Member Bond Disclosures Packet
Published Date: January 18, 2017
Legacy Solar Wisconsin Co-op
P.O. Box 5052
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 957-6801
www.LegacySolarCoop.org
[email protected]
January, 2017
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Member Bond Disclosures Packet
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Contents
Executive Summary ..................................................................................... 1
History of the Legacy Solar Co-op ..............................................................2,3
Co-op Structure, Vision, and Mission ........................................................... 4
Our “Slice of Sun” Community Solar Model and Cooperative Principals ....5,6
Co-op Business Plan ................................................................................7,8,9
Co-op Profit & Loss Projections for the next 5 years ......................... 10,11,12
Sample Legacy Solar Bond Certificate and Repayment Terms........... 13,14,15
Key Personnel .............................................................................................16
Suitability Standards ...................................................................................17
Frequently Asked Questions ............................................................. 18,19,20
Appendix A: Solar Renewable Energy Credits (sRECs) Explained ......………21
Appendix B: Bondholder Acknowledgement Form …………………….…….….22
Disclaimer: This information is provided on a confidential basis for the benefit of owners of the Legacy
Solar Wisconsin Co-op or of potential equity owners. It is issued to such persons only in connection with
the negotiation of Owner Bonds. This memorandum may not be reproduced or redistributed without
consent of Legacy Solar Co-op. Except as otherwise noted herein, no literature in any form is
authorized to be used in connection with this offering.
No persons are authorized to make representations regarding this offering other than those contained
in this Information Packet. No other representative may be relied upon as authorized.
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Executive Summary
The Legacy Solar Co-op is a member cooperative organized under Chapter 185 of
Wisconsin Statutes and provides products and services to its members and to the
community at large here in Wisconsin. We are homeowners, renters, parents, teachers,
business owners, wage-earners, professionals, clergy, public servants, and entrepreneurs.
What our membership shares is the desire and the drive to reduce wasteful and polluting
energy practices resulting in improved economic and ecologic conditions for our planet
for future generations. We do this through the design and implementation of energy
efficiency and solar projects that focus on customer-based energy savings. We help
capitalize these projects through crowdfunding using the Co-op’s ability to raise money
through the sale of “Slice-of-Sun” bonds to our members. Since the projects save energy
and save the site host money on their energy bills, these savings are shared with the Coop, and the Co-op pays back the Bondholders who earn a modest return on their Bond
purchase. What could be better than investing in our own sunshine?
For the homeowner, Legacy Solar Co-op can provide an in-home energy analysis and
solar feasibility study. For a church, a library, a school, or any other non-profit, we can
help design energy efficiency and solar projects and help capitalize the funds needed to
get the project built. Through membership participation, we ensure the long-term
ownership of these energy projects remains with the customer or community solar
supporters. We believe owning a stake in the energy infrastructure builds resiliency in
our neighborhoods and a dependency on each other to be good stewards for our air,
water, and earth over the long run.
For those who don’t own a home or have access to a sunny roof or backyard, the Co-op
lets you invest in community solar projects through our Slice of Sun Solar Bonds
(see page 5 & 15). You can help the Co-op advance the development of solar projects in
our communities and earn a modest return on your investment.
You can also buy green power through our Switch-to-Solar (S2S) program (pages 7
& 21). This program derives its Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) from our own and
other Wisconsin solar projects and sells the environmental value of this green energy to
our members for a price that helps support more solar development in our state. Why
pay extra to buy green power from your utility when you don’t know how far away and
where exactly your green power is coming from? S2S links you to your local and
Wisconsin-based solar generation asset, and tracks not only the origin of your solar
power, but also give you an ongoing inventory of where in Wisconsin all of our solar
RECs are coming from, and tracks the retirement of those RECs so that no one can sell
these credits to allow a utility to burn more fossil fuels like coal or methane natural gas.
Become an equity owner (member) of our Co-op today, and be a part of something bigger
than one home, one neighborhood, or one city solar project. Help us help communities
all around Wisconsin to reach for something better and to provide both an economic and
ecologic solution to our century long coal and petroleum addiction. We have to start
somewhere, and we can’t wait for the executives of an investor-owned utility to do the
right thing -- so we might as well join together and create our own clean energy future.
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History of the Legacy Solar Co-op
Back in 2010, solar enthusiasts Gil Halsted and Stefania Sani asked solar homeowner
and grease-car-driver Kurt Reinhold a very important question. Gil and Stefania live in
a two-story home that basks in the cool shade of big oak trees. They wanted to invest in
solar but they had no place to put a solar array. There had to be a way that we could put
solar on an ideal location in our neighborhood and share in the both the expense and the
rewards that come with solar. How can we do this?
As popular as solar energy has been in our society, the main barriers to solar remain the
up-front expense and access to a suitably sunny location to install that solar equipment.
In addition, when you look at shared or “pooled” solar projects, the first thing you learn
is that there is a lot of complexity involved. Our group set out to find ways to streamline
the process and provide clear answers for folks who wanted to “go solar”, either on their
own roof, or on a neighbor’s roof, or maybe even on a church or school down the street.
Well, Solar Connections (a Wisconsin Limited Liability Company) helped research
remedies for these barriers to what is known as “Community Solar”. An advisory team
of community members with different areas of expertise but sharing this common goal
set about using a Focus on Energy Business and Marketing grant to research remedies
to barriers to community solar. What came out of this study and informed our next step
was that a loan program inside of a cooperative would be the best way to organize this
type of venture.
Back to Gil and Stefania. The first model developed by our group was a “Friends and
Neighbors” peer-to-peer (P2P) solar loan agreement. Gil and Stefania joined 2 other
lenders in making direct loans to a homeowner who could use the money to put solar
panels on her roof. The homeowner takes the
tax credit and pays back the solar lenders over
10 years with the tax credit and with the
energy savings the solar array provided the
homeowner.
After 5 successful P2P solar projects, we
wanted a way to cast a wider net and reach
more people who would like to participate,
but without all the separate loans and
arrangements necessary to both capitalize
and to pay back these solar loans. Luckily,
Chapter 185 of Wisconsin State Statutes was
amended in 2011 so that Cooperative
businesses could once again be allowed to
raise equity from their members without having to file for securities registration. In
2014, a small group of solar-minded individuals filed articles of incorporation to form
the Legacy Solar Wisconsin Cooperative. Since then, the board of directors has adopted
By Laws, and we have two church projects completed, 20 kW on a cab company and a
grocery co-op and several other projects ready to capitalize for 2016.
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The “Legacy” in our name draws from the long-lasting benefits that solar can provide
us. Some of our first projects were sponsored by individuals who lost a parent recently.
These individuals have chosen to honor the legacy of their loved one by investing in a
solar project that will adorn a church or a community institution and provide clean
energy for several decades to come, while providing a small amount of income from the
investment. Our Slice-of-Sun Bonds are based on an Amortization of 25 years, along
with the corresponding Solar Loan we make to each Solar Legacy Project. When Solar
Loans are paid off by Host Sites for projects, the Co-op buys back the Bonds from
Members with any additional funds left over re-invested back into new solar projects.
It is the long-term energy savings from our solar and energy efficiency projects that
allows for a modest and ongoing return on one’s investment. If a host site like a church
decides they want to buy the solar project, then the Co-op gets paid back early. The Coop uses that early payout to pay back Bondholders who are ready to redeem their
mature Bonds, and the leftover is used to capitalize more projects in a virtual clean
energy revolving loan fund.
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Co-op Structure, Vision, and Mission
The Legacy Solar Co-op is a membership cooperative that conforms to
the rules and regulations spelled out in Chapter 185 of Wisconsin
Statutes governing Cooperatives. Our Co-op is further guided by our
Articles of Incorporation and our Bylaws. The Articles of
Incorporation were filed in November of 2014, and the Bylaws were
adopted by the founding board of directors in December of 2014. The
Bylaws are provided upon request by any interested party, and are
available on our website.).
Our Vision:
Decades ago, our society experienced modern technological innovations that became
more and more prevalent in our lives. From the invention and commercialization of the
automobile, the television, the computer, and the cell phone, all of these consumer
products went from being rare, to being common, to being omnipresent in our lives.
Legacy Solar Co-op wants to transform what it means to support clean, renewable
energy sources. Instead of a car in every garage, we want to see solar on every roof. Our
Vision, therefore, is:
We want to see a Slice of Sun investment in every portfolio!
The Mission of the Co-op is as follows:
Legacy Solar Co-op’s mission is to improve both the access and the
affordability of solar and energy efficiency technologies for its members.
This is accomplished through member collective expertise and a shared
energy savings model to streamline and democratize solar energy
investing.
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Our “Slice of Sun” Community Solar Model
Our Slice-of-Sun Program allows for members of the Co-op to buy Solar Bonds that
help the Co-op grow its portfolio of investing in local solar projects that will be owned by
community institutions like houses of worship or grocery co-ops.
Not only do we provide technical assistance to home and
business owners that want to “go solar”, we also help
community groups develop projects on ideal roofs in their
neighborhoods. The resulting energy and pollution savings are
shared by all through lower cost energy use with our unique
community participation model.
Being a cooperative allows us to come together and do something on a larger scale that
would be either impossible or much more difficult to accomplish if we tried to do it
alone. A lot of folks do not have a sunny roof to put a solar system on. Others have a
sunny roof, but it’s a condominium or an apartment and not theirs to use as they like.
Others still have a sunny roof that they own, but are either a non-profit or lack the upfront capital needed to get a solar project put together. The Legacy Solar Co-op can help
bring all these parties together and get projects done!
We have an ongoing Solar Bond program through our Co-op that lets us facilitate local
community solar projects by providing part of the financing that can pay for the projects
up front or in the first year of the project’s development. Projects all differ in their costs
and in their benefits, but over time and over many different projects, solar has a solid
financial value that pays back those who helped fund a project in the first place. It is
this long-term financial value of solar that we are harnessing with our solar loans and
with our Slice-of-Sun (SOS) Bond program.
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Cooperative Principals
Our Co-op strives to follow the 7 Cooperative Principles in the delivery of products and services
to our member owners. The following description is adopted from the National Cooperative
Business Association, https://www.ncba.coop.
Seven Cooperative Principals:
Cooperatives around the world generally operate according to the same core principles and
values, adopted by the International Co-operative Alliance in 1995. Cooperatives trace the roots
of these principles to the first modern cooperative founded in Rochdale, England in 1844.
1. VOLUNTARY AND OPEN MEMBERSHIP
Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all people able to use its services and willing
to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious
discrimination.
2. DEMOCRATIC MEMBER CONTROL
Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members—those who buy the
goods or use the services of the cooperative—who actively participate in setting policies and
making decisions.
3. MEMBERS' ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION
Members contribute equally to, and democratically control, the capital of the cooperative. This
benefits members in proportion to the business they conduct with the cooperative rather than
on the capital invested.
4. AUTONOMY AND INDEPENDENCE
Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If the co-op
enters into agreements with other organizations or raises capital from external sources, it is
done so based on terms that ensure democratic control by the members and maintains the
cooperative's autonomy.
5. EDUCATION, TRAINING AND INFORMATION
Cooperatives provide education and training for members, elected representatives, managers
and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperative.
Members also inform the general public about the nature and benefits of cooperatives.
6. COOPERATION AMONG COOPERATIVES
Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by
working together through local, national, regional and international structures.
7. CONCERN FOR COMMUNITY
While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of
communities through policies and programs accepted by the members.
The Legacy Solar Co-op is a statewide organization that focuses on local ownership and local
control of individual solar projects. As a co-op, we can save our members time, effort, and
money by sharing our resources across many communities in our state, where the conditions
that exist for community solar all share the same legal and regulatory barriers. In so doing, we
can streamline the process to educate stakeholders and complete projects more affordably than
we could otherwise without the Co-op’s help.
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Legacy Solar Co-op Business Plan (Overview)
LSC sells equity memberships that allow our members to buy our products and services
more affordably. Equity memberships cost $100.00 for a full share equity ownership,
or $25.00 annually for a maximum of 5 years. The $25.00 installment plan includes
the option to subtract the first year’s installment from the cost of the $100.00 full share
equity price, so that in the second year, a member has the option to pay an additional
$75.00 for full share equity; otherwise, 5 annual payments of $25.00 would be paid to
remain an active equity member. Organizations like nonprofits, churches, or businesses
can become full share equity members for a one-time payment of $125.00.
The Memberships support the Co-op’s capacity to deliver on the two main revenue
streams:
1. Switch-to-Solar (S2S) Pay-as-you-go Green Power RECs, and
2. Solar and Energy Efficiency Consulting and Development Services.
The sale of S2S Solar Renewable Energy Credits (sRECs) is similar to selling
“offsets” except our “offsets” are not traded to allow utility companies to continue
polluting our environment. Our RECs are retired on behalf of the buyer, so that real and
permanent good can come from the use of renewable energy. More information on what
a Renewable Energy Credit is and how the REC market works, see Appendix A of this
packet, or contact [email protected] for details. Each REC represents 1,000
kilowatt-hours of solar-generated electricity and has a voluntary market value between
$10 and $40 per REC wholesale to retail. The Co-op procures its solar RECs specifically
from solar projects existing in Wisconsin, with member consumers enjoying a discount,
and member producers enjoying preferred pricing for their RECs. For each REC the Coop sells, we retain between $10.00 and $20.00 to fund the operational cost of this part
of our business. Some competitors mark up their REC price by 100 to 150% and provide
RECs blending far away wind and hydro-electric RECs into their product as opposed to
local solar RECs. Legacy Solar Co-op is more interested in supporting local solar than
far away hydro or wind, so we sell only Wisconsin-grown Solar Energy RECs.
Some utilities in Wisconsin will sell their customers “Green Power”, when actually
what they are doing is selling Renewable Energy Credits for wind and hydro projects
that they have invested in, sometimes out of state and carried over ATC power lines
hundreds of miles. A very small amount of RECs (usually less than 1%) comes from
solar projects. The utilities may sell this “Green Power” for a premium of $.02 to
$.04 per kWh above what you are already paying. Legacy Solar Co-op will guarantee
that your S2S purchase directly supports local solar projects and not far away hydro
or wind. Member Producers of S2S power are paid a fair and competitive price for
their solar RECs, currently at $.02 per kWh (higher than any other Green program
out there). The current pricing for Switch-to-Solar customers is as follows:
Member price =
$.03 per kWh (sold in whatever blocks you determine according to
your own energy use)
Non-Member price =
Legacy Solar Co-op
$.04 per kWh
Member Bond Disclosures Packet
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Consulting Services are provided by the Co-op and member vendors at preferred
pricing for equity members of the Co-op. These services include site evaluations to help
explore the potential for saving energy in the home or in the business. It doesn’t matter
if the customer owns or rents, is a public or private institution, or is a non-profit versus
a for-profit organization. The Legacy Solar Co-op will help educate all stakeholders
about the potential for saving energy, saving money, and saving on air, water, and soil
pollution with respect to energy use. These consultation services come in many forms,
but are billed on either a per project basis or on an hourly basis, according to the specific
needs of the client. Basic consulting services for an energy audit with
recommendations and financing options approximate the following:
Consulting Services
Member Pricing:
Non-Member Pricing:
Standard Residential
Standard Commercial /
Non-Profit
$125.00
$250.00
$350.00
$700.00
Two examples below illustrate how the Co-op helps its members and uses consulting in
our business model.
Example 1: A family who just purchased their first home calls on Legacy Solar
Co-op for help. They want to put solar on their home but don’t know where to start.
The Co-op asks a few introductory questions to put their potential project into
perspective. The family decides to buy an equity membership in the Co-op so that they
can get a better price on Co-op products and services. The Co-op helps evaluate the past
electric bills of the home they just purchased and together with a site evaluation
recommends an upgrade of one or two appliances and the implementation of a 5
kilowatt solar array on their roof. The Co-op solicits 3 bids from area solar contractors
and helps the family evaluate the cost-benefit analysis of the different bids. The family
makes the final decision and uses their own finances to fund the project. They pay the
Co-op $125.00 for the consulting services, and save over $1,000 in the first year in
energy bill savings through the combination of energy efficiency and the solar project.
Another happy customer and a cleaner planet!
Example 2: A member of a church congregation wants to help the church
acquire solar power on the south-facing roof of the church sanctuary. The Co-op offers a
free consultation up-front to understand more about the church and the kind of project
that is envisioned. The Co-op learns that the church also is interested in swapping out
old light fixtures for LED equivalents. The Co-op submits a proposal to the church
member who wants to sponsor this project. The client decides to buy an individual
membership for himself and an institution membership for the church. The Co-op
completes an energy audit that includes upgrading existing T8 fluorescent lighting with
LED tubes, and determines that the sanctuary roof can handle a small 20 kilowatt solar
array. The church wants to use a solar vendor that has an existing relationship with the
church. The Co-op helps provide technical assistance and financing for this project,
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Member Bond Disclosures Packet
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which includes a public-private partnership, enabling the project to qualify for the
federal tax credit. The result is a solar project that was funded in part by one individual
sponsor and in part through the Legacy Solar Co-op selling bonds to members of the
church and the community who wish to participate in this project. Local participants
paid for approximately 25% of the project, with the Legacy Solar Co-op’s own
membership helping to finance the rest of the project’s cost. The Co-op provides
educational materials and gives a presentation to the congregation in the fellowship hall
after one Sunday’s service. The project is completed through this collaborative process,
and the church now enjoys energy savings from both the solar and the new lighting
equipment. The Legacy Value of the project (40 years of energy savings) is estimated to
be close to a quarter of a million dollars, which is 5 times the lifetime cost of the project.
The Co-op charged the church $350.00 for the consulting and the tax-sponsor of the
project 5% of the project cost, both of whom came out way ahead even in the
first year! And the pollution savings from this project include the following:
For a 20 kW solar project, the environmental benefits may approximate:
25 YEARS 0F FOSSIL FUEL POLLUTION MITIGATED BY
SOLAR POWER AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY
(based on 50,000 kilowatt-hours saved in year 1)
1,948,914
21,503
35,435
3,543
Pounds of Carbon Dioxide
Milligrams of Mercury
Pounds of Sulphur Oxides
Pounds of Nitrogen Oxides
PLUS THESE EXTRA POSITIVES
773,379
23,623,204
Legacy Solar Co-op
A carbon offset equivalent to planting
this number of trees
Gallons of water conserved & water
pollution avoided
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Financial Projections
Below is our year 1 and Pro Forma Financials for the first 5 years of the Co-op. The membership
and the projections for REC sales and Consulting Services is based on a general doubling (or
tripling) of business each year, with each solar project generating its own RECs for sale or use by
Co-op members.
With regard to solar loans and bond sales, each and every project we support through solar
loans pays for its own debt obligations, usually with at least 1% of a margin between the interest
rate we charge and the interest rate we pay Bondholders, so the success or failure of any given
project is independent of the success or failure of every other project. Also, the Co-op holds a
security interest in the solar equipment for which each loan is made. This means that if the host
customer goes out of business or the tax-sponsor defaults on the solar loan, the Co-op can take
ownership of the equipment used in the solar project and protect the Co-op from losing full
value from each project it engages in. When new Bond sales exceed our Loans going out, we will
recall Bonds from 7-year Bondholders first. Otherwise, we have projects we can invest in on an
ongoing basis, so we will not let our Bond fund sit idle. We estimate that the average bond
purchase will be $750.00, and that number along with other baseline assumptions drive the
financials shown here. The average solar loan will be approximately 2 percentages points higher
in interest rate assessed in order to cover the transaction costs of the bonds and loans which
build business volume for the Co-op.
Since we currently have no monthly accounts payable, the cash flow analysis is simplified to 30day net-billing for payroll and sub-contractor work. Payroll is calculated as a percentage of the
consulting work on an 80% - 20% basis with 20% retained for overhead costs, so no payroll is
due unless there are accounts billable and accounts receivable coming in. Sub-contractors are
paid the same way, with member vendors given preferred status with regard to signing a
contract for project consulting with our Co-op’s host clients. Sales tax will be assessed,
collected, and paid to the State Department of Revenue according to the amount of products and
services rendered and according to whether or not the host client is a taxable entity. All taxexempt entities that do business with the Co-op will have to provide proof of exemption for our
records.
Administrative costs and Education and Marketing include costs associated with the creation
and distribution of information packets and for PowerPoint presentations done for site hosts.
Some of the administrative costs in future years will include maintenance and updates for the
web portal for our business. All Solar Bonds and Legacy Bondholders that earn at least $10.00 a
year in interest income will be issued a Federal 1099 form stating the amount of interest that
was earned in that tax year.
Consulting services include solar site audits, project recommendation reports, proposals for
implementing solar and energy efficiency projects, and for project development services. The
total burdened cost of a Solar Legacy project accounts for less than 5% of the entire cost of a
project, and includes not only audit and recommendations, but also stakeholder education and
development facilitation, which is key for project success. In addition to completed projects, the
Co-op will provide the energy audit and recommendations for many clients, members or not.
We project about 10% of members will use some or all of our consulting services in any given
year.
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The projections on the following page respond to the following assumptions:
1) That our solar project development / funding of new projects will include roughly 400 kW for
2017, and roughly doubling each year after that as our capacity to replicate our services has been
tested for 2 full years.
2) That for each project we help develop, our Co-op will be able to buy and sell roughly half of
the RECs that are generated from those projects. Buying those RECs for $20 each & selling for
$30 each (member price).
3) That roughly 10% of all members will use our consulting services each year, with the average
consulting revenue equal to $200.00 per member.
4) That Education/Marketing and Administrative Expenses will increase only as our revenue
projections are met and our operation and maintenance expenses do not exceed expectations.
Early expenses for marketing will be related to developing and maintaining online payments for
memberships, RECs sales, and Bond sales on our website.
January, 2017 Update:
The Cash Flows and Balance Sheets for 2015 and 2016 approximate what is displayed below,
with the projections based on 20% of the new projects that are in negotiations now for 2017.
After that, a general doubling of most of our work is expected through 2022 when the Tax Credit
expires for projects in the next tax year, 2023. We maintain that when we fund solar and energy
efficiency projects together, the necessity for the Tax Credit starts to fade away, because the
depreciation of capital equipment (also a tax benefit) and the rising cost of electricity from fossil
fuel generation, will make the payback continue to be under 10 years in the future, even without
the Tax Credit.
Note on Balance Sheets for 2015 and 2016:
The 1st two years of operations saw a lot of investments into our web-based crowdfunding portal,
our website, and the associated e-commerce functions that allow us to sign-up members and sell
bonds online. We are looking to capitalize that investment as a fixed asset, so we are
representing it here as one of our start-up costs. The two vendors that are left unpaid ($9,245)
at year’s end are: Solar Connections and Dandelion Marketing. Solar Connections is providing
the lion’s share of consulting for that revenue stream and Dandelion Marketing has put together
our e-commerce and web-based crowdfunding portal. We have arranged gradual payment plans
for each of these two vendors and hope to have our start-up expenses paid off by the end of
2017.
Note on 501-c(3) status beginning in 2018:
We have as one initiative this year the pursuit of non-profit foundation status (or the creation of
a non-profit foundation to support the education and outreach functions of the Co-op’s
mission). We already have built into our Bylaws the sections required by the IRS for such a
move, so we need as an organization to weigh the costs and benefits. More on that in
Newsletters and other appeals throughout the year.
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Member Bond Disclosures Packet
Page 11 of 22
Projections
Solar in kW
2015*
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
25
72
400
1,000
2,000
5,000
Equity
501-c(3) start
Total Members
24
2,150 $
235 $
Equity Memberships $
Donations* $
67
3,478 $
253 $
318
19,059 $
1,588 $
794
31,765 $
15,882 $
1,588
63,529 $
15,882 $
3,750
150,000
37,500
Income / Revenue
Solar RECs Sales
Energy Consulting Svcs
LLC Loan Payments
Total
$
$
$
$
21
3,345
3,366
$
$
$
$
489
10,765
2,658
13,912
$
$
$
$
5,100
53,853
18,353
77,306
$
$
$
$
12,750
134,632
56,700
204,082
$
$
$
$
25,500
266,140
121,500
413,140
$
$
$
$
63,750
653,125
283,500
1,000,375
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
175
25
14
3,176
500
1,936
5,826
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
2,225
2,750
326
1,680
2,200
6,519
803
16,503
$
$
$
$
$
2,616
4,750
3,825
43,082
5,500
$
$
$
$
$
5,588
5,500
9,563
107,706
15,000
$
$
$
$
$
10,541
6,750
19,125
212,912
30,000
$
$
$
$
$
25,135
8,500
47,813
522,500
55,000
$
$
18,900 $
78,674 $
47,250 $
190,606 $
94,500 $
373,828 $
236,250
895,198
(2,591) $
(1,368) $
13,476 $
39,312 $
105,178
O&M / COGS
Accounting / Legal**
Administrative
RECs Purchases
Payroll / Sub-contractors
Education / Marketing
Remaining Start-up (website)
Bond Interest
Total
Net Income
$
(2,460) $
Balance Sheet (approximate for 1st 2 years)
Assets
2015
$
Securitized Notes Receivable $
Cash $
Liabilities
Member Bonds $
Accounts payable $
Online Solar Funding Platform
Legacy Solar Co-op
1,936 $
29,000 $
8,508 $
2016
9,147
121,000
2,348
*First 2 years have closed with no tax liability
29,000 $
10,444 $
119,500
9,245
Member Bond Disclosures Packet
and approximately $9245 owed to vendors on flexible
payment schedule. 2017 consulting billables already at $4,800
Page 12 of 22
Sample LSC Slice-of-Sun Bond Certificate
This is to certify that __________________ is
the owner of ____ $250 Bond(s) for a total
Face Value of $_____________. This Bond
[These Bonds] will bear _____% interest, with
amortized Principal and Interest (P&I) payments
made annually for either (7 years*), or Legacy
Bonds (25 years), paid annually for 25 years.
This Bond is not a share of Stock and does not in any way give the holder of the Bond an
ownership interest in the Cooperative beyond what membership alone entitles. It does
not provide any additional voting or membership rights to the Holder. The Holder of
the Bond only acquires an interest in repayment of the face amount of the Bond along
with the interest due. The Term elected by this Bondholder is (circle one): 7-yr / 25-yr
7-Year Solar Bond Term: Bondholders will receive annual P&I payments for years 1-7, with
the remaining Principal (Face Value) to be repaid within 30 days of the 7th anniversary of the
term of this Bond*. 7-Year Bondholders can opt at any point before the 7th anniversary of the
issuance of this Bond to renew the Bond to the Legacy Bond Terms listed below. The Interest
Rate change will be reflected on the statement accompanying the annual payment in the year of
the change, with the interest rate prorated for the remainder of that year from the date the
Bondholder elected to renew the terms to the Legacy Bond Terms described below.
Legacy Bond Renewal: Principal and Interest Payments, Years 8-25: If Bondholder
elects to renew Bond/s, she/he should notify the Co-op in writing at before the Maturity Date at
the anniversary of the dated signature of this certificate. Upon renewal for a Legacy Bond
period, the Co-op will make principal and (higher) interest payments to Bondholders
according to the Schedule on the back of this certificate for the remaining 18 years.
25-Year Legacy Bond Term: Bondholders who elect the 25-year term from the start will be
paid annual P&I payments based on a 25-year schedule at the interest rate shown above and
according to the chart at the bottom of page 2 of this certificate.
Call options: This Bond may be called for redemption at any time by the Board of Directors of
the Co-op, on forty-five (45) days written notice to the Bondholder. If the Board of Directors
takes this action, then the Bondholder will be paid all principal and interest due, up through the
date of redemption. Bondholders may rollover their Bonds into new Bonds if available at that
time.
*7-Year Term Contingency: Repayment of 7-year bonds depends on available cash at the
time of the anniversary of the note. If the loan that was made with these funds for the
community solar project is not repaid by the end of the 7th year, there may be a delay in
repayment of this term bond. During the delay, the Bondholder will continue to receive all
Principal and Interest payments according to the same schedule used for the 25-year bonds. All
Bondholders who renew their Bonds at the Legacy Term will be paid the remainder of their
Principal at the new higher interest rate and issued a new repayment form indicating this
change for years 8-25.
Legacy Solar Co-op
Member Bond Disclosures Packet
Page 13 of 22
Early Redemption: Bondholders requesting early redemption of this Bond at Face Value
have 2 options: 1) Bondholder may sell their Bond/s at Face Value to another Member during
the first 7 years; or 2) Bondholder may sell their Bond back to the Co-op at a discount, but the
timing of that buy back depends on i) availability of funds; and ii) approval by Board of
Directors. If the Co-op buys back the Bond there will be a small service charge, not to exceed
one year’s interest payments.
Involuntary early redemption – if the Bondholder dies, or if the Bondholder’s interest in
the Bond is transferred by action of a court pursuant a divorce or bankruptcy, such actions or
events shall constitute a request for early redemption, and shall be handled in the same manner
as a request by the Bondholder for early redemption, with the Co-op making reasonable effort to
either buy the Bond back or help the successor sell the Bond to another Member. If the Co-op
buys back the Bond there will be a small service charge, not to exceed one year’s interest
payment/s.
Legal Constraints:
A) This Bond is non-transferrable and non-negotiable outside of the provisions laid out in this certificate.
B) No recourse may be had for payment of any Bond for any part thereof or for any claim based thereon,
against any officer, director, or member of the Co-op whether past, present, or future, either directly
or indirectly, by any provision of law, all such liability being waived by acceptance of the Bond.
C) By accepting a Bond, the registered owner represents and warrants that she or he is a bona fide
resident of the State of Wisconsin and an equity member of the Legacy Solar Co-op.
D) The Bondholder is responsible for informing the Co-op of her or his current address.
E) Even though the Co-op secures an interest in solar projects using funds raised by this Bond drive,
individual Bonds are not directly secured by any collateral.
The Bondholder has been given, prior to the purchasing of this Bond, a complete packet of
information about the Co-op, its structure, and financial statements, including but not limited to
projected profit and loss statements for Co-op operations over 5 years. This information has
been provided to help the Bond purchaser decide upon the safety, the risks, and the wisdom of
their investment. By signing below, the purchaser is acknowledging that she or he has been
given this information and has had all their questions about such subjects answered to her or his
satisfaction prior to purchasing this Bond.
_____________________________ ( Sample ) ____________________________
Bondholder (print name)
Bondholder (signature and date)
_________________________________
Social Security Number of Bondholder
________________________________
Bondholder Co-op Owner Number
_________________________________
Address of Bondholder
________________________________
Operations Manager (Signature and date)
_________________________________
City / State / Zip
Slice-of-Sun
$250 Increments
Solar Bonds Principal / Face Value
$250 - $4,750
Two Levels
$5,000 - up
Two Terms
7 year*
25 year*
3.00%
4.50%
3.50%
5.00%
*7 year bonds can be renewed to 25 year terms at Maturity, can be
redeemed after 7 years, or can be recalled by Co-op and paid early.
Legacy Solar Co-op
Member Bond Disclosures Packet
Page 14 of 22
Bond Repayment:
7-year versus 25-year
7-year term Solar Bonds will be paid Principal and Interest (P&I) annually for the first 7-
years with the remainder of the Principal paid back by the 7th anniversary of the term of the
Bond. Since the Solar Loans made by the Co-op to individual solar projects is based on a 25year term, we will amortize payments over 25 years even though the remainder of the principal
should be payable in year 7. If the Solar Loan made with these bonds is not paid off by the end
of year 7, all 7-year bondholders will continue to receive P&I payments annually until such loan
is paid in full or until the Co-op has sold new bonds to buyout the 7-year bondholders. The total
number of $250.00 increment bonds determines the interest rate you will receive. See
examples below.
Bond Amounts: $250-$4,750 = 3.0%
$5,000-up = 3.5%
Example $500 vs. $5,000 -up Slice-Of-Sun Bond Term (7 years) -- Repayment Schedules
Term
Principal
(years)
(Face Value)
7
$
500.00
Term
Principal
(years)
(Face Value)
7
$
3.0% Annual Principal and Interest Payments
P&I Payments
Year 1
2
3
4
5
6
$28.45
$28.45
$28.45
$28.45
$28.45
$28.45
5,000.00
Total Payments
$412.00
$611.17
$28.45
Balance of
Principal
3.5% Annual Principal and Interest Payments
P&I Payments
Balance of
Principal
7
Year 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Total Payments
$300.37
$300.37
$300.37
$300.37
$300.37
$300.37
$300.37 $4,164.00
$6,266.62
Example $500 vs. $5,000-up Legacy Bond Terms (25 years) -- Repayment Schedules
Term
Principal
(years)
(Face Value)
25
$
4.5% Interest
500.00
Principal &
Interest Payments
yrs 1-25
Term
Principal
(years)
(Face Value)
25
$
Year 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
$33.35
$33.35
$33.35
$33.35
$33.35
$33.35
$33.35
$40.58
8
$33.35
15
$33.35
22
9
$33.35
16
$33.35
23
10
$33.35
17
$33.35
24
11
$33.35
18
$33.35
25
$33.35
$33.35
$33.35
$33.35
12
$33.35
19
$33.35
13
$33.35
20
$33.35
14
$33.35
21
$33.35
9
$40.58
Total Payments
$833.75
5.0% Interest
5,000.00
Principal &
Interest Payments
yrs 1-25
Year 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
$350.75
$350.75
$350.75
$350.75
$350.75
$350.75
$350.75
#REF!
#REF!
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
$350.75
$350.75
$350.75
$350.75
$350.75
$350.75
$350.75
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
$350.75
$350.75
$350.75
$350.75
$350.75
$350.75
$350.75
22
23
24
25
$350.75
$350.75
$350.75
$350.75
Bond Amounts: $250-$4,750 = 4.5%
Total Payments
$8,768.85
$5,000-up = 5.0%
25-year term Legacy Bonds include Principal and Interest payments for the full 25 years
on the anniversary month of the original Bond term date. These payments are at either 4.5% or
5.0% depending on how many Bonds you purchase. See examples above.
Legacy Solar Co-op
Member Bond Disclosures Packet
Page 15 of 22
Key Personnel for the Co-op include:
Tony Hartmann, Director of Business Development, LSC – Since returning to
Wisconsin 15 years ago, Tony has been a nano-tech and clean energy entrepreneur. He has
developed, promoted, and sold renewable energy products, services and technologies, many
associated with WARF & the U.W. He has also been an adjunct instructor at Madison
College, performed grant reviews for the National Science Foundation, and organized
cooperatives and trade associations.
Legacy Solar Co-op
Board of Directors
Kurt Reinhold, Managing Director, LSC – Kurt has experience working in and with
many cooperatives over the years, most recently with the Regent Market Co-op, where he
is the Project Manager for their expanded operations construction project. He helped
raise over $340,000 in owner Bonds through a similar drive as is being used for LSC’s
projects. He has developed community solar projects for many residential customers, for
area churches, for Union Cab of Madison, Willy Street Co-op, and for the City of Monona.
So far for LSC, Kurt has helped raise over $119,000 in bonds!
Mark Warnick, President/Treasurer, LSC – Mark has been a Project Engineer with
Full Spectrum Solar of Madison, WI, since 2006, where he performs site visits, designs
systems, and manages their installation. He sees Legacy Solar Cooperative as an
organization that will provide people the opportunity to take financial and environmental
responsibility for their electrical energy usage and build community through connecting
investors and organizations that will benefit from energy efficiency and renewable energy.
John Bayley, Secretary, LSC – John has lived in the Dudgeon-Monroe neighborhood
for many years and has supported numerous cultural and environmental causes over
time. John has participated in peer-to-peer (P2P) solar projects in the past, is one of the
first bondholders of the Legacy Solar Co-op, and is looking forward to sponsoring a
project in his neighborhood in 2017.
Lincoln Tice, Director, LSC – Lincoln is a NABCEP-certified PV installer, having
worked in local renewable energy since 2008. He is also an experienced system designer
and project manager. Lincoln started his own business, Sustainable Solar, in 2012. He
is currently involved in educational initiatives, but is very interested in expanding solar
opportunities for all through his work on the board of directors for Legacy Solar Co-op.
Lincoln has remodeled his solar-powered home in a green way, and is a paddle-sports
enthusiast who is passionate about environmental and social justice causes.
Jesse Durst, Director, LSC – Jesse is an Associate at Tetra Tech based in Madison
with experience as an analyst in the energy efficiency and low-income energy assistance
sectors. Jesse has an MS in Urban and Regional Planning with a certificate in Energy
Analysis and Policy from the University of Wisconsin—Madison. His Master's project
evaluated the savings potential from a solar installation hosted by the City of Monona.
Jesse hopes to bring his love of solar and experience in utility program evaluation to
help Legacy Solar Co-op develop successful bond and Switch-to-Solar REC programs.
Legal Counsel for the Co-op
David (Rosebud) Sparer, Herrick & Kasdorf, LLP
Certified Public Accountant for the Co-op
Bruce Mayer, Brian Dahlk, Wegner CPAs
Legacy Solar Co-op
Member Bond Disclosures Packet
Page 16 of 22
Suitability Standards
Suitability Standards refers to the circumstances under which it may be appropriate (or
suitable) for a prospective Bondholder to make the commitment to buy a Bond.
Prospective Bondholders are encouraged to seek out their own legal counsel, tax
specialist, or other advisor/s as appropriate to determine if purchasing Bond(s) from the
Co-op would be suitable or appropriate for their own circumstances.
The following qualities should be considered when determining if buying a Bond is
suitable for the Members contemplating this purchase:
1. Buyer should understand the legal constraints; 2. Buyer should understand the nature of the
risks involved; 3. Buyer should be in a position to assume such risk, forgo liquidity of funds
used to purchase Bonds, and possibly sustain a loss of part or all of these funds.
Legal Constraints
 Wisconsin Residents Only. All Bondholders
must be bona fide residents of the State of
Wisconsin and be equity (paid)
members/owners of the Co-op.
 Unsecured. Although the Co-op protects
Member investments by taking a security
interest (lien) on all the solar equipment it
makes loans for, the Bonds themselves are
unsecured debt obligations between the Co-op
and Members.
 Non-Transferable & Non-Negotiable. Owner
Bonds can only be transferred or sold to another
Member of the Co-op and that transfer must be
approved and recorded by the Co-op prior to
being transferred.
Risk Factors
The following may not be a complete list of
potential risks:
 General Risks. There are general risks
involved in the buying of bonds that are affected
by factors that are beyond the control of
management and the Board of directors.
General economic conditions and forces external
to the Co-op’s management are examples of
general risk.
 Competition. The solar business is very
competitive. Even though the Co-op’s business
model can flex with changing economic and
regulatory environments, we are not immune to
all potential market forces that may arise down
the road.
 Reliance on Key Personnel. The Co-op relies
on the Managing Director, the outside counsel
and accountant, and the Board of Directors, as
well as volunteers and other Members, in order
to complete its day-to-day operations week in
Legacy Solar Co-op
and week out all throughout the year. If one or
more of the key personnel are unable to
complete their role’s responsibilities, a reduction
in performance for our business model may
occur.
 Uncertain Ability to Meet Cash Obligations.
The financial projections contained in this
document are based on pro forma expectations
in a new niche of a market that is rapidly
expanding. These predictions are not going to
be perfect, and there is a chance that the Co-op
may fall short of its cash on hand in order to
meet all cash obligations during every month of
every year. Since we have contingencies built
into our model, we can weather temporary
setbacks, but the risk still remains.
 Unsecured and Subordinate Obligations. If
the Co-op were to fail financially to the point of
filing for protection under bankruptcy laws, all
Bondholders would be paid off first, unless the
Co-op takes on a mortgage-like obligation that
would cause member debt obligations to be
subordinate to this new debt. The Co-op has no
plans to enter into such an arrangement unless
some future board considers such a move.
 Relative Non-Liquidity. The Bond notes
cannot be sold, assigned, or transferred to
another person without express written
permission by the Co-op. These notes are not
payable upon demand. Provisions for a
Bondholder to request an early redemption of
the Bond/s is spelled out on the Bond
Certificate, but early redemption of a Bond/s is
not guaranteed. The Bondholder must be
prepared to hold onto these notes for the term
until maturity.
Member Bond Disclosures Packet
Page 17 of 22
Frequently Asked Questions
1. I heard that there was a solar co-op in Wisconsin many years ago but it went belly
up and the investors all lost their money. How is this co-op any different?
A: Our Co-op does not rely on one manufacturer of solar equipment for our success. We
have business interests surrounding products and services outside our direct involvement
with individual solar projects. And we pool our resources and protect our investments by
securing assets that are used in many different solar projects. Also, we do not use
membership equity for ongoing operational expenses. Member equity is used for growth
and development of the Co-op, not for paying recurring expenses. This enables equity to
grow and create more value for our organization and our members.
2. What happens to my Solar Bond if I die before it matures?
A: Your Solar Bond becomes part of your estate planning, either explicitly through your
will or by court order. Any successor can be assigned ownership of your Bond but must
abide by the conditions and limitations of the Bond, as stated in this packet. The Co-op
may help to sell this Bond on your behalf or on behalf of your successor, but the Co-op is
not required to redeem the face value of the Bond prior to its maturity.
3. If I buy $10,000 worth of Bonds through the Co-op, what is the guarantee that I
will get my money back?
A: $10,000 worth of Bonds will pay you a return on your investment just as if you were
buying solar panels and putting them on your own home and you saved money on your
energy bills long-term. After 7 years, you might not want to take the solar panels off your
house and sell them back to the solar installer (and they wouldn’t want you to). But, with
Legacy Solar Co-op, you do have the option any time during the first 7 years of buying your
Bonds to sell them to another Member who is interested in buying, or to the Co-op. If the
Co-op buys back your Bonds, there will be an early redemption penalty not to exceed one
year’s interest on those Bonds deducted from principal. Only if the Co-op has the available
funds will it buy back your Bond/s. Available funds can come from the surplus revenue
that is put into one of two reserve accounts – loan loss reserve or escrow closing reserve.
Members choosing a 7-year term Bond will be paid back within 30 days of that maturity
date unless the Member chooses to re-invest or re-finance their bond for another term. So,
there are multiple ways that you can get your money back, but no guarantee, per se:
i) $10,000 + interest will be returned to you (or your estate/heirs) at maturity
(7 years or over 25 years); or
ii) $10,000 + annual interest will be returned to you in year 6 (or later) if the
Host buys out the loan made by the Legacy Solar Co-op; or
iii) $10,000 face value can be sold during years 1-7 if you find another
Member to buy your Bonds; or finally,
iv) $10,000 face value minus one year’s interest payments will be returned to
you if the Co-op is able to buy back your Bonds upon request for early
redemption.
4. What happens if the host site goes bankrupt?
A: Most Solar Legacy Projects are schools, libraries, churches, or other community institutions
and are unlikely to go anywhere soon. But, some projects may be on privately owned or
cooperatively-owned businesses. There are provisions in the solar loan contract that allow the
Legacy Solar Co-op to remedies if either the LLC or the host site defaults on its contractual
obligations. One of these is to remove the solar equipment. If this happens, the solar assets are
secured by the Legacy Solar Co-op Loan, so the solar equipment would go to the Legacy Solar Coop, who would then attempt to re-deploy the solar equipment at a new site host location. This is
how one church in Madison was able to get solar on its roof – it used 11-year old solar panels that
Legacy Solar Co-op
Member Bond Disclosures Packet
Page 18 of 22
were taken off another church when they decided to remodel their roof and upgrade their solar.
These 11-year old solar panels were “re-deployed” at another church on the other side of town.
Now, these panels are able to “self-actualize” again, with only a negligible reduction in their output
of electricity. They should be fine here for another 20 to 30 years!
5. What happens if the Legacy Solar Co-op goes out of business?
A: All debt obligations will be paid in full prior to any dissolution of the Co-op. This means
Member Bonds are to be paid with any working capital or with liquidation of assets before any
actions are taken to dissolve the Co-op. We have no plans to dissolve this Co-op. On the contrary,
since all solar projects pay for their own debt obligations by design, we only see growth in business
and growth in assets in our future. And these assets have at least a 25-year lifespan, so we don’t
plan on going anywhere anytime soon. If members choose, they can work to own the Limited
Liability Company for any one solar project by arranging to buyout the original owner, but this
would be outside of the Co-op’s control. The Co-op will hold the debt for the LLC until and unless
the LLC repays the solar loan it took from the Co-op. The unpaid principal on the solar loans for
all the projects we participate in, and the value of the solar assets secured by those loans, is what
makes up the long-term assets for the Co-op outside of cash and other holdings owned by the Coop.
6. How does my investment in the Co-op Bonds compare to a traditional investment
in a solar project?
A: The Co-op’s investment in solar projects is secured by the solar property from the LLC that
borrows money from us. That means that the Co-op will either receive regular income from the
solar project or will own the solar equipment and receive income from the Shared Savings contract
with the host site. The investment is about 60% of the cost of the solar project in the beginning.
Since homeowners and business owners who invest in their own solar projects receive a 30%
investment tax credit, the up-front cost is actually less expensive through the Co-op than it would
be on your own (60% versus 70%) after the tax credit. The benefits of owning solar are speculative
if you are a home or business owner, since the future cost of energy is not known and that is how
you base your savings and return on your investment. Since the Co-op and the LLC have longterm contracts, the income from the solar project is already known in advance. The only unknown
is how much maintenance will the solar array cost the LLC or the Co-op? We plan for the
replacement of new inverters within 15 years of the start of a project; but, beyond that, there are
not many things that can go wrong with a solar array. It’s a very safe (and silent) and reliable
source of energy and income.
7. What happens if the Host Site does not buy out the Loan made by the Co-op? How
will my 7-year bonds be paid back?
A: Yes, your Bonds will be paid back! The Loan that the Co-op makes for each project is a 25-year
loan, so we will continue to receive Principal and Interest payments from that Borrower, and that
Borrower will continue to receive Shared Savings revenue from the Host site, and the Host site will
continue to receive solar electricity and share in their electric bill savings which go to pay off your
Bonds. The Co-op will make every reasonable effort to pay you back within 7-years, but the
contingency for the Loan not being paid in full is the guarantee that the P&I payments on your
Bonds will continue until the Co-op can buy out your Bonds.
8. Is my Bond purchase protected with any guarantee?
A: No, your Bond is not secured nor is it insured against loss. The uses of Bond monies, however,
by the Co-op are secured by the solar equipment contained in the solar projects we help support
with solar loans. So, even though you have no guarantee for the safety of your own investment, the
Co-op does have some security through its lien on the equipment held by the LLC for each solar
project. And, since the Co-op is owned by all the Members, you do have the opportunity to express
your owner status through voting for directors that govern the Co-op, or running for a board seat
yourself. But, no matter how little or how much money you have invested in owner Bonds, you
have only 1 vote, just like every other Member.
Legacy Solar Co-op
Member Bond Disclosures Packet
Page 19 of 22
Ready to purchase Solar Bonds? Here's how.
Step 1)
First, you must be a member of the Legacy Solar Co-op if you are not yet a
member. Join online at legacysolarcoop.org/membership-benefits/
If you would prefer to print and mail your membership application, use the
printable membership application.
Step 2)
For an Online Bond Purchase, go to our website:
www.LegacySolarCoop.org & follow instructions on the Solar Bonds page.
OR
Complete the Bondholder Acknowledgement Form
(the last page of this Bond Disclosures Packet)
and a W9 form (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-access/fw9_accessible.pdf)
Step 3)
Send the completed forms along with your payment in an envelope to:
Legacy Solar Co-op
P.O. Box 5052
Madison, WI 53705.
To Sum Up:





Become a Member-Owner of the Co-op
Indicate that you have received this Bond Disclosure Packet
Consult your own professional, as needed, for financial advice
Fill-out and Sign the Bond Acknowledgement Form here or Online
Send this (and a W9 form for interest income reporting) and a check to the address above.
Sending a check saves us all from the transaction fee for online credit card
payments, but we do welcome online payments for both membership and bond sales
up to $1,000.
Once Membership is confirmed, Bond Acknowledgement Form is received and payment made, we
will issue you a Bond Certificate and mail it to your home. The online version will confirm your
status and send you an email confirmation of receipt of your Bond order.
Contact us if you have any questions, at: 608-957-6801 or email us at: [email protected]
Thank you.
Sunny Regards,
The Friends and Members of the Legacy Solar Wisconsin Cooperative
Legacy Solar Co-op
Member Bond Disclosures Packet
Page 20 of 22
Appendix A: Solar Renewable Energy Credits (sRECs)
Solar “RECs” – Solar Renewable Energy Credits (sRECs) are simply put, the “offsets”
that solar energy possesses from an environmental or pollution perspective in our
society’s energy public policy. Each solar REC is equal to 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of
electricity generated by clean resources (solar) rather than by the burning of fossil fuels.
When your utility company sells you electricity, they are responsible for a number of
pollutants that are not factored into the price of that electricity. The REC model tries to
account for the value of that pollution, either on a state-mandated level, or on a voluntary
level.
Mandated RECs take their “value” from a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) that each
state sets for assigning a value to offsetting the effects of pollution from the use of fossil
fuels. In the state of Wisconsin, we have a pretty lame RPS, by national standards, and it
remains stagnant at 15% of each utility’s energy supply. This means that 15% of each
utility’s energy supply must come in the form of renewable energy by the year 2015.
Many states have portfolio standards at 25%, or even 30% by the year 2025 or 2030.
Under Wisconsin’s current political leadership, there is no interest in revising our state’s
clean energy portfolio standard at all. This means that for any improvement to be made
in our state, it is up to individuals and groups like ours to advance that standard on our
own through voluntary participation.
Voluntary REC purchasing is accomplished through various means and helps to drive the
renewable energy market. Most of the RECs that are available for purchase come from
wind power or hydro-electric power. Currently, there is no voluntary market specifically
set up for solar power. Solar RECs get mixed in with other RECs and get sold for the
lowest dollar. Currently, an owner of a solar array can sell those RECs at market for
about 1 penny per kilowatt-hour. The Legacy Solar Co-op wants to enhance this market
and reward folks who take on buying and hosting solar projects. Currently, the LSC
market price is in the neighborhood of 2 cents per kilowatt-hour. The Co-op sells Solar
RECs to our Members for 3 cents per kWh, and to non-members for 4 cents per kilowatthour.
You can learn more on the web about RECs, and specifically, for regulated Solar REC
markets in some areas of the country with vibrant RFPs, here: http://www.srectrade.com
Keep in mind, Wisconsin has only a VOLUNTARY REC market, so it’s up to each of us to
hold ourselves and our state’s utilities accountable for the pollution that comes from
unmitigated fossil fuel use for our electricity. See this video from the EPA for more!
So consider sharing a Slice of Sun with a local Wisconsin solar project today!!
Just go to our website to register to buy Switch-2-Solar (S2S) RECs today!! You can buy S2S
credits in monthly blocks of 300 kWh or annually in 5,000 kWh blocks. The average U.S. home
uses roughly 10,000 kilowatt-hours a year in electricity. That’s about 165,000 pounds of CO2
annually per household. Solar S2S credits to replace that much fossil fuel pollution cost roughly
$400.00 for non-members, or $300.00 for members, (or $25.00 per month). This is the “pay
as you go” local solar sponsorship level.
Legacy Solar Co-op
Member Bond Disclosures Packet
Page 21 of 22
Appendix B: Bondholder Acknowledgement Form:
Total Bond Purchase $___________ (in $250 increments)
Yes, I would like to purchase a Slice of Sun Solar Bond to support Solar Legacy projects
Please initial each statement and sign at the bottom
___ I acknowledge that I have received the Member Bond Disclosures Packet;
___ I understand buying a Bond is inherently risky, as described in the Bond Disclosures
Packet;
___ I understand that this Bond is unsecured;
___ I am a bona fide resident of the State of Wisconsin;
___ I am an Equity (paid) Member of the Legacy Solar Co-op;
I understand that repayment of Face Value and Interest will be made within 30 days of the
Date of Maturity, unless I choose to renew for a Legacy Bond under the terms listed in this
packet and on the Bond certificate;
___ I understand that the Co-op may "call" the Bonds back and repay Bondholders before the
Date of Maturity, and in that case, that the Bondholder will be paid interest prorated for
that partial year along with the Face Value;
___
___ I also understand that interest will be taxable each and every year until the Date of
Maturity, and that I will receive a 1099 Interest Income statement for each full tax year in
which I earn and receive payment of $10.00 or more.
By signing below, you acknowledge the information provided on this page to be correct
Top section to be completed by Bondholder:
Name:
Address:
City and Zip Code:
Telephone Number:
Social Security:
LSC Member Number (if known):
Signature and Date
To Be Completed by Co-op Representative at Time of Purchase: 7-yr
Bond Number
Date of Issue
or 25-yr
Amount of Bond(s)
Form W9 Completed by Member?: ____yes ____no
Co-op Official Present at this Bond Transaction, Name and Date:
Legacy Solar Co-op
Member Bond Disclosures Packet
Page 22 of 22