PLR 200707050: Three solar projects receive clean renewable energy bond allocations

Plain-English summary

An issuer applied for authority to finance three solar energy facilities with Clean Renewable Energy Bonds. The IRS determined that the projects qualified under IRC § 54, would have qualified ownership, and awarded issuance authority for redacted amounts. The bonds had to be designated for the specified projects and issued by December 31, 2007. The issuer still had to satisfy the applicable bond requirements, including the rules for reimbursing prior capital expenditures. The allocations did not establish eligibility for the separate renewable electricity production credit under § 45.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Would the three solar projects receive authority to issue Clean Renewable Energy Bonds?
• Outcome: Approved, for the allocated amount and subject to issuance by December 31, 2007 and the applicable bond requirements.
• Key authorities: IRC § 54(f)(2) and (d)(2)(C); Notices 2005-98 and 2006-7.

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service
Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224
Number: 200707050
Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 2/16/2007
Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 54.00-00
Person To Contact:

- -----------------------, ID No. -------------

                                                           Telephone Number:

-------------------------------------------------- ---------------------

                                                           Refer Reply To:

                                                           CC:TEGE:EOEG:TEB

                                                           PRESP-143667-06
                                                           Date:
                                                           November 13, 2006
     -

Dear ------------------:

Pursuant to section 54(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and Notice 2005-98, 2005-52 I.R.B. 1211, and after review of your application submitted on April 26, 2006, including supplements thereto, we have determined that the projects described in Appendix A attached hereto are qualified for purposes of section 54 and will be owned by one or more qualified borrowers. We allocate authority to -----------------
-------------------------- (the Issuer), a qualified issuer under section 54, to issue up to $-----
----------------of Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs). Bonds issued pursuant to this allocation must be designated by the Issuer as bonds for purposes of section 54 for the projects described in Appendix A up to the amount allocated for each project described in Appendix A.

Bonds so designated must be issued on or before December 31, 2007. Please be aware that in order for bonds to be CREBs, the applicable requirements of the Code, including without limitation section 54, Notice 2005-98, and Notice 2006-7, 2006-10 I.R.B. 559, must be met. Please note that CREB proceeds may be used to reimburse capital expenditures paid by qualified borrowers for qualified projects only if the provisions of section 54(d)(2)(C) are met.

If you have any questions with respect to this allocation, please contact ---------------------

-------- or -----------------------------of the Office of Division Counsel/Associate Chief Counsel Tax-Exempt and Government Entities on ---------------------(not a toll-free call).

Except as expressly provided herein, no opinion is expressed or implied concerning the tax consequences of any aspect of any transaction or item discussed or referenced in this letter.
PRESP-143667-06
2

For purposes of the renewable electricity production credit under section 45 of the Code, no inference may be drawn from this allocation that any project listed in Appendix A is a qualified facility or that electricity to be produced at such project(s) is electricity from a qualified energy resource at a qualified facility within the meaning of section 45.

This determination is directed only to the applicant named above. Section 6110(k)(3) of the Code provides that it may not be used or cited as precedent.

A copy of this letter must be attached to any Form 8038-G, Information Return for Tax- Exempt Governmental Obligations, filed for bonds issued pursuant to this allocation.

The allocation contained in this letter is based upon information and representations submitted by the applicant for the CREB allocation and accompanied by a penalty of perjury statement executed by an appropriate party. While this office has not verified any of the material submitted in support of the application for an allocation, it is subject to verification on examination.

Sincerely,
Assistant Chief Counsel, (Exempt
Organizations/Employment Tax/Government
Entities)
(Tax Exempt & Government Entities)

By: Timothy L. Jones
Senior Counsel
Tax-Exempt Bonds Branch
PRESP-143667-06
3

APPENDIX A

Borrower Name                   Project Type       Project Location                   Amount

Allocated
1 ------------------------------- Solar energy -------------------------------- $-----------
------------ facility ---------------

2 ------------------------------- Solar energy -------------------------------- $-----------
------------ facility -----------------

3 ------------------------------- Solar energy -------------------------------- $------------
------------ facility ---------

Total
$----------------