At Perceptive Power Infrastructure, we see the challenges and changes facing Rural Electric Cooperatives today. As Rural Electric Cooperatives explore ways to ensure grid resiliency, explore non-traditional generation options and keep costs low, government legislation has provided helpful federal tax incentives, but also created massive Net-Zero goals.
Meanwhile, electricity consumption continues to climb. As it does so, members have become more vocal about cost, stability and sustainability. Now more than ever, Rural Electric Cooperatives are embracing member requests for solar energy in order to retain members who might otherwise attempt to install distributed generation themselves.
Where we come in
Now many RECs look to embrace distributed generation, but they need a reliable partner to help them begin the process. They need someone who can ensure that their project is completed in a timely fashion while still meeting the financial and operational expectations. That’s a tall order – and one that we’re here to fill.
Our team at Perceptive Power Infrastructure is made up of knowledgeable professionals who are passionate about renewable energy and most importantly, come from small towns and rural areas. As a proven stable provider of solar energy and distributed generation, we’re proud to bring energy solutions to rural America.
Perceptive Power Infrastructure is a True Green Capital company that has over $500 million dollars in distributive solar assets in operation. We also have more than 10 years of experience building, owning and operating solar facilities. With over 500MW of operational assets and each project ranging from 550KW or 10MW, we’re adept at scaling to our clients’ needs. In fact, we pride ourselves on our transparent and client-centered approach. We call this The Perceptive Way. This is what drives us and sets us apart from the rest of the industry.
The Perceptive Way
Some people like to leave the best for last, but we want you to know the best thing about us first. To understand how Perceptive Power Infrastructure works and what we offer, it’s important to understand The Perceptive Way.
We do something essential for each client before we begin to develop a plan. We travel to where they are. We sit down together and – maybe over coffee – discuss their unique situation. We already know that the rural economy has different energy challenges by its very design, but we also know that each REC and their members have further unique needs.
We want to know what specific challenges the community faces when it comes to electricity generation, distribution and consumption. How will they benefit from distributed generation? Then, we look at the finances and resources so we can understand how to meet these needs while keeping it all within budget.
Regarding finances, we believe that more transparency is needed in the energy market. When discussing project costs and budgets, we open our books to our clients so they can be sure that they’re getting the project they expect at the price they expect. This includes:
- Cost of equipment
- Cost of distribution/transmission lines to accept the power produced by the facility
- Maintenance
- Rate of investment return
We also make sure that our clients know who we are. Our approach is centered on building lasting relationships with trust at the foundation. Once we’ve established that relationship, then we begin to build a plan. Read more about The Perceptive Way here.
Partnership Services
Implementing distributed generation requires careful planning and oversight. We assist our clients with project development, procurement of equipment, and construction management. This is where we think our team really shines. Our in-house technical and project development leadership has decades of experience in successful project delivery for energy producing assets.
Using the information that we gather during our initial meetings, we create a project plan tailored to our clients’ specific needs and budget. We make sure that everything is ready, from permits to machinery. Then, when construction is ready to start, our parent company, True Green Capital, takes over. With successfully completed projects in 14 states and counting, you can rest assured True Green Capital will get the job done.
Power Purchase Agreements
Rural Electric Cooperatives come in all shapes and sizes and thus have different resources when it comes to acquiring and maintaining equipment. This is why we offer Power Purchase Agreements or Leases – both with the option to buy after ITC recapture.
What does this mean for our clients? Together we agree on a fixed number of years for a power purchase agreement or equipment lease. During this time, the REC will benefit from a reduction in energy cost. Meanwhile, we are responsible for building, operating, and maintaining the system. Going back to The Perceptive Way, this is one of the reasons why it’s so important to us to have long lasting relationships with our clients.
Financing
A question we sometimes receive is “Are the companies and people involved here financially stable?” We are pleased to answer that with a resounding “Yes!”
Our parent company, True Green Capital, is a specialized renewable energy infrastructure private equity firm. Currently, they have raised over $660 million in capital. More than just having capital though, they have a proven history of putting assets in the ground which have resulted in successful energy costs for the clients and higher than expected returns from previous funds.
This in turn translates to better financial outcomes for our clients. In fact, it’s not uncommon for them to end up saving up to 15 percent! Yes, it really is possible to save money with PV solar.
We provide solutions
The energy industry is undergoing massive changes. These changes are often felt most acutely by the communities that RECs serve. We believe that distributed generation is the logical next step to address many of the energy challenges occurring in these rural communities.
Ready to take that step? If you’re an REC interested in exploring your options in adding distributed generation to the mix or if you’d like to know more about distributed generation, get in touch!
