Financing can be one of the biggest challenges to developing a renewable energy project. On Wednesday, Sept. 24, tribal leaders and their staffs will have an opportunity to learn about two potential options for clearing that roadblock during a webinar on energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs) and utility energy service contracts (UESCs). Part of the DOE’s 2014 Tribal Renewable Energy Series, Successful Project Financing Mechanisms: ESPCs and UESCs will air from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mountain time.

In addition to gaining insight into how these two innovative financing mechanisms work, attendees will learn how ESPCs and UESCs can enable Tribes to develop energy projects with limited or no up-front investment required. Attendees will also hear from presenters about best practices for implementing ESPCs and UESCs, developed over nearly15 years and hundreds of projects. 

“ESPCs and UESCs have become popular methods for financing renewable energy and energy efficiency projects because they provide an avenue for developing the projects without incurring major up-front capital costs,” said Deb Vasquez of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). “In instances where financial hurdles are keeping energy projects from moving forward, these options can reduce the wait time of the budget process.”

Vasquez, who serves as NREL’s technical lead for the DOE Federal Energy Management Program’s (FEMP’s) utility program, will be one of the speakers during the webinar along with NREL Senior Engineer Doug Dahle, an expert technical consultant and facilitator for federal agency implementation of ESPCs and utility-scale solar power generation plants on federal lands, and representatives from the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA).

Sponsored by the DOE Office of Indian Energy, Tribal Energy Program, and WAPA, the webinar is offered free of charge, but advance registration is required.

Register for the webinar.