SEI’s Solar Forward is collaborating with the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) to present Colorado Clean Energy Fund (CCEF)’s latest financing products

Paonia, CO- Colorado’s first green bank, Colorado Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) began in 2021 developing products for difficult-to-finance renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, like small commercial solar installations and for borrowers without competitive credit or access to capital. Green banks like CCEF specialize in difficult-to-finance projects that help decarbonize the economy and build resilience. Solar Forward and the Colorado Energy Office are presenting a webinar with CCEF to showcase some of the financing products developed especially for solar in Colorado. This information is relevant for solar customers and contractors in Colorado. 

The webinar is Thursday, September 22, from 5 – 6 pm. Click here to register.

CCEF’s CEO Paul Scharfenberger will cover:

  • Products for residential solar and energy efficiency through credit unions and financed directly by CCEF for Solar United Neighbors (SUN) cooperative members
  • On-bill financing for rural electric cooperatives’ low to moderate-income community members
  • Commercial products in collaboration with the Colorado Commercial-Property Assessed Clean Energy loan program
  • Unique financing for the marijuana industry 

“CCEF is proud to partner with Solar Forward for this upcoming webinar to highlight how our organization is helping Colorado to achieve its climate goals,” said CCEF CEO Paul Scharfenberger, “This session will provide an opportunity for Colorado homeowners, renters, commercial business owners, and others to learn about ways they can make an impact towards a healthier and more resilient Colorado.”

CCEF, like other green banks, has a clear mandate to mitigate climate change by expanding capital to underserved projects and under-resourced communities. CCEF uses financial tools to help reduce real or perceived risk in carbon reduction projects like solar. To better serve Coloradans that typical lenders cannot because of risk, CCEF worked with the Solar United Neighbors (SUN) solar co-ops to develop a low-interest loan product for SUN co-op members who earn less than 100% of the area median income. The on-bill tariff that CCEF has developed will allow low to moderate-income households to afford energy efficiency and renewable energy retrofits that will reduce energy costs on day one. These on-bill tariffs are tied to the meter, so if a customer decides to relocate, the savings are passed on to the successor and help incentivize investment in the building stock. These are just a few of the topics that CCEF CEO Paul Scharfenberger will cover in the webinar presentation.

One of CCEF’s newer products is designed to assist marijuana businesses. Marijuana businesses cannot be financed by federally regulated banks, hence financing solar or efficiency measures for this energy-intensive industry has been difficult. As a green bank, CCEF will be able to provide low-interest rates for these investments, lowering energy costs for these businesses and contributing to climate goals in their communities. The webinar will be a great opportunity for solar contractors to learn more about these unique financing products. 

“Green banks like CCEF are playing an integral part in how we invest in infrastructure and technologies for a renewable energy transition,” opined Ellen Ross, Solar Forward Program Manager and co-host of the webinar, “The way I see it, traditional lending institutions are the status quo, like fossil fuel infrastructure. Colorado benefits from how CCEF helps finance opportunities for the technologies that usher in renewable energy and carbon mitigating efficiencies. Solar electric generation, especially decentralized, rooftop solar, is one of these.” 

If you have been interested in financing your home solar installation or want to learn more about the new financing products available for niche, small to mid-sized commercial projects, this information could help you develop some solutions.

The webinar is Thursday, September 22, from 5 – 6 pm. Click here to register.

Contact Solar Forward for more information about this webinar or information about how the Solar Forward program assists communities in implementing solar campaigns.

Program Manager, Ellen Ross [email protected], 970-527-7657 extension 116. 

 

About Colorado Clean Energy Fund (www.cocleanenergyfund.com): CCEF is a climate-first investment fund that aims to mitigate climate change, advance environmental and economic justice, and create a healthier and more resilient Colorado by expanding access to capital to underserved projects and communities.

About Solar Energy International (www.solarenergy.org): SEI was founded in 1991 as a nonprofit educational organization with the purpose of empowering students, alumni, and partners to expand a diverse, inclusive, well-trained and educated solar electricity workforce. SEI’s aim is to promote sustainable economic growth, mitigate climate change, and support energy independence. SEI’s Solar Forward is an outreach program that partners with communities seeking to meet local sustainability goals, achieve economic development benefits, and create jobs in the solar industry through solar campaigns.