MMA Renewable Ventures and 3 Phases Energy to Deliver an Innovative, Affordable Solar Energy Solution for Fetzer Vineyards

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., June 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 3 Phases Energy, LLC, and MMA Renewable Ventures, LLC, a subsidiary of Municipal Mortgage & Equity, LLC, also known as MuniMae , announced today a collaborative effort to develop the largest solar energy vineyard project in the United States at Fetzer Vineyards. MMA Renewable Ventures, a specialist in innovative renewable energy project finance, and 3 Phases Energy, a renewable energy developer and marketer, will deliver the cost-effective solar energy solution.

The 901-kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) project will be positioned on the roofs of the bottling facility and Red Wine Barrel Room at Fetzer's Hopland, California winery. Generating 1.1 million kilowatt hours of clean electricity annually, the installation will supply 80 percent of the bottling plant's electricity needs. By replacing electricity from fossil fuels and other sources with clean energy from the sun, the Fetzer solar array will offset more than 960,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the equivalent of taking approximately 80 cars off the road for a year or planting 130 acres of trees.

"As one of the first and only wineries to purchase 100 percent clean power, Fetzer has a long-standing tradition of pioneering environmentally sound business practices," said Steve Dorfman, Chief Winery Officer for Brown-Forman. "Building one of the largest solar energy arrays in the country as a green power solution is perfectly in line with Fetzer's business objectives and commitment to sustainability."

Dorfman also noted the project is tangible proof of the winery's search for meaningful ways to positively impact the potential problems associated with global warming. "I commend Fetzer for being the first major winery in the country to use 100 percent clean power," said Mindy S. Lubber, president of CERES, a coalition of investors and environmental groups that works with companies on sustainability issues. "This action sends a clear signal that cost-effective energy solutions are available that can benefit companies and the global environment at the same time."

The Fetzer solar energy system marks the first project to be financed through MMA Renewable Ventures' solar fund, a vehicle for institutional investment in renewable energy projects nationwide. Deploying the proceeds through its proprietary third-party financing model, MMA Renewable Ventures works with solar energy developers such as 3 Phases Energy to offer customers predictably priced clean energy while avoiding the costs of installation and ongoing system maintenance. MMA Renewable Ventures will finance, operate, and maintain the generation facility and sell the power to Fetzer under the terms of a Solar Services Agreement (SSA) that sets the electricity costs at a fixed rate. Construction will begin in late July, with completion in October.

"We have had great success collaborating with key solar industry players to provide solar energy services to their customers, companies that do not want to be in the energy business to gain access to clean, predictable power," said Matt Cheney, CEO of MMA Renewable Ventures. "The value proposition is so great that I believe the model we're seeing Fetzer put into action today represents the future of solar energy deployment in the corporate community as well as the public sector where it puts previously inaccessible tax incentives into play."

3 Phases Energy, as both a project developer and green power marketer, has helped Fetzer achieve its renewable energy goals since 2002, providing both green power and renewable energy certificates to Fetzer's Hopland facility. 3 Phases Energy's development of this large solar array will enable Fetzer to produce the majority of its power onsite. This represents the first project commissioned under 3 Phases Energy's Daylight Savings service, a solar energy development vehicle, enabled by third party capital and efficient management of the renewable energy credits (RECs), to secure 100 percent renewable energy for customers at an affordable, long term price.

"This commitment for a 901 kW solar installation represents a milestone that we are proud to achieve with an outstanding long-term client like Fetzer," said Tim Derrick, Director of 3 Phases Energy's Green Onsite Division. "Through our cooperation with leading finance companies like MMA Renewable Ventures, customers can demonstrate their commitment to both renewable energy and smart business by securing a lasting, stable energy source without having to shoulder the upfront capital costs."

3 Phases Daylight Savings program and MMA Renewable Ventures' third-party financing model present ideal clean energy solutions for organizations with large facilities and substantial electricity needs including, schools, factories, business parks, wineries, warehouses, airports and municipal sites.

About Fetzer Vineyards

Fetzer Vineyards is the leading example of sustainable wineries, producing popularly priced wines with a heritage of excellence and quality recognized annually in major wine competitions. Fetzer is a part of Brown-Forman Beverages, Louisville, Kentucky. It markets Korbel Champagnes and produces and markets Fetzer, Sonoma-Cutrer, Bonterra, Mariah, Jekel, Little Black Dress and Virgin Vines from California; Bolla and Fontana Candida from Italy; and markets Michel Picard and Gala Rouge Wines from France, along with Durbanville Hills from South Africa. Visit Fetzer on the web at Fetzer.com.

About MMA Renewable Ventures

A wholly-owned subsidiary of MuniMae, MMA Renewable Ventures manages and operates renewable energy assets in the United States. The company partners with top-tier investors, project developers, and customers to build distributed clean energy generation plants and to sell the electricity and renewable energy credits to the site-host under a Solar Services Agreement. MMA Renewable Ventures is dedicated to providing competitively priced, clean energy for customers and exceptional investment opportunities in the renewable energy sector. For more information about MMA Renewable Ventures, visit http://www.mmarenewableventures.com/.

About 3 Phases Energy

3 Phases Energy is a renewable energy marketing and development company, which provides renewable energy solutions for corporations, institutions, utilities, and residential customers. With customers in fifty states and five countries, 3 Phases Energy has expanded its onsite power generation development business to include large-scale solar PV and other clean technologies. 3 Phases Energy was recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency as the 2005 Renewable Energy Technology Provider of the Year. For more information visit http://www.3phases.com/.

Statements in this press release that are not historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, the Company can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include completion of pending investments, continued ability to originate new investments, the mix of business between tax-exempt and taxable activities, the availability and cost of capital for future investments, competition within the finance and real estate industries, economic conditions, loss experience and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell any securities of the Company or any other entity.