Author: Daniel Lebiednik

(Washington, D.C.) – The District’s Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) was awarded $4.6 million by the U.S. Department of Energy to establish an innovative loan fund led by DC Green Bank to boost energy efficiency improvements in affordable housing. Led by DC Green Bank, the loan fund will help make affordable housing greener and help the District achieve its ambitious sustainability and equity goals by providing lower-cost capital for energy-efficiency upgrades.

The new Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund will provide financing at below-market rates for enhanced energy efficiency improvements in affordable housing construction and building upgrades. DOEE and DC Green Bank will operate the loan fund and collaborate with the District’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to identify eligible projects within DC’s Housing Production Trust Fund pipeline.

The Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund will support Mayor Bowser’s goals to deliver at least 12,000 affordable housing units by 2025 and achieve carbon neutrality for the District by 2045.

“This new fund will create an opportunity for affordable housing developers to incorporate deeper energy-efficient improvements into their buildings, helping the District meet its climate goals,” said DOEE Director Richard Jackson. “By supporting the development of high-performance buildings that stretch beyond our current standards, we’re leading the way to a more sustainable and prosperous future.”

“This award will enable us to bring together the public and private sectors to invest in the clean energy economy and deliver the benefits of green development to underserved communities,” said DC Green Bank CEO Trisha Miller. “This revolving loan fund will support direct investment in a more equitable and sustainable DC.”

“We’re excited to be able to use this fund to achieve both sustainability and affordability in the District’s housing stock,” said DHCD Director Colleen Green. “This new program demonstrates the power of collaboration to deliver the benefits of a clean economy to more of our residents.”

Read the Full Release Here

A new article from BisNow reports on DC Green Bank’s financing to The NRP Group for a new sustainable affordable housing property at 301 Florida Ave NE. DC Green Bank’s funding will support the installation of a high-efficiency heating and cooling system, which will help the building meet Enterprise Green Communities Plus and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home certifications, two of the highest standards for sustainability in green building construction.

From the article:

The developers of 301 Florida Ave. NE, planned for a Flatiron Building-inspired design with 115 affordable housing units and ground-floor retail, have secured the financing needed to start construction.

A partnership between The NRP Group and Marshall Heights Community Development Organization closed on a financing package with funds from a series of sources, according to documents filed with the D.C. Recorder of Deeds and confirmed by an NRP spokesperson. 

DCHFA issued $47.6M in tax-exempt bonds, collateralized by Bank of America, and underwrote $32.3M in federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits. The project also received $33.1M from D.C.’s Housing Production Trust Fund, $6.5M in state LIHTC funds and another $3M from DC Green Bank.

Read the Full Article

DC Green Bank is proud to announce the closing of $3 million in financing to improve the energy efficiency of a new building in the Barry Farm redevelopment in Ward 8. The new building, The Edmonson, will be all-electric and seek Passive House certification, one of the highest standards for green buildings, and will deliver 139 new permanently affordable sustainable housing units.

The project is financed through a unique collaboration by the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, DC Green Bank, JPMorgan Chase, DC Housing Finance Agency, and the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia, and co-developed by Preservation of Affordable Housing and the District of Columbia Housing Authority.

DC Green Bank’s financing will support the installation of a geothermal heat pump – a highly efficient heating and cooling system that will cut utility costs and increase climate resiliency for the community by reducing reliance on the electric grid. The geothermal system also has the potential to serve future construction projects in the redevelopment of the community, benefiting future residents. The building will also include a rooftop solar system and several innovative green features, such as energy recovery ventilation and solar shading.

“This historic investment in a community that has been too often left behind is not only delivering affordable housing, but also putting the residents of Barry Farm at the forefront of a clean energy future,” said Trisha Miller, CEO of DC Green Bank. “DC Green Bank is proud to be a partner in the redevelopment of Barry Farm and to invest in green affordable housing for residents of Ward 8.”

Originally established after the Civil War as the first African American homeownership community in Washington, D.C. for newly freed slaves, Barry Farm is a historic neighborhood in Southeast DC. With input from residents, the Ward 8 neighborhood is in the process of being redeveloped to replace dilapidated public housing with a revitalized mixed-income and mixed-use community as part of the District’s New Communities Initiative.

A new article in Multi-Housing News by Patricia Kirk features DC Green Bank in an overview of how green banks, boosted by new funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, can accelerate the transition to green energy and crowd in public investment in their communities.

From the article:

“Last year, for every dollar we invested in a project, more than eight additional dollars flowed in from private and other public partners, unlocking more than $130 million in overall community investment,” [DC Green Bank CEO Trisha Miller] added. Since established, the DC Green Bank has leveraged $50 million in direct public investment to generate $300 million in investment by capital partners.

The DC Green Bank focuses on supporting diversity in green development, which enables it to meet collective climate, energy, and community development goals, Miller said. “We work deliberately to meet communities and borrowers where they are, including supporting emerging developers with technical assistance.”

Read the full article at https://www.multihousingnews.com/can-green-banks-fastrack-the-switch-to-clean-energy/

(Washington, D.C.) – The DC PACE Program and Peachtree Group are proud to announce the closing of $3.5 million in financing to improve the sustainability and energy efficiency of a new five-story mixed-use building in Ward 5. This project will include solar panels, insulation, LED lighting, and energy-efficient water fixtures and elevators. These measures will result in estimated annual reduction in electricity usage of 134,279 kWh and annual water reduction of 326,050 gallons, saving more than $2 million over the expected life of the equipment. The completed building at 1717 Hamlin St. NE will deliver 26 homes and 1,500 square feet of retail space. The new building is anticipated to create up to 18 permanent jobs.

“This project shows the best of what the DC PACE Program has to offer: clean and sustainable development, access to capital for a small business owner, and investment in a historically underserved community,” said Ronald Hobson, DC PACE Program Director. “We are proud to continue this valuable partnership with Peachtree Group to provide flexible financing that supports developers of all sizes while helping to achieve our sustainability goals.”

With this project, Peachtree Group, formerly known as Stonehill PACE, has now successfully invested more than $20 million in projects in the District through the DC PACE Program. These four projects are estimated to reduce energy use by more than 4.2 million kWh annually – the equivalent of more than 570 homes.

“We are excited to partner again with the DC PACE Program and proud to have invested more than $20 million in the District with commercial PACE to date,” said Jared Schlosser, EVP and head of CPACE at Peachtree Group. “Commercial PACE enables the refinancing of completed and ongoing construction projects. In today’s market, this translates to fresh capital infusion to manage ongoing expenses and debt service, which helps owners meet their obligations.”

“The DC PACE Program and Peachtree Group empowered us as a resident-owned Certified Business Enterprise to invest in making this new building energy efficient and bringing much-needed housing to Ward 5,” said Mel Negussie, owner of NT Group, the developer of the property. “This project exemplifies the tangible impact of DC PACE in driving sustainable growth and economic prosperity in the District.”

1717 Hamlin St. NE is expected to be completed by summer 2025.

Full press release

The Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and DC Green Bank led a District-wide application for funds under the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Solar for All Program and we are pleased to announce that DC will be receiving $62.45 million to deploy solar and battery storage projects in low-income and disadvantaged communities. These resources will help us to build on the existing successful Solar for All program and accelerate DC’s progress towards our ambitious climate and clean energy goals.

We are excited to work with our partners at DOEE, D.C. Sustainable Energy Utility, City First Enterprises, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Interfaith Power and Light (DC.MD.NoVA), Green and Healthy Homes Initiative, Groundswell, and communities across the District to deploy these public dollars and crowd in private capital to unlock clean, renewable, and affordable energy for Washingtonians.

“Today’s Solar for All announcement represents a brighter future for underserved communities in the District and across the country. DC Green Bank congratulates the EPA for its tireless efforts to deliver a program that will expand access to affordable, clean energy for millions of Americans, and support climate resilience. We look forward to working with our District government and community partners to invest in clean energy solutions, grow green jobs, and advance inclusive prosperity for all Washingtonians.”

DC Green Bank CEO, Trisha Miller

“EPA’s Solar for All announcement delivers a serious downpayment on a future that is more sustainable, affordable, and equitable. The District has ambitious clean energy and climate goals and the resources available through this program will ensure that our strong DC coalition can unlock the benefits of solar in low-income and disadvantaged communities across the District. Together, we can advance the clean energy economy and lower consumer energy costs for District residents.”

DC Green Bank Board Chair, Brandi Colander

Learn more in the EPA’s press release: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-announces-7-billion-solar-all-grants-deliver-residential