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Community-Owned

Solar Farms

`

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Presentation Outline

● Farming the Sun History

● Community Solar Farm Model

● The Solar Technology

● Challenges

● First Solar Farm Host

● Priority Next Steps

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Community Solar ~ History

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Farming the Sun Results to Date

● Averaged 30% better than retail prices, with $6.7m worth

of solar installed to date:

~ 588kW of solar power

~ 137 evacuated tube solar hot water

~ 12 solar thermal heating/cooling systems● Forecast 16.4MWH of clean energy & reduced carbon

emissions of 19mt CO2-e

(25 years)

●

Significant community engagement & education● 1% of revenue being invested in further sustainability

initiatives (including the Community Solar Farms)

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Community Solar Farm Model

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 Community Solar

WESTM

1kW Shares

$2,200-$2,800

“Better than

bank interest”

On-Site Us

18-22c/kW

“Better th

black pow

24/7 Monitoring

+ Maintenance

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PROJECT GOALS

~ install 1MW of community solar farms ~● HOSTS

~ better than black power

prices

~ high profile marketing

● SHAREHOLDERS

~ community leadership

~ ethical & better than

bank interest dividend

● COMMUNITY

~ energy education &

engagement

~ significant economic

multipliers

● ENVIRONMENT

~ clean, renewable, solar

energy

~ distributed energy

system

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7/28/2019 Adam Blakester Community Solar Farms

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Host Requirements● Electricity Usage

– Consume all solar farm power = daytime load every day

– Long-term (10-25 year) power purchase agreement

– Estimated power sale price of 18-22c/kWh plus indexing of 3%pa

● Solar Farm

– North facing area (roof or ground). 100kW = 25mx25m

● Community

– Core purpose & business benefit from community engagement

● Financial– Willingness to co-fund (or fund entirely) the project establishment f

– AAA rated for long-term financial security

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Right Sizing the System

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Partnerships

● Business

Networks ~ toreach possible

Hosts

● Solar Specialists

~ for feasibilityanalysis,

technical advice

● Community

Networks – forpromotional

support

● Other???● Professional

Services ~ legal,

accounting,

planning, etc.

● Creative Media

~ for branding &

communication

systems

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A Grade Equipment

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CHALLENGES

~ creating a sustainable solar sector ~● HOSTS

~ valuing more than the

bottom line alone &

leveraging the biggeropportunity

● SHAREHOLDERS

~ taking leadership &

responsibility to be local

share owners & solar farmoperators

● ENERGY SECTOR

~ fair terms & pricing for

prosumers

~ putting a value on the

distributed grid

● ENVIRONMENT

~ sourcing high quality &

ethical solar equipment

~ end-of-life options

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First Community Solar Farm Host

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Priority Next Steps

●

Solar Farm Hosts and Site Feasibility Assessments● Secure funding (matching funds for 9 solar farms confirmed)

● Generate interest from local investors

●

Recruit further local partners (promotion, legal, financial, etc)

www.farmingthesun.net

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Thank You!!