-Overview
Energy and water infrastructure make up some of the most significant development finance nationwide. From new production facilities and renewable energy source development to retrofitting and renovating existing infrastructure to support efficient energy and water projects, this finance has become a driving force in the economic development community.
CDFA’s Intro Energy & Water Finance WebCourse explores the wide range of tools available for financing energy and water projects, including bonds, PACE finance, tax credits, revolving loan funds, and federal support programs. This course will cover how such programs are used throughout the country to encourage investment in large and small projects, with additional discussion on important legal, policy, and regulatory considerations.
This course qualifies for the CDFA Training Institute's Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) Program. Join us online and start down the road to personal and professional advancement today.
Register
Course Objectives
- Gain knowledge and insight into the complex energy and water financing industries
- Learn about the application of state and federal finance programs for energy and water infrastructure
- Interact with leading development finance professionals from around the country
- Review best practices and case studies that can be implemented in your community
- Gain a greater understanding of the partnership opportunities for energy and water development
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Topics Covered
- Energy and water industry overviews
- Legal and regulatory considerations
- Finance programs for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water sustainability initiatives
- Tax-exempt and taxable bonds for energy and water development
- Loan programs
- Tax credits and other incentive programs supporting energy and water infrastructure
- Innovative approaches and case studies
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Who Should Attend?
- Bond issuers
- Economic development professionals
- Community development professionals
- Brokers, dealers, and underwriters
- Elected officials
- Government and nonprofit finance officers
- Corporate trustees
- Legal counsel
- Underwriters
- Commercial bankers
- Accountants
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Course Advisor
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Zeyu Zhang
Council of Development Finance Agencies
Manager, Research & Technical Assistance
Zeyu Zhang is a Manager of Research & Technical Assistance for the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA). Her focus areas include bond, infrastructure finance, energy, PACE, and P3. She contributes to the team by managing federal programs, ... conducting research on development finance-related topics, generating reports, and performing data analysis.
Zeyu received her Ph.D. degree in Mass Communication at Ohio University in 2021. She has expertise in media studies, research designs, and data analysis. She has a Master’s degree in Digital Storytelling from Ball State University. Prior to joining CDFA, she worked as a researcher, instructor, research assistant, and program assistant. She is excited to advance her career by deepening her knowledge in the field of development finance. (More)
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-Agenda
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
| Wed 12:00 PM - 12:15 PM |
Welcome & Overview
Welcome participants, introduce CDFA, and set the stage for the course.
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| Wed 12:15 PM - 12:45 PM |
Framing the Energy & Water Infrastructure Financing Landscape
Investment in clean energy and water infrastructure projects has grown considerably, and sustainable financing solutions for resilient infrastructure are more important than ever. From new production facilities and renewable energy source development to retrofitting and renovating existing buildings and systems, energy and water finance has become a driving force in the economic development community. This session will provide a basic overview of the energy and water industries from technical and financial experts, with a discussion about the federal funding landscape for these projects.
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| Wed 12:45 PM - 1:15 PM |
Unlocking the Development Finance Toolbox
This session will cover the basic principles of development finance, key types of finance tools, and fundamental approaches to building a comprehensive strategy for financing energy and water projects. Attendees will be introduced to the range of financing mechanisms available to project developers and provide context for the remainder of the course.
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| Wed 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM |
Legal, Policy & Regulatory Considerations for Energy Projects
Energy development, both generation and production, is governed by a complex set of legal, policy, and regulatory requirements. These requirements can pose serious challenges to the project's physical and financial viability. During this session, counsel and industry representatives will examine these legal, policy, and regulatory hurdles and provide initial input into how these challenges can be mitigated.
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| Wed 2:00 PM - 2:15 PM |
Break
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| Wed 2:15 PM - 3:00 PM |
Financing Energy with Tax-Exempt and Taxable Bonds
Bond financing is the bedrock of public finance and has heavily influenced energy development throughout the country. This session will explore the various bond financing options available to state and local development agencies to support energy development. This discussion includes Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds (QECBs), Exempt Facility Bonds, and traditional tax-exempt and taxable bond financing mechanisms.
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| Wed 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM |
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Finance
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) finance programs have proliferated nationwide in the past decade. Designed to support the expansion of energy efficiency installations in industrial, commercial, and residential buildings, PACE programs incentivize a reduction in energy usage by paying for up-front improvements through assessments on property tax bills over time. This session will explain the basics of PACE financing and highlight creative programs.
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| Wed 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM |
Energy Tax Credit Programs
Both federal and state tax credits are available to promote continued investment in energy infrastructure and projects. During this session, tax credit finance experts will discuss these programs and how they are implemented.
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| Wed 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM |
Loan Programs for Energy Projects
Energy-focused loan funds of all sizes provide access to capital for energy projects and fill financing gaps. Many programs exist to support energy development with these tools, from local funds to support energy efficiency upgrades to large state funds that drive commercial and industrial energy development. Panelists will present on the variety of energy loan funds and share case studies to demonstrate how this type of financing can be used.
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| Wed 5:00 PM |
Adjourn
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Thursday, August 8, 2024
| Thu 12:00 PM - 12:15 PM |
Revisiting Day 1
Day 2 will begin with a review of key takeaways from Day 1 and the agenda for the second half of the course.
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| Thu 12:15 PM - 12:45 PM |
Legal, Policy & Regulatory Considerations for Water Finance
Water infrastructure development has become a critical financing need in the development finance industry. Increased pressure and demand on systems coupled with aging infrastructure have stressed the available resources. During this session, counsel and industry representatives will examine the legal, policy, and regulatory hurdles facing water development and provide initial input into addressing these challenges.
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| Thu 12:45 PM - 1:45 PM |
State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) Programs
Every state operates a state revolving loan fund (SRF) program supported by funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These funds are a major catalyst for supporting water projects. During this session, attendees will learn about SRFs and how to access this important source of capital.
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| Thu 1:45 PM - 2:00 PM |
Break
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| Thu 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM |
Feasibility, Structuring & Sale of Bonds for Water Projects
Bond financing plays a major role in the development of water systems. This session will explore the various bond financing options available to state and local development agencies to support water development. This discussion will include market analysis, project development, and the necessary legal steps for using bonds to finance water infrastructure.
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| Thu 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM |
Public-Private Partnerships (P3) to Support Water Infrastructure
P3s have become an increasingly popular way to fund water development. Numerous structures and approaches are being used to support this movement. During this session, attendees will examine the P3 water financing landscape to determine if these models are right for their community.
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| Thu 3:45 PM - 4:00 PM |
Break
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| Thu 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
Federal Water Financing Solutions
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provide various programs for funding and financing water infrastructure. From planning and environmental assessment to clean-up and project funding, these programs offer significant financial resources for moving water infrastructure forward in your community. During this session, representatives from the federal agencies will be on hand to provide insight into the federal funding solutions for water development.
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| Thu 5:00 PM |
Adjourn
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-Location
The Intro Energy & Water Finance WebCourse will take place on Zoom. The course will meet each day from 12:00-5:00 PM Eastern. Attendees must have access to a computer and the internet to attend the course.
-Registration
This training course qualifies for the CDFA Training Institute's
Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) Program. Start down the road to personal and professional advancement today.
Scholarships are available to attend this event. Learn more about the
CDFA Scholarship Program,
and submit your application today.
When you register for four courses during CDFA Summer School, you will receive a $150 discount off the total registration fee.
CDFA permits only one person to log in and participate in the course. If multiple people are accessing the course without paying to attend, we will terminate the connection and access. CDFA offers group discounts for organizations that wish to register multiple people.
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CDFA Member: $375
Non-Member: $500
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Register