Tropico LLC and Nicolis LLC, developers of two California solar projects, on Sept. 8 filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the Tulare Solar Project Shared Use Agreement by and among Tropico, Nicolis, Tulare 3 LLC (these three companies are known as the “Co-Tenants”), Tulare Management Co. LLC and Tulare Solar Center LLC.
Tropico and Nicolis also submitted for filing the Amended and Restated CLGIA Co-Tenancy Agreement among the parties.
The Co-Tenants have developed, are completing, and own and operate, photovoltaic projects in Tulare County, California, in the California Independent System Operator balancing authority area.
- Nicolis owns an approximately 20 MW (maximum gross)/19.16 MW (maximum net) photovoltaic solar QF
- Tropico owns an approximately 14 MW (maximum gross)/13.37 MW (maximum net) photovoltaic solar QF.
Nicolis and Tropico are both exempt wholesale generators (EWG) under the Public Utility Holding Company Act. If constructed, Tulare 3’s project will be a 6 MW (net nameplate) photovoltaic solar facility. If Tulare 3 elects not to build, all of Tulare 3’s rights and obligations under the A&R CLGIA Co-Tenancy Agreement will automatically terminate and Tulare 3 will be released from all liability and obligations arising out of the agreement.
Tropico and Nicolis on Aug. 29 petitioned FERC for acceptance of their conforming Market-Based Rate Tariffs. They requestwd expedited consideration of the application, since Tropico and Nicolis planned imminent operational starts. Tropico and Nicolis said they expect to engage in pre-commercial testing immediately upon reaching the requested Aug. 30 MBR effective date. Nicolis and Tropico each has a separate Renewable Power Purchase and Sale Agreement with Southern California Edison under which each QF is fully committed to SCE for a term of approximately 20 years, and no less than 19 years, following the Commercial Operation Date, which is expected to be achieved not long after the testing starts.
The applicants are both subsidiaries of Coronal Tulare LLC, which is in turn indirectly wholly controlled by Coronal Group LLC. Coronal Group is an alternative energy firm that develops, finances, builds, operates and maintains solar photovoltaic projects.
