US$2.6 Million Loan Secured by SolarBank for Geddes Project
SolarBank has secured a US$2.6 million construction loan from Seminole Financial Services to complete the 3.79 MW Geddes Project in Upstate New York. Once operational in Q3 2024, the project will supply green energy to over 500 homes. This community solar project repurposes a closed landfill, transforming it into a valuable asset. Seminole has funded over US$2.5 billion in renewable energy projects across the U.S. The loan will convert to a mini-perm loan upon project completion and is secured against the project's assets. No shares are issuable in connection with this loan.
- US$2.6 million loan secured for Geddes Project completion.
- Project to become operational in Q3 2024, providing green energy to over 500 homes.
- No share issuance involved in securing the loan.
- Risks associated with the construction and financing of the project.
- Potential changes in government incentives for solar power could affect project economics.
- Loan security and guarantees could be enforced if the company defaults.
Insights
The loan agreement between SolarBank and Seminole Financial Services for $2.6 million is a significant move for SolarBank's Geddes Project. The project is expected to generate 3.79 MW of solar power, contributing to the transition to renewable energy. From a financial perspective, securing this loan ensures that SolarBank can complete the project on schedule, which is important since delays can result in increased costs and affect the projected return on investment.
It's important to note that the loan converts from a construction to a mini-perm loan upon completion, which implies favorable terms for SolarBank in terms of interest rates and repayment schedule. This financial structure provides stability and reduces the financial burden during the initial phase of operation. The secured nature of the loan, backed by project assets and a guarantee from SolarBank, further mitigates risks for the lender while ensuring SolarBank has the necessary funding to proceed.
However, there are inherent risks, including the potential for policy changes affecting solar power incentives. Investors should keep an eye on these regulatory risks as they could impact the project's long-term financial viability.
The Geddes Project is notable for transforming a closed landfill into a solar energy site. This approach is a win-win for environmental sustainability by addressing the dual issues of clean energy production and land repurposing. The project's 3.79 MW capacity will provide green energy to over 500 homes, showcasing the scalability and impact of community solar initiatives.
Community solar projects allow multiple households to benefit from solar energy without needing to install panels individually. This model is increasingly popular as it provides a practical solution for urban areas where individual installations might not be feasible. Additionally, by using land that would otherwise remain unused, SolarBank is demonstrating a sustainable model that maximizes land use efficiency and contributes to local energy resilience.
From a renewable energy perspective, the project's success could set a precedent for similar initiatives, encouraging further investments in community solar projects and landfill repurposing.
The loan agreement for the Geddes Project indicates confidence from Seminole Financial Services in SolarBank's execution capabilities and the overall viability of renewable energy projects. This move aligns with broader market trends prioritizing sustainability and renewable energy as key growth sectors. Investors are increasingly looking at ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) factors and SolarBank's projects are well-positioned to benefit from this trend.
The project also highlights the growing market for community solar, which provides an accessible way for consumers to benefit from renewable energy. By facilitating community participation, SolarBank is tapping into a market segment that values clean energy but may lack the means for individual installations. This can drive higher customer engagement and long-term loyalty.
Market dynamics, including potential changes in government incentives for solar energy, remain a key area of focus. Investors should monitor policy developments closely as they can significantly affect project economics and market sentiment.
US in capital for Renewable Energy projects across$2.5 Billion the United States has been directly funded by the lender - Seminole Financial Services- 3.79 MW Geddes Project is largest project to date to be owned by SolarBank
- Over 500 homes expected to be provided with green energy once operational
This news release constitutes a "designated news release" for the purposes of the Company's prospectus supplement dated May 23, 2024 to its short form base shelf prospectus dated May 2, 2023
The Project is expected to become operational and being producing power during the third quarter of 2024 and the Company will own and operate the Geddes project. The Project which has a designed capacity of 3.79 megawatts (MW) DC is repurposing a closed landfill, addressing two critical challenges: the need for clean energy and the transformation of contaminated sites into valuable assets.
Once completed, the Project will be operated as a community solar project. Community solar is a group of solar panels with access to the local electricity grid. Once the panels are turned on and generating electricity, clean energy from the site feeds into the local power grid. Depending on the size and number of panels the project has, dozens or even hundreds of renters and homeowners can save money from the electricity that is generated by the project. By subscribing to a project, a homeowner earns credits on their electric bill every month from their portion of the solar that's generated by the project, accessing the benefits of solar without installing panels on their home.
The material terms of the Loan are as follows:
- the Loan will be advanced as a construction loan having principal amount of
$2,600,000 - upon substantial completion of the Project and the Project receiving permission to operate, the Loan shall convert into a mini-perm loan;
- no shares are issuable in connection with the Loan; and
- the Loan is secured against the assets associated with the Project and the Company has provided a guarantee of completion and payment.
There are several risks associated with the development of the Project and the Loan. The development of any project is subject to the continued availability of third-party financing arrangements for the Company and the risks associated with the construction of a solar power project. In addition, governments may revise, reduce or eliminate incentives and policy support schemes for solar power, which could result in future projects no longer being economic. In addition, if the Company defaults under the terms of the agreement for the Loan, the lender may declare the Loan repayable in full and if the Company is unable to repay, the lender may realize on its security and enforce the guarantee against the Company. Please refer to "Forward-Looking Statements" for additional discussion of the assumptions and risk factors associated with the statements in this press release.
SolarBank Corporation is an independent renewable and clean energy project developer and owner focusing on distributed and community solar projects in
Seminole Financial Services ("Seminole"), a leading financial services firm that specializes in providing debt capital for renewable energy projects. Since 2009, Seminole has facilitated the financing of over
For more information about Seminole Financial Services and its services, please visit www.seminolefs.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to the Company's current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result", "are expected to", "expects", "will continue", "is anticipated", "anticipates", "believes", "estimated", "intends", "plans", "forecast", "projection", "strategy", "objective" and "outlook") are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. In particular and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to the Company's expectations regarding its industry trends and overall market growth; the Company's growth strategies the expected energy production from the solar power project mentioned in this press release; the reduction of carbon emissions; the terms of the Loan; and the receipt of incentives for the Project. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release.
Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of the experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate, and are subject to risks and uncertainties. In making the forward looking statements included in this news release, the Company has made various material assumptions, including but not limited to: obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals; that regulatory requirements will be maintained; general business and economic conditions; the Company's ability to successfully execute its plans and intentions; the availability of financing on reasonable terms; the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled staff; market competition; the products and services offered by the Company's competitors; that the Company's current good relationships with its service providers and other third parties will be maintained; and government subsidies and funding for renewable energy will continue as currently contemplated. Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect, and the Company cannot assure that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Given these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
Whether actual results, performance or achievements will conform to the Company's expectations and predictions is subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, including those listed under "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recently filed Annual Information Form, and other public filings of the Company, which include: the Company may be adversely affected by volatile solar power market and industry conditions; the execution of the Company's growth strategy depends upon the continued availability of third-party financing arrangements; the Company's future success depends partly on its ability to expand the pipeline of its energy business in several key markets; governments may revise, reduce or eliminate incentives and policy support schemes for solar and battery storage power; general global economic conditions may have an adverse impact on our operating performance and results of operations; the Company's project development and construction activities may not be successful; developing and operating solar projects exposes the Company to various risks; the Company faces a number of risks involving Power Purchase Agreements ("PPAs") and project-level financing arrangements; any changes to the laws, regulations and policies that the Company is subject to may present technical, regulatory and economic barriers to the purchase and use of solar power; the markets in which the Company competes are highly competitive and evolving quickly; an anti-circumvention investigation could adversely affect the Company by potentially raising the prices of key supplies for the construction of solar power projects; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; a change in the Company's effective tax rate can have a significant adverse impact on its business; seasonal variations in demand linked to construction cycles and weather conditions may influence the Company's results of operations; the Company may be unable to generate sufficient cash flows or have access to external financing; the Company may incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future; the Company is subject to risks from supply chain issues; risks related to inflation; unexpected warranty expenses that may not be adequately covered by the Company's insurance policies; if the Company is unable to attract and retain key personnel, it may not be able to compete effectively in the renewable energy market; there are a limited number of purchasers of utility-scale quantities of electricity; compliance with environmental laws and regulations can be expensive; corporate responsibility may adversely impose additional costs; the future impact of a resurgence of COVID-19 on the Company is unknown at this time; the Company has limited insurance coverage; the Company will be reliant on information technology systems and may be subject to damaging cyberattacks; the Company may become subject to litigation; there is no guarantee on how the Company will use its available funds; the Company will continue to sell securities for cash to fund operations, capital expansion, mergers and acquisitions that will dilute the current shareholders; and future dilution as a result of financings.
The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of them, or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
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SOURCE SolarBank Corporation
FAQ
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