stock, assets or an equivalent ownership interest or voting interest) by the Company (or its successors), or (iii) any other entity (including its successors) which is designated as an Affiliate by the Board.
3. “Base Salary” means the greater of the Executive’s annual rate of salary, whether or not deferred, at: (i) the Effective Date of Termination or (ii) at the date of the Change in Control.
4.“Beneficiary” means the persons or entities designated or deemed designated by the Executive pursuant to Section 9.6 herein.
5.“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
6.“Cause” means, as to any Executive (i) “Cause”, as defined in any employment, consulting or similar agreement between the Executive and the Company or an Affiliate in effect at the time of the Executive’s separation, or (ii) in the absence of any such employment, consulting or similar agreement (or the absence of any definition of “Cause” contained therein), the occurrence of any of the following:
i.the Executive’s willful misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of the Executive’s duties to the Company or an Affiliate that has or could reasonably be expected to have an adverse effect on the Company or an Affiliate;
ii.the Executive’s willful failure to perform the Executive’s duties to the Company or an Affiliate (other than as a result of death or a physical or mental incapacity);
iii.indictment for, conviction of, or pleading of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude;
iv.the Executive’s performance of any material act of theft, fraud, malfeasance or dishonesty in connection with the performance of the Executive’s duties to the Company or an Affiliate;
v.breach of any written agreement between the Executive and the Company or an Affiliate, or a violation of the Company’s code of conduct or other written policy; or
vi.any other material breach of Article 5 of this Plan.
For purposes of this Plan, there shall be no termination for Cause pursuant to subsections (i) through (vi) above, unless a written notice, containing a detailed description of the grounds constituting Cause hereunder, is delivered to the Executive stating the basis for the termination. Upon receipt of such notice, the Executive shall be given thirty (30) days to fully cure and remedy the neglect or conduct that is the basis of such claim, provided that the Executive’s right to cure shall not apply if there are egregious, habitual or repeated breaches by the Executive.
7.“Change-in-Control Severance Benefits” means the Severance Benefit described in Section 3.2.
8.“Change in Control” shall mean the first to occur of any of the following events:
vii.Any “person” (as that term is used in Sections 13 and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”)) other than Clearway Energy Group LLC or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates (A) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company’s capital stock entitled to vote in the election of directors, excluding any "person" who becomes a "beneficial owner" in connection with a Business Combination (as defined in paragraph (iii) below) which does not constitute a Change in Control under said paragraph (iii); or (B) obtains the power to, directly or indirectly, vote or cause to be voted fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company’s capital stock entitled to vote in the election of directors, including by contract or through proxy; or
viii.Persons who on the Effective Date constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason, including without limitation, as a result of a tender offer, proxy contest, merger, or similar transaction, to
constitute at least a majority thereof, provided that any person becoming a director of the Company subsequent to the Effective Date shall be considered an Incumbent Director if such person’s election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Incumbent Directors; but provided further, that any such person whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of members of the Board or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a “person” (as defined in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) other than the Board, including by reason of agreement intended to avoid or settle any such actual or threatened contest or solicitation, shall not be considered an Incumbent Director; or
ix.Consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the company resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a company which, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the outstanding voting securities of the Company; or
x.The stockholders of the Company approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
9.“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the treasury regulations and other official guidance promulgated thereunder.
10.“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or any other committee appointed by the Board to perform the functions of the Compensation Committee.
11.“Company” means Clearway Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto as provided in Article 8 herein.
12.“Confidential Information” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 5(a).
13.“Delay Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(b).
14.“Disability” shall mean a disability that would entitle Executive to payment of monthly disability payments under any Company long-term disability plan.
15.“Effective Date” means the commencement date of this Plan as specified in Section 1.2 of this Plan.
16.“Effective Date of Termination” means the date on which a Qualifying Termination occurs, as defined hereunder, which triggers the payment of Severance Benefits hereunder.
17.“Executive” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.
18.“Executive Vice President” shall include those employees of the Company with the Job Level of EVP immediately prior to the Change in Control, or such other employee who is designated as an EVP in the Company’s human resources information system immediately prior to the Change in Control other than the CEO.
19. “Former Parent Company” means, collectively NRG Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Xcel Energy, Inc., a Minnesota corporation, and their affiliates and any successors thereto.
20.“General Severance Benefits” means the Severance Benefit described in Section 3.3.
21.“Good Reason” shall mean without the Executive’s express written consent the occurrence of any one or more of the following:
xi.The Company reduces the amount of the Executive’s then current Base Salary or target total compensation by more than fifteen percent (15%), excluding across-the-board reductions to the Executive’s then current Base Salary or annual bonus target pursuant to a compensation reduction program that applies to substantially all similarly situated executives of the Company; provided that, if any reduction of Base Salary or target total compensation occurs during the eighteen (18)-month period described in Section 2(aa)(i) (without regard to whether the reduction applies on an across-the-board basis as described above), then such reduction shall be deemed to constitute Good Reason for purposes of the Plan; or
xii.A material reduction in the Executive’s benefits under or relative level of participation in the Company’s employee benefit or retirement plans, policies, practices, or arrangements in which the Executive participates as of the Effective Date of this Plan, or as of the commencement of Executive’s participation in this Plan, as applicable; or
xiii.A material diminution in the Executive’s title, authority, duties, or responsibilities or the assignment of duties to the Executive which are materially inconsistent with his position; or
xiv.Any relocation of the Executive’s principal place of employment to a location that is more than fifty (50) miles from the Executive’s place of employment as of the Effective Date of this Plan, or as of the commencement of Executive’s participation in this Plan, as applicable, but only if such new location is not closer to the Executive’s primary residence; or
xv.The failure of the Company to obtain in writing the obligation to perform or be bound by the terms of this Plan by any successor to the Company or a purchaser of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company within fifteen (15) days after a merger, consolidation, sale, or similar transaction.
For purposes of this Plan, the Executive is not entitled to assert that his termination is for Good Reason unless the Executive gives the Board written notice of the event or events which are the basis for such claim within ninety (90) days after the event or events occur, describing such claim in reasonably sufficient detail to allow the Board to address the event or events and a period of not less than thirty (30) days after to cure or fully remedy the alleged condition.
22.“Initial Term” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.
23.“Noncompete Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 5(c).
24.“Notice of Termination” shall mean a written notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Plan relied upon, and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated.
25.“Parachute Payment Ratio” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 6.
26.“Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.
27.“Qualifying Termination” means:
xvi.If such event occurs within the time period that is six (6) months immediately prior to, or twelve (12) months immediately following a Change in Control:
a.An involuntary termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company for reasons other than Cause, death, or Disability pursuant to a Notice of Termination delivered to the Executive by the Company; or
b.A voluntary termination by the Executive for Good Reason pursuant to a Notice of Termination delivered to the Company by the Executive; or
xvii.If such event occurs at any other time:
c.An involuntary termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company for reasons other than Cause, death, or Disability pursuant to a Notice of Termination delivered to the Executive by the Company.
28.“Release Effective Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(d).
29.“Senior Vice President” shall include those employees of the Company with the Job Level of SVP immediately prior to the Change in Control, or such other employee who is designated as an SVP in the Company’s human resources information system immediately prior to the Change in Control.
30. “Severance Benefits” means the payment of Change-in-Control or General (as appropriate) Severance compensation as provided in Article 3 herein.
31.“Specified Employee” means any Executive described in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code.
32.“Successive Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.3.
33.“Third Party Information” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 5(a).
34.“Total Payments” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 6.
35.“Work Product” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 5(b).
Article 3.Severance Benefits
a.Right to Severance Benefits
36.Change-in-Control Severance Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to receive from the Company Change-in-Control Severance Benefits, as described in Section 3.2 herein, if a Qualifying Termination of the Executive’s employment has occurred within six (6) months immediately prior to or twelve (12) months immediately following a Change in Control of the Company.
37.General Severance Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to receive from the Company General Severance Benefits, as described in Section 3.3 herein, if a Qualifying Termination of the Executive’s employment has occurred other than
during the six (6) months immediately prior to or twelve (12) months immediately following a Change in Control.
38.No Severance Benefits. The Executive shall not be entitled to receive Severance Benefits if the Executive’s employment with the Company ends for reasons other than a Qualifying Termination.
39.General Release and Acknowledgement of Restrictive Covenants. As a condition to receiving Severance Benefits under either Section 3.2 or 3.3 herein, the Executive shall be obligated to execute a general waiver and release of claims in favor of the Company, its current and former affiliates and stockholders, and the current and former directors, officers, employees, and agents of the Company in a form drafted by and acceptable to the Company, and any revocation period for such release must have expired, in each case within sixty (60) days of the date of termination. The date upon which the executed release is no longer subject to revocation shall be referred to herein as the “Release Effective Date”. The Executive must also execute a notice acknowledging the restrictive covenants in Article 5 within sixty (60) days of the date of termination. Any payments under Section 3.2 or 3.3 shall commence only after execution of the release and acknowledgement, and in the manner provided in Section 3.4. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any instance in which the period in which the Executive could adopt a release (along with its accompanying revocation period) crosses calendar years, no payments shall be made until the succeeding calendar year.
40.No Duplication of Severance Benefits; Reduction of Other Benefits. If the Executive becomes entitled to Change-in-Control Severance Benefits, the Severance Benefits provided for under Section 3.2 hereunder shall be in lieu of all other Severance Benefits provided to the Executive under the provisions of this Plan and any other Company-related or Former Parent Company-related severance plans, programs, or agreements including, but not limited to, the Severance Benefits under Section 3.3 herein. Likewise, if the Executive becomes entitled to General Severance Benefits, the Severance Benefits provided under Section 3.3 hereunder shall be in lieu of all other Severance Benefits provided to the Executive under the provisions of this Plan and any other Company-related severance plans, programs, or other agreements including, but not limited to, the Severance Benefits under Section 3.2 herein. Any benefits provided under this Plan will, to the extent permitted by law, be reduced by the value of any severance benefit required to be paid to the Executive under federal, state or local stature, ordinance or regulation, including any payments or extended periods of employment required to comply with any law governing plant closings, layoffs or similar events. If benefits are paid under this Plan, and, subsequent to such payment, an amount is determined to be payable to the Executive which would under the terms of this section reduce the benefit payable under the Plan, the Company shall be entitled to recover from the Executive the overpayment made under this Plan and shall, to the extent permitted by law, be entitled to offset such
overpayment against any amount owed to the Executive (other than any amount that constitutes “deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A).
b.Description of Change-in-Control Severance Benefits
. In the event the Executive becomes entitled to receive Change-in-Control Severance Benefits, as provided in Section 3.1(a) herein, the Company shall provide the Executive with the following:
41.A lump-sum amount, paid upon the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the Effective Date of Termination, equal to the Executive’s unpaid Base Salary, accrued vacation pay, unreimbursed business expenses, and all other items earned by and owed to the Executive through and including the Effective Date of Termination, provided that to the extent the payment of any amounts pursuant to this Section 3.2(a) does not constitute “deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A, such amounts shall be paid upon the Release Effective Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any instance in which the period in which the Executive could adopt a release (along with its accompanying revocation period) crosses calendar years, no payments shall be made until the succeeding calendar year.
42.A lump-sum amount, paid upon the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the Effective Date of Termination, equal to: (i) two and ninety-nine one-hundredths (2.99) for EVPs, or (ii) two (2) for SVPs times the sum of the following: (A) the Executive’s Base Salary and (B) the Executive’s annual target bonus opportunity in the year of termination; provided that to the extent the payment of any amounts pursuant to this Section 3.2(b) does not constitute “deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A, such amounts shall be paid upon the Release Effective Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any instance in which the period in which the Executive could adopt a release (along with its accompanying revocation period) crosses calendar years, no payments shall be made until the succeeding calendar year.
43.A lump-sum amount, paid upon the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the Effective Date of Termination, equal to the Executive’s then current target bonus opportunity established under the bonus plan in which the Executive is then participating, for the plan year in which a Qualifying Termination occurs, adjusted on a pro rata basis based on the number of days the Executive was actually employed during the bonus plan year in which the Qualifying Termination occurs, provided that to the extent the payment of any amounts pursuant to this Section 3.2(c) does not constitute “deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A, such amounts shall be paid upon the Release Effective Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any instance in which the period in which the Executive could adopt a release (along with its accompanying revocation period) crosses calendar years, no payments shall be made until the succeeding calendar year.
44.Payment of all or a portion of the Executive’s cost to participate in COBRA health and/or dental continuation coverage for eighteen (18) months following the Executive’s Effective Date of Termination, such that Executive maintains the same coverage level and cost, on an after tax basis, as in effect immediately prior to the Executive’s Effective Date of Termination.
Notwithstanding the above, these health and/or dental benefits shall be discontinued prior to the end of the stated continuation period in the event the Executive is eligible to receive substantially similar benefits from a subsequent employer, as determined solely by the Committee in good faith. For purposes of enforcing this offset provision, the Executive shall be deemed to have a duty to keep the Company informed as to the terms and conditions of any subsequent employment and the corresponding benefits earned from such employment, and shall provide, or cause to provide, to the Company in writing correct, complete, and timely information concerning the same.
45.Treatment of outstanding long-term incentives shall be in accordance with the governing plan document and award agreements, if any.
c.Description of General Severance Benefits
. In the event the Executive becomes entitled to receive General Severance Benefits as provided in Section 3.1(b) herein, the Company shall provide the Executive with the following:
46.A lump-sum amount, paid upon the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the Effective Date of Termination, equal to the Executive’s unpaid Base Salary, accrued vacation pay, unreimbursed business expenses, and all other items earned by and owed to the Executive through and including the Effective Date of Termination; provided that to the extent the payment of any amounts pursuant to this Section 3.3(a) does not constitute “deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A, such amounts shall be paid upon the Release Effective Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any instance in which the period in which the Executive could adopt a release (along with its accompanying revocation period) crosses calendar years, no payments shall be made until the succeeding calendar year.
47.A lump-sum amount, paid upon the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the Effective Date of Termination, equal to one and one-half (1.5) times the Executive’s Base Salary; provided that to the extent the payment of any amounts pursuant to this Section 3.3(b) does not constitute “deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A, such amounts shall be paid upon the Release Effective Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any instance in which the period in which the Executive could adopt a release (along with its accompanying revocation period) crosses calendar years, no payments shall be made until the succeeding calendar year.
48.Payment of all or a portion of the Executive’s cost to participate in COBRA health and/or dental continuation coverage for eighteen (18) months following the Executive’s Effective Date of Termination, such that Executive maintains the same coverage level and cost, on an after tax basis, as in effect immediately prior to the Executive’s Effective Date of Termination.
Notwithstanding the above, these health and/or dental insurance benefits shall be discontinued prior to the end of the stated continuation period in the event the Executive is eligible to receive substantially similar benefits from a subsequent employer, as determined solely by the Committee in good faith. For purposes of enforcing this offset provision, the Executive shall be deemed to have a duty to keep the Company informed as to the terms and conditions of any subsequent employment and the corresponding benefits earned from such employment, and shall provide, or cause to provide, to the Company in writing correct, complete, and timely information concerning the same.
49.Treatment of outstanding long-term incentives shall be in accordance with the governing plan document and award agreements, if any.
d.Coordination with Release and Delay Required by Code Section 409A
.
50.To the extent any continuing benefit (or reimbursement thereof) to be provided is not “deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A, then such benefit shall commence or be made immediately after the Release Effective Date. To the extent any continuing benefit (or reimbursement thereof) to be provided is “deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A, then such benefits shall be reimbursed or commence upon the sixtieth (60) day following the Executive’s termination of employment. The delayed benefits shall in any event expire at the time such benefits would have expired had the benefits commenced immediately upon Executive’s termination of employment.
51.Notwithstanding any other payment schedule provided herein to the contrary, if the Executive is deemed on the date of termination to be a Specified Employee, then, once the release and acknowledgement required by Section 3.1(d) is executed and delivered and no longer subject to revocation, any payment that is considered deferred compensation under Code Section 409A payable on account of a “separation from service” shall be made on the date which is the earlier of (A) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of such “separation from service” of the Executive, and (B) the date of the Executive’s death (the “Delay Period”) to the extent required under Code Section 409A. Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments delayed pursuant to this Section 3.4(b) (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single sum or in installments in the absence of such delay) shall be paid to the Executive in a
lump sum, and any remaining payments due under this Plan shall be paid or provided in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein.
Article 4.Ineligibility
a.Comparable Position.
Subject to the provisions of Article 2(aa)(i)(B), the Company may offer, or cause to be offered, an Executive a comparable position, may require an Executive to apply for a comparable position with the Company, any Affiliate, or Clearway Energy Group LLC, or a successor of the Company, any Affiliate or Clearway Energy Group LLC or may reassign an Executive to a new position or a reclassification of the Executive’s current position; provided, that all such positions shall be located within reasonably the same geographic area where the Executive is located at the time a Qualifying Termination occurs. The Company shall determine, in its sole and reasonable discretion, what constitutes a comparable position under this Section 4.1. The failure of an Executive to accept the position, or apply for the position when required by the Company will render the Executive ineligible for benefits under this Plan.
b.Other Circumstances.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, an Executive shall also be ineligible for benefits under this Plan if the Executive:
52.voluntarily terminates employment or retires prior to the Qualifying Termination;
53.is receiving long-term Disability benefits;
54.is entitled to any other compensation or benefit which is determined, in the Company’s sole discretion, to supersede the Severance Benefits offered under this Plan;
55.was discharged for Cause; and
56.was offered employment by a successor employer or by a purchaser in the event of a spin-off or sale of a subsidiary, business unit or business assets of the Company or its subsidiaries, whether or not the Executive accepts or declines the offer of employment.
Article 5.Restrictive Covenants
In the event the Executive becomes entitled to receive Change-in-Control Severance Benefits as provided in Section 3.2 herein or General Severance Benefits as provided in Section 3.3 herein, the following shall apply:
57. Confidential Information. The Executive acknowledges that the information, observations, and data (including trade secrets) obtained by him while employed by the Company concerning the business or affairs of the Company or any of its
affiliates (“Confidential Information”) are the property of the Company or such affiliate. Therefore, except in the course of the Executive’s duties to the Company or as may be compelled by law or appropriate legal process, the Executive agrees that he shall not disclose to any person or entity or use for his own purposes any Confidential Information or any confidential or proprietary information of other persons or entities in the possession of the Company and its affiliates (“Third Party Information”), without the prior written consent of the Board, unless and to the extent that the Confidential Information or Third Party Information becomes generally known to and available for use by the public other than as a result of the Executive’s acts or omissions. Except in the course of the Executive’s duties to Company or as may be compelled by law or appropriate legal process, the Executive will not, during his employment with the Company, or permanently thereafter, directly or indirectly use, divulge, disseminate, disclose, lecture upon, or publish any Confidential Information, without having first obtained written permission from the Board to do so. As of the Effective Date of Termination, the Executive shall deliver to the Company, or at any other time the Company may reasonably request, all memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports, computer files, disks and tapes, printouts and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) embodying or relating to Third Party Information, Confidential Information, or the business of the Company, or its affiliates which he may then possess or have under his control.
58.Intellectual Property, Inventions, and Patents. The Executive acknowledges that all discoveries, concepts, ideas, inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, trade secrets, designs, analyses, drawings, reports, patent applications, copyrightable work and mask work (whether or not including any Confidential Information), and all registrations or applications related thereto, all other proprietary information and all similar or related information (whether or not patentable) which may relate to the Company’s or any of its affiliates’ actual or anticipated business, research and development, or existing or future products or services and which are conceived, developed, or made by the Executive (whether alone or jointly with others) while employed by the Company and its affiliates (“Work Product”), belong to the Company or such affiliate. The Executive shall promptly disclose such Work Product to the Board and, at the Company’s expense, perform all actions reasonably requested by the Board (whether during or after the Executive’s employment with the Company) to establish and confirm such ownership (including, without limitation, assignments, consents, powers of attorney, and other instruments). The Executive acknowledges that all applicable Work Product shall be deemed to constitute “works made for hire” under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, as amended. To the extent any Work Product is not deemed a work made for hire, then the Executive hereby assigns to the Company or such affiliate all right, title, and interest in and to such Work Product, including all related intellectual property rights.
The Executive is hereby advised that the above paragraph regarding the Company’s and its affiliates’ ownership of Work Product does not apply to any invention for which no equipment, supplies, facilities, or trade secret information of the Company or any affiliate was used and which was developed entirely on the Executive’s own time, unless: (i) the invention relates to the business of the Company or any affiliate or to the Company’s or any affiliate’s actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (ii) the invention results from any work performed by the Executive for the Company or any affiliate.
59.Noncompete. In further consideration of the compensation to be paid to the Executive hereunder, the Executive acknowledges that during the course of his employment with the Company and its affiliates he shall become familiar with the Company’s trade secrets and with other Confidential Information concerning the Company and its affiliates and that his services shall be of special, unique, and extraordinary value to the Company and its affiliates, and therefore, the Executive agrees that, during the Executive’s employment with the Company and for one (1) year thereafter (the “Noncompete Period”), the Executive shall not directly or indirectly own any interest in, manage, control, participate in, consult with, render services for, be employed in an executive, managerial, or administrative capacity by, or in any manner engage in any company engaged in the business of wholesale or retail power generation, or any other business which competes with the businesses of the Company or its affiliates, as such businesses exist or are in process during the Executive’s employment with the Company, within any geographical area in which the Company or its affiliates engage or have definitive plans to engage in such businesses. Nothing herein shall prohibit the Executive from being a passive owner of not more than two percent (2%) of the outstanding stock of any class of a corporation which is publicly traded, so long as the Executive has no active participation in the business of such corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Article 5(c) shall not apply in the case of termination of the Executive’s employment pursuant to any material breach of the Company’s obligations under Article 3 which remains uncured for more than twenty (20) days after notice is received from the Executive of such breach, which such notice shall include a detailed description of the grounds constituting such breach.
60.Nonsolicitation. During the Noncompete Period, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly through another person or entity: (i) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates to leave the employ of the Company or such affiliate, or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any affiliate and any employee thereof; (ii) hire any person who was an employee of the Company or any affiliate during the last six (6) months of the Executive’s employment with the Company; or (iii) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee, licensor, franchisee, or other business relation of the Company or any affiliate to cease doing business with the Company or such affiliate, or in any interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee, or business relation and the Company or any
affiliate (including, without limitation, making any negative or disparaging statements or communications regarding the Company or its affiliates).
61.Nondisparagement. During the Noncompete Period, Executive shall not disparage the Company, its subsidiaries and parents, and their respective officers, managers and employees, or make any public statement (whether written or oral) reflecting negatively on the Company, its subsidiaries and parents, and their respective officers, managers, and employees, including, but not limited to, any matters relating to the operation or management of the Company, irrespective of the truthfulness or falsity of such statement, except as may otherwise be required by applicable law or compelled by process of law. By way of example and not limitation, Executive agrees that he will not make any written or oral statements that cast in a negative light the services, qualifications, business operations or business ethics of the Company or its employees. During the Noncompete Period, the Company shall not disparage Executive, or make any public statement (whether written or oral) reflecting negatively on Executive, including, but not limited to, any matters relating to the operation or management of the Company, irrespective of the truthfulness or falsity of such statement, except as may otherwise be required by applicable law or compelled by process of law. Nothing in this Article 5(e) shall restrict either party's ability to: (i) consult with counsel, (ii) make truthful statements under oath or to a government agency or official, or (iii) take any legal action with respect to his employment or termination of employment with the Company.
62.Duration, Scope, or Area. If, at the time of enforcement of this Article 5, a court shall hold that the duration, scope, or area restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties agree that the maximum duration, scope, or area reasonable under such circumstances shall be substituted for the stated duration, scope, or area and that the court shall be allowed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum period, scope, and area permitted by law. Section 5(c) and 5(d) shall not apply to any Executive whose principal work location for the Company at the time of termination was in the State of California.
63.Company Enforcement. In the event of a breach or a threatened breach by the Executive of any of the provisions of this Article 5, the Company would suffer irreparable harm, and in addition and supplementary to other rights and remedies existing in its favor, the Company shall be entitled to specific performance and/or injunctive or other equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions hereof (without posting a bond or other security). In addition, in the event of a breach or violation by the Executive of Section 5(c), the Noncompete Period shall be automatically extended by the amount of time between the initial occurrence of the breach or violation and when such breach or violation has been duly cured.
Article 6.Certain Change in Control Payments
Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, if any payments or benefits an Executive would receive from the Company under the Plan or otherwise in connection with the Change in Control (the “Total Payments”) (a) constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Code Section 280G, and (b) but for this Article 6, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999, then such Executive will be entitled to receive either (i) the full amount of the Total Payments or (ii) a portion of the Total Payments having a value equal to One Dollar ($1) less than three (3) times such individual’s “base amount” (as such term is defined in Code Section 280G(b)(3)(A)), whichever of (i) and (ii), after taking into account applicable federal, state, and local income taxes and the excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999, results in the receipt by such employee on an after-tax basis, of the greatest portion of the Total Payments. Any determination required under this Article 6 shall be made in writing by the Company’s independent certified public accountants appointed prior to any change in ownership (as defined under Code Section 280G(b)(2)) or tax counsel selected by such accountants (the “Accountants”), whose determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes upon the applicable Executive. For purposes of making the calculations required by this Article 6, the Accountants may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good-faith interpretations concerning the application of Code Sections 280G and 4999. If there is a reduction pursuant to this Article 6 of the Total Payments to be delivered to the applicable Executive, the payment reduction contemplated by the preceding sentence shall be implemented by determining the Parachute Payment Ratio (as defined below) for each “parachute payment” and then reducing the “parachute payments” in order beginning with the “parachute payment” with the highest Parachute Payment Ratio. For “parachute payments” with the same Parachute Payment Ratio, such “parachute payments” shall be reduced based on the time of payment of such “parachute payments,” with amounts having later payment dates being reduced first. For “parachute payments” with the same Parachute Payment Ratio and the same time of payment, such “parachute payments” shall be reduced on a pro rata basis (but not below zero) prior to reducing “parachute payments” with a lower Parachute Payment Ratio. For purposes hereof, the term “Parachute Payment Ratio” shall mean a fraction the numerator of which is the value of the applicable “parachute payment” for purposes of Code Section 280G and the denominator of which is the actual present value of such payment.
Article 7.Legal Fees and Notice
a.Payment of Legal Fees
. Except as otherwise agreed to by the parties, the Company shall pay the Executive for costs of litigation or other disputes including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by the Executive in asserting any claims or defenses under this Plan, except that the Executive shall bear his own costs of such litigation or disputes (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) if the court (or arbitrator) finds in favor of the Company with respect to any claims or defenses asserted by the Executive.
b.Notice
. Any notices, requests, demands, or other communications provided for by this Plan shall be sufficient if in writing and if sent by registered or certified mail to the Executive at the last address he or she has filed in writing with the Company or, in the case of the Company, at its principal offices.
Article 8.Successors and Assignment
a.Successors to the Company
. The Company shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, reorganization, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, liquidation, or otherwise) of all or a significant portion of the assets of the Company by agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, to expressly assume and agree to perform under this Plan in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. Regardless of whether such agreement is executed, the terms of this Plan shall be binding upon any successor in accordance with the operation of law and such successor shall be deemed the “Company” for purposes of this Plan.
b.Assignment by the Executive
. This Plan shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees. If the Executive dies while any amount would still be payable to him or her hereunder had he or she continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Plan to the Executive’s Beneficiary. If the Executive has not named a Beneficiary, then such amounts shall be paid to the Executive in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices or to the Executive’s estate, as applicable.
Article 9.Miscellaneous
a.Employment Status
. Except as may be provided under any other agreement between the Executive and the Company, the employment of the Executive by the Company is “at will” and may be terminated by either the Executive or the Company at any time, subject to applicable law.
b.Code Section 409A.
64.All expenses or other reimbursements under this Plan shall be made on or prior to the last day of the taxable year following the taxable year in which such expenses were incurred by the Executive (provided that if any such reimbursements constitute taxable income to the Executive, such reimbursements shall be paid no later than March 15th of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expenses to be reimbursed were incurred), and no such reimbursement or
expenses eligible for reimbursement in any taxable year shall in any way affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other taxable year.
65.For purposes of Code Section 409A, the Executive’s right to receive any installment payment pursuant to this Plan shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments.
66.Whenever a payment under this Plan specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days (e.g., “payment shall be made within thirty (30) days following the date of termination”), the actual date of payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company.
67.A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Plan providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A and, for purposes of any such provision of this Plan, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service.”
68.Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, in no event shall any payment under this Plan that constitutes “deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A be subject to offset unless otherwise permitted by Code Section 409A.
69.Notwithstanding any provisions in this Plan to the contrary, whenever a payment under this Plan may be made upon the Release Effective Date, and the period in which the Executive could adopt the release (along with its accompany revocation period) crosses calendar years, no payments shall be made until the succeeding calendar year.
c.Entire Plan
. This Plan supersedes any prior agreements or understandings, oral or written, between the parties hereto, with respect to the subject matter hereof, and constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, this Plan completely supersedes any and all prior employment agreements entered into by and between the Company and the Executive, and all amendments thereto, in their entirety. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Executive has entered into any agreements or commitments with the Company with regard to Confidential Information, noncompetition, nonsolicitation, or nondisparagement, such agreements or commitments will remain valid and will be read in harmony with this Plan to provide maximum protection to the Company.
d.Severability
. In the event that any provision or portion of this Plan shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions of this Plan shall be unaffected thereby and shall remain in full force and effect.
e.Tax Withholding
. The Company may withhold from any benefits payable under this Plan all federal, state, city, or other taxes as may be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.
f.Beneficiaries
. The Executive may designate one (1) or more persons or entities as the primary and/or contingent beneficiaries of any amounts to be received under this Plan. Such designation must be in the form of a signed writing acceptable to the Board or the Board’s designee. The Executive may make or change such designation at any time.
g.Payment Obligation Absolute
. The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for herein shall be absolute and unconditional, and shall not be affected by any circumstances, including, without limitation, any offset, counterclaim, recoupment, defense, or other right which the Company may have against the Executive or anyone else.
The Executive shall not be obligated to seek other employment in mitigation of the amounts payable or arrangements made under any provision of this Plan, and except as provided in Article 3 of this Plan, the obtaining of any such other employment shall in no event effect any reduction of the Company’s obligations to make the payments and arrangements required to be made under this Plan.
h.Contractual Rights to Benefits
. Subject to approval and ratification by the Board, this Plan establishes and vests in the Executive a contractual right to the benefits to which he or she is entitled hereunder. However, nothing herein contained shall require or be deemed to require, or prohibit or be deemed to prohibit, the Company to segregate, earmark, or otherwise set aside any funds or other assets, in trust or otherwise, to provide for any payments to be made or required hereunder.
i.Modification
. No provision of this Plan may be modified, waived, or discharged with respect to any particular Executive unless such modification, waiver, or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by such Executive and by an authorized member of the Committee, or by the respective parties’ legal representatives and successors, provided, however, that the Committee may unilaterally amend this Plan without the Executive’s consent if such amendment does not materially adversely alter or impair in any significant manner any rights or obligations of the Executive under the Plan.
j.Gender and Number
. Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine; the plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural.
k.Applicable Law
. To the extent not preempted by the laws of the United States, the laws of the state of New Jersey shall be the controlling law in all matters relating to this Plan.
Document
Clearway Energy, Inc.
Key Management Change-in-Control and General Severance Plan
(Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2021)
DMEAST #35732408 v3
263056338v.1
Table of Contents
Page
| | | | | |
Article 1. Establishment and Term of the Plan | |
Article 2. Definitions | |
Article 3. Severance Benefits | |
Article 4. Ineligibility | |
Article 5. Restrictive Covenants | |
Article 6. Certain Change in Control Payments | |
Article 7. Legal Fees and Notice | |
Article 8. Successors and Assignment | |
Article 9. Miscellaneous | |
Clearway Energy, Inc.
Key Management Change-in-Control and General Severance Plan
Article 1.Establishment and Term of the Plan
a.Establishment of the Plan
Clearway Energy, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”) originally adopted this Key Management Change-in-Control and General Severance Plan (the “Plan”) effective January 1, 2017. The Plan was amended and restated by the Company as of January 1, 2018, again as of January 1, 2019 and February 18, 2020, and is hereby further amended and restated as of January 1, 2021. The Plan provides Severance Benefits to Vice Presidents and Senior Directors of the Company (each an “Executive” and collectively the “Executives”) upon certain terminations of employment from the Company.
The Company considers the establishment and maintenance of a sound and vital management to be essential to protecting and enhancing the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. In this connection, the Company recognizes that, as is the case with many publicly held corporations, the possibility of a Change in Control may arise and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and questions which it may raise among management, may result in the departure or distraction of management personnel to the detriment of the Company and its stockholders.
Accordingly, the Board has determined that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of members of the Company’s management to their assigned duties without distraction in circumstances arising from the possibility of a Change in Control of the Company.
b.Initial Term
This Plan commenced on January 1, 2017 (the “Effective Date”) and shall continue in effect for a period of three (3) years (the “Initial Term”).
c.Successive Periods
The term of this Plan shall automatically be extended for one (1) additional year at the end of the Initial Term, and then again after each successive one (1) year period thereafter (each such one (1) year period following the Initial Term is referred to as a “Successive Period”). However, the Committee may terminate this Plan at the end of the Initial Term, or at the end of any Successive Period thereafter, by giving the Executives written notice of intent to terminate the Plan, delivered at least six (6) months prior to the end of such Initial Term or Successive Period. If such notice is properly delivered by the Company, this Plan, along with all corresponding rights, duties, and covenants, shall automatically expire at the end of the Initial Term or Successive Period then in progress.
d.Change-in-Control Renewal
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1.3 above, in the event that a Change in Control of the Company occurs during the Initial Term or any Successive Period, upon the effective date of such Change in Control, the term of this Plan shall automatically and irrevocably be renewed for a period of two (2) years from the effective date of such Change in Control. Further, this Plan may be assigned to the successor in such Change in Control, as further provided in Article 8 herein. This Plan shall thereafter automatically terminate following such two (2) year Change-in-Control renewal period; provided that such termination shall not affect or diminish the rights of Executives who become entitled to benefits or payments under this Plan.
Article 2.Definitions
Whenever used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below and, when the meaning is intended, the initial letter of the word is capitalized.
(i)“Accountants” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 6.
1.“Affiliate” means (i) any subsidiary corporation of the Company (or its successors), (ii) any corporation, trade or business (including, without limitation, a partnership or limited liability company) which is directly or indirectly controlled fifty percent (50%) or more (whether by ownership of stock, assets or an equivalent ownership interest or voting interest) by the Company (or its successors), or (iii) any other entity (including its successors) which is designated as an Affiliate by the Board.
2.“Base Salary” means the greater of the Executive’s annual rate of salary, whether or not deferred, at: (i) the Effective Date of Termination or (ii) at the date of the Change in Control.
3.“Beneficiary” means the persons or entities designated or deemed designated by the Executive pursuant to Section 9.6 herein.
4.“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
5.“Cause” means, as to any Executive (i) “Cause”, as defined in any employment, consulting or similar agreement between the Executive and the Company or an Affiliate in effect at the time of the Executive’s separation, or (ii) in the absence of any such employment, consulting or similar agreement (or the absence of any definition of “Cause” contained therein), the occurrence of any of the following:
i.the Executive’s willful misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of the Executive’s duties to the Company or an Affiliate that has or could reasonably be expected to have an adverse effect on the Company or an Affiliate;
ii.the Executive’s willful failure to perform the Executive’s duties to the Company or an Affiliate (other than as a result of death or a physical or mental incapacity);
iii.indictment for, conviction of, or pleading of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude;
iv.the Executive’s performance of any material act of theft, fraud, malfeasance or dishonesty in connection with the performance of the Executive’s duties to the Company or an Affiliate;
v.breach of any written agreement between the Executive and the Company or an Affiliate, or a violation of the Company’s code of conduct or other written policy; or
vi.any other material breach of Article 5 of this Plan.
For purposes of this Plan, there shall be no termination for Cause pursuant to subsections (i) through (vi) above, unless a written notice, containing a detailed description of the grounds constituting Cause hereunder, is delivered to the Executive stating the basis for the termination. Upon receipt of such notice, the Executive shall be given thirty (30) days to fully cure and remedy the neglect or conduct that is the basis of such claim, provided that the Executive’s right to cure shall not apply if there are egregious, habitual or repeated breaches by the Executive.
6.“Change-in-Control Severance Benefits” means the Severance Benefit described in Section 3.2.
7.“Change in Control” shall mean the first to occur of any of the following events:
vii.Any “person” (as that term is used in Sections 13 and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”)) other than Clearway Energy Group LLC or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates (A) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company’s capital stock entitled to vote in the election of directors, excluding any "person" who becomes a "beneficial owner" in connection with a Business Combination (as defined in paragraph (iii) below) which does not constitute a Change in Control under said paragraph (iii); or (B) obtains the power to, directly or indirectly, vote or cause to be voted fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company’s capital stock entitled to vote in the election of directors, including by contract or through proxy; or
viii.Persons who on the Effective Date constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason, including without limitation, as a result
of a tender offer, proxy contest, merger, or similar transaction, to constitute at least a majority thereof, provided that any person becoming a director of the Company subsequent to the Effective Date shall be considered an Incumbent Director if such person’s election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Incumbent Directors; but provided further, that any such person whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of members of the Board or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a “person” (as defined in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) other than the Board, including by reason of agreement intended to avoid or settle any such actual or threatened contest or solicitation, shall not be considered an Incumbent Director; or
ix.Consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the company resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a company which, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the outstanding voting securities of the Company; or
x.The stockholders of the Company approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
8.“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the treasury regulations and other official guidance promulgated thereunder.
9.“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or any other committee appointed by the Board to perform the functions of the Compensation Committee.
10.“Company” means Clearway Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto as provided in Article 8 herein.
11.“Confidential Information” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 5(a).
12.“Delay Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(b).
13.“Disability” shall mean a disability that would entitle Executive to payment of monthly disability payments under any Company long-term disability plan.
14.“Effective Date” means the commencement date of this Plan as specified in Section 1.2 of this Plan.
15.“Effective Date of Termination” means the date on which a Qualifying Termination occurs, as defined hereunder, which triggers the payment of Severance Benefits hereunder.
16.“Executive” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.
17.“Former Parent Company” means, collectively, NRG Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Xcel Energy, Inc., a Minnesota corporation, and their affiliates and any successors thereto.
18.“General Severance Benefits” means the Severance Benefit described in Section 3.3.
19.“Good Reason” shall mean without the Executive’s express written consent the occurrence of any one or more of the following:
xi.The Company reduces the amount of the Executive’s then current Base Salary or target total compensation by more than fifteen percent (15%), excluding across-the-board reductions to the Executive’s then current Base Salary or annual bonus target pursuant to a compensation reduction program that applies to substantially all similarly situated executives of the Company; provided that, if any reduction of Base Salary or target total compensation occurs during the eighteen (18)-month period described in Section 2(z)(i) (without regard to whether the reduction applies on an across-the-board basis as described above), then such reduction shall be deemed to constitute Good Reason for purposes of the Plan; or
xii.A material reduction in the Executive’s benefits under or relative level of participation in the Company’s employee benefit or retirement plans, policies, practices, or arrangements in which the Executive participates as of the Effective Date of this Plan, or as of the commencement of Executive’s participation in this Plan, as applicable; or
xiii.A material diminution in the Executive’s title, authority, duties, or responsibilities or the assignment of duties to the Executive which are materially inconsistent with his position; or
xiv.Any relocation of the Executive’s principal place of employment to a location that is more than fifty (50) miles from the Executive’s place of employment as of the Effective Date of this Plan, or as of the
commencement of Executive’s participation in this Plan, as applicable, but only if such new location is not closer to the Executive’s primary residence; or
xv.The failure of the Company to obtain in writing the obligation to perform or be bound by the terms of this Plan by any successor to the Company or a purchaser of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company within fifteen (15) days after a merger, consolidation, sale, or similar transaction.
For purposes of this Plan, the Executive is not entitled to assert that his termination is for Good Reason unless the Executive gives the Board written notice of the event or events which are the basis for such claim within ninety (90) days after the event or events occur, describing such claim in reasonably sufficient detail to allow the Board to address the event or events and a period of not less than thirty (30) days after to cure or fully remedy the alleged condition.
20.“Initial Term” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.
21.“Nonsolicitation Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 5(c).
22.“Notice of Termination” shall mean a written notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Plan relied upon, and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated.
23.“Parachute Payment Ratio” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 6.
24.“Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.
25.“Qualifying Termination” means:
xvi.If such event occurs within the time period that is six (6) months immediately prior to, or twelve (12) months immediately following a Change in Control:
a.An involuntary termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company for reasons other than Cause, death, or Disability pursuant to a Notice of Termination delivered to the Executive by the Company; or
b.A voluntary termination by the Executive for Good Reason pursuant to a Notice of Termination delivered to the Company by the Executive; or
xvii.If such event occurs at any other time:
c.An involuntary termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company due to reductions in force or other factors as a result of a Company restructuring.
26.“Release Effective Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(d).
27.“Senior Director” shall include those employees of the Company with the Job Level of Senior Director immediately prior to the Change in Control, or such other employee who is designated as a Senior Director in the Company’s human resources information system immediately prior to the Change in Control.
28.“Severance Benefits” means the payment of Change-in-Control or General (as appropriate) Severance compensation as provided in Article 3 herein.
29.“Severance Weeks” means the greater of (i) twenty-four (24) or (ii) the product of one and one half (1.5) and the number of Executive’s Years of Service, provided that the maximum number of Severance Weeks shall be fifty-two (52).
30.“Specified Employee” means any Executive described in Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i).
31.“Successive Periods” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.3.
32.“Third Party Information” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 5(a).
33.“Vice President” shall include those employees of the Company with the Job Level of VP immediately prior to the Change in Control, or such other employee who is designated as a VP in the Company’s human resources information system immediately prior to the Change in Control.
34.“Weekly Compensation” means the Executive’s Base Salary divided by fifty-two (52).
35.“Total Payments” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 6.
36.“Work Product” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 5(b).
37.“Year of Service” shall mean an Executive’s completed and partial calendar years of continuous service for the Company and its Affiliates (including with any predecessor thereof). Years of Service shall include time on a leave of absence to the extent required by law. Years of Service shall not include any accrued but unused paid time off benefits as of the Executive’s Qualifying Termination. Service as a temporary or temporary/part-time employee will not be considered a termination or interruption of employment, but will not count toward Years of Service. Years of Service will terminate on the Executive’s Qualifying Termination. An Executive who terminates employment and is rehired by the Company or an Affiliate will not receive credit for any prior Years of Service.
Article 3.Severance Benefits
a.Right to Severance Benefits
38.Change-in-Control Severance Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to receive from the Company Change-in-Control Severance Benefits, as described in Section 3.2 herein, if a Qualifying Termination of the Executive’s employment has occurred within six (6) months immediately prior to, or twelve (12) months immediately following, a Change in Control of the Company.
39.General Severance Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to receive from the Company General Severance Benefits, as described in Section 3.3 herein, if a Qualifying Termination of the Executive’s employment has occurred other than during the six (6) months immediately prior to, or twelve (12) months immediately following, a Change in Control.
40.No Severance Benefits. The Executive shall not be entitled to receive Severance Benefits if the Executive’s employment with the Company ends for reasons other than a Qualifying Termination.
41.General Release and Acknowledgement of Restrictive Covenants. As a condition to receiving Severance Benefits under either Section 3.2 or 3.3 herein, the Executive shall be obligated to execute a general waiver and release of claims in favor of the Company, its current and former affiliates and stockholders, and the current and former directors, officers, employees, and agents of the Company in a form drafted by and acceptable to the Company, and any revocation period for such release must have expired, in each case within sixty (60) days of the date of termination. The date upon which the executed release is no longer subject to revocation shall be referred to herein as the “Release Effective Date”. The Executive must also execute a notice acknowledging the restrictive covenants in Article 5 within sixty (60) days of the date of termination. Any payments under Section 3.2 or 3.3 shall commence only after execution of the release and acknowledgement, and in the manner provided in Section 3.4. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any instance in which the period in which the Executive could adopt a release (along with its accompanying revocation period) crosses calendar years, no payments shall be made until the succeeding calendar year.
42.No Duplication of Severance Benefits; Reduction of Other Benefits. If the Executive becomes entitled to Change-in-Control Severance Benefits, the Severance Benefits provided for under Section 3.2 hereunder shall be in lieu of all other Severance Benefits provided to the Executive under the provisions of this Plan and any other Company-related or Former Parent Company-related severance plans, programs, or agreements including, but not limited to, the Severance Benefits under Section 3.3 herein. Likewise, if the Executive becomes entitled to General Severance Benefits, the Severance Benefits provided under Section 3.3 hereunder shall be in lieu of all other Severance Benefits provided to
the Executive under the provisions of this Plan and any other Company-related severance plans, programs, or other agreements including, but not limited to, the Severance Benefits under Section 3.2 herein. Any benefits provided under this Plan will, to the extent permitted by law, be reduced by the value of any severance benefit required to be paid to the Executive under federal, state or local stature, ordinance or regulation, including any payments or extended periods of employment required to comply with any law governing plant closings, layoffs or similar events. If benefits are paid under this Plan, and, subsequent to such payment, an amount is determined to be payable to the Executive which would under the terms of this section reduce the benefit payable under the Plan, the Company shall be entitled to recover from the Executive the overpayment made under this Plan and shall, to the extent permitted by law, be entitled to offset such overpayment against any amount owed to the Executive (other than any amount that constitutes “deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A).
b.Description of Change-in-Control Severance Benefits
In the event the Executive becomes entitled to receive Change-in-Control Severance Benefits, as provided in Section 3.1(a) herein, the Company shall provide the Executive with the following:
43.A lump-sum amount, paid upon the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the Effective Date of Termination, equal to the Executive’s unpaid Base Salary, accrued vacation pay, unreimbursed business expenses, and all other items earned by and owed to the Executive through and including the Effective Date of Termination; provided that to the extent the payment of any amounts pursuant to this Section 3.2(a) does not constitute “deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A, such amounts shall be paid upon the Release Effective Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any instance in which the period in which the Executive could adopt a release (along with its accompanying revocation period) crosses calendar years, no payments shall be made until the succeeding calendar year.
44.A lump-sum amount, paid upon the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the Effective Date of Termination, equal to: (i) one and one-half (1.5) for VPs, (ii) one (1) for Senior Directors times the sum of the following: (A) the Executive’s Base Salary and (B) the Executive’s annual target bonus opportunity in the year of termination; provided that to the extent the payment of any amounts pursuant to this Section 3.2(b) does not constitute “deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A, such amounts shall be paid upon the Release Effective Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any instance in which the period in which the Executive could adopt a release (along with its accompanying revocation period) crosses calendar years, no payments shall be made until the succeeding calendar year.
45.A lump-sum amount, paid upon the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the Effective Date of Termination, equal to the Executive’s then current target bonus opportunity established under the bonus plan in which the Executive is then participating, for the plan year in which a Qualifying Termination occurs, adjusted on a pro rata basis based on the number of days the Executive was actually employed during the bonus plan year in which the Qualifying Termination occurs, provided that to the extent the payment of any amounts pursuant to this Section 3.2(c) does not constitute “deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A, such amounts shall be paid upon the Release Effective Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any instance in which the period in which the Executive could adopt a release (along with its accompanying revocation period) crosses calendar years, no payments shall be made until the succeeding calendar year.
46.Payment for all or a portion of the Executive’s cost to participate in COBRA health and/or dental continuation coverage for a period equal to (i) eighteen (18) months for VPs and (ii) twelve (12) months for Senior Directors, in each case following the Executive’s Effective Date of Termination, such that Executive maintains the same coverage level and cost, on an after tax basis, as in effect immediately prior to the Executive’s Effective Date of Termination.
Notwithstanding the above, these health and/or dental benefits shall be discontinued prior to the end of the stated continuation period in the event the Executive is eligible to receive substantially similar benefits from a subsequent employer, as determined solely by the Committee in good faith. For purposes of enforcing this offset provision, the Executive shall be deemed to have a duty to keep the Company informed as to the terms and conditions of any subsequent employment and the corresponding benefits earned from such employment, and shall provide, or cause to provide, to the Company in writing correct, complete, and timely information concerning the same. Treatment of outstanding long-term incentives shall be in accordance with the governing plan document and award agreements, if any.
c.Description of General Severance Benefits
In the event the Executive becomes entitled to receive General Severance Benefits as provided in Section 3.1(b) herein, the Company shall provide the Executive with the following:
47.A lump-sum amount, paid upon the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the Effective Date of Termination, equal to the Executive’s unpaid Base Salary, accrued vacation pay, unreimbursed business expenses, and all other items earned by and owed to the Executive through and including the Effective Date of Termination; provided that to the extent the payment of any amounts pursuant to this Section 3.3(a) does not constitute “deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A, such amounts shall be paid upon the Release Effective Date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any instance in which the period in which the Executive could adopt a release (along with its accompanying revocation period) crosses calendar years, no payments shall be made until the succeeding calendar year.
48.A lump-sum amount, paid upon the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the Effective Date of Termination, equal to the product of (i) the Executive’s Weekly Compensation and (ii) the Executive’s Severance Weeks; provided that to the extent the payment of any amounts pursuant to this Section 3.3(b) does not constitute “deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A, such amounts shall be paid upon the Release Effective Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any instance in which the period in which the Executive could adopt a release (along with its accompanying revocation period) crosses calendar years, no payments shall be made until the succeeding calendar year.
49.Payment of all or a portion of the Executive’s cost to participate in COBRA health and/or dental continuation coverage for a number of weeks equal to the Executive’s Severance Weeks commencing upon the Executive’s Effective Date of Termination, such that Executive maintains the same coverage level and cost, on an after tax basis, as in effect immediately prior to the Executive’s Effective Date of Termination.
Notwithstanding the above, these health and/or dental insurance benefits shall be discontinued prior to the end of the stated continuation period in the event the Executive is eligible to receive substantially similar benefits from a subsequent employer, as determined solely by the Committee in good faith. For purposes of enforcing this offset provision, the Executive shall be deemed to have a duty to keep the Company informed as to the terms and conditions of any subsequent employment and the corresponding benefits earned from such employment, and shall provide, or cause to provide, to the Company in writing correct, complete, and timely information concerning the same. Treatment of outstanding long-term incentives shall be in accordance with the governing plan document and award agreements, if any.
d.Coordination with Release and Delay Required by Code Section 409A.
50.To the extent any continuing benefit (or reimbursement thereof) to be provided is not “deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A, then such benefit shall commence or be made immediately after the Release Effective Date. To the extent any continuing benefit (or reimbursement thereof) to be provided is “deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A, then such benefits shall be reimbursed or commence upon the sixtieth (60) day following the Executive’s termination of employment. The delayed benefits shall in any event expire at the time such benefits would have expired had the benefits commenced immediately upon Executive’s termination of employment.
51.Notwithstanding any other payment schedule provided herein to the contrary, if the Executive is deemed on the date of termination to be a Specified Employee, then, once the release and acknowledgement required by Section 3.1(d) is executed and delivered and no longer subject to revocation, any payment that is considered deferred compensation under Code Section 409A payable on account of a “separation from service” shall be made on the date which is the earlier of (A) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of such “separation from service” of the Executive, and (B) the date of the Executive’s death (the “Delay Period”) to the extent required under Code Section 409A. Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments delayed pursuant to this Section 3.4(b) (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single sum or in installments in the absence of such delay) shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum, and any remaining payments due under this Plan shall be paid or provided in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein.
Article 4.Ineligibility
a.Comparable Position.
Subject to the provisions of Article 2(z)(i)(B), the Company may offer, or cause to be offered, an Executive a comparable position, may require an Executive to apply for a comparable position with the Company, any Affiliate or Clearway Energy Group LLC, or a successor of the Company, any Affiliate or Clearway Energy Group LLC, or may reassign an Executive to a new position or a reclassification of the Executive’s current position; provided, that all such positions shall be located within reasonably the same geographic area where the Executive is located at the time a Qualifying Termination occurs. The Company shall determine, in its sole and reasonable discretion, what constitutes a comparable position under this Section 4.1. The failure of an Executive to accept the position, or apply for the position when required by the Company will render the Executive ineligible for benefits under this Plan.
b.Other Circumstances.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, an Executive shall also be ineligible for benefits under this Plan if the Executive:
52.voluntarily terminates employment or retires prior to the Qualifying Termination;
53.is receiving long-term Disability benefits;
54.is entitled to any other compensation or benefit which is determined, in the Company’s sole discretion, to supersede the Severance Benefits offered under this Plan;
55.was discharged for Cause; and
56.was offered employment by a successor employer or by a purchaser in the event of a spin-off or sale of a subsidiary, business unit or business assets of the Company or its subsidiaries, whether or not the Executive accepts or declines the offer of employment.
Article 5.Restrictive Covenants
In the event the Executive becomes entitled to receive Change-in-Control Severance Benefits as provided in Section 3.2 herein or General Severance Benefits as provided in Section 3.3 herein, the following shall apply:
57.Confidential Information. The Executive acknowledges that the information, observations, and data (including trade secrets) obtained by him while employed by the Company concerning the business or affairs of the Company or any of its affiliates (“Confidential Information”) are the property of the Company or such affiliate. Therefore, except in the course of the Executive’s duties to the Company or as may be compelled by law or appropriate legal process, the Executive agrees that he shall not disclose to any person or entity or use for his own purposes any Confidential Information or any confidential or proprietary information of other persons or entities in the possession of the Company and its affiliates (“Third Party Information”), without the prior written consent of the Board, unless and to the extent that the Confidential Information or Third Party Information becomes generally known to and available for use by the public other than as a result of the Executive’s acts or omissions. Except in the course of the Executive’s duties to Company or as may be compelled by law or appropriate legal process, the Executive will not, during his employment with the Company, or permanently thereafter, directly or indirectly use, divulge, disseminate, disclose, lecture upon, or publish any Confidential Information, without having first obtained written permission from the Board to do so. As of the Effective Date of Termination, the Executive shall deliver to the Company, or at any other time the Company may reasonably request, all memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports, computer files, disks and tapes, printouts and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) embodying or relating to Third Party Information, Confidential Information, or the business of the Company, or its affiliates which he may then possess or have under his control.
58.Intellectual Property, Inventions, and Patents. The Executive acknowledges that all discoveries, concepts, ideas, inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, trade secrets, designs, analyses, drawings, reports, patent applications, copyrightable work and mask work (whether or not including any Confidential Information), and all registrations or applications related thereto, all other proprietary information and all similar or related information (whether or not patentable) which may relate to the Company’s or any of its affiliates’ actual or anticipated business, research and development, or existing or future products or services and which are conceived, developed, or made by the Executive
(whether alone or jointly with others) while employed by the Company and its affiliates (“Work Product”), belong to the Company or such affiliate. The Executive shall promptly disclose such Work Product to the Board and, at the Company’s expense, perform all actions reasonably requested by the Board (whether during or after the Executive’s employment with the Company) to establish and confirm such ownership (including, without limitation, assignments, consents, powers of attorney, and other instruments). The Executive acknowledges that all applicable Work Product shall be deemed to constitute “works made for hire” under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, as amended. To the extent any Work Product is not deemed a work made for hire, then the Executive hereby assigns to the Company or such affiliate all right, title, and interest in and to such Work Product, including all related intellectual property rights.
The Executive is hereby advised that the above paragraph regarding the Company’s and its affiliates’ ownership of Work Product does not apply to any invention for which no equipment, supplies, facilities, or trade secret information of the Company or any affiliate was used and which was developed entirely on the Executive’s own time, unless: (i) the invention relates to the business of the Company or any affiliate or to the Company’s or any affiliate’s actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (ii) the invention results from any work performed by the Executive for the Company or any affiliate.
59.Nonsolicitation. During Executive’s employment with the Company and for one (1) year thereafter (the “Nonsolicitation Period”), the Executive shall not directly or indirectly through another person or entity: (i) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates to leave the employ of the Company or such affiliate, or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any affiliate and any employee thereof; (ii) hire any person who was an employee of the Company or any affiliate during the last six (6) months of the Executive’s employment with the Company; or (iii) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee, licensor, franchisee, or other business relation of the Company or any affiliate to cease doing business with the Company or such affiliate, or in any interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee, or business relation and the Company or any affiliate (including, without limitation, making any negative or disparaging statements or communications regarding the Company or its affiliates).
60.Nondisparagement. During the Nonsolicitation Period, Executive shall not disparage the Company, its subsidiaries and parents, and their respective officers, managers and employees, or make any public statement (whether written or oral) reflecting negatively on the Company, its subsidiaries and parents, and their respective officers, managers, and employees, including, but not limited to, any matters relating to the operation or management of the Company, irrespective of the truthfulness or falsity of such statement, except as may otherwise be required
by applicable law or compelled by process of law. By way of example and not limitation, Executive agrees that he will not make any written or oral statements that cast in a negative light the services, qualifications, business operations or business ethics of the Company or its employees. During the Nonsolicitation Period, the Company shall not disparage Executive, or make any public statement (whether written or oral) reflecting negatively on Executive, including, but not limited to, any matters relating to the operation or management of the Company, irrespective of the truthfulness or falsity of such statement, except as may otherwise be required by applicable law or compelled by process of law. Nothing in this Section 5(d) shall restrict either party's ability to: (i) consult with counsel, (ii) make truthful statements under oath or to a government agency or official, or (iii) take any legal action with respect to his employment or termination of employment with the Company.
61.Duration, Scope, or Area. If, at the time of enforcement of this Article 5, a court shall hold that the duration, scope, or area restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties agree that the maximum duration, scope, or area reasonable under such circumstances shall be substituted for the stated duration, scope, or area and that the court shall be allowed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum period, scope, and area permitted by law. Section 5(c) shall not apply to any Executive whose principal work location for the Company at the time of termination was in the State of California.
62.Company Enforcement. In the event of a breach or a threatened breach by the Executive of any of the provisions of this Article 5, the Company would suffer irreparable harm, and in addition and supplementary to other rights and remedies existing in its favor, the Company shall be entitled to specific performance and/or injunctive or other equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions hereof (without posting a bond or other security).
Article 6.Certain Change in Control Payments
Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, if any payments or benefits an Executive would receive from the Company under the Plan or otherwise in connection with the Change in Control (the “Total Payments”) (a) constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Code Section 280G, and (b) but for this Article 6, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999, then such Executive will be entitled to receive either (i) the full amount of the Total Payments or (ii) a portion of the Total Payments having a value equal to $1 less than three (3) times such individual’s “base amount” (as such term is defined in Code Section 280G(b)(3)(A)), whichever of (i) and (ii), after taking into account applicable federal, state, and local income taxes and the excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999, results in the receipt by such employee on an after-tax basis, of the greatest portion of the Total Payments. Any determination required under this Article 6 shall be made in writing by the Company’s
independent certified public accountants appointed prior to any change in ownership (as defined under Code Section 280G(b)(2)) or tax counsel selected by such accountants (the “Accountants”), whose determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes upon the applicable Executive. For purposes of making the calculations required by this Article 6, the Accountants may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good-faith interpretations concerning the application of Code Sections 280G and 4999. If there is a reduction pursuant to this Article 6 of the Total Payments to be delivered to the applicable Executive, the payment reduction contemplated by the preceding sentence shall be implemented by determining the Parachute Payment Ratio (as defined below) for each “parachute payment” and then reducing the “parachute payments” in order beginning with the “parachute payment” with the highest Parachute Payment Ratio. For “parachute payments” with the same Parachute Payment Ratio, such “parachute payments” shall be reduced based on the time of payment of such “parachute payments,” with amounts having later payment dates being reduced first. For “parachute payments” with the same Parachute Payment Ratio and the same time of payment, such “parachute payments” shall be reduced on a pro rata basis (but not below zero) prior to reducing “parachute payments” with a lower Parachute Payment Ratio. For purposes hereof, the term “Parachute Payment Ratio” shall mean a fraction the numerator of which is the value of the applicable “parachute payment” for purposes of Code Section 280G and the denominator of which is the actual present value of such payment.
Article 7.Legal Fees and Notice
a.Payment of Legal Fees
Except as otherwise agreed to by the parties, the Company shall pay the Executive for costs of litigation or other disputes including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by the Executive in asserting any claims or defenses under this Plan, except that the Executive shall bear his own costs of such litigation or disputes (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) if the court (or arbitrator) finds in favor of the Company with respect to any claims or defenses asserted by the Executive.
b.Notice
Any notices, requests, demands, or other communications provided for by this Plan shall be sufficient if in writing and if sent by registered or certified mail to the Executive at the last address he or she has filed in writing with the Company or, in the case of the Company, at its principal offices.
Article 8.Successors and Assignment
a.Successors to the Company
The Company shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, reorganization, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, liquidation, or otherwise) of all or a significant portion of the assets of the Company by agreement, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Executive, to expressly assume and agree to perform under this Plan in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. Regardless of whether such agreement is executed, the terms of this Plan shall be binding upon any successor in accordance with the operation of law and such successor shall be deemed the “Company” for purposes of this Plan.
b.Assignment by the Executive
This Plan shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees. If the Executive dies while any amount would still be payable to him or her hereunder had he or she continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Plan to the Executive’s Beneficiary. If the Executive has not named a Beneficiary, then such amounts shall be paid to the Executive in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices or to the Executive’s estate, as applicable.
Article 9.Miscellaneous
a.Employment Status
Except as may be provided under any other agreement between the Executive and the Company, the employment of the Executive by the Company is “at will” and may be terminated by either the Executive or the Company at any time, subject to applicable law.
b.Code Section 409A.
63.All expenses or other reimbursements under this Plan shall be made on or prior to the last day of the taxable year following the taxable year in which such expenses were incurred by the Executive (provided that if any such reimbursements constitute taxable income to the Executive, such reimbursements shall be paid no later than March 15th of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expenses to be reimbursed were incurred), and no such reimbursement or expenses eligible for reimbursement in any taxable year shall in any way affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other taxable year.
64.For purposes of Code Section 409A, the Executive’s right to receive any installment payment pursuant to this Plan shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments.
65.Whenever a payment under this Plan specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days (e.g., “payment shall be made within thirty (30) days following the date of termination”), the actual date of payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company.
66.A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Plan providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits
upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A and, for purposes of any such provision of this Plan, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service.”
67.Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, in no event shall any payment under this Plan that constitutes “deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A be subject to offset unless otherwise permitted by Code Section 409A.
68.Notwithstanding any provisions in this Plan to the contrary, whenever a payment under this Plan may be made upon the Release Effective Date, and the period in which the Executive could adopt the release (along with its accompany revocation period) crosses calendar years, no payments shall be made until the succeeding calendar year.
c.Entire Plan
This Plan supersedes any prior agreements or understandings, oral or written, between the parties hereto, with respect to the subject matter hereof, and constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, this Plan completely supersedes any and all prior employment agreements entered into by and between the Company and the Executive, and all amendments thereto, in their entirety. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Executive has entered into any agreements or commitments with the Company with regard to Confidential Information, noncompetition, nonsolicitation, or nondisparagement, such agreements or commitments will remain valid and will be read in harmony with this Plan to provide maximum protection to the Company.
d.Severability
In the event that any provision or portion of this Plan shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions of this Plan shall be unaffected thereby and shall remain in full force and effect.
e.Tax Withholding
The Company may withhold from any benefits payable under this Plan all federal, state, city, or other taxes as may be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.
f.Beneficiaries
The Executive may designate one (1) or more persons or entities as the primary and/or contingent beneficiaries of any amounts to be received under this Plan. Such designation must be in the form of a signed writing acceptable to the Board or the Board’s designee. The Executive may make or change such designation at any time.
g.Payment Obligation Absolute
The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for herein shall be absolute and unconditional, and shall not be affected by any circumstances, including, without limitation, any offset, counterclaim, recoupment, defense, or other right which the Company may have against the Executive or anyone else.
The Executive shall not be obligated to seek other employment in mitigation of the amounts payable or arrangements made under any provision of this Plan, and except as provided in Article 3 of this Plan, the obtaining of any such other employment shall in no event effect any reduction of the Company’s obligations to make the payments and arrangements required to be made under this Plan.
h.Contractual Rights to Benefits
Subject to approval and ratification by the Board, this Plan establishes and vests in the Executive a contractual right to the benefits to which he or she is entitled hereunder. However, nothing herein contained shall require or be deemed to require, or prohibit or be deemed to prohibit, the Company to segregate, earmark, or otherwise set aside any funds or other assets, in trust or otherwise, to provide for any payments to be made or required hereunder.
i.Modification
No provision of this Plan may be modified, waived, or discharged with respect to any particular Executive unless such modification, waiver, or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by such Executive and by an authorized member of the Committee, or by the respective parties’ legal representatives and successors, provided, however, that the Committee may unilaterally amend this Plan without the Executive’s consent if such amendment does not materially adversely alter or impair in any significant manner any rights or obligations of the Executive under the Plan.
j.Gender and Number
Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine; the plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural.
k.Applicable Law
To the extent not preempted by the laws of the United States, the laws of the state of New Jersey shall be the controlling law in all matters relating to this Plan.
DocumentExhibit 10.31
Certain portions of this Exhibit have been redacted pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K and, where applicable, have been marked with “[***]” to indicate where redactions have been made. The marked information has been redacted because it is both (i) not material and (ii) would likely cause competitive harm to the Company if publicly disclosed.
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
PINNACLE REPOWERING PARTNERSHIP LLC
a Delaware Limited Liability Company
Dated as of February 26, 2021
THE SECURITIES (MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS) REPRESENTED BY THIS AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR REGISTERED OR QUALIFIED UNDER ANY SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS OF ANY STATE OR JURISDICTION. THEREFORE, THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNTIL A REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR THE APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS SHALL HAVE BECOME EFFECTIVE WITH REGARD TO THE PROPOSED TRANSFER, OR UNLESS REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR BLUE SKY LAWS IS NOT REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSFER.
SECOND AMENDED & RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
PINNACLE REPOWERING PARTNERSHIP LLC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ANNEXES, SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS:
[***]
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
PINNACLE REPOWERING PARTNERSHIP LLC
THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF PINNACLE REPOWERING PARTNERSHIP LLC, dated as of February 26, 2021 (this “Agreement”), is made and entered into by and between CWEN Pinnacle Repowering Holdco LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Initial Class A Member”), as a Class A Member, and CWSP Pinnacle Holding LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Initial Class B Member”), as a Class B Member, and amends and restates in its entirety that certain Limited Liability Company Agreement of Pinnacle Repowering Partnership LLC, dated as of April 17, 2020, by and between the Initial Class A Member and the Initial Class B Member (the “Original LLC Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in Section 1.1 hereof.
RECITALS
A. PINNACLE REPOWERING PARTNERSHIP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), was formed pursuant to the Act on February 7, 2020, by virtue of its Certificate of Formation (the “Delaware Certificate”) filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. From its formation until the date of the Original LLC Agreement, the Company was governed by that Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of February 7, 2020, which was amended and restated by the Original LLC Agreement.
B. The Company owns 100% of the equity interests in Pinnacle Repowering Partnership Holdco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Borrower”).
C. The Borrower owns 100% of the equity interests in Pinnacle Repowering Tax Equity Holdco LLC (“Pinnacle Holdco”), a Delaware limited liability company.
D. Clearway Energy Operating LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Class A Member Guarantor”) indirectly owns 100% of the equity interests in (a) the Initial Class A Member and (b) Tapestry Wind, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Tapestry Wind”), which owns 100% of the equity interests in Pinnacle Wind, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Pinnacle Project Company”), which owns, operates and maintains a wind project generating facility described herein as the Pinnacle Project.
E. The Company, through its subsidiaries, intends to repower the Pinnacle Project.
F. The Borrower plans to arrange the Repowering Construction Financing for the Pinnacle Project secured by all of the assets of the Borrower, including the Pinnacle Project and the Safe Harbor Equipment. The proceeds of the Repowering Construction Financing will be used to finance the development, construction and repowering of the Pinnacle Project.
G. The Borrower expects to enter into a tax equity financing with one or more tax equity investors (collectively, the “Tax Equity Investor”), pursuant to which, on the Tax Equity
Funding Date, the Tax Equity Investor shall make a capital contribution to Pinnacle Holdco and the Borrower shall cause Pinnacle Holdco to issue Class A membership interests to the Tax Equity Investor, [***].
H. The Members desire to enter into this Agreement to describe their respective rights and obligations as members of the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual undertakings contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree to amend and restate the Original LLC Agreement in its entirety, as follows:
ARTICLE 1.
DEFINITIONS
Section a.Certain Definitions.
The following initially capitalized terms, as and when used in this Agreement, shall have meanings set forth below:
“Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del. Code §§18-101 et seq., as amended from time to time, and any successor to such statutes.
“Additional Repowering Project Document” means, collectively, any Contract (or series of related Contracts) entered into by the Company or Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company subsequent to the Effective Date.
“Adjusted Capital Account Deficit” means, with respect to any Member, the deficit balance, if any, in the Capital Account established and maintained for such Member, as the same is specially computed as of the end of the Taxable Year after giving effect to the following adjustments:
(a) Credit to such Member’s Capital Account any amounts (including unpaid Capital Contributions expected to be paid by the end of the relevant tax year) which such Member is obligated to contribute to the Company or to restore pursuant to Section 12.3 of this Agreement or is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704 2(g)(1) and 1.704 2(i)(5), and
(b) Debit to such Member’s Capital Account any items described in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704 1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6).
The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account Deficit is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently with the Treasury Regulations.
“Adjusted Deficit Capital Account Balance” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.3(b).
“Adjusted EBITDA” means EBITDA adjusted for mark-to-market gains or losses, asset write offs and impairments, and factors which the Company does not consider indicative of future operating performance.
“Advisors” is defined in Section 7.7(a).
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any designated Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, or is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such designated Person. Any Person shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any specified Person if such Person owns more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting securities of the specified Person, if the specified Person owns more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting securities of such Person, or if more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting securities of the specified Person and such Person are under common Control. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Class A Member and the Class B Member shall not be considered Affiliates for purposes of this Agreement.
“After-Tax Basis” means, with respect to any payment to be actually or constructively received by any Person, the amount of such payment (the “base payment”) supplemented by a further payment (the “additional payment”) to that Person so that the sum of the base payment plus the additional payment shall, after deduction of the amount of all federal income taxes required to be paid by such Person (or, in the case of a Person that is either a disregarded entity, partnership or other through entity for income tax purposes, the ultimate taxpayer(s) with respect to such entity) in respect of the receipt or accrual of the base payment and the additional payment, using an assumed rate equal to the Highest Marginal Rate (and ignoring state and local taxes), taking into account any federal income tax savings realized (or likely to be realized in the future as a result of such base payment) by the recipient as a result of the payment or the event giving rise to the payment, using an assumed rate equal to the Highest Marginal Rate, equals the amount required to be received.
“After-Tax IRR” means, with respect to the Holder of a Class A Unit and at the time of any determination, the annual effective discount rate (calculated and compounded on a daily basis using the Microsoft Excel XIRR function on all after tax cash flows) which sets A equal to B, where A is the sum of (a) the present value of all Cash Distributions in respect of such Class A Unit, plus (b) the present value of all Tax Benefits in respect of such Class A Unit, plus (c) the present value of all indemnity payments (net of any tax gross-up payments) received in respect of such Class A Unit, that compensate for loss of any item listed in the foregoing clauses (a) and (b), minus (d) the present value of all Tax Costs in respect of such Class A Unit; and B is the present value of the Class A Investment.
“Agreement” is defined in the introductory paragraph.
“Anti-Corruption Laws” means (a) anti-bribery or anti-corruption Laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, and (b) Laws relating to financial record keeping and reporting, currency transfer and money laundering, including, as applicable, the US PATRIOT Act of 2001 and all “know your customer” rules and other applicable regulations.
“Approved Budget” means the annual operating budget prepared and approved (or deemed approved) by the Members in accordance with Section 6.7.
“Assets” means all right, title and interest of a Person in land, properties, buildings, improvements, fixtures, foundations, assets and rights of any kind, whether tangible or intangible, real, personal or mixed, including contracts, leases, easements, equipment, systems, books, data, reports, studies and records, proprietary rights, intellectual property, Licenses and Permits, rights under or pursuant to all warranties, representations and guarantees, cash, accounts receivable, deposits and prepaid expenses.
“Available Cash Flow” means, with respect to any Distribution Date, the gross cash receipts from the operations of the Company (including amounts received by the Company from the Pinnacle Project Company and any other subsidiaries of the Company, and including sales and dispositions of Assets of the Company, the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company), insurance payments, warranty payments, cash previously reserved, and all Capital Contributions received from Members during the period from the last cash distribution to such Distribution Date, less the portion thereof used to pay, or establish reserves for, all expenses of the Company and of the Pinnacle Project Company, including Company Reimbursable Expenses and the cost to develop and construct the Pinnacle Project.
“Bankrupt” means, with respect to any Person: (a) that such Person (i) files in any court pursuant to any statute of the United States or of any state a voluntary petition in bankruptcy or insolvency, (ii) files a petition or answer seeking for such Person a reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under any Law or the appointment of a receiver or a trustee of all or a material portion of such Person’s Assets, (iii) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, (iv) becomes the subject of an order for relief or is declared insolvent in any federal or state bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, (v) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against such Person in a proceeding of the type described in (i) through (iv), (vi) admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they fall due, or (vii) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver or liquidator of any material portion of its Assets; or (b) a petition in bankruptcy or insolvency, or a proceeding seeking reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution, or similar relief under any Law has been commenced against such Person, and sixty (60) days have expired without dismissal thereof or with respect to which, without such Person’s consent or acquiescence, a trustee, receiver, or liquidator of such Person or of all or any substantial part of such Person’s properties has been appointed and sixty (60) days have expired without the appointment’s having been vacated or stayed, or sixty (60) days have expired after the date of expiration of a stay, if the appointment has not previously been vacated; or (c) if a Member, the whole or any material portion of such Person’s Membership Interest is levied or attached, and such levy or attachment is not released or discharged within sixty (60) days.
“Base Case Model” means the financial model attached as Exhibit A hereto.
“Borrower” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Business Day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day that is a legal holiday in New York City or a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by Law or other government action to close in New York City.
“Capital Account” means the capital account established and maintained for a Member pursuant to Section 4.1.
“Capital Contribution” means any cash or the initial Value of any other property (net of liabilities secured by such property that the Company is considered to assume or take subject to under Code Section 752) that a Member directly or indirectly contributes to the Company with respect to the Units held or purchased by such Member, including any capital contributions made by such Member pursuant to Article III hereof, and any reference to the Capital Contributions of a Member shall include the Capital Contributions of any predecessor Holder of the Member’s Units.
“Cash Distributions” means distributions to the Holder of Class A or Class B Units made on any Distribution Date or date of distribution of liquidation proceeds (or to be made on the Distribution Date or date of distribution of liquidation proceeds as of which date the After-Tax IRR is being determined).
“CAFD Yield” means the Class A Member CAFD divided by the Class A Investment.
“Certified Public Accountant” means a firm of independent public accountants (a) that is one of Ernst & Young, Deloitte & Touche, PricewaterhouseCoopers or KPMG LLP, as selected from time to time by the Manager or (b) with respect to any other firm, as selected from time to time with the Consent of the Members.
“Class A Claim” is defined in Section 11.1(a).
“Class A Distribution Percentage” means 85%, as may be adjusted on the Tax Equity Funding Date, in each case, as specified on Exhibit D.
“Class A DRO Amount” means $[***] on the Effective Date, and from and after the Effective Date means $[***] unless such amount is increased by Consent of the Members.
“Class A Interest” means, with respect to any Class A Member: (a) that Class A Member’s status as a Class A Member; (b) that Class A Member’s share of Company Items and the right to receive distributions from the Company; (c) all other rights, benefits and privileges enjoyed by that Class A Member (under the Act, this Agreement, or otherwise) in its capacity as a Class A Member, including that Class A Member’s right to vote, consent and approve and otherwise to participate in the management of the Company, to the extent provided in this Agreement; and (d) all obligations, duties and liabilities imposed on that Class A Member (under the Act, this Agreement or otherwise) in its capacity as a Class A Member, including any obligations to make Capital Contributions.
“Class A Investment” means the Capital Contributions of the Class A Members, which for the avoidance of doubt shall take into account (i) an increase for the Value of the Pinnacle Project when contributed as specified in Section 3.3, (ii) a decrease for any distributions to the
Class A Member from the Effective Date through the earlier of the Tax Equity Funding Date or the Outside Tax Equity Funding Date and (iii) an increase for the Incremental Class A Investment.
“Class A Member” means each Member holding a Class A Interest.
“Class A Member After-Tax Cash-Flow” means, with respect to the Holder of a Class A Unit for a specified period, an amount equal to (a) the Cash Distributions in respect of such Class A Unit, plus (b) the Tax Benefits in respect of such Class A Unit, minus (c) all Tax Costs in respect of such Class A Unit, in each case as projected in the Base Case Model.
“Class A Member CAFD” means [***].
“Class A Member Guarantor” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Class A Member Guaranty” means a guaranty substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F made by the Class A Member Guarantor.
“Class A Party” is defined in Section 11.1(a).
“Class A TE Guaranty” is defined in Section 3.3(f)(C).
“Class A TE Obligation” means an obligation of the Company, a Tax Equity Entity or the Pinnacle Project Company under a Tax Equity Document that has arisen or has accrued (a) in respect of an event or circumstance that occurred prior to the Tax Equity Funding Date (other than in connection with the repowering of the Pinnacle Project) or (b) as a result of a failure of the Class A Member to make the Incremental Class A Investment.
“Class A Unit” means a unit representing a Class A Interest having the rights, preferences and designations provided for such class in this Agreement.
“Class B Claim” is defined in Section 11.1(b).
“Class B Distribution Percentage” means [***]% minus the Class A Distribution Percentage.
“Class B DRO Amount” means $[***] on the Effective Date, and from and after the Effective Date means $[***] unless such amount is increased by Consent of the Members.
“Class B Interest” means, with respect to any Class B Member: (a) that Class B Member’s status as a Class B Member; (b) that Class B Member’s share of Company Items, and the right to receive distributions from the Company; (c) all other rights, benefits and privileges enjoyed by that Class B Member (under the Act, this Agreement, or otherwise) in its capacity as a Class B Member, including that Class B Member’s right to vote, consent and approve and otherwise to participate in the management of the Company to the extent provided in this Agreement; and (d) all obligations, duties and liabilities imposed on that Class B Member (under the Act, this Agreement or otherwise) in its capacity as a Class B Member, including any obligations to make Capital Contributions.
“Class B Member” means each Member holding a Class B Interest.
[***].
[***].
“Class B Party” is defined in Section 11.1(b).
“Class B TE Obligation” means an obligation of the Company, a Tax Equity Entity or the Pinnacle Project Company under a Tax Equity Document that has arisen or has accrued in respect of an event or circumstance in connection with the repowering of the Pinnacle Project, other than as a result of a failure of the Class A Member to make the Incremental Class A Investment.
“Class B Unit” means a unit representing a Class B Interest having the rights, preferences and designations provided for such class in this Agreement.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any corresponding provisions of any successor tax statute.
“Company” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Company Items” means the separate items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the Company for purposes of subchapter K of the Code, as determined for Capital Account maintenance purposes consistent with the principles of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 1(b)(2)(iv).
“Company Minimum Gain” has the meaning given the term “partnership minimum gain” set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 2(b)(2) and will be determined as provided in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 2(d).
“Company Reimbursable Expenses” means (a) all reasonable and documented Third Party costs and expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business by the Manager on behalf of the Company in performing the duties hereunder or relating to the Company’s activities and business, including all reasonable and documented costs and expenses incurred for legal, accounting and auditing fees paid or payable to Third Parties in accordance with this Agreement, in each case, as provided for in the Approved Budget, but excluding such costs and expenses attributable to (i) the gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud of, or violation of Law by, the Manager, (ii) the Manager’s failure to abide by the provisions of this Agreement that apply to the Manager, (iii) a breach of this Agreement by the Member who owns or controls the Manager, or (iv) a breach by a Member or its Affiliate of a Transaction Document to which such Member or its Affiliate is a party if such Member is, or is an Affiliate of, the Manager, and (b) the costs of liquidation as described in Section 12.2(a).
“Competitor” means any Person (other than Global Infrastructure Management LLC and its Affiliates) directly or indirectly engaged in owning, managing, operating, maintaining or developing facilities utilizing wind power for the production of electricity for sale to others; provided that a Person who is involved in owning, managing, developing, maintaining or
operating such facilities solely as a result of such Person, directly or through an Affiliate, making passive investments in such facilities shall not be considered a “Competitor” hereunder so long as such Person certifies in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Class B Members that it has in place procedures to prevent any Affiliate of such Person that is not a passive owner, manager, operator, maintenance provider or developer from acquiring confidential information relating to its investment in the Company.
“Confidential Information” is defined in Section 7.7(a).
“Consent of the Class A Members” means the written consent or approval of the Class A Members who own in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the Class A Units.
“Consent of the Class B Members” means the written consent or approval of the Class B Members who own in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the Class B Units.
“Consent of the Members” means both the Consent of the Class A Members and the Consent of the Class B Members.
“Construction Budget” means the construction budget (including sources and uses) to be agreed by the Members, and approved by the lenders, in connection with the Repowering Construction Financing, as the same may be amended or modified in accordance with this Agreement.
“Construction Class B Investment” is defined in Section 3.3(d).
“Contracts” means contracts, agreements, leases, licenses, notes, indentures, obligations, reinsurance treaties, bonds, mortgages, instruments, and other binding commitments, arrangements, undertakings and understandings (whether written or oral).
“Control” and the terms “Controlled by” and “under common Control” mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership, by contract, or otherwise.
“Credit Support Obligations” means the terms in any Repowering Financing Document or Tax Equity Document or other agreements or arrangements that would, in order to make such Repowering Financing Document or Tax Equity Document or other agreement or arrangement effective or not to cause a default or potential default thereunder, require Members or their Affiliates to provide credit support to the Company, the Pinnacle Project Company, any other subsidiary of the Company or any of their financing parties or in respect of any other obligation of the Company, the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, or any of their financing parties through any equity contribution agreement, guarantee, standby letter of credit, cash collateral or similar arrangement.
“Damages” is defined in Section 11.1(a).
“Delaware Certificate” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Depreciation” means, for each Taxable Year, an amount equal to the depreciation, amortization (including pursuant to Code Sections 197 and 709) or other cost recovery deduction allowable for federal income tax purposes with respect to an Asset for such period, except that if the Value of any Asset differs from its adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such period, Depreciation shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such beginning Value as the federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction allowable for such Taxable Year bears to such beginning adjusted tax basis; provided, however, that if such Asset has a zero beginning adjusted basis for such Taxable Year, Depreciation shall be determined with reference to such beginning Value using any method selected by the Manager with the Consent of the Members.
“Disqualified Entity” means an entity that is referred to in Section 50(b)(3) or 50(b)(4) of the Code, provided, that if any indirect owner owns its indirect interest through a taxable C corporation (as defined in the Code), but excluding any entity that is a “tax exempt controlled entity” defined in Section 168(h)(6)(F)(iii) of the Code, then such Person will not be deemed to be a Disqualified Entity.
“Disqualified Transferee” means (a) any Person that is, or whose Affiliate is, then a party adverse in any pending or threatened (in writing or other reasonably satisfactory evidence of such threat) action, suit or proceeding to the Company or any Member or an Affiliate thereof, if the Company (with the Consent of the Members) or such Member (in its sole and absolute discretion), as applicable, shall not have consented to the Transfer to such Person; provided, however, that any foreclosure upon any Membership Interests pursuant to an Encumbrance permitted hereunder shall not be an action, suit or proceeding for the purposes of this clause (a), (b) with respect to any Transfer of a Class A Interest, a Person that is, or whose Affiliate is, a Competitor, (c) a Related Party or a Disqualified Entity, (d) a Person who is, or who is an Affiliate of any Person that is, then Bankrupt, or (e) a Person who, or is an Affiliate of any Person who, is a Sanctioned Person, in each case, other than an existing Member.
“Distribution Date” means each day that is five (5) Business Days following a distribution of cash to the Company from a subsidiary of the Company; provided that there shall be at least one Distribution Date per month.
“EBITDA” means earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization of the Company.
“Effective Date” means the date of this Agreement.
“Encumbrances” means encumbrances, liens, pledges, charges, collateral assignments, options, mortgages, warrants, deeds of trust, security interests, claims, restrictions (whether on voting, sale, transfer, disposition, or otherwise), assessments, easements, variances, purchase rights, rights of first refusal, reservations, encroachments, irregularities, deficiencies, defaults, defects, adverse claims, interests, and other matters of every type and description whatsoever, whether voluntary or involuntary, choate or inchoate or imposed by Law, agreement (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing or any conditional sale or other title retention agreement), understanding, or otherwise, and whether or not of record, impairing or affecting the
title to real or personal property (including membership interests), and “Encumber” means any action or inaction creating an Encumbrance.
“Energy Regulatory Approvals” means any License and Permit issued by or filed with an Energy Regulatory Authority that is required to be maintained by the Pinnacle Project or the Pinnacle Project Company.
“Energy Regulatory Authority” a Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over public utilities, energy or any similar subject matter.
“Environmental Law” means any Law imposing liability, standards or obligations of conduct concerning pollution or protection of human health and safety (including the health and safety of workers under the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. §§ 651 et seq.)), flora and fauna, any Environmental Media, including (a) any Law relating to any actual or threatened emission, discharge, release, manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport, or handling of any hazardous waste (as defined by 42 U.S.C. § 6903(5)), hazardous substance (as defined by 42 U.S.C. § 9601(14)), hazardous material (as defined by 49 U.S.C. § 5102(2)), toxic pollutant (as listed pursuant to 33 U.S.C. § 1317), or pollutant or contaminant (as pollutant or contaminant is defined in 42 U.S.C. § 9601(33)), any oil (as defined by 33 U.S.C. § 2701(23)); and (b) the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et seq.) (“CERCLA”), the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.) and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) with any amendments or reauthorization thereto or thereof, and any and all regulations promulgated thereunder, and all analogous state and local counterparts or equivalents.
“ERISA” is defined in Section 8.10(h).
“EWG” means “exempt wholesale generator” as defined in Section 1262(6) of PUHCA and the implementing regulations of FERC.
“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any Asset, the price at which the Asset would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy or to sell, and both having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts, and specifically with respect to the Pinnacle Project or any Membership Interest.
“FERC” means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and any successor agency.
“Final Completion” means the completion of all relevant construction milestones for the repowering of the Pinnacle Project under the Repowering Project Documents, including completion of all performance testing and punch list items.
“Financing Required Capital Contribution” means, with respect to any Member, any Subsequent Capital Contribution required from such Member in accordance with the terms of the Repowering Financing Documents or the Tax Equity Documents in addition to the terms of this Agreement, including (if applicable) in respect of the Construction Class B Investment, the Incremental Class A Investment and the Incremental Class B Investment.
“Fiscal Quarter” means the calendar quarters each ended March 31st, June 30th, September 30th and December 31st during each Fiscal Year.
“Fiscal Year” means (a) the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the immediately succeeding December 31, (b) any subsequent calendar year, and (c) the final Fiscal Year of the Company shall end on the date on which the Company is terminated under Article XII hereof.
“Funding Notice” is defined in Section 3.4(a).
“GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, as amended, consistently applied.
“Good Management Standard” means that a Person will perform its management functions in good faith and in a manner it reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the Company. Good Management Standard is not intended to be limited to a single set of practices, methods and acts; provided, however, that under no circumstances shall the Good Management Standard be construed to allow a Person to be held to a lesser standard than is required under applicable Law.
“Governmental Authority” means any foreign, domestic, federal, territorial, state or local governmental authority, court, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, or any regulatory, administrative or other department, agency, or any political or other subdivision, department or branch of any of the foregoing, any Taxing Authority and any electric reliability organization, regional transmission organization or independent system operator or any successor thereto.
“Highest Marginal Rate” means, with respect to any Member, the then highest marginal federal income tax rate applicable to corporations.
“Holder” means, as to a Class A Unit, the Class A Member holding such Class A Unit, and, as to a Class B Unit, the Class B Member holding such Class B Unit.
“HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.
“Incremental Class A Investment” is defined in Section 3.3(e)(i).
“Incremental Class A Investment Cap” means $66,641,185.88.
“Incremental Class A Investment Cap (Base Only)” means the Incremental Class A Investment Cap, plus $1,472,260.00.
“Incremental Class B Investment” is defined in Section 3.3(e)(iii).
“Incremental Class B Investment Cap” is defined in Section 3.3(e)(iii).
“Indebtedness” means indebtedness for borrowed money and any lease of any property as lessee the obligations of which are required to be classified or accounted for as a capital lease
on the balance sheet of the applicable Person, off-balance sheet leases, but expressly does not include short-term (i.e., less than one (1) year in maturity) trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business.
“Indemnified Party” is defined in Section 11.1(b).
“Indemnifying Member” is defined in Section 11.2.
“Indemnity Claim” is defined in Section 11.1(b).
“Initial Class A Member” means is defined in the introductory paragraph.
“Initial Class B Member” means is defined in the introductory paragraph.
“Initial Capital Contribution” means a Capital Contribution made on the Effective Date.
“Intent Notice” is defined in is defined in Section 9.6(d).
“Investment Documents” means this Agreement and any other documents entered into by the Company in connection with the Members acquiring and maintaining their Membership Interests in the Company.
“Investment Grade” means a credit rating of “BBB-” or higher by Standard & Poor’s, “Baa3” or higher by Moody’s Investors Service or an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized rating agency.
“IRS” means the Internal Revenue Service and any successor Governmental Authority.
“Law” means any applicable constitution, statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rate, ruling, order, judgment, legally binding guideline, restriction, requirement, writ, injunction or decree that has been enacted, issued or promulgated by any Governmental Authority.
“Licenses and Permits” means filings and registrations with, and licenses, permits, notices, approvals, grants, easements, exemptions, variances and authorizations from, any Governmental Authority.
“Liquidating Events” is defined in Section 12.1(a).
“Manager” means the Person appointed by the Members pursuant to Article VI to manage the affairs of the Company and any other Person hereafter appointed as a successor Manager of the Company as provided in Article VI. Pursuant to its appointment by the Members in Section 6.1, the Initial Class A Member shall be the initial Manager of the Company.
“Master Services Provider” means [***], a Delaware limited liability company. For purposes of this Agreement the Master Services Provider shall be considered an Affiliate of the Class B Member but not an Affiliate of the Class A Member.
“Material Adverse Effect” means any act, event, condition or circumstance that, individually or in the aggregate, is, or could reasonably be expected to be, materially adverse to
the business, earnings, Assets, liabilities (contingent or otherwise), results of operations, prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or properties of the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, or on the ability of the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company to timely perform any of its respective obligations under any Transaction Document to which it is a party or the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of any such Transaction Document.
“Member” means any Person who executes the signature page of this Agreement as of the Effective Date or thereafter agrees to be bound hereby and is admitted to the Company as a Member pursuant to this Agreement, excluding any Person that has ceased to be a Member.
“Member Loan” is defined in Section 3.4(a).
“Member Nonrecourse Debt” has the meaning given the term “partner nonrecourse debt” in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 2(b)(4).
“Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain” has the meaning given the term “partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain” set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 2(i)(2), and will be computed as provided in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 2(i)(3).
“Member Nonrecourse Deductions” has the same meaning as the term “partner nonrecourse deductions” in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704 2(i)(1) and 1.704 2(i)(2).
“Membership Interest” means either the Class A Interest or the Class B Interest or both, as the context requires.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investor Service, or any successor entity.
“Nonrecourse Deductions” has the meaning given to such term in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704 2(b)(1) and 1.704 2(c).
“Nonrecourse Liability” has the meaning given such term in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 2(b)(3).
“NPV” means the value in the cell ‘Transaction Summary’!D18” in the Base Case Model.
“Officers” is defined in Section 6.4.
“Original LLC Agreement” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Outside Admission Date” is defined in Section 9.8.
“Partnership Representative” is defined in Section 8.7(a).
“Party” means the Class B Member, the Company or the Class A Member, as the context requires.
“Permitted Investments” is defined in Section 8.5.
“Person” means an individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, a partnership, an association, joint venture, a labor union, a trust or any other entity or organization, including a Governmental Authority.
“Pinnacle Holdco” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Pinnacle Project” means the wind-powered electricity generation facility located in Mineral County, West Virginia, with a nameplate rating of 53.7 MW, known as the “Pinnacle” project, including the turbines and related equipment, buildings, collection lines, substation, and other improvements related thereto.
“Pinnacle Project Company” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Posting Notice” is defined in Section 3.5(a).
“Preliminary Intent Notice” is defined in is defined in Section 9.6(d).
“Pre-Tax IRR” means, with respect to the Holder of a Class A Unit and at the time of any determination, the annual effective discount rate (calculated and compounded on a daily basis using the Microsoft Excel XIRR function on all pre-tax cash flows) which sets A equal to B, where A is the sum of (a) the present value of all Cash Distributions in respect of such Class A Unit, plus (b) the present value of all indemnity payments received in respect of such Class A Unit, that compensate for loss of any item listed in the foregoing clauses (a) and (b); and B is the present value of the Class A Investment.
“PTCs” mean the renewable energy production tax credits provided for pursuant to Section 45 of the Code.
“PUHCA” means the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, 42 U.S.C. §§ 16451, et seq. and the regulations of the FERC thereunder at 18 C.F.R. §§ 366.1, et seq.
“Purchase Option” is defined in Section 9.6.
“Purchase Option Period” is defined in Section 9.6(a).
“Purchase Option Price” is defined in Section 9.6(a).
“Qualified Transferee” means a nationally recognized Person (or a direct or indirect subsidiary of a Person): (a) that, with respect to an Encumbrance on a Class B Unit, (i) owns and manages or operates (before giving effect to any Transfer hereunder) not less than [***] of wind projects in the United States (excluding the Pinnacle Project), and such Person (or such Person’s direct or indirect Parent) must have done so for a period of [***] prior to the Transfer or (ii) engages a Person (at its own cost and expense) meeting the qualifications of clause (i) above to act as a non-member manager hereunder, and (b) that (i) has a credit rating of [***], and such parent provides a guaranty in favor of the Members not party to such Encumbrance, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to such Members.
“RECs” means any credits, credit certificates, green tags or similar environmental or green energy attributes (such as those for greenhouse reduction or the generation of green power
or renewable energy) created by a Governmental Authority or independent certification board or group generally recognized in the electric power generation industry, and generated by or associated with the Pinnacle Project or electricity produced therefrom, but excluding PTCs or any other tax benefits.
“Reference Rate” means the rate of interest published in The Wall Street Journal as the prime lending rate or “prime rate”, with adjustments in that varying rate to be made on the same date as any change in that rate is so published.
“Register” is defined in Section 2.8.
“Regulatory Allocations” is defined in Section 4.3(i).
“Related Party(ies)” means any Person who is considered for federal income tax purposes to be purchasing electricity generated by the Pinnacle Project Company and who is related to the Pinnacle Project Company within the meaning of Section 267(b) or Section 707(b) of the Code or any successor provision, but excluding any Person that so purchases electricity generated by the Pinnacle Project Company to the extent such Person resells the electricity to another Person who is not related to the Pinnacle Project Company within the meaning of Section 267(b) or Section 707(b) of the Code or any successor provision.
“Repowering Capital Contribution” means the Incremental Class A Investment plus the Incremental Class B Investment.
“Repowering Construction Contract” means one or more engineering, procurement, construction, balance of plant or similar contracts for the repowering of the Pinnacle Project providing a scope of supply and work not otherwise provided under the Repowering TSA.
“Repowering Construction Financing” means one or more construction financing facilities that the Borrower intends to raise secured by all of the assets of the Borrower, the proceeds of which will be used to finance the development, construction and repowering of the Pinnacle Project using the Safe Harbor Equipment and to fund the Tapestry Prepayment Amount.
“Repowering Financing Documents” means, collectively, the definitive financing and security documents, executed and delivered in connection with the Repowering Construction Financing.
“Repowering Project Documents” means the Repowering TSA, Repowering Construction Contract, the agreements listed on Exhibit E and the Additional Repowering Project Documents.
“Repowering TSA” means [***].
“Representatives” is defined in Section 7.7(a).
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of McGraw Hill, Inc., or any successor entity.
“Safe Harbor Equipment” means the equipment described on Annex II.
“Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country or territory which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions.
“Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions related list of designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any European Union member state, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons.
“Sanctions” mean (a) all U.S. and applicable international economic and trade sanctions and embargoes, including any sanctions or regulations administered and enforced by the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (including the Office of Foreign Assets Control) and any executive orders, rules and regulations relating thereto, (b) all applicable Laws concerning exportation, including rules and regulations administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of State or the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and (c) any anti-boycott Laws, including any executive orders, rules and regulations.
“Securities” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s capital stock or limited liability company interests or any options, warrants or other securities which are directly or indirectly convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, such Person’s capital stock or limited liability company interests, whether or not such derivative securities are issued by such Person, and any reference herein to “Securities” refers also to any such derivative securities and all underlying securities directly or indirectly issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of such derivative securities.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 or any successor statute, as amended from time to time.
“SNL ATC Forward” means S&P Global’s “around-the-clock” weighted average blend of on- and off-peak energy pricing forecasted for a given year.
[***]
“Specified Share” means: (a) for the Class A Members, the Class A Distribution Percentage; and (b) for the Class B Members, the Class B Distribution Percentage.
“Subsequent Capital Contribution” means, with respect to a Member, any Capital Contribution by such Member to the capital of the Company other than any Initial Capital Contribution pursuant to Section 3.1 and Section 3.2. For the avoidance of doubt, Subsequent Capital Contributions shall include the Construction Class B Investment and the Repowering Capital Contributions.
“Support Obligations” is defined in Section 3.5(a).
“Support Obligation Notice” is defined in Section 3.5(a).
“Tapestry Indebtedness” means Indebtedness under that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of [***], by and among Tapestry Wind LLC, [***] and the other lenders party thereto.
“Tapestry Prepayment Amount” is defined in Section 3.3(c).
“Tapestry Wind” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Tax” or “Taxes” means all taxes, charges, fees, levies, penalties or other assessments imposed by any federal, state or local or foreign taxing authority, including, but not limited to, income, excise, ad valorem, real or personal property, sales, transfer, franchise, payroll, withholding, social security, gross receipts, license, stamp, occupation, employment or other taxes, including any interest, penalties or additions attributable thereto.
“Tax Benefits” means, with respect to a Class A Unit, the periodic federal income tax savings resulting from (a) the distributive share of PTCs allocated by the Company to the Holder of such Class A Unit, and (b) the distributive share of tax losses and deductions allocated by the Company to the Holder of such Class A Unit, in each case, as such federal income tax savings is determined in accordance with the Base Case Model.
“Tax Costs” means, with respect to a Class A Unit, the periodic federal income tax liability (after taking into account any suspended losses of the Class A Members under Section 704(d)) resulting from (a) the distributive share of taxable income and gain allocated by the Company to the Holder of such Class A Unit (including expected chargebacks of Company Minimum Gain pursuant to Section 4.3(a), expected chargebacks of Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain pursuant to Section 4.3(b), and expected allocations of Items of income pursuant to the first sentence of Section 12.2(a)(v)), and (b) any gain recognized by such Holder under Sections 731(a) of the Code from Cash Distributions in respect of such Class A Unit, in each case, as such federal income tax liability is determined in accordance with the Base Case Model.
“Tax Equity Documents” means that certain Equity Capital Contribution Agreement, to be entered into by and among Borrower, Pinnacle Holdco and the Tax Equity Investor in connection with the Tax Equity Financing (the “ECCA”), and related documentation that reflect the terms and conditions of the Tax Equity Financing, including the Beginning of Construction and Repowering Information Certificate (Closing Date) and the Beginning of Construction and Repowering Information Certificate (Funding Date) (each, as defined in the ECCA).
“Tax Equity Entity” means the Borrower and Pinnacle Holdco.
“Tax Equity Financing” means a tax equity investment to be made on the Tax Equity Funding Date by the Tax Equity Investor.
“Tax Equity Funding Date” means the date on which the Tax Equity Investor under the Tax Equity Documents will acquire ownership interests in Pinnacle Holdco.
“Tax Equity Investor” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Tax Return” means the Company’s federal income tax return for each Taxable Year, including Schedule K 1s .
“Taxable Year” means the taxable year of the Company for federal income tax purposes, which shall be (a) the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the immediately succeeding December 31, (b) any subsequent calendar year or (c) any portion of the period described in clause (a) or (b) for which the Company is required to allocate Company Items pursuant to Article IV or Section 12.2(a)(v).
“Taxing Authority” means, with respect to a particular Tax, the agency or department of any Governmental Authority responsible for the administration and collection of such Tax.
“Terminated Member” is defined in Section 9.7.
“Third Party” means a Person other than a Member or an Affiliate of a Member.
“Transaction” means the transactions contemplated and provided for in the Investment Documents.
“Transaction Documents” mean the Repowering Financing Documents, the Repowering Project Documents, and the Tax Equity Documents.
“Transfer” means the sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance, gift, exchange or other disposition of Class A Units or Class B Units (and the Membership Interests represented thereby), whether directly by the Member or indirectly, excluding the creation of an Encumbrance, but including any such sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance, gift, exchange or other disposition in connection with, or in lieu of, the foreclosure of an Encumbrance.
“Transferee” means a Person to which a Transfer is or would be made.
“Transferring Member” means the Member effecting a Transfer.
“Treasury Regulations” means the regulations promulgated under the Code by the United States Department of Treasury, as such regulations may be amended from time to time. All references herein to specific sections of the regulations shall be deemed also to refer to any corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations, and any reference to temporary regulations shall be deemed also to refer to any corresponding provisions of final regulations.
“UCC” or “Uniform Commercial Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the State of Delaware from time to time.
“Units” means either the Class A Units or the Class B Units or both, as the context requires.
“Value” means, with respect to any Asset of the Company, such Asset’s adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes, except as follows:
(a) the initial Value of any Asset contributed by a Member to the Company shall be the gross fair market value of such Asset, as agreed to by the Members;
(b) the Value of all Assets of the Company shall be adjusted to equal their respective gross fair market values (taking Code Section 7701(g) into account), as determined by the
Members, in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 1(b)(2)(iv)(f), as of the following times: (i) the acquisition of an additional Membership Interest in the Company by any new or existing Member in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (ii) the distribution by the Company to a Member of more than a de minimis amount of Company Assets as consideration for the acquisition of a Membership Interest in the Company; (iii) the grant of a Membership Interest in the Company (other than a de minimis interest) as consideration for the provision of services to or for the benefit of the Company by an existing Member acting in a Member capacity or a new Member acting in a Member capacity or in anticipation of being a Member; and (iv) the liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 1(b)(2)(ii)(g); provided that any adjustment described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph shall be made only upon the Consent of the Members;
(c) the Value of any Asset distributed to any Member shall be adjusted to equal the gross fair market value of such Asset on the date of distribution (taking Code Section 7701(g) into account), as determined by the Consent of the Members; and
(d) the Value of Company Assets shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such Assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b), but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 1(b)(2)(iv)(m); provided, however, that the Value shall not be adjusted pursuant to this clause (d) to the extent the Members determine that an adjustment pursuant to clause (b) of this definition is necessary or appropriate in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this clause (d).
If the Value of an Asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to clause (a), (b) or (d) of this definition, such Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such Asset for purposes of determining Company Items and not by the depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deductions taken into account with respect to that asset for federal income tax purposes.
“Working Capital Loan” is defined in Section 3.4(a).
“Working Capital Notice” is defined in Section 3.4(a).
Section b.Other Definitional Provisions.
(i)Construction. As used herein, the singular shall include the plural, the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter and the neuter gender shall include the masculine and feminine unless the context otherwise indicates.
(ii)References. References to Articles and Sections are intended to refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement, and all references to Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules are intended to refer to Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules attached to this Agreement, each of which is made a part of this Agreement for all purposes. The terms “include,” “includes” and “including” mean “including, without limitation.” Any date specified for action that is not a Business Day shall mean the first Business Day after such date. Any reference to a Person shall be deemed to
include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns. Any reference to any document or documents shall be deemed to refer to such document or documents as amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from time to time in accordance with the terms of such document or documents and, as applicable, the terms of this Agreement. References to laws refer to such laws as they may be amended from time to time, and references to particular provisions of a Law include any corresponding provisions of any succeeding Law. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section or subsection of this Agreement. References to money refer to legal currency of the United States of America.
(iii)Accounting Terms. As used in this Agreement and in any certificate or other documents made or delivered pursuant hereto, accounting terms not defined in this Agreement or in any such certificate or other document, and accounting terms partly defined in this Agreement or in any such certificate or other document to the extent not defined, will have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP. To the extent that the definitions of accounting terms in this Agreement or in any such certificate or other document are inconsistent with the meanings of such terms under GAAP, the definitions contained in this Agreement or in any such certificate or other document will control.
ARTICLE 2.
THE COMPANY
Section a.Organization of Limited Liability Company.
The Class A Member of the Company is CWEN Pinnacle Repowering Holdco LLC and the Class B Member of the Company is CWSP Pinnacle Holding LLC. The Company was formed as a Delaware limited liability company by the filing of the Delaware Certificate pursuant to the Act. The rights and obligations of the Members shall be as provided in the Act, except as otherwise expressly provided herein. The Manager shall from time to time execute or cause to be executed all such certificates, instruments and other documents, and cause to be done all such filings and other actions, as the Manager may deem necessary or appropriate to operate, continue, or terminate the Company as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware and to qualify the Company to do business in all jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware in which the Company conducts or proposes to conduct business and in any other jurisdiction where such qualification is necessary or appropriate.
Section b.Name.
The name of the Company is, and the business of the Company shall be conducted under the name of, “Pinnacle Repowering Partnership LLC” or such other name or names as the Manager may designate from time to time, with the Consent of the Members. The Manager shall take any action that it determines is required to comply with the Act, assumed name act, fictitious name act, or similar statute in effect in each jurisdiction or political subdivision in which the Company conducts or proposes to conduct business and the Members agree to execute any documents reasonably requested by the Manager in connection with any such action.
Section c.Principal Office.
The Company shall maintain a principal office at 300 Carnegie Center, Suite 300, Princeton, NJ 08540. The Manager may change the principal office of the Company from time to time upon prior written notice to the Members. The Manager shall maintain all records of the Company at its principal office or such location designated by the Manager in a notice to the Members.
Section d.Registered Office; Registered Agent.
The name of the registered agent of the Company in the State of Delaware is CT Corporation System. The address of the Company’s registered office in the State of Delaware is at Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801.
Section e.Purposes.
The purpose of the Company is to directly or indirectly, through its ownership of the membership interests in the Tax Equity Entities and the Pinnacle Project Company, (a) capitalize the Company as provided in Article III and own the Pinnacle Project Company, (b) operate, maintain and repair the Pinnacle Project for the purpose of producing energy, capacity, ancillary services and RECs, (c) sell energy, capacity and ancillary services produced by the Pinnacle Project and to sell RECs generated from the Pinnacle Project, (d) develop, construct and repower the Pinnacle Project, (e) negotiate, execute, deliver and perform each Repowering Project Document in order to achieve the Tax Equity Funding Date, (f) raise Repowering Construction Financing and negotiate, execute, deliver and perform each Repowering Financing Document in order to pay for or reimburse costs associated with the development, construction, repowering and financing of the Pinnacle Project, (g) raise Tax Equity Financing and negotiate, execute, deliver and perform each Tax Equity Financing Document, (h) enter into, comply with and perform its obligations and enforce its rights under this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which it is a party and to cause the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company to comply with, and perform its obligations and enforce its rights under each Transaction Document to which the Pinnacle Project Company or other subsidiary of the Company is a party; and (i) engage in and perform any and all activities necessary, incidental, related or appropriate to accomplish the foregoing that may be engaged in by a limited liability company formed under the Act. The Company shall not engage in any activity or own any Assets that are not directly related to the Company’s purpose as set forth in the first sentence of this Section 2.5.
Section f.Term.
The Company was formed on February 7, 2020, and shall continue in existence until dissolved and terminated in accordance with this Agreement or the Act.
Section g.Title to Property.
Title to Company Assets, whether tangible or intangible, shall be held in the name of the Company, and no Member, individually, shall have title to or any interest in such property by
reason of being a Member. Membership Interests of each Member shall be personal property for all purposes.
Section h.Units; Certificates of Membership Interest; Applicability of Article 8 of UCC.
Membership Interests shall be represented by Units, divided into Class A Units (in the case of Class A Interest) and Class B Units (in the case of Class B Interest). The Membership Interests represented by Class A Units and Class B Units shall have the respective rights, powers and preferences ascribed to Class A Units and Class B Units in this Agreement. The class of Membership Interest of a Member shall be as provided in Annex I. The Members hereby specify, acknowledge and agree that all Units (and the Membership Interests represented thereby) are securities governed by Article 8 and all other provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code, and pursuant to the terms of Section 8 103(c) of the Uniform Commercial Code, such interests shall be “certificated securities” for all purposes under such Article 8 and under all other provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code. All Units (and the Membership Interests represented thereby) shall be represented by certificates substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, shall be recorded in a register (the “Register”) thereof maintained by the Company, and shall be subject to such rules for the issuance thereof in compliance with this Agreement and applicable Law.
Section i.No Partnership.
The Members intend that the Company not be a partnership (including a limited partnership) or joint venture, and that no Member be a partner or joint venturer of any other Member, for any purposes other than tax purposes, and this Agreement may not be construed to suggest otherwise.
ARTICLE 3.
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CREDIT SUPPORT
Section a.Class A Interest.
Each Class A Member shall be entitled to the allocations, distributions and other rights as are prescribed for a Class A Member in this Agreement. The Class A Member’s Capital Account balance as of the Effective Date with respect to its Class A Interest is as indicated on Annex I. The number of Class A Units held by the Class A Member with respect to its Class A Interest as of the Effective Date is the number indicated on Annex I.
Section b.Class B Interest.
Each Class B Member shall be entitled to the allocations, distributions and other rights as are prescribed for a Class B Member in this Agreement. Each Class B Member’s Capital Account balance as of the Effective Date with respect to its Class B Interest is as indicated on Annex I. The number of Class B Units held by the Class B Member with respect to its Class B Interest as of the Effective Date is the number indicated on Annex I.
Section c.Other Required Capital Contributions; Credit Support.
(i)Except as provided in this Section 3.3, Section 3.1, Section 3.2, Section 3.6, Section 6.4(d), Section 6.6(f) and Section 12.3, no Member shall be obligated to make Capital Contributions.
(ii)[Reserved.]
(iii)[***] the Initial Class A Member shall contribute to the Company all of its right, title and interest in and to the equity interests in the Pinnacle Project Company, which equity interests shall constitute all of the outstanding equity interests in the Pinnacle Project Company [***] the Initial Class B Member shall cause Clearway Renew LLC, its Affiliate, to assign all of its rights and obligations under the Repowering TSA, including title to all equipment previously purchased thereunder for which title has passed to Clearway Renew LLC, to the Pinnacle Project Company in exchange for $[***]; [***].
(iv)The Class B Member shall be obligated to make additional Capital Contributions to the Company (the “Construction Class B Investment”) in cash to fund all construction and post-financial closing development costs and expenses in respect of the Pinnacle Project incurred in connection with the repowering of the Pinnacle Project and necessary to reach the Tax Equity Funding Date, to the extent that the proceeds of the Repowering Construction Financing are insufficient to cover such costs and expenses.
(v)Upon each of the dates set forth in Exhibit D, the Members shall make Capital Contributions in an aggregate amount equal to the Repowering Capital Contribution to the Company. The Repowering Capital Contribution shall consist of the following:
(1)On the Tax Equity Funding Date, the Class A Member will be obligated to make Capital Contributions to the Company (the aggregate of all Capital Contributions made pursuant to this Section 3.3(e)(i), the “Incremental Class A Investment”) in an amount equal to the lesser of (x) the Incremental Class A Investment Cap and (y) the sum of (A) the amount required to repay, in full, the lenders under the Repowering Construction Financing and (B) any remaining payments due to vendors to reach Final Completion.
(2)Intentionally deleted.
(3)[***].
(vi)The Class A Member and the Class B Member acknowledge and agree that Credit Support Obligations specified in this Section 3.3(f) are required in connection with Financing Required Capital Contributions and the Tax Equity Financing. Each Member agrees to satisfy the following Credit Support Obligations required under the Repowering Construction Financing and the Tax Equity Financing, as applicable, on or before the date required therefor under each such financing:
(i)the Class A Member will execute and deliver to the lenders under the Repowering Construction Financing an equity contribution agreement in respect of the Incremental Class A Investment (it being acknowledged that any such equity contribution agreement shall include a maximum amount of the Class A Member’s funding commitment to the lenders equal to the Incremental Class A Investment Cap),
(ii)the Class B Member will execute and deliver to the lenders under the Repowering Construction Financing an equity contribution agreement in respect of the Construction Class B Investment and (if required by the lenders) the Incremental Class B Investment (it being acknowledged that any such equity contribution agreement may include a maximum amount of the Class B Member’s funding commitment to the lenders); and
(iii)the Class A Member will cause to be executed and delivered to the Tax Equity Investor under the Tax Equity Financing a guaranty in respect of the Borrower’s obligations under the Tax Equity Documents (the “Class A TE Guaranty”).
(vii)To the extent that the Tax Equity Funding Date occurs and the Class A Members fail to make any Incremental Class A Investments, in addition to any other rights and remedies that the Class B Members may have at law or in equity, amounts paid by the Class B Members in lieu of the Incremental Class A Investment shall be treated as a loan from the Class B Members to the Class A Members. Each of the Class A Members will be treated as making a Capital Contribution in the amount of the loan received from the Class B Members. Each such loan shall accrue interest at [***]%, calculated and compounded on December 31 of each year. Commencing on the first Distribution Date after the Tax Equity Funding Date, any Available Cash Flow that a Class A Member would otherwise be entitled to shall not be paid to such Class A Member (but for the sake of clarity shall be deemed to have been distributed to the Class A Member, but further directed to the Class B Member to satisfy such loan), and all such Available Cash Flow shall be paid to the Class B Member until the loan has been repaid in full with interest. Any such loan may be assigned or collaterally assigned by the Class B Member, and the Class A Member shall execute and deliver notes, agreements, consents, estoppels, opinions and other documentation reasonably requested by the Class B Member in connection with such an assignment or collateral assignment.
Section d.Member Loans.
(i)In the event that, from time to time after the Effective Date, additional working capital is needed to enable the Company to cause the Assets of the Company and the Pinnacle Project Company to be properly operated and maintained (and to pay and perform the costs, expenses, obligations and liabilities of the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company) and such additional working capital is not required to be funded by the Members pursuant to an additional Capital Contribution pursuant to Section 3.3, then, at the discretion of the Manager, the Manager may give notice to the Members thereof (the “Working Capital Notice”), and each Member shall have the right (but not the obligation) to advance all or part of the needed funds to the Company. Within ten (10) Business Days following the date of the Working Capital Notice, the
participating Members shall give notice to the Manager and the other Members stating their election whether to provide such funding to the Company (the “Funding Notice”). If more than one Member states in the Funding Notice that it elects to provide such funds, then each Member shall provide an equal amount of funds (or such other amount as the Members decide) to the Company within five (5) Business Days after the date of the Funding Notice. Amounts advanced by any Member pursuant to this Section 3.4(a) shall be considered “Member Loans;” provided, however, that no Member Loan may impair the ability of the Company to distribute Available Cash Flow pursuant to Article 5.
(ii)Any Member Loan shall be unsecured and shall bear interest at a rate equal to the lesser of (A) the Reference Rate plus [***]% or (B) the highest rate of interest that may be charged by a Member in accordance with applicable Law, unless a lower rate of interest is otherwise agreed to by such Member in its sole discretion. Member Loans shall be repaid by the Company out of Available Cash Flow in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.1(f). Interest on each Member Loan pursuant to this Section 3.4 shall accrue and, if not paid in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence of this Section 3.4(b), be compounded to the principal amount thereof on each Distribution Date.
Section e.Support Obligations.
(i)In the event that, from time to time after the Effective Date, the Company or a Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company is required to provide a letter of credit or other credit support under a Repowering Project Document, excluding the Credit Support Obligations set forth in Section 3.3(f) (for which the obligations of the Members are addressed exclusively in accordance with Section 3.3(f)) (a “Support Obligation”), then, at the discretion of the Manager, the Manager may give notice to the Members thereof (the “Support Obligation Notice”), and each Member shall have the right (but not the obligation) to provide the Support Obligation. Within ten (10) Business Days following the date of the Support Obligation Notice, the participating Members shall give notice to the Manager and the other Members stating their election whether to provide such Support Obligation (the “Posting Notice”). If more than one Member states in the Posting Notice that it elects to provide such Support Obligation, then each Member shall provide an equal amount of the Support Obligation (or such other amount as the Members decide) to the Company within five (5) Business Days after the date of the Posting Notice; provided, however, that no Support Obligation may impair the ability of the Company to distribute Available Cash Flow pursuant to Article 5.
(ii)In the event that a Member causes to be provided Support Obligations, then all reasonable out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith, in each case to the extent that such fees, costs and expenses are included in the annual budget for the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company, shall be paid and reimbursed to the Member by the Company solely out of Available Cash Flow that would otherwise be distributed to the Members prior to distributions pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.1. If a Member is obligated to pay or reimburse any amount drawn or paid under such Support Obligations, the Member shall be deemed to have made a Member Loan to the Company in accordance with Section 3.4(b) equal
to the amount so paid or reimbursed by the Member. A Member shall give notice thereof to the Manager promptly after such loan is deemed to be made.
Section f.Obligations Under Tax Equity Documents.
(i) In the event that: (i) the Company, a Tax Equity Entity or the Pinnacle Project Company incurs any obligation under a Tax Equity Document to make (A) capital contributions to the Pinnacle Project Company, (B) payments in respect of any indemnification obligations or (C) any other payment obligation; and (ii) the obligation is a Class A TE Obligation, then, in each case, (x) the Class A Member hereby irrevocably commits to contribute to the Borrower an amount equal to such payment obligation as and when required or contemplated pursuant to the Tax Equity Document and (y) the Manager shall cause the amount to be applied to the payment or reimbursement of such obligation.
(ii)In the event that: (i) the Company, a Tax Equity Entity or the Pinnacle Project Company incurs any obligation under a Tax Equity Document to make (A) capital contributions to the Pinnacle Project Company, (B) payments in respect of any indemnification obligations or (C) any other payment obligation; and (ii) the obligation is a Class B TE Obligation, then, in each case, (x) the Class B Member hereby irrevocably commits to contribute to the Borrower an amount equal to such payment obligation as and when required or contemplated pursuant to the Tax Equity Document and (y) the Manager shall cause the amount to be applied to the payment or reimbursement of such obligation.
(iii)In the event that: (i) the Company, a Tax Equity Entity or the Pinnacle Project Company incurs any obligation under a Tax Equity Document to make (A) capital contributions to the Pinnacle Project Company, (B) payments in respect of any indemnification obligations or (C) any other payment obligation; and (ii) the obligation is neither a Class A TE Obligation nor a Class B TE Obligation, then, in each case, (x) each Member hereby irrevocably commits to contribute to the Borrower an amount equal to its Specified Share of such payment obligation as and when required or contemplated pursuant to the Tax Equity Document and (y) the Manager shall cause the amount to be applied to the payment or reimbursement of such obligation.
Section g.No Right to Return of Capital Contributions.
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Member may require a return of any part of its Capital Contributions or the payment of interest thereon from the Company or from another Member. An unrepaid Capital Contribution is not a liability of the Company or any Member.
Section h.[***].
ARTICLE 4.
CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; ALLOCATIONS
Section a.Capital Accounts.
(i)The Company shall maintain for each Member a separate Capital Account in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 l(b)(2)(iv).
(ii)A Member’s Capital Account will be increased by (i) such Member’s Capital Contributions, and (ii) the income and gain the Member is allocated by the Company, including any income and gain that is exempted from tax and including any income and gain described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 1(b)(2)(iv)(g), but excluding tax items of income and gain described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 1(b)(4)(i). A Member’s Capital Account will be decreased by (i) the amount of money distributed to the Member by the Company, (ii) the net value of any property other than money distributed to the Member by the Company (i.e., the fair market value of the property net of any liabilities secured by the property that the Member is considered to assume or take subject to under Section 752 of the Code), (iii) any expenditures of the Company described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code (i.e., that cannot be capitalized or deducted in computing taxable income) that are allocated to the Member, (iv) losses and deductions that are allocated to the Member, but excluding tax items of loss or deduction described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 1(b)(4)(i), and (v) an amount equal to an allocation of downward basis adjustment to such Member as described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(j).
(iii)In the event Units are Transferred in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the Transferring Member to the extent it relates to the Units so Transferred.
(iv)In determining the amount of any liability for purposes of Section 4.1(b) there shall be taken into account Code Section 752(c) and any other applicable provisions of the Code and Treasury Regulations.
(v)The Members’ Initial Capital Contributions and initial Capital Accounts are set forth on Annex I.
(vi)This Section 4.1 and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 1(b), and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such Treasury Regulations.
Section b.Allocations.
For purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts, all Company Items for any Taxable Year shall be allocated among the Members as follows:
(i)General Allocations. Subject to Section 4.2(b), Section 4.3 and Section 12.2(a)(v), all Company Items attributable to the Pinnacle Project for any Taxable Year or relevant portion thereof shall be allocated among the Members as follows: the Class A Distribution Percentage to the Class A Members, pro rata in accordance with their Class A Units, and the Class B Distribution Percentage to the Class B Members, pro rata in accordance with their Class B Units.
(ii)Items in Connection with Liquidation. Company Items for the Taxable Year in which there is a disposition or deemed disposition of all or substantially all of the Assets of the Company pursuant to Section 12.2(a)(iii) shall be allocated pursuant to Section 12.2(a)(v).
Section c.Adjustments.
The following adjustments shall be made to the allocations set forth in Section 4.2 in the following order of priority in order to comply with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704 1(b) and 1.704 2:
(i)Company Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article IV, except as provided in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 2(f), if there is a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain during any taxable year of the Company, each Member shall be allocated Company Items of income and gain for such taxable year (and, if necessary subsequent taxable years) in an amount equal to such Member’s share of the net decrease in Company Minimum Gain, determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 2(g). Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to each Member pursuant thereto. The Company Items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704 2(f)(6) and 1.704 2(j)(2). This Section 4.3(a) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(ii)Chargeback of Minimum Gain Attributable to Member Nonrecourse Debt. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article IV, except as provided in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 2(i)(4), if there is a net decrease in Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to a Member Nonrecourse Debt during any taxable year of the Company, each Member who has a share of the Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to such Member Nonrecourse Debt, determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 2(i)(5), shall be allocated Company Items of income and gain for such taxable year (and, if necessary, subsequent taxable year) in an amount equal to such Member’s share of the net decrease in Member Nonrecourse Debt, determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 2(i)(4). Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to each Member pursuant thereto. The Company Items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704 2(i)(4) and 1.704 2(j)(2). This Section 4.3(b) is intended to comply with the partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(iii)Limitation on Losses and Deductions. No items of loss or deduction may be allocated to any Member to the extent the allocation would result in or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit at the end of any Taxable Year. In the event some but not all of the Members would have Adjusted Capital Account Deficits as a consequence of an allocation of items of loss or deduction, this limitation shall be applied on a Member-by-Member basis and items of loss or deduction not allocable to any Member as a result of such limitation shall be allocated to the other Members in the manner otherwise required pursuant to Section 4.2 and Section 12.2(a)(v)
to the extent such other Members may be allocated such items of loss or deduction without producing an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit.
(iv)Qualified Income Offset. In the event any Member unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704 1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) or (6), Company Items of income and gain shall be allocated to such Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate as quickly as possible, to the extent required by the Treasury Regulations, any Adjusted Capital Account Deficit; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 4.3(d) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Member would have such a deficit Capital Account after all other adjustments provided for in this Section 4.3 have been tentatively made as if this Section 4.3(d) were not in this Agreement.
(v)Gross Income Allocation. In the event any Member has a deficit Capital Account at the end of any Taxable Year that is in excess of the amount such Member is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704 2(g)(1) and 1.704 2(i)(5), each such Member shall be specially allocated Company Items of income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 4.3(e) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Member would have a deficit Capital Account in excess of such sum after all other special allocations provided for in this Section 4.3 have been made as if Section 4.3(d) and this Section 4.3(e) were not in this Agreement.
(vi)Section 754 Adjustments. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company Asset pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Section 743(b) is required pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) or Section 1.704 1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as the result of a distribution to a Member in complete liquidation of such Member’s interest in the Company or a distribution to a Member other than in complete liquidation of such Member’s interest in the Company, the amount of such adjustment to Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the Asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis). Such gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Members as follows: (A) to the Member to whom such distribution was made in the event the first sentence of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) applies; (B) in accordance with how the corresponding item of “displaced” gain or loss would be allocated to the Members pursuant to Section 4.2 to the extent the second sentence of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) applies; and (C) in accordance with the Members’ “interests in the Company” under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 1(b)(3) in the event Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) applies.
(vii)Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions for any Taxable Year shall be allocated to the Members in accordance with (i) Section 4.2, as in effect at the time the Nonrecourse Deduction arises, or (ii) if applicable, Section 12.2(a)(v), as in effect at the time the Nonrecourse Deduction arises.
(viii)Member Nonrecourse Deductions. Any Member Nonrecourse Deductions for any Taxable Year shall be allocated to the Member who bears the economic risk of loss with respect
to the Member Nonrecourse Debt to which such Member Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 2(i)(1).
(ix)Regulatory Allocations. The allocations required in Section 4.3(a) through Section 4.3(h) (the “Regulatory Allocations”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of the Treasury Regulations. It is the intent of the Members that, to the extent consistent with the Treasury Regulations, all Regulatory Allocations shall be offset either with other Regulatory Allocations or with allocations of other Company Items. Therefore, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Article IV, the Regulatory Allocations shall be taken into account in allocating other Company Items among the Members such that, to the extent consistent with the Treasury Regulations, the net amount of allocations of such items and the Regulatory Allocations to each Member shall be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to each Member if the Regulatory Allocations had not occurred and all Company Items were allocated pursuant to Section 4.2, this Section 4.3 (excluding the Regulatory Allocations) and this Section 4.3(i) and Section 12.2(a)(v).
Section d.Tax Allocations.
(i)Except as otherwise provided in this Section 4.4, for federal, state and local income tax purposes each item of the Company’s income, gain, loss, deduction and credit as determined for federal income tax purposes shall be allocated to the Members in the same manner as the correlative Company Items are allocated for book purposes pursuant to Section 4.2, Section 4.3 and Section 12.2(a)(v).
(ii)In accordance with Code Section 704(c) and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, items of the Company’s income, gain, loss, deduction and credit as determined for federal income tax purposes that are attributable to any non-cash property contributed to the capital of the Company shall, solely for tax purposes, be allocated among the Members so as to take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such property to the Company for federal income tax purposes and its initial Value using the “traditional” method permitted by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704 3(d).
(iii)In the event the Value of any Company Asset is adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (b) of the definition of Value, subsequent allocations of Company Items with respect to such Asset shall take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such Asset for federal income tax purposes and its Value in the same manner as under Code Section 704(c) and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.
(iv)Allocations pursuant to this Section 4.4 are solely for federal, state, and local income taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Member’s Capital Account or distributive share of Company Items or distributions pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.
Section e.Other Allocation Rules.
(i)The Members are aware of the income tax consequences of the allocations made by this Article IV and Section 12.2(a) and hereby agree to be bound by the provisions of this Article IV and by Section 12.2(a) in reporting their distributive shares of Company Items for income tax purposes, unless otherwise required by applicable Law. If the respective Membership Interests or allocation ratios described in this Article IV of the existing Members in the Company change or if a Membership Interest is Transferred in compliance with this Agreement to any other Person, then, for the Taxable Year in which the change or Transfer occurs, all Company Items resulting from the operations of the Company shall be allocated, as between the Members for the Taxable Year in which the change occurs or between the Transferring Member and the Transferee, by taking into account their varying interests using the interim closing of the books method permitted by Treasury Regulations Section 1.706 1(c)(2)(ii), unless otherwise agreed in writing by all the Members.
(ii)The Members agree that solely for purposes of determining a Member’s proportionate share of the “excess nonrecourse liabilities” of the Company within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.752 3(a)(3), the Members’ interests in Company profits are in accordance with Section 4.2 as in effect at the time the excess nonrecourse liability arises.
(iii)Each Member agrees to provide the Company with information in connection with a transaction subject to Sections 734 and 743 of the Code and the elections permitted and provisions required thereunder, including Treasury Regulations Section 1.743 1.
ARTICLE 5.
DISTRIBUTIONS
Section a.Distributions of Available Cash Flow.
Available Cash Flow shall be distributed to the Members as follows:
(i)Subject to Sections 3.3(g), 3.5(b) and 5.1(e), from and after the Effective Date, Available Cash Flow shall be distributed to the Members on each Distribution Date on which the Company has Available Cash Flow, in the following order and priority:
(1)first, from and after the Effective Date until the Tax Equity Funding Date, 100% to the Class A Members, pro rata in accordance with their Class A Units; and
(2)second, from and after the Tax Equity Funding Date, the Class A Distribution Percentage to the Class A Members, pro rata in accordance with their Class A Units, and the Class B Distribution Percentage to the Class B Members, pro rata in accordance with their Class B Units.
(ii)Intentionally deleted.
(iii)Intentionally deleted.
(iv)Intentionally deleted.
(v)[***].
(vi)Once all amounts have been distributed pursuant to Section 5.1(a) above on any Distribution Date, then if on such Distribution Date on which there is an unpaid balance on any Member Loan made by a Member in accordance with Section 3.4, any remaining Available Cash Flow shall be repaid to the Members participating in such Member Loan on such Distribution Date in an amount not to exceed the outstanding balance of such Member Loan.
Section b.Limitation.
The distributions described in this Article V shall be made only from Available Cash Flow and only to the extent that there shall be sufficient Available Cash Flow to enable the Manager to make payments in accordance with the terms hereof. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not make a distribution to a Member on account of its Membership Interest if such distribution (including a return of Capital Contributions) would violate the Act or any other applicable Law.
Section c.Withholding.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall comply with any withholding requirements under any Law and shall remit amounts withheld to, and file required forms with, applicable taxing authorities. To the extent that the Company is required to withhold and pay over any amounts to any taxing authority with respect to distributions or allocations to any Member, the amount withheld shall be treated as a distribution of cash to such Member in the amount of such withholding. The Company shall notify the Member and permit the Member, if permitted by applicable Law, to contest the applicability of the underlying Tax prior to making such withholding, provided that the Company shall not incur any interest, penalties or additions to tax (unless the contesting Member shall have agreed to indemnify and hold harmless the Company for any such additional liabilities). If an amount required to be withheld was not withheld from an actual distribution, the Company may reduce subsequent distributions by the amount of such required withholding and any penalties or interest thereon. Each Member agrees to furnish to the Company such forms or other documentation as is reasonably necessary to assist the Company in determining the extent of, and in fulfilling, its withholding obligations.
ARTICLE 6.
MANAGEMENT
Section a.Manager.
(i)The Initial Class A Member is hereby appointed by the Members as the initial Manager of the Company. Except as provided in Section 6.2 or as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the Manager shall conduct, direct and exercise control over all activities of the Company, and shall have full power and authority on behalf of the Company to manage and
administer the business and affairs of the Company and to do or cause to be done any and all acts reasonably considered by the Manager to be necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Company (including, without limitation, taking all necessary actions to cause the Company to cause the Pinnacle Project Company (and any other subsidiary of the Company) to distribute any Available Cash Flow in a timely manner and to perform its obligations and enforce its rights under the Repowering Project Documents to which it is a party and to otherwise carry out its purposes) without the need for approval by or any other consent from any Member, including the authority to bind the Company in making contracts and incurring obligations in the Company’s name in the course of the Company’s business. The Manager may delegate its management duties and obligations to third parties, including the Master Services Provider, or Officers but such delegation shall not relieve the Manager of its primary obligation with respect to such duties and obligations. Except to the extent that a Member is also the Manager or authority is delegated from the Manager, no Member shall have any authority to bind the Company. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Manager shall (provided that, in each case as it relates to the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, only to the extent that the Company has (directly or indirectly) the authority to control the management of the Pinnacle Project Company or other subsidiary of the Company):
(1)in accordance with Article VIII hereof, keep and maintain books of account that are true and correct in all material respects and prepare and timely file all necessary tax returns and make all necessary or desirable tax elections for the Company and the Pinnacle Project Company and any other subsidiary of the Company;
(2)prepare and submit all filings of any nature that are required to be made by the Company and the Pinnacle Project Company and other subsidiary of the Company under any laws, regulations, ordinances or otherwise applicable to the Company, the Pinnacle Project Company and/or other subsidiary of the Company, or the Pinnacle Project;
(3)procure and maintain all Licenses and Permits (if any) required for the Company and the Pinnacle Project Company and any other subsidiary of the Company;
(4)comply with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Transaction Documents, the Licenses and Permits and applicable Law;
(5)procure and maintain, or cause to be procured and maintained, all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Repowering Project Documents and Repowering Financing Documents;
(6)enforce the Company’s and the Pinnacle Project Company’s and any other subsidiary of the Company’s, and any counterparty’s, compliance with the terms and conditions of all Contracts under which the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or other subsidiary of the Company has any obligations or rights, including this Agreement, the Repowering Financing Documents, the Repowering Project Documents and ensure compliance with applicable Laws, including Environmental Laws, Anti-Corruption Laws and Laws relating to Sanctions;
(7)take any required actions to cause the Company and the Pinnacle Project Company and any other direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company to distribute upstream to their respective members all Available Cash Flow as promptly as possible;
(8)manage the Company’s and the Pinnacle Project Company’s and any other subsidiary of the Company’s cash according to investment guidelines set forth in Section 8.5 and make distributions out of available cash as provided under the relevant provisions of this Agreement, the Pinnacle Project Company’s (or other subsidiary’s, as applicable) organizational documents, including the prompt distribution of cash from the Pinnacle Project Company (and any other subsidiary of the Company) to the Company;
(9)prepare and deliver all of the reports and other information set forth in Section 8.4; and
(10)create and maintain the Register, including to reflect any Encumbrance on or Transfer of Membership Interests.
(ii)In addition to the actions required pursuant to Section 6.1(a), and in no event in limitation thereof, the Manager shall provide the following services to the Company and the Pinnacle Project Company or all other subsidiaries of the Company, as applicable (provided that, in each case as it relates to either Pinnacle Project Company or other subsidiary, only to the extent that the Company has (directly or indirectly) the authority to control the management of the Pinnacle Project Company or other subsidiary):
(1)Accounting Services. The Manager shall and/or shall cause the Master Services Provider to provide accounting and administrative support for all operations, including the following accounting services, to the Company and the Pinnacle Project Company and to any other subsidiaries of the Company, as applicable:
(i)preparation, filing, storage and dissemination of all necessary documentation of each such Person’s actions and transactions as required by law, by the applicable Transaction Documents (including all reporting required thereunder) and of all documentation reasonably deemed necessary or appropriate by the Manager;
(ii)maintenance of accounting and tax records of each such Person’s transactions in accordance with the accounting standards set forth in the applicable Transaction Documents and this Agreement;
(iii)facilitation of payment by the Company and the Pinnacle Project Company and any other subsidiary of the Company of all reasonable expenses of the Company, the Pinnacle Project Company or such other subsidiary, as applicable, in accordance with the applicable Transaction Documents and this Agreement, as reflected in the annual budget for the Company and the Pinnacle Project Company (or such other subsidiary), or reasonably related thereto;
(iv)preparation and distribution of all applicable financial reports, financial models and accompanying certificates in accordance with the applicable Transaction Documents and this Agreement;
(v)preparation and distribution of an annual budget for the Pinnacle Project Company and as may be required by the Transaction Documents and this Agreement (including Section 6.7 hereof);
(vi)negotiation and administration of an engagement letter with the Certified Public Accountant for annual audit (if required) and tax return review services; and
(vii)preparation, facilitation and / or distribution of all other reports, certificates, or transactional information or analysis as reasonably required by the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company.
(2)Taxes. Subject to Article VIII and other more specific provisions of this Agreement and the related provisions contained in the Tax Equity Documents, the Manager shall provide, or cause to be provided, the following tax services to the Company and the Pinnacle Project Company and to any other subsidiaries of the Company in accordance with its obligations required by the Tax Equity Documents, as applicable (provided that, in each case as it relates to the Pinnacle Project Company or such other subsidiary, only to the extent that the Company has (directly or indirectly) the authority to control the management of the Pinnacle Project Company or other subsidiary):
(i)preparation and timely filing of all applicable federal, state, local and / or other Tax returns, including income, franchise, excise, gross receipts, sales and use tax returns and / or reports in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, including the performance or coordination of any tax law research to support such filing;
(ii)administration, invoicing and coordination of property taxes including preparation of all applicable business property tax returns; the review of any property tax assessment on the Pinnacle Project; the review and timely payment of property tax bills; and administration of any property tax agreement, if applicable; and
(iii)cause the Partnership Representative to represent the Company, and cause the partnership representative of the Pinnacle Project Company and each other subsidiary of the Company to represent the Pinnacle Project Company and other subsidiary, in any audit, examination, or review conducted by an appropriate taxing authority of any of the Company’s or the Pinnacle Project Company’s or other subsidiary’s federal, state, provincial, or local income, franchise, gross receipts, sales and use, or property tax filings.
(3)Treasury Services. The Manager shall provide, or cause to be provided, the following treasury services, to the extent necessary, to the Company and the Pinnacle Project Company and to any other subsidiaries of the Company, as applicable (provided that, in each case as it relates to the Pinnacle Project Company or such other subsidiary, only to
the extent that the Company has (directly or indirectly) the authority to control the management of the Pinnacle Project Company or other subsidiary):
(i)establishment, maintenance, and administration of one or more bank accounts in the name of the Company and the Pinnacle Project Company and any other subsidiary of the Company (with respect to the Pinnacle Project Company and other subsidiaries, if and as required) in which to deposit the Company’s or the Pinnacle Project Company’s or other subsidiary’s receipts, and from which to draw upon for the payment of all reasonable expenses of the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or other such other subsidiary;
(ii)investment and distribution of the Company and the Pinnacle Project Company’s or any other subsidiary of the Company’s funds in association with reasonable and customary cash forecast and cash management practices and in accordance with the terms, conditions, and limitations of all applicable Transaction Documents and this Agreement;
(iii)maintenance and administration of any revolving lines of credit available to the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or of any other subsidiary of the Company subject to the terms and conditions of all applicable Transaction Documents and this Agreement;
(iv)maintenance and administration of any letters of credit issued by, on behalf of, or for the benefit of the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company subject to the terms and conditions of all applicable Transaction Documents and this Agreement;
(v)maintenance by the Manager of the Company’s and the Pinnacle Project Company’s or any other subsidiary of the Company’s relationships with its banks, bondholders, rating agencies and/or other financial institutions, and their respective legal counsels; and
(vi)periodic maintenance and analysis of the Pinnacle Project’s long- term economic projections.
(4)Legal. The Manager shall coordinate legal services, in the name of and on behalf of the Company and the Pinnacle Project Company and any other subsidiary of the Company for whom the Company has (directly or indirectly) management authority, as it deems necessary to ensure the proper administration and management of the Pinnacle Project. In coordinating these legal services, the Manager will determine whether such legal services are to be performed by in-house legal staff (if at the time such legal services are performed during the term of this Agreement the Manager has in its employ any in-house legal staff), outside legal counsel, or any combination thereof.
(5)Insurance. If required under any of the Transaction Documents, the Manager shall procure insurance coverage for, and in the name of, the Company and (to the extent the Company has (directly or indirectly) management authority for the Pinnacle Project Company or other subsidiary of the Company) shall cause the Pinnacle Project Company or other subsidiary to procure, at the Company’s or the Pinnacle Project Company’s or other
subsidiary’s expense, as applicable, and shall enforce its rights to such insurance coverage, defense and indemnification; provided, however, that if any such insurance (after consultation with a reputable insurance broker) is not available on commercially reasonable terms only such insurance shall then be required to be carried pursuant to this Agreement as is then available on commercially reasonable terms.
(6)Insurance Claims. The Manager shall adjust insurance claims of the Company and (to the extent the Company has (directly or indirectly) management authority for the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company) the Pinnacle Project Company or other subsidiary, with insurance carriers, as applicable, to ensure equitable recovery for property damage and business interruption claims. Adjustment of such a claim shall include: (A) filing proof of loss with all applicable supporting documentation, (B) site inspection, (C) negotiations with insurance carriers and (D) ensuring that insurance proceeds be deposited and distributed in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents. In the event of a liability claim, the Manager shall oversee the defense of the claim.
(7)Indebtedness. During any such time during which the Company or (to the extent the Company has (directly or indirectly) management authority for the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company), the Pinnacle Project Company or subsidiary has Indebtedness that remains outstanding, the Manager shall cause the Company and the Pinnacle Project Company to:
(i)comply with the applicable financing documents, including, without limitation, by repaying such Indebtedness in the amounts and at the times required under such financing documents; and
(ii)as soon as practicable following the occurrence or existence of a default or an event of default under any financing documents, use cash or reserves of the Pinnacle Project Company or applicable subsidiary to effect (or make commercially reasonable efforts to effect) a cure (or request a waiver) of such a default or an event of default in accordance with the applicable financing documents. For the avoidance of doubt, any such cash used by the Company to cure (or attempt to cure or waive) such default or event of default shall be an expense of the Company and shall not be Available Cash Flow available for distribution to the Members pursuant to this Article VI.
(8)Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. The Manager shall cause the Company to maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Company and the Pinnacle Project Company and all other subsidiaries of the Company, and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents, with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions. The Manager shall cause the Company and (to the extent the Company has (directly or indirectly) management authority for the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company) the Pinnacle Project Company and each such subsidiary, and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents, not to use any Company or Pinnacle Project Company or other subsidiary’s funds (A) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to
any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (B) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person or in any Sanctioned Country or (C) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions.
For the avoidance of doubt, all services required to be performed by the Manager pursuant to this Section 6.1 shall be provided by the Manager at no cost or expense to the Company, except to the extent otherwise provided in this Agreement or the Approved Budget, including fees and expenses incurred pursuant to any subcontract entered into for the provision of such services in accordance with this Agreement.
(iii)A Member shall not be deemed to be participating in the control of the business of the Company by virtue of its possessing or exercising any rights set forth in this Agreement or the Act or any other Contract relating to the Company.
Section b.Standard of Care; Required Consents.
(i)In carrying out its duties hereunder, the Manager shall perform its duties and obligations hereunder in accordance in all material respects with the Transaction Documents, Licenses and Permits, applicable Laws, the purposes set forth in Section 2.5 and in accordance with the Good Management Standard.
(ii)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Manager may not take, or cause or permit the Company or (to the extent the Company has (directly or indirectly) management authority for the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company) the Pinnacle Project Company or such subsidiary to take, any of the following actions without having first obtained the Consent of the Members:
(1)Do any act in contravention of this Agreement or of the organizational documents of the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or other such subsidiary;
(2)With respect to (A) the Company, engage in any business or activity that is not within the purpose of the Company, as set forth in Section 2.5, or to change such purpose, and (B) the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, engage in any business or activity that is not within the purpose of the Pinnacle Project Company’s or other subsidiary’s organizational documents, or to change such purpose;
(3)Cause the Company to be treated other than as a partnership for tax purposes or cause the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company to be treated other than as set forth in its Tax Equity Documents and Repowering Financing Documents, in each case for United States federal income tax purposes (including by electing under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701 3 to be classified as an association);
(4)Permit (unless such action is taken pursuant to the express terms of any Tax Equity Document or any Repowering Financing Document) (A) possession of property of the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company by any
Member, (B) the assignment, transfer, Encumbrance or pledge of rights of the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company in specific property of the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company for other than a Company or Pinnacle Project Company purpose, as applicable, or other than for the benefit of the Company or such Pinnacle Project Company or subsidiary, or (C) any commingling of the funds of the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company with the funds of any other Person;
(5)Amend the Delaware Certificate or the certificate of formation, certificate of incorporation, limited liability company agreement or other formation document, as applicable, of the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, in any way that would be materially adverse to any Member;
(6)Cause the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company to be deemed Bankrupt, serve as one of the three (3) petitioning creditors in connection with an involuntary bankruptcy petition against the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, cooperate with creditors in an effort to commence an involuntary bankruptcy petition, guarantee such creditors’ claims, or take any action to encourage or assist in any way with the commencement of an involuntary bankruptcy petition against the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company;
(7)Make any distribution to any Member, except as specified in this Agreement;
(8)Repurchase, redeem or convert any membership interests in, or other securities of, the Company;
(9)Enter into any loan, contract or agreement with any Affiliate of the Manager other than as permitted by this Agreement or to loan any funds of the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company to any Person or make any advance payments of compensation or other consideration to the Manager or any of its Affiliates;
(10)Borrow any money in the name or on behalf of the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, as applicable, in excess of $[***] in the aggregate (other than pursuant to the Repowering Financing Documents), or execute and issue promissory notes and other negotiable or non-negotiable instruments and evidences of indebtedness in excess of $[***] in the aggregate, except the Manager may borrow, or cause the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company to borrow money in the name and on behalf of the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, as applicable, in such amounts as the Manager shall reasonably determine are necessary to preserve and protect the Company’s or the Pinnacle Project Company’s or any other subsidiary of the Company’s property upon the occurrence of an accident, catastrophe or similar event;
(11)Mortgage, pledge, assign in trust or otherwise encumber any Company or Pinnacle Project Company’s or any other subsidiary of the Company’s property, or assign any monies owing or to be owing to the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company (other than in respect of the Repowering Financing Documents and the Tax Equity Documents) except: (A) to secure the payment of any other borrowing permitted hereunder, (B) for customary liens contained in or arising under any operating agreements, construction contracts and similar agreements executed by or binding on the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company with respect to amounts not yet due or not yet delinquent (or, if delinquent, that are being contested by the Manager, the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been set aside in accordance with GAAP), or (C) for statutory liens for amounts not yet due or not yet delinquent (or, if delinquent, that are being contested by the Manager, the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been set aside in accordance with GAAP); provided, that in no event shall the Manager mortgage, pledge, assign in trust or otherwise encumber (x) the Company’s right to receive Capital Contributions from the Members or (y) distributions from the Pinnacle Project Company, unless such encumbrance is required under the Repowering Financing Documents or Tax Equity Documents;
(12)Sell, lease, transfer, assign or distribute any interest in (A) the Pinnacle Project Company or the Pinnacle Project or any other subsidiary of the Company (except as contemplated by the Tax Equity Documents or the Repowering Financing Documents) or (B) any Asset or related group of Assets with a fair market value [***] in the aggregate in one or a related series of transactions, except for (1) the sale of energy, (2) the sale of RECs (3) otherwise in the ordinary course of the Pinnacle Project Company’s business and in accordance with the applicable Tax Equity Documents and the Repowering Financing Documents, (4) as contemplated in the Repowering TSA, or (5) as required under any security agreement in connection with a borrowing permitted hereunder;
(13)Guarantee in the name or on behalf of the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, the payment of money or the performance of any contract or other obligation of any Person except, (A) with respect to the Tax Equity Documents and the Repowering Financing Documents, for responsibilities customarily assumed under operating agreements considered standard in the wind power industry, or (B) guarantees made by Pinnacle Holdco or the Pinnacle Project Company for performance by the Borrower of its obligations under a borrowing permitted hereunder;
(14)Amend the Approved Budget or the Construction Budget to increase projected expenditures or expend funds in excess of the Approved Budget or the Construction Budget for any Fiscal Year, except for (A) amendments or expenditures that do not increase the aggregate spending under the Approved Budget above [***] of the aggregate expense amount reflected in the Approved Budget for the Fiscal Year, (B) with respect to the Pinnacle Project Company, expenditures that, after taking into account amounts theretofore paid in such Fiscal Year, do not exceed [***] the amount budgeted to be expended in such Fiscal Year in the Approved Budget for the Pinnacle Project Company, (C) expenditures required to be
made under Tax Equity Documents and Repowering Financing Documents and (D) in connection with the Tax Equity Financing and the Repowering Financing Documents;
(15)Merge or consolidate the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company with any Member or other Person or entity, convert the Company or either Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company to a general partnership or other entity, or agree to an exchange of interests with any other Person, or acquire all or substantially all of the assets, stock or interests of any other Person other than as contemplated by the Tax Equity Financing or the Repowering Financing Documents;
(16)Compromise or settle any lawsuit, administrative matter or other dispute where the amount the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company may recover or might be obligated to pay, as applicable, is in excess of $[***] in the aggregate, or which includes consent to the award of an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief;
(17)Admit any additional Member to the Company except pursuant to the Tax Equity Financing or as permitted under Article IX hereof, cause any additional member to be admitted to a Tax Equity Entity or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company except pursuant to the Tax Equity Financing, the Repowering Construction Financing and in accordance with the Pinnacle Project Company’s (or such other subsidiary’s) operating agreement, or otherwise issue, or permit the issuance of, any additional membership interests in the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company except pursuant to the Tax Equity Financing, the Repowering Construction Financing and except in accordance with the Pinnacle Project Company’s (or other subsidiary’s) operating agreement; provided that the Manager may not permit the issuance of additional Class A Units at any time during the term of this Agreement without having first obtained the Consent of the Class A Members;
(18)(A) Hire any employees, enter into or adopt any bonus, profit sharing, thrift, compensation, option, pension, retirement, savings, welfare, deferred compensation, employment, termination, severance or other employee benefit plan, agreement, trust, fund, policy or arrangement for the benefit or welfare of any directors, officers or employees of the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, as the case may be or (B) transfer any Company Assets or the Assets of the Pinnacle Project Company or other subsidiary of the Company to satisfy any liabilities of any Class A Member or its Affiliates arising from ERISA;
(19)Change the Company’s or the Pinnacle Project Company’s or any other subsidiary of the Company’s methods of accounting as in effect on the Effective Date, except as required by GAAP, or take any action, other than reasonable and usual actions in the ordinary course of business or specifically contemplated under the Tax Equity Documents or the Repowering Financing Documents to which it is a party, with respect to accounting policies or procedures, unless required by GAAP;
(20)Take any action that would result in a material breach or an event of default, or that would permit or result in the acceleration of any obligation or termination of any right, under any Transaction Document, which acceleration or termination would cause a Material Adverse Effect;
(21)Enter into: (A) any Transaction Document (other than a power purchase agreement) or any amendment, modification, waiver or termination of any Transaction Document, or organizational document of the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, including the Pinnacle Project Company’s or other subsidiary’s limited liability company agreement, or any Licenses or Permits, (B) any purchase order, notice to proceed or similar arrangement contemplated under any Repowering Project Document, (C) any substitution or replacement of any such document, (D) any Additional Project Document not contemplated by the then current Approved Budget or that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (E) any new agreement with an Affiliate other than in accordance with this Agreement or amend any economic provision or otherwise materially amend any existing contract with an Affiliate, or (F) any power purchase agreement which involves more than $1,000,000, or any material amendment, modification, substitution, extension or replacement of such power purchase agreement;
(22)Remove the Master Services Provider or appoint a new Person to act in a similar capacity to the Master Services Provider or consent to or allow the assignment by the Master Services Provider of the agreement pursuant to which the Master Services Provider provides services to the Company, or any of its rights or obligations thereunder, other than to an Affiliate;
(23)Allow the total proceeds borrowed, including, without limitation, borrowings under the Repowering Financing Documents, to at any time exceed an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $[***] and (b) the Construction Budget approved by the lenders under the Repowering Financing Documents. The determination of the Construction Budget shall be made at the time of the financial close of the Pinnacle Project.
(24)Use any insurance proceeds received by the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company following damage to Company property or the Pinnacle Project Company property for any purpose other than restoration or replacement of such property, or, in the case of business interruption or similar insurance, to be treated as Available Cash Flow; provided, that the Consent of the Members shall not be required to use any insurance proceeds as required by the Repowering Financing Documents (as reasonably determined by the Manager);
(25)Cause the Company or cause the Company to cause the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company to change its respective legal form, recapitalize, liquidate, wind up or dissolve (other than in accordance with this Agreement), or declare itself Bankrupt;
(26)Cause the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company to hire legal advisors to act on such company’s behalf; provided that all legal advisors currently used by such company as of the Effective Date are approved;
(27)Enter into any agreement prohibiting or restricting the ability of the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company from authorizing or making any distributions to Members (or the members of such entity), other than the Repowering Financing Documents and the Tax Equity Documents; or
(28)Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, pay, grant, authorize or approve the payment of any compensation to or for the Manager for serving in his or her capacity as Manager.
(iii)Prior to the dissolution of the Company under the terms of this Agreement, the Manager shall devote such time and effort to the Company’s business as may be necessary to adequately promote the interests of the Company and the mutual interests of the Members.
(iv)With respect to any actions described in this Agreement that require the Consent of the Members (including, without limitation, those actions set forth in this Section 6.2), the Manager shall use commercially reasonable efforts to request such consent or approval from each Member no later than thirty (30) days prior to the proposed date for the taking of such action, and such request shall include, to the extent applicable, copies of all material documentation relating to the proposed action. The failure of any Member to deliver a response either approving or disapproving any action requiring the Consent of the Members within the thirty (30) day period after such Member’s receipt of such request shall be deemed such Member’s consent to the proposed action.
Section c.Removal and Election of Manager.
(i)The Manager shall not have a right to resign unless and until a successor manager is elected or appointed as specified under this Section 6.3 and assumes the obligations of the Manager under this Agreement. If the Manager so resigns, the resigning Manager shall reasonably cooperate with the Members and the replacement Manager to effect an orderly transition of responsibilities and duties to the replacement Manager. Such replacement Manager shall be elected by a majority vote of the Class B Members, subject to subparagraph (b) below.
(ii)The Manager will be subject to removal as Manager by Consent of the Members (excluding any Member who is the Manager or an Affiliate of the Manager), if the Manager (in its capacity as Manager or its capacity as Partnership Representative) (i) has engaged in gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud, (ii) has intentionally violated any Law, or (iii) has performed any action that is in breach or violation of this Agreement or any Transaction Document to which it is a party and that has or is reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided, however, that in the case of this clause (iii), for any breach or violation other than a failure to make a cash distribution when due under this Agreement, the Manager shall have the opportunity to cure such breach or violation within thirty (30) days of receiving notice of such breach; provided, further, that if such breach cannot be cured within such period, and the Manager is proceeding with diligence to cure such breach, the 30-day cure period shall be extended by an additional sixty (60) days, for a total cure period of ninety (90) days; provided, further, that during such cure period the Manager may continue as the Manager (and Partnership Representative). In addition, the Manager shall be removed automatically without further vote,
action or notice by any Member in the event of a Bankruptcy of the Manager, the Partnership Representative (if it is an Affiliate of the Manager) or any Member who is an Affiliate of the Manager, unless those Members who are not Affiliates of the Manager elect otherwise upon written notice.
(iii)If the Manager is removed under subparagraph (b) above, the Consent of the Members (excluding any Member who is the Manager or an Affiliate of the Manager) shall be required to elect or appoint a successor Manager to succeed to all the rights, and to perform all of the obligations, set forth for the Manager hereunder. If the Manager is so removed, the removed Manager shall reasonably cooperate with the Members and the replacement Manager to effect an orderly transition of responsibilities and duties to the replacement Manager. The Person selected as the successor Manager shall be an entity that is experienced and reputable in operating wind facilities similar to the Pinnacle Project and shall execute a counterpart to this Agreement.
Section d.Indemnification and Exculpation.
(i)To the fullest extent permitted by Law, the Manager and the Partnership Representative and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents shall be exculpated from, and the Company shall indemnify, from Available Cash Flow, such Persons from and against, all Damages any of them incur by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Person in a manner reasonably believed to be consistent with its rights and obligations under Law and this Agreement; [***].
(ii)To the fullest extent permitted by Law, reasonable and documented expenses to be incurred by an indemnified Person under this Section 6.4 shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Company prior to the final disposition of any matter upon receipt by the Company of an undertaking from a Person with sufficient credit capacity to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Agreement.
(iii)Provided that the same is reflected in the Approved Budget, the Company may purchase and maintain insurance covering Damages as may be asserted or awarded against the Persons indemnified hereunder, whether or not the Company would have the obligation to indemnify the Person against liability for such Damages under the provisions of this Section 6.4.
(iv)Monies to fund the indemnification obligations hereunder (including advances under Section 6.4(b)) shall, (i) until the Tax Equity Funding Date, be sourced from Available Cash Flow, and (ii) thereafter shall be sourced by Capital Contributions from the Members pro rata based on their respective Specified Share (and shall not limit the ability of the Company to make distributions from Available Cash Flow pursuant to Section 5.1(a)).
Section e.Company Reimbursement; Fund Formation Expenses.
The Company shall directly pay and reimburse the Manager for all Company Reimbursable Expenses incurred from time to time.
Section f.Officers.
(i)Number. The officers of the Company shall be a President, a Secretary and any number of Vice Presidents or Assistant Secretaries or other officers (each an “Officer” and collectively “Officers”) as may be elected by the Manager. Any two (2) or more offices may be held by the same person.
(ii)Election and Term of Office. The Officers of the Company shall be elected or appointed by the Manager. Vacancies may be filled or new offices created and filled by the Manager. Each Officer shall hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected or appointed or until his death or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided. Election of an Officer shall not of itself create contract rights.
(iii)Vacancies. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise, may be filled by the Manager for the unexpired portion of the term.
(iv)Removal. Any Officer elected or appointed by the Manager may be removed by the Manager whenever in its judgment the best interests of the Company would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.
(v)Duties; Standard of Care. Each Officer is only authorized to perform the duties specifically enumerated herein or as may be specifically assigned to such Officer in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Each Officer shall be subject to the same standard of care applicable to the Manager as set forth in Section 6.2(a) in carrying out any of their relevant duties whatsoever and shall be required to obtain the necessary prior consents for actions specified in Section 6.2(b).
(vi)Indemnification of Officers. To the greatest extent allowed by the Act, the Officers shall not be liable to the Company or any Member because any taxing authorities disallow or adjust income, deduction or credits in the Company tax returns. Furthermore, the Officers shall not have any liability for the repayment of the capital contributions of any Member. In addition, the doing of any act or the omission to do any act by the Officers the effect of which may cause or result in loss or damage to the Company, if done in good faith and otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, shall not subject the Officers or their successors and assigns to any liability to the greatest extent allowed by the Act. To the greatest extent allowed by the Act, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless the Officers and their successors, delegees and assigns from any claim, loss, expense, liability, action or damage resulting from any such act or omission, including reasonable costs and expenses of litigation and appeal of such litigation (including reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys engaged by any of the Officers in defense of such act or omission), but the Officers shall not be entitled to be indemnified or held harmless due to, or arising from, their fraud, gross negligence, bad faith or willful malfeasance. Provided that the same is reflected in the Approved Budget, the Company may purchase and maintain insurance covering liability as may be asserted or awarded against the Persons indemnified hereunder, whether or not the Company would have the obligation to indemnify the Person against the liability under the provisions hereof. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the foregoing indemnification is limited to liabilities that are not already covered by any existing insurance policy (whether such policy is owned by the Company or any Affiliate),
(ii) such indemnity will be funded from Available Cash Flow until the Tax Equity Funding Date, and (ii) thereafter shall be sourced by Capital Contributions from the Members pro rata based on their respective Specified Share and shall not limit the ability of the Company to make distributions from Available Cash Flow pursuant to Section 5.1(a).
Section g.Approved Budgets.
The Manager shall prepare or cause to be prepared for each Fiscal Year of the Company and the Pinnacle Project Company an operating budget on a consolidated basis setting forth the anticipated revenues and expenses of the Company and the Pinnacle Project Company for such Fiscal Year. For each Fiscal Year, the Manager shall, not later than the first day of the month preceding the month in which the then current Fiscal Year ends (currently November 1), submit the proposed operating budget for such succeeding Fiscal Year to the Members for their review. If the aggregate expense amount reflected in the proposed operating budget is not more than [***]% above the annual spending projected in the Base Case Model for the applicable Fiscal Year and [***]% above the aggregate expense amount reflected in the Approved Budget for the previous Fiscal Year (and in each case, does not include expenditures exceeding $[***] in aggregate of a type not included in the Base Case Model for the applicable Fiscal Year or in the Approved Budget for the previous Fiscal Year, as the case may be), then the Consent of the Members shall not be required and such proposed operating budget shall be deemed approved by all of the Members. If such Consent of the Members is required and if either the Consent of the Members is received or if no Member objects to such proposed operating budget by the last day of the month preceding the month in which the then current Fiscal Year ends (currently November 30), then not later than such date, such operating budget shall be deemed approved by all of the Members (each budget as attached hereto, approved or deemed approved, an “Approved Budget”). If the Consent of the Members is required and not obtained as provided above, then the Manager shall prepare or cause to be prepared a revised operating budget, which shall be submitted to the Members for their approval as set forth in the preceding sentences, and, upon final approval of such operating budget by the Consent of the Members, such budget shall become an Approved Budget hereunder. To the extent that amounts relating to any items of a proposed budget are not approved, the corresponding amounts for the items in the previous Fiscal Year’s Approved Budget will continue as part of the Approved Budget for such year, until a more current amount for such item is approved in accordance with this Section 6.7. The Manager may from time to time during the Fiscal Year propose to amend the Approved Budget to decrease expected expenditures, or, subject to Section 6.2(b)(xiv), to increase expected expenditures and as so amended, any such amended budget shall be the Approved Budget hereunder.
ARTICLE 7.
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERS
Section a.General.
The rights and responsibilities of the Members shall be as provided in the Delaware Certificate, this Agreement and the Act.
Section b.Member Consent.
Except as provided in Section 6.2(b) and as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the Consent of the Members shall constitute the approval by, or the authorization of, any action by or on behalf of the Company that requires a vote, consent, approval or action of or an election by the Members; provided, that, without the prior written approval of each Member adversely affected thereby, no such consent shall (a) modify the limited liability of a Member; (b) require a Member to provide funds to the Company, by loan, contribution or otherwise (or amend any of the conditions to making any loan or contribution); (c) alter the interest of any Member in Capital Accounts, Company Items, PTCs, distributions of Available Cash Flow; or (d) amend, supplement or otherwise modify Section 6.2(b), or this Section 7.2, or, in each case, any of the definitions of capitalized terms used therein.
Section c.Member Liability.
(i)To the fullest extent permitted under the Act and any other applicable Law as currently or hereafter in effect, no Member shall have any personal liability whatsoever, whether to the Company or to its creditors for the debts, obligations, expenses or liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, which shall be solely the debts, obligations, expenses or liabilities of the Company, or for any of its losses, in excess of the value of such Member’s Capital Account, except as expressly provided herein.
(ii)A Member shall be liable only to make its Capital Contributions as provided herein and, other than as specifically provided in Section 12.3, shall not be required to restore a deficit balance in its Capital Account. Except as provided in Section 3.3 no Member shall be required to make any additional contributions or to lend any funds to the Company. The failure of the Company to observe any formalities or requirements relating to the exercise of its powers or management of its business or affairs under this Agreement or the Act shall not be grounds for imposing personal liability on the Members or the Manager for liabilities of the Company.
(iii)To the fullest extent permitted by Law, each Member and its respective officers, directors, managers, employees and attorneys shall be exculpated from, and the Company shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless such Persons from and against, all Damages from Third Parties that result by virtue of the Member’s ownership of its Membership Interest; provided, however, that this indemnity does not apply: (i) to Damages that are attributable to the proven gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud of such Person, violation of Law or breach of such Member’s obligations under this Agreement, or (ii) to a Member acting in a capacity other than solely as a Member, in the event that any such Claim is asserted against any Member in its capacity in more than one role (such as, for the avoidance of doubt, the Class A Member’s role as Member and Manager).
(iv)To the fullest extent permitted by Law, reasonable and documented expenses actually incurred by an indemnified Person under this Section 7.3 shall, from time to time, be advanced by or on behalf of the Company from Available Cash Flow, prior to the final disposition of any matter upon receipt by the Company of an undertaking from a Person with sufficient credit
capacity to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Agreement.
Section d.Withdrawal.
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Member shall be entitled to: (a) voluntarily withdraw or resign from the Company; (b) withdraw any part of such Member’s Capital Contributions from the Company; (c) demand the return of such Member’s Capital Contributions; or (d) receive property other than cash in return for such Member’s Capital Contribution.
Section e.Member Compensation.
No Member shall receive any interest, compensation or drawing with respect to its Capital Contributions or its Capital Account or for services rendered on behalf of the Company or otherwise in its capacity as a Member, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.
Section f.Other Ventures.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any duty existing at law or in equity, the Members and their respective Affiliates at any time and from time to time may engage in and possess interests in other business ventures of any and every type and description, including other business ventures competitive with, or of the same type and description as, the Company and the Pinnacle Project Company, independently or with others, as long as such venture does not cause the Pinnacle Project Company to cease to hold any Energy Regulatory Approval or to become subject to regulation under PUHCA, other than with respect to regulations pertaining to maintaining EWG status, in each case with no obligation to offer to the Pinnacle Project Company, the Company, any Member or any of their respective Affiliates the right to participate in, or share the results or profits of, those activities (even if those activities may be made possible or more profitable by reason of the Company’s or the Pinnacle Project Company’s activities), except any activity that would cause a Member to be a Related Party.
Section g.Confidential Information.
(i)With respect to each of the Company, the Members and the Manager, except to the extent necessary for the exercise of its rights and remedies and the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, the Company, such Member and the Manager will not itself use or intentionally disclose (and will not permit the use or disclosure by any of its Affiliates, any of the officers, directors or employees of it or its Affiliates (collectively, “Representatives”), or any of its advisors, counsel and public accountants (collectively, “Advisors”)), directly or indirectly, any of the terms and conditions of the Transaction Documents, this Agreement or other information in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby (“Confidential Information”); provided, that (i) the Company, any such Member, the Manager and its Affiliates, Representatives and Advisors may use and disclose Confidential Information to its Affiliates, Representatives and Advisors and to the Company, any other Member, the Manager and its Affiliates, Representatives and Advisors provided such use or disclosure is in connection with its
administration of its interests under this Agreement, (ii) the Company, any such Member, the Manager and its Affiliates, Representatives and Advisors may disclose Confidential Information to any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Company, such Member, the Manager or its Affiliates or as may be required by law, (iii) the Company, any such Member, the Manager and its Affiliates, Representatives and Advisors may use and disclose Confidential Information that (A) has been publicly disclosed or is publicly known (other than by the Company, such Member, the Manager or any of its Affiliates, Representatives or Advisors in breach of this Section 7.7), (B) has come into the possession of the Company, such Member, the Manager or any of its Affiliates, Representatives or Advisors other than from the Company, another Member or a Person acting on such other Member’s behalf or the Manager under circumstances not involving to the knowledge of the Company, such Member or the Manager any breach of any confidentiality obligation, or (C) has been independently developed by the Company, such Member, the Manager or any of its Affiliates, Representatives or Advisors without use of information obtained under this Agreement, (iv) to the extent that such disclosure is (A) required by law, a subpoena or any other applicable legal process or (B) by request of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over such Party or its Affiliates, any stock exchange on which such Party’s or its Affiliates Securities are traded or any self-regulatory body having jurisdiction over such Party (including, to the extent applicable, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.), the Company, such Member, the Manager or its Affiliates may disclose Confidential Information provided that in such case the Company, such Member and the Manager shall, unless otherwise prohibited by law, (1) give prompt notice to the Company, the other Members or Manager that such disclosure is or may be required and (2) cooperate in protecting such confidential or proprietary nature of the Confidential Information which must so be disclosed; provided that no such notification shall be required in respect of any disclosure to FERC, any Energy Regulatory Authority or bank, insurance or financial industry regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Company, such Member, the Manager or its Affiliates, (v) disclosures to lenders, potential lenders, potential tax equity investors or other Persons providing financing to the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company or to their respective representatives and advisors, the Company, any Member, the Manager or its Affiliates and potential purchasers of equity interests in the Company, the Company, any Member, the Manager or its Affiliates are permitted, any Person to which such Member sells or offers to sell its investment in the Company or any portion thereof, if such Persons have agreed to abide by the terms of this Section 7.7 or have otherwise entered into an agreement with restrictions on disclosure substantially similar to the terms of this Section 7.7 (or in the case of advisors, are otherwise bound by professional or legal obligations of confidentiality), (vi) the Company, any such Member, the Manager and its Affiliates, Representatives and Advisors may disclose Confidential Information, and make such filings, as may be required by this Agreement or the Transaction Documents, (vii) any Member which is an insurance company or an Affiliate thereof may disclose such information to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and any rating agency requiring access to its portfolio, (viii) any Member and its Affiliates, Representatives and Advisors may disclose Confidential Information relating to the Pinnacle Project (but not Confidential Information relating to any other Member) to lenders, potential lenders, potential tax equity investors or other Persons providing financing to any Person developing or proposing to develop or construct the Pinnacle Project and potential purchasers of equity interests in such Person or potential power or REC
purchasers from such Persons, or to any Person in connection with the operation of the Pinnacle Project if, in each case described in this clause (viii), such Persons have agreed to abide by the terms of this Section 7.7 or have otherwise entered into a Contract with restrictions on disclosure substantially the same (and for not less than two (2) years in duration) as the terms of this Section 7.7 (or in the case of Advisors, are otherwise bound by professional or legal obligations of confidentiality), and (ix) any such Member may disclose Confidential Information to the IRS or any state taxing authority in connection with any communication regarding the tax consequences of the Pinnacle Project, the Pinnacle Project Company’s ownership and operation of the Pinnacle Project or such Member’s ownership of an interest in the Company; provided that such Member shall, as soon as practicable, notify the other Members of such disclosure, furnish a copy of any written material provided to the IRS or any state taxing authority to the other Members and, if practicable, afford the other Members reasonable opportunity to comment on the proposed disclosure (but for the avoidance of doubt the other Members will not have the right to consent to such proposed disclosure). A Member’s obligations pursuant to this Article VII shall survive the Transfer of its Units.
(ii)The foregoing obligations shall not apply to the tax treatment or tax structure of the transactions contemplated hereby and each Member (and any employee, representative, or agent of any Member) may disclose to any and all Persons of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated hereby and all other materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analysis) that are provided to any Member relating to such tax treatment and tax structure (all such information that may be disclosed being the “Tax Information”). However, any such Tax Information is required to be kept confidential to the extent necessary to comply with any applicable securities laws. The preceding sentences are intended to cause the transactions contemplated hereby not to be treated as having been offered under conditions of confidentiality for purposes of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.6011 4(b)(3) and 301.6111 2(a)(2)(ii) and shall be construed in a manner consistent with such purpose. For purposes of this provision, the Tax Information includes only those facts that may be relevant to understanding the purported or claimed U.S. federal income tax treatment or tax structure of the transactions contemplated hereby and, to eliminate any doubt, therefore specifically does not include information that either reveals or standing alone or in the aggregate with other information so disclosed tends of itself to reveal or allow the recipient of the information to ascertain the identity of the Company or any Member or the Class B Member (or potential member), or any other third parties involved in any of the transactions contemplated hereby or any other potential transactions with any of the foregoing.
(iii)Except as otherwise permitted by this Section 7.7, no Member shall include in a press release or otherwise disclose (other than as required to be included in a filing to FERC, any Energy Regulatory Authority or any bank, insurance or financial industry regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Member, its affiliates or permitted transferees) the name of any Member as an equity investor or potential equity investor or the name of any tax equity investor without the prior written consent of such Member or such tax equity investor which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(iv)If the Company or any subsidiary thereof is required at any time to make any regulatory filing to the FERC or any Energy Regulatory Authority that identifies by name, or otherwise relates specifically to, any Member or any of its affiliates or permitted transferees, then the Company shall submit (or the Company shall cause its subsidiary to submit) an advance draft of such regulatory filing to such Member or its affiliate or permitted transferee, as applicable, as early as practicable in advance of the specified deadline imposed by FERC or such Energy Regulatory Authority or its regulations. Such Member (or its affiliate or permitted transferee, as applicable) shall have the right to provide comments to such regulatory filing as it relates to such Member (or its affiliate or permitted transferee), and the Company or its subsidiary shall incorporate or accommodate, prior to submitting such filing, such comments timely received. A Member’s failure to promptly provide such comments shall constitute approval of the making of such regulatory filing by the Company or subsidiary thereof.
(v)If any Member is required at any time to make any regulatory filing (other than a filing to any bank, insurance or financial industry regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Member or its affiliates) that identifies by name, or otherwise relates specifically to, any other Member, then such Member shall submit an advance draft of the relevant portions of such regulatory filing to such other Member. Such other Member shall have the right to provide comments to such regulatory filing as it relates to such other Member, and the Member making such filing shall incorporate or accommodate, prior to submitting such filing, such reasonable comments. The Parties acknowledge and agree that from time to time a Member may be required to submit a regulatory filing or reporting that may be subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
Section h.Company Property.
All property owned by the Company, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible and wherever located, shall be deemed to be owned by the Company, and no Member, individually, shall have any ownership of such property.
ARTICLE 8.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND TAX MATTERS
Section a.Intent for Income Tax Purposes.
The Members intend that the Company be treated as a partnership for federal, state and local income tax purposes and that it be operated in a manner consistent with such treatment, but that the Company not be operated or treated as a “partnership” for any other purpose, including, but not limited to, Section 303 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code, and the provisions of this Agreement may not be construed to suggest otherwise.
Section b.Books and Records; Bank Accounts; Company Procedures.
(i)The Company’s books of account shall be prepared and maintained in accordance with GAAP for the type of business of the Company. The Manager shall cause to be kept, at the principal place of business of the Company, full, proper, complete and accurate ledgers and other
books of account and records of all receipts and disbursements and other financial activities of the Company in accordance with prudent business practices and as required by Law, including the following documents:
(1)A copy of the Delaware Certificate and all certificates of amendment thereto, together with executed copies of any powers of attorney pursuant to which any certificate has been executed;
(2)Copies of the Company’s and the Pinnacle Project Company’s and each other Company subsidiary’s federal, state and local income tax or information returns and reports, if any, for the six (6) most recent Taxable Years or, if later, until the statute of limitations expires on any IRS, state, or local tax audit of such returns or reports;
(3)Copies of this Agreement and all amendments thereto;
(4)Copies of the formation documents and operating agreement of the Pinnacle Project Company and each other subsidiary of the Company;
(5)Financial statements, including a balance sheet and statements of income (or loss), of the Company for, to the extent applicable, each of the six (6) most recent Fiscal Years, including quarterly and monthly internal financial statements of the Company;
(6)The Company’s books and records for at least the current and, to the extent applicable, the past three (3) Fiscal Years;
(7)the Register;
(8)minutes of meetings of the Members; and
(9)copies of all Transaction Documents.
(ii)The books of account of the Company shall be (i) maintained on the basis of a Fiscal Year and (ii) maintained on an accrual basis in accordance with GAAP.
(iii)Funds of the Company shall be deposited in such banks or other depositories, and withdrawals from any such depository shall be made as determined by the Manager. All monies in bank accounts shall be retained in cash or invested in Permitted Investments.
(iv)The Manager shall cause the Company to maintain its existence separate and distinct from any other Person, including causing the Company to take the following actions:
(1)maintaining in full effect its existence, rights and franchises as a limited liability company under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation and obtaining and preserving its qualification to do business in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is or will be necessary to protect the validity and enforceability of its applicable operating agreement and each other Contract necessary or appropriate to properly administer its applicable operating
agreement and permit and effectuate the transactions contemplated in its applicable operating agreement;
(2)conducting its affairs separately from those of the Manager and its Affiliates and maintaining accurate and separate books and records;
(3)acting solely in its own limited liability company name and not that of any other Person, including the Manager and its Affiliates;
(4)not holding itself out as having agreed to pay, or as being liable for, the obligations of any other Person;
(5)not commingling its Assets with those of any other Person;
(6)observing all limited liability company formalities required in this Agreement and the Delaware Certificate;
(7)paying the salaries of its own employees, if any;
(8)not acquiring obligations of its Members, the Manager or their respective Affiliates;
(9)holding itself out as a separate entity; and
(10)correcting any known misunderstanding regarding its separate identity.
Section c.Information and Access Rights.
The Members and their respective agents also will have the right, at their sole risk and expense and upon reasonable prior notice to the Manager, to inspect the Pinnacle Project, and the Company’s Assets at any time and to audit, examine and make copies of all relevant documents, books and records of the Company no more than twice per Taxable Year. Any such inspection will be conducted during normal business hours and so as not to unreasonably interfere with the business of the Manager. The foregoing rights may be exercised through any agent or employee of such Member designated in writing by it or by an independent public accountant, engineer, attorney or other consultant so designated. Any inspection of Pinnacle Project shall be subject to all restrictions and conditions included in the operating agreement of the Pinnacle Project Company.
Section d.Reports.
The Manager shall, at the Company’s expense, deliver, or caused to be delivered, to each Member, the following reports, information and consolidated financial statements for the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, at the times indicated below:
(i)Annually, within [***] days after the end of each Fiscal Year (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the first such Fiscal Year for which financial statements shall be delivered shall be the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2020), unaudited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries prepared on a GAAP basis effective as of the end of the immediately-preceding year, including a consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statements of income, Members’ equity and changes in cash flows;
(ii)Quarterly within [***] days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter other than the fourth Fiscal Quarter, unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the Fiscal Quarter and portion of the Fiscal Year then ended (including a balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows and statement of changes in Member’s capital schedule) all in reasonable detail and fairly presenting the consolidated financial position of the Company as of the end of such quarter, prepared on a GAAP basis, subject to lack of footnotes and normal year-end adjustment;
(iii)Promptly following any request therefor, such other reports and information in the possession of the Manager as reasonably requested by the Members and such other reports reasonably requested by and paid for by the requesting Member to the extent external costs are incurred with respect to the preparation of such reports;
(iv)Promptly after such delivery, copies of all material reports or (without duplication of any other provisions of this Section 8.4) material notices delivered to or by the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company under any Transaction Document;
(v)[***] reports detailing for the Company and the Pinnacle Project (i) total expenditures, including Company Reimbursable Expenses, incurred by the Company; (ii) the amount of loan funds remaining under the Repowering Construction Financing; (iii) the amount of Capital Contributions of each Member expended and projected to be required in the ensuing ninety (90) day period; and (iv) the total equity percentages held in the Company by each of the Members at that time and as are projected based upon the aforesaid projected Capital Contributions; and
(vi)Within thirty (30) days after renewal, certificates of insurance evidencing fire, liabilities, workers’ compensation and other forms of insurance owned or held by or on behalf of the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company, and promptly following receipt, any notices of nonpayment of premium, nonrenewal or cancellation; and
(vii)[***], a copy of: (i) any amendment, modification, waiver or termination of any Transaction Documents; (ii) any new, or substitution or replacement of a Transaction Document; (iii) any new Contract between the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company and an Affiliate thereof and any amendment or modification of any existing Contract between the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company and an Affiliate thereof; and (iv) any new Contract having a term in excess of one year, or providing for payments by, or revenues to, the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company [***].
Section e.Permitted Investments.
(i)All cash of the Company may only be invested and reinvested in one of the following investment alternatives (“Permitted Investments”):
(1)Direct obligations of the United States of America (including obligations issued or held in book-entry form on the books of the Department of the Treasury of the United States of America) or obligations the timely payment of the principal of and interest on which are fully guaranteed by the United States of America;
(2)Obligations, debentures, notes or other evidence of Indebtedness issued or guaranteed by any of the following: Export-Import Bank of the United States, Federal Housing Administration or other agency or instrumentality of the United States;
(3)Interest-bearing demand or time deposits (including certificates of deposit) that are either (A) insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or (B) held in banks and savings and loan associations, having general obligations rated at least “A-” or equivalent by S&P and Moody’s, or if not so rated, secured at all times, in the manner and to the extent provided by Law, by collateral security described in clauses (i) or (iii) of this Section 8.5(a), of a market value of no less than the amount of moneys so invested;
(4)Obligations of any state of the United States or any agency or instrumentality of any of the foregoing which are rated at least “AA” by S&P or at least “Aa” by Moody’s;
(5)Commercial paper rated (on the date of acquisition thereof) at least “A-1” or “P-1” or equivalent by S&P or Moody’s, respectively (or an equivalent rating by another nationally recognized credit rating agency of similar standing if neither of such corporations is then in the business of rating commercial paper), maturing not more than ninety (90) days from the date of creation thereof but excluding any such commercial paper issued by any Member or any Affiliate of the Manager;
(6)Money market mutual funds that are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and operated in accordance with Rule 2a-7 and that at the time of such investment are rated “Aaa” by Moody’s and/or “AAA” by S&P, including such funds for which the Trustee or an affiliate provides investment advice or other services, each of which must have capital in excess of $[***] and at no point in time will aggregate investments under this Section 8.5(a)(vi) constitute more than [***]% of any such fund’s capital; or
(7)Any other investments agreed to by the Members and the Manager.
Section f.Tax Elections.
(i)The Manager shall make the following federal income tax elections on the appropriate Company tax returns:
(1)To the extent permitted under Code Section 706, to elect the calendar year as the Company’s Taxable Year;
(2)To elect the accrual method of accounting;
(3)To elect to amortize any organizational and start-up expenses of the Company ratably over a period of one hundred eighty (180) months as permitted by Code Section 709(b); and
(4)If a valid election to adjust the basis of the Company’s properties under Code Section 754 is not already in effect, to elect and to reelect, as necessary, pursuant to Code Section 754, to adjust the basis of the Company’s properties, including for any Taxable Year in which a distribution of the Company’s property as described in Code Section 734 occurs, or a transfer of a Membership Interest as described in Section 743 of the Code occurs.
The Manager shall not make, or cause the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company (to the extent the Company has (directly or indirectly) management authority for the Pinnacle Project Company or for such subsidiary) to make, any tax election for the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, except as otherwise provided herein, without the Consent of the Members if such tax election would materially affect the economic consequences to the Class A Members as set forth in the Base Case Model. The Manager, with the Consent of the Members, may elect to extend the time for filing any Company tax return as provided for under the Code and applicable state statutes. Neither the Company nor any Member may make an election for the Company to be excluded from the application of the provisions of subchapter K of chapter 1 of subtitle A of the Code or any similar provisions of applicable state Law. No Member, Manager, officer or agent of the Company is authorized to, or may, file IRS Form 8832 (or alternative or successor form) to elect to have the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company classified as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3. The Manager shall, in addition, affirmatively take such action within its control as may be necessary or required to maintain the status of the Company as a partnership for federal, state and local income tax purposes.
Section g.Partnership Representative and Company Tax Filings.
(i)The Class A Member is hereby appointed by the Members as the initial “partnership representative” of the Company pursuant to Section 6223(a) of the Code (the “Partnership Representative"). In the event of resignation or removal of Manager pursuant to Section 6.3, the replacement Manager shall nominate a Member to become the new Partnership Representative and such Member shall become the new Partnership Representative. In the event of any pending tax action, investigation, claim or controversy involving the Company which proposes or may result in an adjustment to any item reported on a federal tax return, the Partnership Representative, shall keep the other Members fully and timely informed by written notice of any audit, administrative or judicial proceedings, meetings or conferences with the IRS or other similar matters that come to its attention in its capacity as Partnership Representative. Furthermore, the Members shall have the right to review and comment on any submissions to the
IRS, and attend and jointly participate in any meetings or conferences with the IRS at their own expense. Each Member agrees to promptly provide to the Partnership Representative any information requested by the Partnership Representative so as to enable the Company to make any election under Section 6225 or 6226 of the Code, comply with any documentation requirements in connection with any such election, and modify any “imputed underpayment” within the meaning of Code Section 6225.
(ii)The Partnership Representative shall not take any action contemplated by Code Sections 6225 through 6234 unless the Partnership Representative has first given the Members timely written notice of the contemplated action. For any issue or matter relating to any Taxable Year, the Partnership Representative shall not, without the consent of each Member, (i) commence a judicial action with respect to a federal income tax matter or appeal any adverse determination of a judicial tribunal; (ii) enter into a settlement agreement with the IRS relating to any Company Item for any Taxable Year; (iii) file any request contemplated in Sections 6225 and 6234 of the Code; or (iv) enter into an agreement extending the period of limitations with respect to the Company. Any cost or expense incurred by the Partnership Representative in connection with its duties, including, if relevant, the preparation for or pursuance of administrative or judicial proceedings, shall be paid by the Company.
(iii)Any taxes, penalties, and interest payable by the Company or any fiscally transparent entity in which the Company owns an interest under Code Sections 6221 through 6235 will be treated as specifically attributable to the Members, and the Partnership Representative will use reasonable best efforts to allocate the burden of (or any diminution in distributable proceeds resulting from) any such taxes, penalties or interest to those Members to whom such amounts are specifically attributable (whether as a result of their status, actions, inactions or otherwise), as determined by the Partnership Representative; provided, however, that in the event a Member disagrees with the Partnership Representative's allocation of the burden of (or any diminution in distributable proceeds resulting from) any such taxes, penalties or interest, then the Members and the Partnership Representative shall jointly select an accounting firm to review and determine the appropriate allocation, which allocation shall be binding on the Partnership Representative and the Members. In connection with the foregoing, to the extent that the Company is assessed amounts under Section 6221(a) of the Code, each current or former Member to which the assessment relates will remit to the Company, within thirty (30) days’ written notice by the Partnership Representative, an amount equal to such Member’s allocable share of the assessment, including such Member’s allocable share of any interest imposed on the Company.
(iv)Tax Returns.
(1)Preparation of Tax Returns. The Partnership Representative shall prepare, or cause to be prepared by the Certified Public Accountant, and timely file (on behalf of the Company) all federal, state and local tax returns required to be filed by the Company. Each Member shall furnish to the Partnership Representative all pertinent information in its possession relating to the Company’s operations that is reasonably necessary to enable the Company’s tax returns to be timely prepared and filed.
(2)Furnishing Returns. The Partnership Representative shall use commercially reasonable efforts to furnish to the Members, (A) by no later than March 10th of each year, an estimate of all items of Company income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit (including PTCs) of the Company and the Members’ respective allocable shares thereof expected by the Partnership Representative to be reported on the Tax Return to be filed by the Partnership Representative for the immediately preceding Taxable Year, and (B) by no later than June 30 of each Taxable Year (or, if earlier, thirty (30) days prior to the date on which the Partnership Representative intends to file the Tax Return), the Tax Return proposed to be filed by the Partnership Representative.
(3)Costs of Preparation. The Company shall bear the costs of the preparation and filing of its returns, including the fees of the independent public accounting firm.
(v)The provisions of this Article VIII will survive the termination of the Company or the termination of any Member’s interest in the Company and will remain binding on the Member for the period of time necessary to resolve with the IRS or other federal tax agency any and all federal income tax matters relating to the Company that are subject to Code Sections 6221 through 6235.
(vi)Additional Requirements for an Indemnified Tax Claim.
(1)The Partnership Representative will notify the other Members of (A) any written communication it receives from the IRS, the Pinnacle Project Company, any other subsidiary of the Company, or a Tax Equity Entity that, if sustained may require a Member to make a contribution to the Company or otherwise indemnify another Member or any counterparty to any Tax Equity Document or Pinnacle Project Company (an “Indemnified Tax Claim”).
(2)For any issue or matter relating to any Taxable Year, the Partnership Representative shall not, without the consent of each Member, (i) control any IRS audit (including selection of counsel); (ii) commence a judicial action or appeal any adverse determination of a judicial tribunal; or (iii) enter into a settlement agreement with the IRS, with respect to an Indemnified Claim.
Section h.Financial Accounting.
Each Member may report the transactions contemplated hereby for financial accounting purposes in such manner as the Member and its accountants may determine appropriate.
Section i.Membership Interest Legend.
(i)Until (i) the securities representing ownership of membership interests in the Company are effectively registered under the Securities Act, or (ii) the holder of such securities delivers to the Company a written opinion of counsel of such holder to the effect that such legend is no longer necessary under the Securities Act, the Company will cause each certificate representing its securities to be stamped or otherwise imprinted with the following legend:
THE MEMBERSHIP INTEREST REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAW OF ANY STATE. SUCH MEMBERSHIP INTEREST MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED UNLESS SUBSEQUENTLY REGISTERED OR UNLESS AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE.
(ii)The Company will also cause each certificate representing its securities to be stamped or otherwise imprinted with the following legend:
THE MEMBERSHIP INTEREST AND UNITS REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE, AND SHALL BE, FOR ALL PURPOSES, “CERTIFIED SECURITIES” UNDER AND GOVERNED BY ARTICLE 8 (INCLUDING SECTION 8 103(c) THEREOF) AND ALL OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE IN EFFECT FROM TIME TO TIME IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.
Section j.Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Members.
Each Member, severally but not jointly, represents, warrants, and with respect to clauses (f) and (g) below, covenants to the Company and each other Member with respect to itself only, that: (I) (x) the following statements are true and correct as of, with respect to the Member, the Effective Date, (y) the following statements are true and correct as of, with respect to any other Person hereafter admitted as a Member pursuant to this Agreement, the date such Person is so admitted as a Member, and (II) with respect to clauses (f) and (g) below, shall be true and correct at all times that such Person is a Member:
(i)It is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization.
(ii)It has the full right, power and authority to perform its obligations hereunder.
(iii)The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Member and the consummation by such Member of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary entity action required on the part of such Member, its respective members and their respective managing members (as applicable). This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Member. This Agreement is a legal valid and binding obligation of such Member enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles.
(iv)It has such sophistication, knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits, risks and suitability of entering into the Transaction. It is acquiring its Membership Interest for its own account and not as a nominee or agent. It understands its Membership Interest have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act and are being acquired in a transaction not involving a public offering by reason of a specific exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act, the availability of which depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of each Member’s investment
intent and the accuracy of the Members’ respective representations as expressed herein. It understands that no public market now exists for the Membership Interests or any of the securities of the Company and that neither the Company nor any Member or Affiliate thereof has made any assurances that a public market will ever exist for the Membership Interests or the Company’s securities.
(v)It has discussed the Transaction and the accounting and tax treatment that it intends to accord the Transaction with its independent advisors. It is solely responsible for deciding to enter into the Transaction and has not relied on any other party (save for any representations made in this Agreement), other than its independent advisors, in respect of the accounting or tax treatment to be applied to the Transaction, or the overall suitability of the Transaction. It is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of the Securities Act, and is able to bear the economic risk of losing its entire investment in the Company.
(vi)It will report the Transaction in accordance with this Agreement and its own applicable regulatory requirements, including the accounting and tax treatment to be accorded to the Transaction.
(vii)It is not now and it shall not become a Disqualified Entity or Related Party.
(viii)That no part of the aggregate Capital Contributions made by such Member and used by such Member to acquire any Units, constitutes Assets of any “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), or other “benefit plan investor” (as defined in U.S. Department of Labor Reg. §§ 2510.3-101 et seq. and Section 3(42) of ERISA) or Assets allocated to any insurance company separate account or general account in which any such employee benefit plan or benefit plan investor (or related trust) has any interest.
(ix)It (or, if it is a disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes, the Person treated for federal income tax purposes as the owner of its assets) is a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code and is not subject to withholding under Section 1446 of the Code.
(x)It will not take any action or change its status if such action or change would result in a breach of a Company covenant or is otherwise prohibited by the terms of the Transaction Documents.
Section k.Survival.
The representations, warranties and covenants herein shall be continuing agreements of the Members that made them and shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the Company.
ARTICLE 9.
TRANSFERS OF INTERESTS; PURCHASE OPTION
Section a.Transfer Restrictions.
A Member may not Transfer or Encumber all or any portion of its Membership Interest, except in strict accordance with this Article IX. References in this Agreement to Transfers or Encumbrances of a “Membership Interest” shall also refer to Transfers or Encumbrances of a portion of a Membership Interest. Any attempted Transfer or Encumbrance of any Membership Interest, other than in strict accordance with this Article IX, shall be, and is hereby declared, null and void ab initio. The Members agree that a breach of the provisions of this Article IX may cause irreparable injury to the Company and to the other Members for which monetary damages (or other remedy at Law) are inadequate in view of (a) the complexities and uncertainties in measuring the actual damages that would be sustained by reason of the failure of a Member to comply with such provision and (b) the uniqueness of the Company’s business and the relationship among the Members. Accordingly, the Members agree that the provisions of this Article IX may be enforced by specific performance.
Section b.Permitted Transfers.
A Member may Transfer all or part of its Units (and Membership Interest represented thereby) to a Person that is not a Disqualified Transferee, provided that it satisfies the requirements of Section 9.3. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 9.2 to the contrary, a Transfer upon foreclosure (or in lieu of such foreclosure) under an Encumbrance on such Member’s Units permitted in accordance with Section 9.4 shall not require the approval by the Consent of the Members.
Section c.Conditions to Transfers.
Except as otherwise provided in this Article IX, all Transfers permitted hereby shall be subject to the satisfaction of the following requirements:
(i)Transfer Documents. The following documents shall have been delivered by the Transferring Member to the Manager and each other Member:
(1)Notice. Written notice not less than ten (10) Business Days prior to the proposed effective date of such Transfer.
(2)Transfer Instrument. An instrument executed by the Transferring Member and the Transferee implementing the Transfer, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto or such other form that is reasonably satisfactory to the Manager (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and which contains: (A) the notice address of the Transferee; (B) if applicable, the Parent of the Transferee; (C) the number of Units as to each class of Membership Interest held by the Transferring Member and held by the Transferee after the Transfer (which must total the number of Units as to each class of Membership Interest held by the Transferring Member before the Transfer); (D) the Transferee’s ratification of this Agreement and its confirmation that the representations and warranties in Article VIII applicable to it are true and correct with respect to it; (E) the Transferee’s ratification of the Investment Documents to which the Transferring Member is a party and agreement to be bound by them to
the same extent that the Transferring Member was bound by them prior to the Transfer, including the assumptions of all liabilities and obligations thereunder with respect to the Transferred Membership Interest; and (F) representations and warranties by the Transferring Member and its Transferee that the Transfer and the admission of the Transferee as a Member is being made in accordance with all applicable Law, and that the applicable conditions set forth in this Section 9.3 have been satisfied. Upon any such Transfer, the Manager shall update Annex I and the Register appropriately, and shall provide such updated Register to each Member.
(ii)Transaction and Tax Equity Documents. Such Transfer does not breach any provision of any Transaction Document.
(iii)Applicable Law; Securities Law. Such Transfer does not violate any provision of applicable Law, including, without limitation, applicable securities Law.
(iv)Tax Consequences.
(1)Entity Classification. Such Transfer does not cause the Company to be classified as an entity other than a partnership (or cause the Company to be treated as a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation) for purposes of the Code.
(2)Related Party. Such Transfer is not to a Person that is related within the meaning of Sections 168(h), 267(b) or 707(b)(1) of the Code to the offtaker and the Transfer will not cause any Member to be related (within the meaning of Sections 168(h), 267(b) or 707(b)(1) of the Code) to the offtaker.
(3)Tax-Exempt Entity. Such Transfer is not to a tax-exempt entity (or, if the transferee is a disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes, the Person treated for federal income tax purposes as the owner of its assets is not a tax-exempt entity) (within the meaning of Section 168(h)(2) of the Code) and such Transfer, in the reasonable determination of the Company, does not present a material risk that any property of the Company or the Pinnacle Project Company or any other subsidiary of the Company would thereby become “tax-exempt use property” within the meaning of Section 168(h)(6) of the Code.
(v)Payment of Expenses. The Transferring Member and the Transferee shall have paid or reimbursed the Company and each Member for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Company and such Members in connection with the Transfer and admission, on or before the tenth (10th) day after the receipt by such Persons of the Company’s or any such Member’s invoice for the amount due.
(vi)No Release. Such Transfer shall not effect a release of the Transferring Member from any liabilities to the Company or the other Members arising from events occurring prior to or in connection with the Transfer.
(vii)Regulatory Matters. Such Transfer shall not result in (a) the Pinnacle Project Company ceasing to be an EWG, (b) the Pinnacle Project Company becoming subject to regulation under
PUHCA other than with respect to regulations pertaining to maintaining EWG status or (c) the Pinnacle Project Company ceasing to hold any other Energy Regulatory Approval.
(viii)Consents and Permits. All consents, approvals and Licenses and Permits with respect to such Transfer shall have been obtained.
(ix)Investment Company Act. Such Transfer does not require the Company to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Section d.Encumbrances of Membership Interest.
A Member may Encumber its Membership Interest, and any Parent of a Member may Encumber such Membership Interest indirectly, so long as the instrument creating such Encumbrance provides that any Transfer upon foreclosure of such Encumbrance (or Transfer in lieu of such foreclosure) shall, and the actual Transfer relating to such Encumbrance (whether through foreclosure or in lieu of foreclosure) shall (a) not be to a Disqualified Transferee, (b) shall only be to a Qualified Transferee and (c) otherwise comply with the requirements of Section 9.3. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.4 (a) the Members agree to act in a commercially reasonable manner in connection with a financing in which a Member intends to grant a security interest in its Units and take such actions (or refrain from taking such actions) as are reasonably requested by such Member to facilitate the closing of such financing, including reasonably cooperating with such Member to enter into a consent to assignment, provided that such consent to assignment is reasonably acceptable to the Members, with such Member’s financing parties and (b) such Member may Encumber its Membership Interests pursuant to and subject to the terms of any such consent.
Section e.Admission of Transferee as a Member.
Any Transferee in a Transfer permitted under Section 9.2 shall be admitted to the Company as a Member, with the Membership Interest so transferred to such Transferee, to the extent that (a) the Transferring Member making the Transfer has granted the Transferee the Transferring Member’s entire Membership Interest, or, in the case of Transfer of a part of such Member’s Membership Interest, the express right to be so admitted as a Member and (b) such Transfer is effected in strict compliance with Section 9.3.
Section f.[***].
Section g.Terminated Member.
Upon the closing of a Transfer by a Member of all of its Membership Interest in the Company in accordance with this Article IX, the following provisions shall apply to the Transferring Member (now a “Terminated Member”):
(i)The Terminated Member shall cease to be a Member immediately upon the occurrence of such closing.
(ii)The Terminated Member shall no longer be entitled to receive any distributions (including liquidating distributions pursuant to Section 12.2) or allocations from the Company, and it shall not be entitled to exercise any voting or consent rights or to receive any further information (or access to information) from the Company (other than any required tax information).
(iii)The Terminated Member must pay (i) to the Company all amounts owed to the Company by the Terminated Member and (ii) to each other Member all amounts owed to such Member by the Terminated Member.
(iv)The Terminated Member shall remain obligated for all liabilities it may have under this Agreement or otherwise with respect to the Company that accrue prior to the closing.
(v)The Membership Interest, including the Capital Account balance attributable thereto, of the Terminated Member shall be allocated among the applicable Transferees in proportion to the relative Transferred Units acquired by such Transferee.
Section h.Class B Member Matters.
Class B Member agrees that it shall cause [***] to be admitted as a member of Class B Member no later than [***] (the “Outside Admission Date”), and Class B Member shall cause, contemporaneously with such an admission of the [***] as a member to Class B Member, [***] to contribute to Class B Member the Safe Harbor Equipment. Dissolution in accordance with Section 12(a)(iv) shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of the other Members for the failure of the Class B Member to satisfy its obligations under this Section 9.8.
ARTICLE 10.
[RESERVED]
ARTICLE 11.
Indemnification
Section a.Indemnification.
(i)Indemnification by the Class B Member. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Article 11, each Class B Member shall indemnify, defend, reimburse and hold harmless each Class A Member and its respective parent or subsidiary companies, shareholders, partners, members and other Affiliates, and each of their respective officers, directors, managers, employees, attorneys, contractors and agents (collectively, the “Class A Parties”), from and against: (i) any and all assessments, losses, damages, liabilities, judgments, settlements, Taxes, penalties, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, including such fees and expenses at trial and on any appeal), of any nature whatsoever (collectively,
“Damages”) asserted against, resulting to, imposed upon, or incurred by the Class A Parties, directly or indirectly, by reason of or resulting from any breach or failure by the Class B Member of any of its representations, warranties, covenants, obligations or agreements contained in this Agreement or any other Investment Document or any certificate delivered thereunder or hereunder; (ii) Damages asserted against, resulting to, imposed upon, or incurred by the Class A Parties, directly or indirectly, by reason of or resulting from a payment under the Class A TE Guaranty that pertains to a Class B TE Obligation; and (iii) its pro rata share (in accordance with its Class B Units) of the Class B Member’s Specified Share of Damages asserted against, resulting to, imposed upon, or incurred by the Class A Parties, directly or indirectly, by reason of or resulting from a payment under the Class A TE Guaranty that pertains to neither a Class A TE Obligation nor a Class B TE Obligation (collectively, “Class A Claims”). To the extent that any such Damages remain unpaid after a claim has been properly made therefor pursuant to this Section 11.1(a) that is not a bona fide dispute, any distributions otherwise payable to the Class B Members under this Agreement shall be used to satisfy the obligations of each Class B Member hereunder.
(ii)Indemnification by the Class A Member. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Article 11, each Class A Member shall indemnify, defend, reimburse and hold harmless each Class B Member and its respective parent or subsidiary companies, shareholders, partners, members and other Affiliates, and each of their respective officers, directors, managers, employees, attorneys, contractors and agents (collectively, the “Class B Parties” and together with the Class A Parties, the “Indemnified Parties”), from and against any and all Damages asserted against, resulting to, imposed upon, or incurred by the Class B Parties, directly or indirectly, by reason of or resulting from any breach or failure by the Class A Member (whether in its capacity as a Class A Member, the Manager, the Partnership Representative or otherwise) of any of its representations, warranties, covenants, obligations or agreements contained in this Agreement or any other Investment Document or any certificate delivered thereunder or hereunder (collectively, “Class B Claims” and together with the Class A Claims, the “Indemnity Claim”). To the extent that any such Damages remain unpaid after a claim has been properly made therefor pursuant to this Section 11.1(b) that is not a bona fide dispute, any distributions otherwise payable to the Class A Members under this Agreement shall be used to satisfy the obligations of each Class A Member hereunder.
Section b.Procedure for Indemnification.
After receipt by an Indemnified Party under Section 11.1 of notice of the commencement of any action, or any other actual or potential Indemnity Claim, such Indemnified Party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against a Member (the “Indemnifying Member”), give written notice thereof to such Indemnifying Member. The failure to promptly notify the Indemnifying Member shall not relieve such Indemnifying Member of any liability that it may have to any Indemnified Party with respect to such action; provided that, to the extent that any such failure to provide prompt notice is responsible for an increase in the indemnity obligations of the Indemnifying Member, the Indemnifying Member shall not be responsible for any such increase. In the case of any such action brought against an Indemnified Party for which the Indemnified Party has given written notice to the Indemnifying Member of the commencement thereof, the
Indemnifying Member shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party. If the Indemnifying Member elects to assume the defense of such action, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel at its own expense and to participate in the defense thereof. If the Indemnifying Member elects not to assume (or fails to assume) the defense of such action, or at any time fails diligently to pursue such defense, the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to assume the defense of such action with counsel of its own choice, at the expense of the Indemnifying Member. If the action is asserted against both the Indemnifying Member and the Indemnified Party and (a) there is a conflict of interests which renders it inappropriate for the same counsel to represent both the Indemnifying Member and the Indemnified Party or (b) such action could reasonably be expected to result in the imposition of criminal liability, the Indemnifying Member shall be responsible for paying for separate counsel for the indemnified party; provided, however, that if there is more than one Indemnified Party and it is practical for all such parties to be represented by common counsel, the Indemnifying Member shall not be responsible for paying for more than one separate firm of attorneys to represent the indemnified parties, regardless of the number of indemnified parties. If the Indemnifying Member elects to assume the defense of such action, (y) no compromise or settlement thereof may be effected by the Indemnifying Member without the indemnified party’s written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld) unless the sole relief provided is monetary damages that are paid in full by the Indemnifying Member and (z) the Indemnifying Member shall have no liability with respect to any compromise or settlement thereof effected without its written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld) unless the Indemnifying Member has failed to defend such Indemnified Party against such action.
Section c.Exclusivity.
The Parties agree that, (a) except with respect to fraud or willful misconduct, in relation to any breach, default, or nonperformance of any representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement made or entered into by a Member (whether in its capacity as a Member, the Manager, the Partnership Representative or otherwise) pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate, instrument, or document delivered pursuant hereto or arising out of the transactions contemplated herein, the only relief and remedy available to the other Members in respect of Damages fully recoverable and addressed by the payment of money shall be as set forth in this Article 11, but only to the extent properly claimable hereunder and as limited pursuant to this Article 11 or otherwise hereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, no Party has waived any rights to pursue equitable remedies under this Agreement or the other Investment Documents.
Section d.No Right of Contribution.
After the Effective Date, the Company shall have no liability to indemnify a Member on account of the breach of any representation or warranty or the nonfulfillment of any covenant or agreement of the Company; and no Member shall have any right of contribution against the Company.
Section e.Limitation on Liability.
The indemnification obligations pursuant to this Article 11 shall be subject to the following limitations:
(i)Damages paid pursuant to this Article 11 shall be treated as a non-taxable adjustment to purchase price or return of capital for federal income tax purposes unless the Class A Member receives an opinion at a “more likely than not” level or higher from a nationally-recognized law firm that such amount is taxable. If such opinion is received, Damages paid pursuant to this Article 11 shall be grossed- up and paid on an After-Tax Basis. To the extent an Indemnified Party subsequently recovers all or a part of the Damages indemnified under this Article 11, the Indemnified Party shall promptly refund the applicable Member(s) that paid such Damages the recovered Damages on an After-Tax Basis; provided that any such refund shall not exceed the original amount paid to the Indemnified Party by the applicable Member(s) (on an After-Tax Basis) hereunder.
(ii)The indemnification obligations under this Article 11 shall be limited to actual Damages and shall not include special, incidental, consequential, indirect, punitive, or exemplary Damages (including lost profits and damages for a lost opportunity); provided, that any incidental, consequential, indirect, punitive, or exemplary Damages recovered by a third party (including Governmental Authorities) against a Person entitled to indemnity pursuant to this Article 11 shall be included in the Damages recoverable under such indemnity.
Section f.Entire Agreement.
Article 11 of this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to indemnification hereunder.
ARTICLE 12.
DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION
Section a.Dissolution.
(i)The Company will dissolve and its business and affairs will be wound up on the first to occur of the following (the “Liquidating Events”):
(1)The unanimous consent of the Members to dissolve the Company;
(2)Any other event upon the occurrence of which dissolution is required by the Act (that the Act does not allow to be waived by agreement of the Parties), unless, to the extent permitted by the Act, Members (other than the Member with respect to which such event occurs) unanimously elect in writing, within ninety (90) days of the date such event described in this Section 12.1(a)(ii) occurs, to continue the business of the Company, in which case the Company will not dissolve;
(3)The sale, transfer or other disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of its business and Assets; or
(4)If the [***] is not admitted as a member of Class B Member and the Safe Harbor Equipment is not contributed to the Company on or before the Outside Admission Date.
(ii)Each Member agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, it will not dissolve itself or the Company or withdraw from the Company except as set forth in Section 12.1(a).
Section b.Liquidation and Termination.
(i)On dissolution of the Company, the Manager shall, with the Consent of the Members, act as liquidator. The liquidator shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as provided in this Agreement. The costs of liquidation will be borne as a Company Reimbursable Expense. Until final distribution, the liquidator shall continue to operate the Company with all of the power and authority of the Members. The steps to be accomplished by the liquidator are as follows:
(1)As promptly as reasonably practicable after dissolution and again after final liquidation, the liquidator shall cause a proper accounting to be made by the Certified Public Accountant of the Company’s Assets, liabilities, and operations through the last day of the calendar month in which the dissolution occurs or the final liquidation is completed, as applicable.
(2)The liquidator shall pay from Company funds all of the debts and liabilities of the Company or otherwise make adequate provision for them (including the establishment of a cash escrow fund for contingent, conditional or unmatured liabilities in such amount and for such term as the liquidator may reasonably determine).
(3)With respect to the remaining Assets of the Company:
(i)the liquidator shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the best possible price and may sell any or all Company Assets (subject to any and all restrictions to which the Pinnacle Project is subject), including to the Members at such price, but in no event lower than the Fair Market Value thereof; and
(ii)with respect to all Company Assets that have not been sold, the Values of such Assets shall be determined pursuant to subparagraph (b) of the definition of Value.
(4)Any Company Items of income and gain (including any such items attributable to the disposition or deemed disposition of Assets pursuant to Section 12.2(a)(iii)) for the Taxable Year during which the distribution of liquidation proceeds occurs that have not been allocated pursuant to the Regulatory Allocations shall first be allocated to each Member having a deficit balance in its Capital Account, in the proportion that such deficit balance bears to the total deficit balances in the Capital Accounts of all Members, until each Member has been allocated Company Items of income and gain equal to any such deficit balance in its Capital Account and such deficit balance has thereby been eliminated. Any remaining Company Items
for such Taxable Year during which the distribution of liquidation proceeds occurs shall be allocated among the Members in such manner as to ensure that, to the greatest extent feasible, following these allocations, the balances in the Capital Accounts of the Members are expected to result in distributions pursuant to Section 12.2(a)(v) in accordance with the sharing ratios set forth in Section 5.1(a)(ii); provided, however, that in the event of a liquidation prior to the Tax Equity Funding Date, any remaining Company Items for such Taxable Year during which the distribution of liquidation proceeds occurs shall be allocated among the Members pro rata in proportion to the balances in the Capital Accounts of the Members at the time of such liquidation; and
(5)After giving effect to all allocations (including those under Section 4.2 and Section 12.2(a)(iv)), all prior distributions (including those under Section 5.1) and all Capital Contributions (including those under Section 3.1, Section 3.2 and Section 3.3) for all periods, all remaining cash and property (including any Available Cash Flow and liquidation proceeds) shall be distributed to the Members in accordance with the positive balances in their Capital Accounts.
(6)Any distribution to the Members in respect of their Capital Accounts pursuant to this Section 12.2 shall be made by the end of the Company taxable year in which a Liquidating Event occurs (or if later, within ninety (90) days after the date of such Liquidating Event).
(ii)The distribution of cash or property to a Member in accordance with the provisions of this Section 12.2 constitutes a complete return to the Member of its Capital Contributions and a complete distribution to the Member on account of its Membership Interest and all the Company’s property and constitutes a compromise to which all Members have consented pursuant to Section 18-502(b) of the Act.
Section c.Deficit Capital Accounts.
(i)Except as expressly provided in this Section 12.3, no Member shall be obligated to contribute cash to restore a deficit in its Capital Account balance.
(ii)In the event the Class A Member’s interests in the Company are “liquidated” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g), if the Class A Member has a deficit Capital Account balance in excess of the amount such Class A Member is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704- 2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) (an “Adjusted Deficit Capital Account Balance”), then the Class A Member shall be obligated to pay and restore to the Company cash in an amount equal to such Adjusted Deficit Capital Account Balance by the end of the Taxable Year during which the liquidation of the Company occurs, or if later, within ninety (90) days after the date of such liquidation; provided, however, that such restoration obligation of the Class A Member shall not, under any circumstances be more than its Class A DRO Amount.
(iii)In the event the Class B Member’s interests in the Company are “liquidated” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g), if the Class B Member has a
deficit Capital Account balance in excess of the amount such Class B Member is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704- 2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) (an “Adjusted Deficit Capital Account Balance”), then the Class B Member shall be obligated to pay and restore to the Company cash in an amount equal to such Adjusted Deficit Capital Account Balance by the end of the Taxable Year during which the liquidation of the Company occurs, or if later, within ninety (90) days after the date of such liquidation; provided, however, that such restoration obligation of the Class B Member shall not, under any circumstances be more than its Class B DRO Amount.
Section d.Termination.
On completion of the satisfaction of liabilities and distribution of Assets as provided in this Agreement, the Manager (or such other Person or Persons as the Act may require or permit) shall file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and cancel any other filings made as provided in Section 2.1, and shall take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the existence of the Company. Upon the filing of such certificate of cancellation, the existence of the Company shall terminate (and the term of the Company shall end), except as may be otherwise provided by the Act or other applicable Law. All costs and expenses in fulfilling the obligations under this Section 12.4 shall be borne by the Company.
ARTICLE 13.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section a.Offset.
Whenever the Company (or another Person on behalf of the Company) is to pay any sum to any Member, any amounts then owed by such Member to the Company may be deducted from such sum before payment, provided that no Member’s obligation to make Capital Contributions may be deducted from any payment amounts without such Member’s consent.
Section b.Notices.
All notices, consents, demands, requests or other communications which may be or are required to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall (a) be sent by overnight courier, facsimile, electronic mail or United States mail, addressed to the recipient, postage paid, and registered or certified, return receipt requested, or delivered to the recipient in person and (b) be sent or delivered, in each case, at the addresses set forth on the signature page of this Agreement or such other address as a Member may specify by notice to the Company and the other Members; provided, that any financial models or reports required to be delivered under this Agreement shall be emailed to [***] and additionally, may be uploaded to a data site mutually agreed to by the Members. Any notice, request or consent to the Company must be given to the Manager. Notices, consents, demands, requests and other communications shall be deemed effective or served on the date of receipt at the address of the Person to receive it.
Section c.Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each bearing the signatures of one or more Members. Each such counterpart shall be considered an original and all of such counterparts shall constitute a single agreement binding all the parties as if all had signed a single document. Facsimile, electronic mail or pdf signatures shall be accepted as original signatures for purposes of this Agreement.
Section d.Governing Law and Severability.
This Agreement shall be construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with the internal laws and decisions of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions of any other state or jurisdiction that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware. If any provision of this Agreement shall be contrary to any other applicable Law, at the present time or in the future, such provision shall be deemed null and void, but this shall not affect the legality of the remaining provisions of this Agreement. This Agreement shall be deemed to be modified and amended so as to be in compliance with applicable Law and this Agreement shall then be construed in such a way as will best serve the intention of the Parties at the time of the execution of this Agreement.
Section e.Entire Agreement.
This Agreement, including any Annexes, Schedules and Exhibits, together with the other Investment Documents, constitutes the entire agreement among the Members regarding the terms and operations of the Company, except as amended in writing pursuant to the requirements of this Agreement, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, statements, understandings and representations of the Parties.
Section f.Effect of Waiver or Consent.
A waiver or consent, express or implied, to or of any breach or default by any Person in the performance by that Person of its obligations under this Agreement, or any Investment Document is not a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Person of the same or any other obligations of that Person under this Agreement, or any Investment Document. Failure on the part of a Person to complain of any act of any Person or to declare any Person in default with respect to its obligations under this Agreement, or any Investment Document, irrespective of how long that failure continues, does not constitute a waiver by that Person of its rights with respect to that default until the applicable statute of limitations period has run.
Section g.Amendment or Modification.
Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement may be amended or modified from time to time only by a written instrument executed by all Members.
Section h.Binding Effect.
Subject to the restrictions on Transfers set forth in this Agreement, this Agreement is binding on and inures to the benefit of the Members and their respective legal representatives, permitted successors and permitted assigns.
Section i.Further Assurances.
In connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, each Member shall execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this Agreement and those transactions contemplated here, including all filing, recording, publishing and other acts appropriate to comply with all requirements for the operation of a limited liability company under the laws of all jurisdictions where the Company shall conduct business.
Section j.Jurisdiction.
The Parties agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York and the Federal District Court located in the Borough of Manhattan, State of New York, and any court of appeal from either thereof, in connection with any action or other proceeding relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Each Party irrevocably waives and agrees not to make, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the jurisdiction of any such court or to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
Section k.LIMITATION ON LIABILITY.
Subject to Section 11.5(b) hereof, NO PARTY HERETO NOR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, ATTORNEYS OR AGENTS SHALL BE LIABLE TO ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, ATTORNEYS OR AGENTS FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOST OPPORTUNITY, LOST PROFITS OR REVENUES OR LOSS OF USE OF SUCH PROFITS OR REVENUES) (WHETHER OR NOT THE CLAIM THEREFORE IS BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, DUTY IMPOSED BY LAW OR OTHERWISE), IN CONNECTION WITH, ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER INVESTMENT DOCUMENTS OR ANY ACT OR OMISSION OR EVENT OCCURRING IN CONNECTION THEREWITH; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES, RELEASES AND AGREES NOT TO SUE UPON ANY SUCH CLAIM FOR ANY SUCH SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, WHETHER OR NOT ACCRUED AND WHETHER OR NOT KNOWN OR SUSPECTED TO EXIST IN ITS FAVOR, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT TO THE EXTENT A BREACH RESULTS IN THE LOSS, DISALLOWANCE OR REDUCTION OF PTCS, THE VALUE OF SUCH LOST, DISALLOWED OR REDUCED PTCS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES.
[Signature Pages Follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
| | | | | |
| CLASS B MEMBER
CWSP PINNACLE HOLDING LLC
By: Clearway Renew LLC Its: Managing Member
By: /s/ Craig Cornelius Name: Craig Cornelius Title: President
|
| | | | | |
| CLASS A MEMBER
CWEN PINNACLE REPOWERING HOLDCO LLC
By: /s/ Christopher S. Sotos Name: Christopher S. Sotos Title: President
Address: Attention: Telephone:
|
DocumentEXHIBIT 21.1
SUBSIDIARIES OF CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
| | | | | | | | |
Entity Name | | Jurisdiction |
2011 Finance Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
AC Solar Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Adams Community Solar Garden I LLC | | Colorado |
Adams Community Solar Garden II LLC | | Colorado |
Adams Community Solar Garden III LLC | | Colorado |
Adams Community Solar Gardens LLC | | Colorado |
Agua Caliente Borrower 2 LLC | | Delaware |
Agua Caliente Solar Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Agua Caliente Solar, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Interconnection Management II, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Interconnection Management III, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Interconnection Management, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Realty Holdings, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Realty Investments, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Vista LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Wind 1-5 Holding Company, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Wind Asset Management Holdings, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Wind Asset Management, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Wind Company, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Wind Holdings, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Wind I Holding Company, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Wind I, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Wind II Holding Company, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Wind II, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Wind III Holding Company, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Wind III, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Wind IV Holding Company, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Wind IV, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Wind V Holding Company, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Wind V, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Wind X Holding Company, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Wind X, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Wind XI Holding Company, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Wind XI, LLC | | Delaware |
Alta Wind X-XI TE Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Apple I LLC | | Delaware |
Arapahoe Community Solar Garden I LLC | | Colorado |
Avenal Park LLC | | Delaware |
Avenal Solar Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Bashaw Solar 1, LLC | | Delaware |
Big Lake Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
EXHIBIT 21.1
SUBSIDIARIES OF CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
| | | | | | | | |
Entity Name | | Jurisdiction |
Black Cat Road Solar, LLC | | Delaware |
Black Start Battery Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Black Start Battery LLC | | Delaware |
Bluestone Solar, LLC | | Delaware |
Brook Street Solar 1, LLC | | Delaware |
Buckthorn Holdings, LLC | | Delaware |
Buckthorn Renewables, LLC | | Delaware |
Buckthorn Solar Portfolio, LLC | | Delaware |
Buckthorn Westex, LLC | | Delaware |
Buffalo Bear, LLC | | Oklahoma |
Bullock Road Solar 1, LLC | | Delaware |
BWC Swan Pond River, LLC | | Delaware |
Carlsbad Energy Center LLC | | Delaware |
Carlsbad Energy Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Carlsbad Holdco II, LLC | | Delaware |
Carlsbad Holdco, LLC | | Delaware |
CBAD Holdings II, LLC | | Delaware |
CBAD Holdings, LLC | | Delaware |
Center St Solar 1, LLC | | Delaware |
Central CA Fuel Cell 1, LLC | | Delaware |
Chestnut Borrower LLC | | Delaware |
Chestnut Class B LLC | | Delaware |
Chestnut Fund Sub LLC | | Delaware |
Chisago Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Clara City Solar LLC | | Delaware |
Clear View Acres Wind Farm, LLC | | Iowa |
Clearway & EFS Distributed Solar LLC | | Delaware |
Clearway AC Solar Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Clearway Chestnut Fund LLC | | Delaware |
Clearway Community Energy Development LLC | | Delaware |
Clearway DG Lakeland LLC | | Delaware |
Clearway Energy LLC | | Delaware |
Clearway Energy Operating LLC | | Delaware |
Clearway Solar Star LLC | | Delaware |
Clearway Thermal LLC | | Delaware |
Clearway Walnut Creek II LLC | | Delaware |
Clearway West Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
CMR Solar, LLC | | Delaware |
Colorado Shared Solar I LLC | | Delaware |
Colorado Springs Solar Garden LLC | | Colorado |
Continental Energy, LLC | | Arizona |
Crosswind Transmission, LLC | | Iowa |
EXHIBIT 21.1
SUBSIDIARIES OF CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
| | | | | | | | |
Entity Name | | Jurisdiction |
CVSR Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
CVSR Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
CWEN Pinnacle Repowering Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
CWEN Pinnacle Repowering Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Cy-Hawk Wind Energy, LLC | | Iowa |
Daggett Solar Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Daggett Solar Investment LLC | | Delaware |
Denver Community Solar Garden I LLC | | Colorado |
Denver Community Solar Garden II LLC | | Colorado |
Desert Sunlight 250, LLC | | Delaware |
Desert Sunlight 300, LLC | | Delaware |
Desert Sunlight Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Desert Sunlight Investment Holdings, LLC | | Delaware |
DG Berkeley Rec LLC | | Delaware |
DG Berkeley Village LLC | | Delaware |
DG Central East LLC | | Delaware |
DG Central West LLC | | Delaware |
DG Contra Costa Operations LLC | | Delaware |
DG Contra Costa Waste LLC | | Delaware |
DG Crystal Spring LLC | | Delaware |
DG Dighton LLC | | Delaware |
DG Foxborough Elm LLC | | Delaware |
DG Foxborough Landfill LLC | | Delaware |
DG Grantland LLC | | Delaware |
DG Haverhill LLC | | Delaware |
DG Imperial Admin LLC | | Delaware |
DG Imperial Building LLC | | Delaware |
DG Lathrop Louise LLC | | Delaware |
DG Lincoln Middle LLC | | Delaware |
DG Marathon LLC | | Delaware |
DG Rosedale Elementary LLC | | Delaware |
DG Rosedale Middle LLC | | Delaware |
DG San Joaquin LLC | | Delaware |
DG SREC HoldCo LLC | | Delaware |
DG SREC Holdings 1 LLC | | Delaware |
DG Tufts Knoll LLC | | Delaware |
DG Tufts Science LLC | | Delaware |
DG Washington Middle LLC | | Delaware |
DG Webster LLC | | Delaware |
DG-CS Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
DG-CS Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
DG-CS Master Borrower LLC | | Delaware |
EXHIBIT 21.1
SUBSIDIARIES OF CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
| | | | | | | | |
Entity Name | | Jurisdiction |
DGPV 1 LLC | | Delaware |
DGPV 2 LLC | | Delaware |
DGPV 3 LLC | | Delaware |
DGPV 4 Borrower LLC | | Delaware |
DGPV 4 LLC | | Delaware |
DGPV Fund 1 LLC | | Delaware |
DGPV Fund 2 HoldCo A LLC | | Delaware |
DGPV Fund 2 HoldCo B LLC | | Delaware |
DGPV Fund 2 LLC | | Delaware |
DGPV Fund 4 LLC | | Delaware |
DGPV Fund 4 Sub LLC | | Delaware |
DGPV HoldCo 2 LLC | | Delaware |
DGPV HoldCo 3 LLC | | Delaware |
DGPV Holding LLC | | Delaware |
Dodge Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Eagle View Acres Wind Farm, LLC | | Iowa |
Eastman Street Solar 1, LLC | | Delaware |
ECP Uptown Campus HoldCo LLC | | Delaware |
ECP Uptown Campus Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
ECP Uptown Campus LLC | | Delaware |
El Mirage Energy, LLC | | Arizona |
El Segundo Energy Center LLC | | Delaware |
Elbow Creek Repowering Tax Equity Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Elbow Creek Wind Project LLC | | Texas |
Electricity Sales Princeton LLC | | Delaware |
Elk Lake Wind Farm, LLC | | Iowa |
Elkhorn Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Elkhorn Ridge Wind, LLC | | Delaware |
Energy Center Baltimore Medical LLC | | Delaware |
Energy Center Caguas East LLC | | Puerto Rico |
Energy Center Caguas HoldCo LLC | | Delaware |
Energy Center Caguas Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Energy Center Caguas LLC | | Puerto Rico |
Energy Center Cajuhu LLC | | Puerto Rico |
Energy Center Fajardo HoldCo LLC | | Delaware |
Energy Center Fajardo Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Energy Center Fajardo LLC | | Puerto Rico |
Energy Center Harrisburg LLC | | Delaware |
Energy Center HCEC LLC | | Delaware |
Energy Center Honolulu HoldCo LLC | | Delaware |
Energy Center Honolulu Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Energy Center Honolulu LLC | | Delaware |
EXHIBIT 21.1
SUBSIDIARIES OF CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
| | | | | | | | |
Entity Name | | Jurisdiction |
Energy Center Minneapolis LLC | | Delaware |
Energy Center Omaha Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Energy Center Omaha LLC | | Delaware |
Energy Center Paxton LLC | | Delaware |
Energy Center Phoenix LLC | | Delaware |
Energy Center Pittsburgh LLC | | Delaware |
Energy Center Princeton LLC | | Delaware |
Energy Center San Diego LLC | | Delaware |
Energy Center San Francisco LLC | | Delaware |
Energy Center Tucson LLC | | Arizona |
Enterprise Solar, LLC | | Delaware |
Escalante Solar I, LLC | | Delaware |
Escalante Solar II, LLC | | Delaware |
Escalante Solar III, LLC | | Delaware |
ETCAP NES CS MN 02 LLC | | Delaware |
ETCAP NES CS MN 06 LLC | | Delaware |
Farmington Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Federal Road Solar 1, LLC | | Delaware |
Forest Lake Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Forward WindPower LLC | | Delaware |
Four Brothers Holdings, LLC | | Delaware |
Four Brothers Solar, LLC | | Delaware |
Frontenac Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Fuel Cell Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
FUSD Energy, LLC | | Arizona |
GCE Holding LLC | | Connecticut |
GenConn Devon LLC | | Connecticut |
GenConn Energy LLC | | Connecticut |
GenConn Middletown LLC | | Connecticut |
Goat Wind LLC | | Texas |
Golden Fields Solar III, LLC | | Delaware |
Golden Puma Fund LLC | | Delaware |
Grabinski Solar, LLC | | Delaware |
Granite Mountain Holdings, LLC | | Delaware |
Granite Mountain Renewables, LLC | | Delaware |
Granite Mountain Solar East, LLC | | Delaware |
Granite Mountain Solar West, LLC | | Delaware |
Green Prairie Energy, LLC | | Iowa |
Greene Wind Energy, LLC | | Iowa |
Hardin Hilltop Wind, LLC | | Iowa |
Hardin Wind Energy, LLC | | Iowa |
Harrisburg Cooling LLC | | Delaware |
EXHIBIT 21.1
SUBSIDIARIES OF CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
| | | | | | | | |
Entity Name | | Jurisdiction |
High Plains Ranch II, LLC | | Delaware |
Highland Township Wind Farm, LLC | | Iowa |
HLE Solar Holdings, LLC | | Delaware |
HSD Solar Holdings, LLC | | California |
Huntington Beach LLC | | Delaware |
Hwy 14 Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Iron Springs Holdings, LLC | | Delaware |
Iron Springs Renewables, LLC | | Delaware |
Iron Springs Solar, LLC | | Delaware |
Kawailoa Renewables, LLC | | Delaware |
Kawailoa Solar Holdings, LLC | | Delaware |
Kawailoa Solar Portfolio, LLC | | Delaware |
Kawailoa Solar, LLC | | Delaware |
Langford Class B Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Langford Holding LLC | | Delaware |
Langford Tax Equity Partnership LLC | | Delaware |
Langford Wind Power, LLC | | Texas |
Lanikuhana Solar, LLC | | Hawaii |
Laredo Ridge Wind, LLC | | Delaware |
Lenape II Solar LLC | | Delaware |
Lighthouse Renewable Class A LLC | | Delaware |
Lighthouse Renewable Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Lighthouse Renewable Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Lindberg Field Solar 1, LLC | | Delaware |
Lindberg Field Solar 2, LLC | | Delaware |
Longhorn Energy, LLC | | Arizona |
Lookout WindPower LLC | | Delaware |
Mapleton Solar LLC | | Delaware |
Marsh Landing Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Marsh Landing LLC | | Delaware |
MC1 Solar Farm, LLC | | North Carolina |
Mesquite Star Class B Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Mesquite Star Special, LLC | | Delaware |
Mesquite Star Tax Equity Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Minisink Solar 1, LLC | | Delaware |
Minisink Solar 2, LLC | | Delaware |
Mission Iowa Wind, LLC | | California |
Mission Minnesota Wind II, LLC | | Delaware |
Mission Wind Laredo, LLC | | Delaware |
Mission Wind New Mexico, LLC | | Delaware |
Mission Wind Oklahoma, LLC | | Delaware |
Mission Wind PA One, LLC | | Delaware |
EXHIBIT 21.1
SUBSIDIARIES OF CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
| | | | | | | | |
Entity Name | | Jurisdiction |
Mission Wind PA Three, LLC | | Delaware |
Mission Wind PA Two, LLC | | Delaware |
Mission Wind Pennsylvania, LLC | | Delaware |
Mission Wind Utah, LLC | | Delaware |
Monster Energy, LLC | | Arizona |
Montevideo Solar LLC | | Delaware |
Mount Hope Solar 1, LLC | | Delaware |
Natural Gas Repowering LLC | | Delaware |
New Munich Solar LLC | | Delaware |
NIMH Solar HoldCo LLC | | Delaware |
NIMH Solar Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
NIMH Solar LLC | | Delaware |
Northfield Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
NS Smith, LLC | | Delaware |
Oahu Renewables, LLC | | Delaware |
Oahu Solar Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Oahu Solar LLC | | Delaware |
OC Solar 2010, LLC | | California |
Ocotillo Windpower Holdco 2 LLC | | Delaware |
Ocotillo Windpower Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Ocotillo Windpower Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Ocotillo Windpower, LP | | Delaware |
Odin Wind Farm LLC | | Minnesota |
Old Westminster Solar 1, LLC | | Delaware |
Old Westminster Solar 2, LLC | | Delaware |
Olinda Trail Solar LLC | | Delaware |
Osakis Solar LLC | | Delaware |
OWF Eight, LLC | | Minnesota |
OWF Five, LLC | | Minnesota |
OWF Four, LLC | | Minnesota |
OWF One, LLC | | Minnesota |
OWF Seven, LLC | | Minnesota |
OWF Six, LLC | | Minnesota |
OWF Three, LLC | | Minnesota |
OWF Two, LLC | | Minnesota |
Palo Alto County Wind Farm, LLC | | Iowa |
Partridgeville Road Solar 1, LLC | | Delaware |
PC Dinuba LLC | | Delaware |
PESD Energy, LLC | | Arizona |
Pikes Peak Solar Garden I LLC | | Colorado |
Pine Island Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Pinnacle Repowering Partnership Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
EXHIBIT 21.1
SUBSIDIARIES OF CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
| | | | | | | | |
Entity Name | | Jurisdiction |
Pinnacle Repowering Partnership LLC | | Delaware |
Pinnacle Repowering Tax Equity Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Pinnacle Wind, LLC | | Delaware |
PM Solar Holdings, LLC | | California |
Pond Road Solar, LLC | | Delaware |
Portfolio Solar I, LLC | | Delaware |
Poverty Ridge Wind, LLC | | Iowa |
Puma Class B LLC | | Delaware |
Redbrook Solar 1, LLC | | Delaware |
Renew Canal 1 LLC | | Delaware |
Renew Solar CS4 Borrower LLC | | Delaware |
Renew Solar CS4 Class B LLC | | Delaware |
Renew Solar CS4 Fund LLC | | Delaware |
Renew Spark 2 LLC | | Delaware |
Repowering Partnership Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Repowering Partnership II LLC | | Delaware |
Rollingstone Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Rosamond Solar Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Rosamond Solar Investment LLC | | Delaware |
Rosie Class B LLC | | Delaware |
Rosie Project HoldCo LLC | | Delaware |
Rosie TargetCo LLC | | Delaware |
Rosie TE HoldCo LLC | | Delaware |
Rounseville Solar 1, LLC | | Delaware |
RPV Holding LLC | | Delaware |
San Juan Mesa Investments, LLC | | Delaware |
San Juan Mesa Wind Project, LLC | | Delaware |
Sand Drag LLC | | Delaware |
Sartell Solar LLC | | Delaware |
SCDA Solar 1, LLC | | Delaware |
SCWFD Energy, LLC | | Arizona |
Silver Lake Acres Wind Farm, LLC | | Iowa |
SJA Solar LLC | | Delaware |
Sleeping Bear, LLC | | Delaware |
Solar Alpine LLC | | Delaware |
Solar Apple LLC | | Delaware |
Solar AV Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Solar Avra Valley LLC | | Delaware |
Solar Blythe II LLC | | Delaware |
Solar Blythe LLC | | Delaware |
Solar Borrego Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Solar Borrego I LLC | | Delaware |
EXHIBIT 21.1
SUBSIDIARIES OF CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
| | | | | | | | |
Entity Name | | Jurisdiction |
Solar Community 1 LLC | | Delaware |
Solar Community Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Solar CVSR Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Solar Flagstaff One LLC | | Delaware |
Solar Iguana LLC | | Delaware |
Solar Kansas South Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Solar Kansas South LLC | | Delaware |
Solar Las Vegas MB 1 LLC | | Delaware |
Solar Las Vegas MB 2 LLC | | Delaware |
Solar Mayfair LLC | | Delaware |
Solar Mule LLC | | Delaware |
Solar Oasis LLC | | Delaware |
Solar Roadrunner Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Solar Roadrunner LLC | | Delaware |
Solar Tabernacle LLC | | Delaware |
Solar Warren LLC | | Delaware |
Solar Wauwinet LLC | | Delaware |
Solar West Shaft LLC | | Delaware |
South Trent Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
South Trent Wind LLC | | Delaware |
Spanish Fork Wind Park 2, LLC | | Utah |
SPP Asset Holdings, LLC | | Delaware |
SPP Fund II Holdings, LLC | | Delaware |
SPP Fund II, LLC | | Delaware |
SPP Fund II-B, LLC | | Delaware |
SPP Fund III, LLC | | Delaware |
SPP Lease Holdings, LLC | | Delaware |
SPP P-IV Master Lessee, LLC | | Delaware |
Spring Canyon Energy II LLC | | Delaware |
Spring Canyon Energy III LLC | | Delaware |
Spring Canyon Expansion Class B Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Spring Canyon Expansion Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Spring Canyon Expansion LLC | | Delaware |
Spring Canyon Interconnection LLC | | Delaware |
Spring Street Solar 1, LLC | | Delaware |
Stafford St Solar 1, LLC | | Delaware |
Stafford St Solar 2, LLC | | Delaware |
Stafford St Solar 3, LLC | | Delaware |
Statoil Energy Power/Pennsylvania, Inc. | | Pennsylvania |
Stearns Solar I LLC | | Delaware |
Steel Bridge Solar, LLC | | Delaware |
Sun City Project LLC | | Delaware |
EXHIBIT 21.1
SUBSIDIARIES OF CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
| | | | | | | | |
Entity Name | | Jurisdiction |
Sunrise View Wind Farm, LLC | | Iowa |
Sunset View Wind Farm, LLC | | Iowa |
Sutton Wind Energy, LLC | | Iowa |
TA - High Desert, LLC | | California |
Taloga Wind, L.L.C. | | Oklahoma |
Tapestry Wind, LLC | | Delaware |
Thermal Canada Equities 1 Inc. | | British Columbia |
Thermal Canada Infrastructure Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Thermal Canada Infrastructure 1 Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Thermal Hawaii Development HoldCo LLC | | Delaware |
Thermal Hawaii Development Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Thermal Hawaii Development LLC | | Delaware |
Thermal Infrastructure Development Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Topeka Solar 1, LLC | | Delaware |
TOS Solar 1, LLC | | Delaware |
TOS Solar 2, LLC | | Delaware |
TOS Solar 4, LLC | | Delaware |
TOS Solar 5, LLC | | Delaware |
Tully Farms Solar 1, LLC | | Delaware |
UB Fuel Cell, LLC | | Connecticut |
Underhill Solar, LLC | | Delaware |
Utah Solar Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Utah Solar Master HoldCo LLC | | Delaware |
Utah Solar Master Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Vail Energy, LLC | | Arizona |
Viento Funding II, LLC | | Delaware |
Viento Funding, LLC | | Delaware |
Virgin Lake Wind Farm, LLC | | Iowa |
Wabasha Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Wabasha Solar II LLC | | Delaware |
Wabasha Solar III LLC | | Delaware |
Wabasha Solar LLC | | Delaware |
Waipio PV, LLC | | Delaware |
Walnut Creek Energy, LLC | | Delaware |
Walnut Creek LLC | | Delaware |
Waterford Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
WCEP Holdings, LLC | | Delaware |
Webster Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Wildcat Energy, LLC | | Arizona |
Wildorado Interconnect, LLC | | Texas |
Wildorado Repowering Tax Equity Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
EXHIBIT 21.1
SUBSIDIARIES OF CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
| | | | | | | | |
Entity Name | | Jurisdiction |
Wildorado Wind, LLC | | Texas |
Wilmarth Lane Solar 1, LLC | | Delaware |
Wind Family Turbine, LLC | | Iowa |
Wind TE Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
Winona Solar I LLC | | Delaware |
Winona Solar II LLC | | Delaware |
WSD Solar Holdings, LLC | | Delaware |
WV Wind Holdco LLC | | Delaware |
WV Wind Holdings LLC | | Delaware |
Zephyr Kawailoa Partnership LLC | | Delaware |
Zephyr Oahu Partnership LLC | | Delaware |
Zontos Wind, LLC | | Iowa |
DocumentEXHIBIT 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors
Clearway Energy, Inc.:
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement Numbers 333‑206061 and 333-190071 on Form S-8, and Numbers 333-241652, 333-224684, 333-212096, 333-205140, and 333-204589 on Form S-3 of Clearway Energy, Inc. of our reports dated March 1, 2021, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Clearway Energy, Inc. as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and financial statement schedules “Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant” and “Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts”, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, which report appears in the December 31, 2020 annual report on Form 10‑K of Clearway Energy, Inc.
Our report dated March 1, 2021 refers to changes in accounting principle, the Company’s adoption of Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers and Topic 842, Leases.
(signed) KPMG LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 1, 2021
DocumentEXHIBIT 31.1
CERTIFICATION
I, Christopher S. Sotos, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Clearway Energy, Inc.;
2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5.The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
| | | | | |
/s/ CHRISTOPHER S. SOTOS | |
Christopher S. Sotos Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | |
Date: March 1, 2021
DocumentEXHIBIT 31.2
CERTIFICATION
I, Chad Plotkin, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Clearway Energy, Inc.;
2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5.The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
| | | | | |
/s/ CHAD PLOTKIN | |
Chad Plotkin Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | |
Date: March 1, 2021
DocumentEXHIBIT 31.3
CERTIFICATION
I, Sarah Rubenstein, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Clearway Energy, Inc.;
2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5.The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
| | | | | |
/s/ SARAH RUBENSTEIN | |
Sarah Rubenstein Vice President, Accounting & Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) | |
Date: March 1, 2021
DocumentEXHIBIT 32
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Annual Report of Clearway Energy, Inc. on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Form 10-K”), each of the undersigned officers of the Company certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to such officer's knowledge:
(1)The Form 10-K fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2)The information contained in the Form 10-K fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods expressed in the Form 10-K.
Date: March 1, 2021
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| /s/ CHRISTOPHER S. SOTOS | |
| Christopher S. Sotos | |
| Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | |
|
| | |
| /s/ CHAD PLOTKIN | |
| Chad Plotkin | |
| Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | |
|
| | |
| /s/ SARAH RUBENSTEIN | |
| Sarah Rubenstein | |
| Vice President, Accounting & Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) | |
The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 and is not being filed as part of this Form 10-K or as a separate disclosure document.
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to Clearway Energy, Inc. and will be retained by Clearway Energy, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.