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.

USDA Report on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity 2019 Members only

On April 25, 2017, the President of the United States established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity through Executive Order 13790. The purpose and function of the Task Force was to identify legislative, regulatory, and policy changes to promote agriculture, economic development, job growth, infrastructure improvements, technological innovation, energy security, and quality of life in rural America.

Iowa's Biomass Conversion Action Plan 2018 Members only

Consumption of renewable energy in the United States is at the highest level in history, contributing to energy security and other economic and environmental benefits. The largest single source of renewable energy is biomass, representing nearly half of renewable energy consumed in 2016.

CDFA // BNY Mellon Webcast Series: Picking Up the PACE State by State Members only

During this installment of the CDFA // BNY Mellon Webcast Series, Caleb Bell with Bricker & Eckler LLP and David Gabrielson with PACENation discussed the best practices in crafting PACE enabling legislation as well as case studies of some of the most effective legislation to date.

Solar Lending Practices by Community and Regional Financial Institutions Members only

Current projections of solar photovoltaic (PV) system costs and deployment in the United States indicate substantial capital requirements over the next 30 years and beyond. Concurrently, community and regional financial institutions (CRFIs), including community banks and credit unions, collectively hold $3.6 trillion in assets. These institutions could provide a significant portion of the required PV capital while creating a large investment opportunity for themselves. Looking ahead, access to additional credit and market information is critical for accelerating the role of CRFIs and other financial institutions in supporting U.S. PV growth.

More Case Studies

-Renewable Energy / Energy Efficiency Bonds

Financing Low-Carbon Buildings and Energy Efficiency in the Green Bond Market Members only

There are substantial opportunities to leverage green bonds to finance low-carbon buildings and energy efficiency in the country. Issuance across the world shows that capital markets can be accessed to finance energy efficiency and buildings. Financing climate adaptation and resilience also presents opportunities.

Growing Green Bond Markets: The Development of Taxonomies to Identify Green Assets Members only

Bond Finance | Energy Finance | Green Finance | Water Finance

Green bond guidelines are being implemented across the globe to support issuers and investors in selecting and reporting on suitable projects. However, a gap of adoption of green definitions remains, suggesting the need to develop consistent approaches that can increase the capability of issuers and investors to identify eligible green and sustainable assets.

Building Resiliency Through Green Infrastructure Members only

Bond Finance | Green Finance | Infrastructure Finance | Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs) | Water Finance

Cities have recently integrated more green infrastructure strategies into their climate resiliency planning. Creating climate-resilient cities takes more than a series of infrastructure investments; more than sea walls and permeable pavement. It takes investment in people. Those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change are those without living wages or access to political power—very often communities of color.

CDFA - PFM Capital Markets Webinar Series: Financing for Climate Resilience Members only

Bond Finance | Green Finance | Webcasts

During this webinar, Eric Espino with PFM, Heather Green with the City and County of San Francisco, and Bob Gamble with PFM discussed how cities are addressing the challenges of climate change and the types of bond and financing structures being used to build more resilient communities.

Growing the U.S. Green Bond Market Members only

The United States’ deteriorating infrastructure is woefully underprepared to address the challenge of adapting to climate change. The funding gap has presented an opportunity for global capital markets to create investment vehicles that provide long-term yield, while also helping communities mitigate or adapt to the effects of global warming. One such vehicle that has arisen in the past decade is the green bond: a traditional fixed income security with an additional layer of environmental sustainability.

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-U.S. Department of Energy

Financing Brownfields Cleanup and Buildup Members only

Brownfield Financing | Redevelopment | U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE)

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.

Nicolo Pinoli, Public-Private Partnerships: A (brief) look at existing programs in Oregon Members only

Federal | Public-Private Partnership (P3) Financing | Tax Credits | U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE)

Nicolo Pinoli explained public-private partnerships in Oregon in relation to federal and state tax credit programs, loan programs and grant programs.

Perspectives on Energy Investment Partnerships

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

To close out the Energy Investment Partnerships Webinar Series, Rima Ouied from the U.S. Department of Energy will provide closing remarks and reflect on the opportunity that states have for building new partnerships to finance and deploy clean energy.

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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 Case 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.

C-PACE for Opportunity Zones Members only

Energy Finance | Green Finance | Opportunity Zones | Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)

How C-PACE can be used in Opportunity Zones featuring case studies of completed projects.

CDFA // BNY Mellon Webcast Series: Picking Up the PACE State by State Members only

Energy Finance | Green Finance | Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) | Webcasts

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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: Picking Up the PACE State by State Members only

Energy Finance | Green Finance | Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) | Webcasts

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

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.