Topic: How To Invest

Hi, Pat: What is your opinion on the Northern Solar Bonds issued by Green Timiskaming? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Green Timiskaming, the issuer of Northern Solar Bonds, was established in 2009 as a community-owned, not-for-profit co-operative devoted to building a “greener way of life” for the people of Timiskaming, in Northern Ontario. The bonds will finance a 250-kilowatt solar system to be installed at the Armstrong Township Arena in Earlton, Ontario, and another nine 500-kilowatt projects in Chamberlain Township. Northern Solar Bonds have very high yields: investors buying five-year bonds will get a yield of 4.5% annually (in contrast, a five-year GIC yields 1.80%); the 20-year bond has an effective rate of around 7% annually. The minimum investment is $500 for a five-year bond and $1,000 for a 20-year bond. The maximum for a five-year bond is $100,000 and $1,000,000 for the 20-year bond. Green Timiskaming markets the bonds as lower-risk because the solar projects have guaranteed 20-year contracts with the Ontario government. As well, the solar panels have 25-year warranties, and the projects will be insured so as to mitigate the…