Energy Finance Resource Center

Energy finance is one of the fastest growing areas of development finance. Essentially, energy finance is focused on tools that improve energy efficiency, provide alternative clean energy generation or assist with large scale energy distribution. Tool such as grants, loan guarantees, revolving loan funds and tax credits are the major drivers of the energy finance sector. However, new approaches such as PACE, on-bill financing and bonds are emerging quickly. The federal government, primarily through the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Agriculture, has also taken an active and proactive role in financing energy development.

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-Resources

Understanding Energy Finance
U.S. DOE Loan Guarantee Program
U.S. DOE Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG)
U.S. DOE Energy (DOE)\State Energy Program (SEP)
Energy Efficiency Programs
Energy Revolving Loan Funds
New Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (New CREBS)
Property Assessed Clean Energy Bonds (PACE)
Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds (QECBs)
USDA Rural Energy for America Program Grants (REAP Grants)
USDA Rural Energy for America Program Guaranteed Loan Program (REAP Loans)

-Case Studies

Energy finance tools come in a variety of forms. These tools include loans, assesments, tax credits and bonds. CDFA has collected hundreds of case study examples.

Largest MI PACE Deal Used to Retrofit the St. Clair Inn Members only

The St. Clair Inn recently used PACE to implement a broad array of updates including LED lights, efficient appliances and water saving measures, using over $5.5 million in PACE financing. This is the largest PACE deal that Michigan has had to date.

Energy Finance: The Green Bank Model in New England Members only

Brian McCarter. CEO of Sustainable Real Estate Solutions, explores the Green Bank Model for clean energy investment as well as opportunities to expand the use of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) to both commercial and residential sectors.

Energy Finance: The Green Bank Model in New England Members only

Bert Hunter explores the Green Bank Model for clean energy investment as well as opportunities to expand the use of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) to both the commercial and residential sectors.

Creative Financing Strategies - Green Bank Principles and the NY Green Bank Members only

Unique development financing solutions are increasingly sought after to complete projects of all sizes, and it is often necessary to find creative approaches that involve combining multiple financing tools. Andrew Levine of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young discusses the New York Green Bank and its principles.

Rural Development and Small Town Approaches to Access to Capital - Village of Minster Members only

Urban communities like Cleveland and Cincinnati are not the only places looking for help to fund economic development. Ohio is filled with rural communities and small towns that are also in need of financing strategies. These areas face unique development financing challenges and needs such as downtown revitalization, food systems, infrastructure and energy finance. A number of creative and important financing tools exist to assist rural and small town development. Donald Harrod of the Village of Minster discusses the Solar and Energy Storage Project in the Village.

More Case Studies

-Renewable Energy / Energy Efficiency Bonds

Finance Guide for Resilient by Design Bay Area Challenge Design Teams Members only

The purpose of this guide, produced by NHA Advisors, is to assist design teams that are part of the Resilient by Design Bay Area Challenge (RbD) by providing a funding and financing reference guide for resilient infrastructure along the San Francisco Bay shoreline.

Energy Finance: The Green Bank Model in New England Members only

Access to Capital | Energy Finance | Green Finance | Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) | Urban Development

Energy Efficiency Financing Programs Members only

Energy Finance | Local Finance Program | Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) | State Finance Program | U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE)

Investments in clean energy and infrastructure projects are growing rapidly, and the need for sustainable financing solutions becomes more important every day. From new production facilities and renewable energy source development to the retrofitting and renovation of existing buildings and systems, energy finance has become a driving force in the economic development community.

Arizona Bond Market Outlook Members only

Bond Finance

Nick Dodd, Managing Director from RBC Capital Markets discuss current trends in the Arizona bond market.

Moody's Assigns its First Green Bond Assessment to Dutch Mortgage Deal Members only

Bond Finance | Energy Finance | Green Finance

Moody's Investors Service has released a report from their first assigned Green Bond Assessment (GBA) of GB1 to GREEN STORM 2016 B.V., a Dutch green residential mortgage-backed securitisation (RMBS).

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-U.S. Department of Energy

Financing Brownfields Cleanup and Buildup Members only

Brownfield Financing | Redevelopment

Case Studies Featuring Oregon Brownfields Redevelopment Projects. Featuring the City of Hillsboro and Coos Bay.

Financing Improvements for Energy Efficiency in Ohio - Current Trends Members only

Energy Finance | Federal | U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) | U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) | Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)

Energy development is the fastest growing area of development finance nationwide. Caleb Bell (Bricker & Eckler LLP) discuss the financing mechanisms behind energy efficiency loans and bonds in Ohio.

Clean Energy Financing from the Dept. of Energy Members only

Energy Finance | U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE)

The Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office has more than $40 billion in authority to finance innovative clean energy projects and advanced technology vehicles manufacturing.

Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF) Overview Members only

Community Development | Energy Finance | Green Finance | U.S. Dept. of Treasury CDFI Fund | U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE)

The Solar and Energy Loan Fund is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and a certified CDFI which provides energy expertise and affordable financing to enable low-to-moderate income homeowners and small businesses to identify and make cost-effective energy retrofits to their homes and businesses.

Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant Program Guidelines Members only

Access to Capital | Energy Finance | Green Finance | U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE)

The California Energy Commission has developed these Guidelines to help implement and administer the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program.

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-Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)

PACE Wisconsin Overview Members only

Energy Finance | Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing supports the expansion of energy efficiency, solar, water, wind power and other renewable energy installations for the benefit of commercial buildings. PACE programs capitalize reduction in energy usage by paying for property improvements through voluntary special assessments placed on property tax bills over time. Jason Stringer with PACE Wisconsin explores the latest PACE projects in Wisconsin, as well as explain the basic concepts of the tool and how it is beneficial for local governments and property owners in the state

818 Post Road PACE Casey Study Members only

Energy Finance | Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing supports the expansion of energy efficiency, solar, water, wind power and other renewable energy installations for the benefit of commercial buildings. PACE programs capitalize reduction in energy usage by paying for property improvements through voluntary special assessments placed on property tax bills over time. Aaron Kraus with Greenworks Lending explores the latest PACE projects in Wisconsin, as well as explain the basic concepts of the tool and how it is beneficial for local governments and property owners in the state

PACE Financing in Wisconsin Members only

Community Development | Economic Development | Energy Finance | Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing supports the expansion of energy efficiency, solar, water, wind power and other renewable energy installations for the benefit of commercial buildings. PACE programs capitalize reduction in energy usage by paying for property improvements through voluntary special assessments placed on property tax bills over time. Brad Elmer with Baker Tilly explores the latest PACE projects in Wisconsin, as well as explain the basic concepts of the tool and how it is beneficial for local governments and property owners in the state.

Energy Finance: The Green Bank Model in New England Members only

Access to Capital | Energy Finance | Green Finance | Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) | Urban Development

Energy Finance: The Green Bank Model in New England Members only

Access to Capital | Energy Finance | Green Finance | Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) | Public-Private Partnership (P3) Financing

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-Training Courses

Energy finance education is essential to ensure project success. CDFA offers two of the only comprehensive training courses available. Courses are two days in length and offered at various times in the year.

The Intro Energy & Water Finance Course begins with an overview of the complex energy development industry and introduces attendees to the terminology and technology driving this movement. We will then examine the entire spectrum of energy financing solutions from bonds to revolving loan funds and innovative incentive programs available to businesses, home owners, development professionals, investors, and government entities

-Webcasts

CDFA // BNY Mellon Webcast Series: Bonds + Financing Sustainability Members only

Bonds are considered the bedrock tool for development finance because of their common use funding traditional projects however they also can be adaptable for new types of projects. In the current day and age sustainability has become a key focus in development finance and bonds have more frequently been used to finance this new wave of projects. During this installment of the BNY Mellon // CDFA Webcast Series Sharon Wojda from the City of Bend, Oregon, and Stephen Pearlman from Pearlman & Miranda, LLC., will look at outside the box ideas for issuing bonds to fund sustainable areas of finance including renewable energy, adaptive reuse for infrastructure and sustainable water solutions.

CDFA & OSU Webcast: Using the Successes of Energy Finance to Guide Progress in Food Systems Finance

Energy Finance | Food Systems Finance | Webcasts

The CDFA & OSU Webcast was a special one time offering. The webcast covered the Energy Finance Landscape and explored how its successes may be applied to the Food Systems Landscape. This webcast was run by students taking the graduate level Sustainable Financing class in the Department of City and Regional Planning at The Ohio State University.

CDFA // BNY Mellon Webcast Series: Capturing the Success of High Performing DFA's Members only

This month’s CDFA // BNY Mellon Development Finance Webcast Series on Capturing the Success of High Performing DFA's featured Tim Fisher of CDFA, Paul Toth of Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, Gary Smith of Chester County Economic Development Council, Samuele Bozzolla of Allegheny County, and Juan Salgado of Phoenix Industrial Development Authority.

CDFA // BNY Mellon Webcast Series: Post-Election Development Finance Landscape Members only

This month’s CDFA // BNY Mellon Development Finance Webcast Series on the post-election development finance landscape featured Toby Rittner of CDFA, Eric Silva of North South Government Strategies, George Friedlander of George Friedlander Consulting, and David Terry of NASEO.

CDFA // BNY Mellon Webcast Series: The Food System - Thinking Outside of the Silo

Agriculture Finance | Economic Development | Energy Finance | Food Systems Finance | Webcasts

During this installment of the CDFA // BNY Mellon Webcast Series, Barry Kukovich with Peoples Gas, Glenn Ford with InCity Farms and Rick Terrien with Artisan Food Networks, thought outside the silo and recognized the food system as an economic development tool by discussing innovative financing to fill the gaps of regional food systems.