WASHINGTON, DC, September 6, 2023: NT Solar is thrilled to announce one of its largest portfolio investments to date, financing $65 million in solar investment tax credits (ITCs) for a portfolio of 100 solar installations across California. This milestone investment is in partnership with Forefront Power, a leading developer and long-term owner-operator of solar energy and storage projects.

This portfolio, developed end-to-end by ForeFront Power and with a development cost of over $200 million, will provide renewable energy for 64 California schools that support thousands of students from K-12, as well as connect to four city utility services and several of the largest counties in the state. Soon, hundreds of thousands of residents will be able to benefit from energy savings provided by these installations. This investment underscores NT Solar’s commitment to investing in renewable energy that serves a broad community base, contributing to a sustainable future for all.

“We’re incredibly proud of this landmark investment,” says Alyssa Watt, Senior Transaction Manager for NT Solar. “ForeFront Power has been an exceptional development partner every step of the way. Working with Forefront Power on the initial investment, and then expanding this portfolio seven months later, enabled us to make a significant impact on the communities that these installations will serve. This project is a testament to our ongoing commitment to advancing clean energy across the nation.”

The portfolio primarily consists of “canopy” systems, in which the panels are elevated over parking lots, allowing cars to park underneath. In addition to delivering significant environmental benefits and customer savings, this development style reduces the need for construction on undeveloped land and gives sprawling parking lots productive use. ForeFront Power has a very similar portfolio available with a larger total capacity that will reach commercial operation in calendar year 2024, and the company is excited about the potential to continue delivering best-in-class projects for its customers and investment partners.

Investing in an Energy Community

Several installations within this portfolio will also qualify for various additional credits, or “adders,” for being located within an “energy community.” Released as part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), energy communities are designated locations that have experienced economic hardship stemming from the fossil fuel industry or other environmental hardships. These include:

• Brownfield sites: Locations contaminated by hazardous substances or pollutants. Examples include garbage dumps, former coal mines, gas stations, and chemical processing facilities.
• Communities that were predominantly supported by the fossil fuel industry and are currently experiencing higher-than-average unemployment rates.
• Communities in which one or more coal mines or coal-fired electric generating facilities have closed in recent years.

In December 2022, NT Solar provided an initial investment for a 48.5 Megawatt DC (MW-DC) portfolio of 79 solar installations. In July 2023, NT Solar further expanded its investment commitment for the same portfolio, increasing the total installation count to 100 and the capacity to 58.4 MW-DC. This additional commitment brought the total financing to $65 million in ITCs, marking this as the largest investment by installation count in NT Solar’s history, and demonstrating NT Solar’s trust in ForeFront Power as a developer and long-term partner.

 “We are thrilled to partner with NT Solar on this solar plus storage portfolio,” says Bryan Eckstein, SVP, Corporate Development & Project Finance at Forefront Power. “NT Solar’s commitment to the success of this investment was evident from the beginning, and their ongoing expertise in tax equity financing and support for a multi-project, distributed generation portfolio have ensured a smooth and efficient financing process from start to finish. Together, we’ve been able to make a significant positive impact on communities across California.”

About NT Solar

NT Solar, a subsidiary of the National Trust Community Investment Corporation, raises and manages capital for renewable and battery storage investments that create meaningful community impact and cost-effective energy options nationwide. Since its inception in 2010, NT Solar has provided tax credit financing for transactions nationwide, with a focus on the growing Community Solar market. Our varied network of partners and extensive experience in diligence and structuring provides our developers with competitive pricing and stable returns for our investors. Visit www.nt.solar to learn more.

About Forefront Power

ForeFront Power is a leading developer of commercial and industrial-scale (C&I) solar energy and battery storage projects in the U.S. and Mexico, also offering vehicle fleet electrification services. The ForeFront Power team has 15 years of experience working together to develop more than 1,400 behind-the-meter and community solar projects, totaling more than 1.1 gigawatt-DC of renewable electricity. ForeFront Power serves business, government, education, healthcare and community solar customers with a broad array of development, asset management, and advisory services from its San Francisco headquarters and via teams based in New York, Mexico City, and across the U.S. through a hybrid work model. For more information, visit www.forefrontpower.com.

NT Solar Celebrates Fourth Investment with Summit Ridge Energy

Washington, D.C. – July 25, 2023: NT Solar, a nationwide solar tax credit syndicator and investor, is proud to announce the successful equity placement of solar tax credits generated by the development of two standalone Tesla MegaPack battery storage systems in New York City in partnership with Summit Ridge Energy, the nation’s leading commercial solar and energy storage company.

“We are excited to continue building on our solid partnership with Summit Ridge Energy while adding the first stand-alone battery storage investment to our portfolio,” said Karin Berry, Managing Director of NT Solar. “We remain committed to investing in the growth of community solar and supporting projects that bring organizations closer to a carbon-neutral future.”

Once complete, the 31 MWh-capacity system will provide bill credits to the NYU Langone Hospital, one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers, serving more than 60,000 patients annually. The hospital signed an offtake agreement to purchase bill credits from the Energy Storage System to support its sustainability goals.

As part of the hospital’s commitment to becoming a carbon-neutral health system by 2050 and 50% neutral by 2030, the hospital will utilize stored energy within the battery systems during peak hours, reducing the hospital’s demand on the grid during periods of high electricity consumption in NYC, thereby increasing grid resiliency.

Battery storage systems provide a host of benefits to both the grid and consumers, including cost savings, environmental benefits, and efficient, dispatchable delivery of electricity. These installations will provide flexibility to the grid, a critical component of reliability and resilience, allowing utilities to integrate more intermittent renewable power sources into the grid mix. By smoothing out the delivery of variable renewable resources such as wind and solar, battery storage systems supply power produced during non-peak hours to the grid when demand is highest. As the grid’s energy supply mix gets cleaner, energy storage will be a critical dispatchable electricity resource, offsetting the need for fossil fuel peak-power plants.

The installations, which will reach commercial operation in mid-2023, were spearheaded by Summit Ridge Energy. In addition to the ITC investment, NT Solar will provide compliance, reporting, and asset management services through the investment cycle.

This is NT Solar’s first stand-alone battery storage investment and the fourth portfolio investment with Summit Ridge Energy, both made possible through NT Solar’s Climate Impact and Revitalization Fund. NT Solar first partnered with Summit Ridge Energy in 2020 to provide an equity investment in the solar tax credits generated by the creation of a portfolio of twelve ground- and roof-mounted sites across Illinois and Maryland, the largest roof-mounted solar installation in the country.

“Summit Ridge Energy and NT Solar are working together to make electric supply more resilient and provide clean energy savings for NYU Langone Hospital,” said Adam Kuehne, Chief Investment Officer, Summit Ridge Energy. “Our ongoing partnership with NT Solar supports our goal of strengthening New York City’s grid while lowering power bills for the city’s major institutions.”

To read the full PR Newswire release, click here.

About NT Solar

NT Solar, a subsidiary of the National Trust Community Investment Corporation, raises and manages solar investments that create meaningful community impact and cost-effective energy options nationwide. Since its inception in 2010, NT Solar has provided tax credit financing of over $500 million in capital for transactions nationwide, with a focus on the growing Community Solar market. Our varied network of partners and extensive experience in diligence and structuring provides our developers with competitive pricing and stable returns for our investors. To learn more about NT Solar, click here.

About the Sponsor

Launched in 2017, Summit Ridge Energy is the nation’s leading commercial solar company. Through its strategic partnerships and project financing expertise, the company develops and acquires pre-operational projects within the rapidly growing solar energy and battery storage sectors. In the past five years, SRE has deployed over $1.6B USD into clean energy assets. With a development pipeline of more than 2 GW, SRE will have more than 400 MW of PV online by the end of 2023, providing solar power to approximately 50,000 homes. Learn more at srenergy.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Washington, D.C. – May 15, 2023: National Trust Community Investment Corporation (NTCIC) is excited to announce the successful financial closing of Findlay Parkside, a $27 million adaptive reuse project in the Over-The-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati, OH. NTCIC provided a $10 million New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation and equity investments in the $9 million in federal and state Historic Tax Credits (HTCs) generated by the initiative to support the creation of mixed-income housing and commercial spaces in one of the country’s most intact urban historic districts.

The Findlay Parkside project showcases a unique use of tax credit financing by revitalizing nine scattered site low-rise buildings within a single transaction. Once complete, they will become 51 apartments, with 26 designated as affordable housing, and over 16,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial retail space supporting up to 10 small businesses, primarily focused on BIPOC entrepreneurs.

“Buildings with project costs under $5 million are underrepresented in the NMTC industry,” said NTCIC Project Manager Tony Maruca. “It takes a visionary developer such as The Model Group to package nine such buildings (comprising 10 building permits and 11 separate NPS applications) into an efficient NMTC/HTC twin deal. The Model Group was able to marshal all the necessary public and private sources because of their unwavering commitment to delivering on the community impacts. This project builds on their previous work in Over-the-Rhine, creating affordable housing and supporting small businesses, which are what makes the neighborhood special.”

A prime example of historic preservation, sustainable development, and social impact, the Findlay Parkside project will generate 160 construction and permanent jobs and is designed to achieve LEED Silver certification, emphasizing the importance of retaining and repurposing existing structures to reduce waste, decrease the consumption of raw materials, and lower carbon emissions compared to new construction or demolition.

NTCIC supported the project completion by sourcing, underwriting, and facilitating the equity investment in the $9 million in federal and state Historic Tax Credits generated by the revitalization efforts. NTCIC also provided $10 million in New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation from their 2019 allocation round, which prioritizes investments in impactful commercial and mixed-use projects that serve as centerpieces for local redevelopment plans, elimination of blight, and the stimulation of economic activity.

Other financing sources included NMTC source debt, HTC bridge debt, sponsor equity, and additional NMTC allocation from RBC Community Capital and Truist Community Capital. TIF financing from the City of Cincinnati is also anticipated.

NT Solar, a nationwide solar tax credit syndicator and investor, is proud to announce the successful equity placement of over $7 million in solar tax credits generated by the development of two community solar installations across Massachusetts and Connecticut in partnership with Lodestar Energy, one of the most established Independent Owner Operators in the Northeast United States. This is NT Solar’s 6th investment with Lodestar.

Reaching mechanical completion in April of 2023, the combined 11.5-Megawatt ground-mount solar and solar plus battery storage systems will provide renewable energy to the City of Hartford along with six public housing authorities across Massachusetts which are responsible for nearly 3,000 affordable housing units.

The Massachusetts installation will participate in the state’s SMART Virtual Net Metering program, allocating credits to customers based on the solar energy generated from the installation. These credits will reduce customers’ energy bills by approximately 10% each month. This installation includes a battery storage component, supporting grid resiliency and integration of intermittent renewable power sources to the grid mix.

The second installation, located in North Canaan, Connecticut, will participate in the CT Virtual Net Metering program. The project will supply electricity to the City of Hartford, CT, providing monthly electricity cost savings to the city while reducing the city’s reliability on fossil fuels.

“Lodestar Energy is excited to complete our 6th investment with NT Solar,” said Jack Funk, Lodestar Energy Managing Director. “With their support, we are able to provide our community solar partners with an opportunity to make progress toward their climate goals, while also generating economic development and energy savings.“

BY THE NUMBERS

The installations developed by Lodestar Energy will generate nearly 9 gigawatt-hours (GWh) annually, which:

• Creates enough electricity to power nearly 1,200 homes each year
• Offsets CO2 emissions generated from burning nearly 7 million pounds of coal annually
• Sequesters the same amount of carbon from the atmosphere as over 7 thousand acres of forest

“This investment and our continued partnership with Lodestar Energy strengthen our commitment to ensuring Community Solar is accessible to all and bring us one step closer to our vision of a sustainable future,” said Alyssa Watt, Senior Transaction Manager for NT Solar. “By facilitating access to renewable energy for thousands of families, we are investing not just in solar installations but also in the people they serve. We are particularly proud of the impact these installations will have on underinvested communities that had traditionally lacked access to renewable energy. At NT Solar, we are motivated by creating meaningful community impact and providing cost-effective energy options. This investment is a testament to that commitment.”

ABOUT COMMUNITY SOLAR

Community Solar is a revolutionary concept that offers renters, homeowners, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and municipalities equal access to the generation and distribution of clean, renewable energy while moving our country closer to a net-zero future. Community solar projects involve the construction of a large, centralized solar facility that many households and businesses can tap into. Rather than purchasing and installing solar units individually, participants can purchase a portion of the electricity produced from a shared solar power installation, lowering their monthly utility costs and circumventing the need for personal solar panels.

Community solar expands access to solar for all, including low-to-moderate income customers most impacted by a lack of access, all while building a stronger, distributed, and more resilient electric grid. Through community solar, communities gain access to affordable, green energy, reducing their electricity bills and contributing to a healthier environment. This way, the transition to sustainable energy becomes more inclusive and equitable, making a positive impact on the environment and society.

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), over 5 gigawatts of community solar have been installed in the US through 2022. 41 states currently have at least one community solar project online, and 19 have public programs to support future growth. It’s estimated that the community solar market will see an additional 6 gigawatts added in the next five years.

ABOUT THE SPONSOR

Founded in 2014, by Jeff Macel and Jaime Smith, Lodestar Energy’s goal is to develop sustainable solar energy projects that are environmentally, socially, and financially successful. Since the founding of the company, Lodestar has successfully developed and placed-in-service more than 40 projects with a combined value of over $300 million dollars. In total the projects offset more than 53,000 tons of CO2 and power the equivalent of more than 13,000 homes annually. To learn more about Lodestar Energy, click here.

ABOUT NT SOLAR

NT Solar, a subsidiary of the National Trust Community Investment Corporation, raises and manages solar investments that create meaningful community impact and cost-effective energy options nationwide. Since its inception in 2010, NT Solar has provided tax credit financing of over $650 million in capital for transactions nationwide, focusing on the growing Community Solar market. Our varied network of partners and extensive experience in diligence and structuring provides our developers with competitive pricing and stable returns for our investors. To learn more about NT Solar, click here.

NTCIC’s Historic Tax Credit Investment Supports the $80 Million Mercantile Project

Washington, D.C. – March 25, 2023: The National Trust Community Investment Corporation (NTCIC) is excited to announce the successful financial closing of The Mercantile, an $80 million adaptive reuse project in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. This project showcases how historic preservation can effectively combat the growing housing crisis by transforming two historic office buildings into much-needed housing in Cincinnati’s urban core. NTCIC provided an equity investment in the $12.7 million in federal Historic Tax Credits (HTCs) to revitalize the historic Mercantile Library Building and Formica Building in the heart of the city.

The project includes a unique combination of two adjacent historic buildings, the 13-story beaux-arts Mercantile Library Building, dating from 1903, and the 13-story high modern Formica Building, built in 1970. Once complete, the revitalized spaces will create market-rate housing and commercial spaces while preserving the historic integrity of both structures.

The Model Group, a Cincinnati-based leader in historic preservation, mixed-use urban development, and affordable housing, is the project partner responsible for the revitalization efforts. The Mercantile will feature commercial space on the first two floors, with the remaining floors being adaptively reused for market-rate rental apartments. The exception is the 11th and 12th floors, in which the project will expand and enhance the legendary Mercantile Library, a cultural institution that has been the center of Cincinnati’s literary community for over 200 years.

In the wake of the pandemic, the need for housing has been exacerbated, and the Mercantile project demonstrates the future of adaptive reuse – converting office buildings, which are becoming more and more vacant as many companies shift to remote environments.

“We’re proud to participate in this project that will prove it is possible to convert downtown office buildings, even modernist office buildings, to housing with distinct appeal,” said NTCIC Project Manager Tony Maruca. “Expertise not just in project finance but also design, construction, and operations make the Model Group the ideal steward of both our investment and these treasured historic buildings.”

The Mercantile project highlights the challenges and successes of office conversions, particularly in the case of the Formica Building, a modern office building from the 70s. The Model Group, an innovative partner in this project, has demonstrated the ability to envision new uses for a contemporary office building while respecting its historic character.

This transformative project will contribute to the ongoing revitalization of downtown Cincinnati, stimulating economic growth and attracting new investment. NTCIC’s financing, combined with traditional debt, sponsor equity, state HTCs, the recently created Ohio Transformational Mixed-Use Development (TMUD), and Ohio Opportunity Zone financing, will help ensure successful project completion.

Click here to read more about the project development.

About National Trust Community Investment Corporation (NTCIC)

NTCIC is an industry leader in providing investment capital, asset management, and innovative financing solutions for historic preservation and community development. Since its inception, NTCIC has contributed to the rehabilitation of more than 22 million square feet of historic real estate, creating nearly 80 thousand jobs and generating more than $2 billion in project financing.

Historic Illinois Building will Become InterContinental Hotel with Historic Tax Credit Investment

WASHINGTON, DC, March 30, 2023 – The National Trust Community Investment Corporation (NTCIC) is excited to announce the successful financial closing of the Illinois Building, an iconic office building located in the heart of the Mile Square business district of Indianapolis, Indiana. The revitalization project, led by Keystone Group, a development, construction, property management, and investments company specializing in transformational mixed-use projects, will transform the building into a 170-key full-service luxury InterContinental hotel and restaurant space. NTCIC provided an equity investment in federal Historic Tax Credits (HTC) generated by the preservation efforts.

Historic Origins

Constructed in 1926, the Illinois Building was designed by the renowned architectural firm Rubush & Hunter, who were responsible for several iconic landmarks in Indianapolis, such as the Masonic Temple, City Hall, Circle Theater, Indiana Theater, and the Stutz Motor Company complex. Commissioned by the president of what is now Levi Strauss & Company, the building served as luxurious office space for nearly 70 years before becoming predominantly vacant by the mid-2000s. Indiana Landmarks listed the building on its 10 Most Endangered list in 2006, spurring interest in its revitalization.

The Revitalization of Downtown Indianapolis

Keystone Group will oversee the transformation of the 10-story, 135,004 square-foot Illinois Building into a 170-key luxury InterContinental hotel managed by IHG. The project will retain the two ground-floor restaurants currently occupying and operating the space, add a 2nd-floor hotel restaurant and bar, and create a rooftop bar and venue.

“The restoration of the Illinois Building is a testament to our commitment to preserving the architectural heritage of downtown Indianapolis,” said Ersal Ozdemir, Keystone Group CEO. “With the transformational development of this long-vacant historic treasure, we are not only reinvigorating the central business district but also attracting more activity and fostering a vibrant, thriving urban core that benefits residents and visitors alike.”

NTCIC’s Historic Support

To facilitate the restoration of the Illinois Building, NTCIC financed federal Historic Tax Credits generated by the project through its Climate Impact and Revitalization Fund. NTCIC provided underwriting and transaction management services and will provide asset management services through the HTC compliance period.

“We are proud to collaborate with Keystone Group for the Illinois Building restoration, who have demonstrated exceptional stewardship, commitment to quality preservation, and dedication to the local community,” said Amanda Bloomberg, NTCIC’s Senior Acquisition Manager. “Their track record of thoughtful development reinforces our confidence in the project’s potential to make a lasting impact on downtown Indianapolis.”

The conversion of the historic downtown Illinois Building into a hotel exemplifies the shift of companies to more remote and flexible work arrangements and a reduction in the demand for traditional office spaces. This trend has led to an increased interest in repurposing these historic spaces into other types of properties, such as hotels, housing, and retail, which can cater to the evolving needs of urban centers.

Written by Tim O’Donnell of the National Trust for Historic Preservation

In its heyday, the Crescent Corset Company employed more than 700 women, many of them Italian immigrants, at a factory on South Main Street in Cortland, New York. The large industrial brick building, built in multiple stages starting in 1923, quickly became an anchor for the small city, which sits between Ithaca and Syracuse.

They came up with a plan to convert the factory into a mixed-used complex, believing there was demand for both residential and commercial units. The National Trust Community Investment Corporation (NTCIC) supported the companies with state and federal historic tax credit equity, which Lockwood says was necessary for getting the adaptive reuse project off the ground.

“In Cortland, which is 15,000 to 20,000 people, you can’t talk to too many people [whose] grandmother didn’t work there, or their sister, or their aunt,” said Ben Lockwood, president and CEO of Housing Visions, the nonprofit developer that has helped transform the rundown building into a vibrant commercial and residential space over the past several years.

 

The saga of the Crescent Corset Company factory, as it was formerly known, is similar to that of many other manufacturing sites in American cities during the second half of the 20th century. Over the years, activity within the building slowly declined until it became vacant, and a once proud structure had become an eyesore.

But the factory’s fate changed when Housing Visions partnered with David Yaman Realty Services, a local firm. Together, they produced an adaptive reuse plan that brought the former factory back to life, once again making it a keystone in Cortland.