DC Green Bank and Uprise Electric Company today announced the closing of a more than $530,000 deal to accelerate the deployment of community solar across the District. The loan agreements will deliver funds for the construction of approximately 75 kW of capacity across 15 residential projects. In addition to the funds allocated for the construction of existing projects in the company’s pipeline, the deal also includes hundreds of thousands of dollars as part of a revolving credit facility to make financing available for the development and deployment of up to an envisioned 75 kW of additional community solar as well. The initial 15 sites are part of Solar for All, a program of the District’s Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and administered by the DC Sustainable Energy Utility that works with local solar contractors to expand the deployment of community solar and cut electricity costs for income-qualified residents by as much as 50%. The initial 15 projects are expected to create up to 13 clean economy jobs, generate more than 90 MWh of renewable energy, and avoid approximately 64 tons of CO2 equivalent annually – eliminating a comparable amount of emissions each year to an average passenger vehicle driving more than 160,000 miles.

This is the third year in a row that DC Green Bank has provided financing to a DC-based solar developer to deliver community solar projects through the Solar for All program. Eli Hopson, CEO of DC Green Bank, said of the deal, “We are excited to work with Uprise Electric to expand access to solar and strengthen the clean economy right here in the District. By continuing to invest in projects that are part of the city’s Solar for All program, we are demonstrating our commitment to ensuring that LMI families are prioritized in our accelerated transition to a clean energy future. We know that this investment model works, and we are looking forward to building additional partnerships with private lenders to replicate this success and unlock a large influx of capital into the city’s solar market.”

Uprise Electric is looking to scale up their operations and the deployment of solar across the city. Accessing affordable financing alongside Solar for All funding will allow Uprise to take a major step in that direction, and the revolving credit facility will incentivize the expansion of the company’s solar footprint and provide the company the flexibility needed to pursue multiple new projects. “I started Uprise so that we could provide homeowners in DC with the highest quality solar options regardless of income level. Partnering with DC Green Bank has helped me get closer to that goal,” Chris Sewell, founder of Uprise Electric Company, said.

Read the Full Release Below

May-2022-Uprise-Electric_DCGB-Press-Release-1

Building a clean future cannot wait. That is why DC Green Bank has been in discussions with Councilmember Mary Cheh, Chair of the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, and her staff to clarify the Green Finance Authority Establishment Act of 2018 as it relates to equitable investments in a clean energy future. In order to meet our city’s collective climate and sustainable energy goals we must fully transition off of fossil fuels and electrify the District. However, at present, converting legacy methane systems to fully electric heating, cooling, and cooking systems can be significantly more expensive than ultra-high efficiency fossil fuel-based systems, even accounting for lower fuel costs. This cost differential can place a large financial burden on low-income communities, community-based organizations and faith-based institutions, and residents that are least responsible for our climate crisis and simply happen to live, work, or worship in buildings that were built for methane systems. It can put some of our most vulnerable in a challenging position: choose the lower up-front cost fossil fuel option or choose the cleaner electric option that may carry a price tag that is, in some cases, 2-3x more expensive than a comparable fossil fuel-based system. An equitable transition to a clean future is a high priority for Mayor Bowser, the City Council, and DC Green Bank, and that is why we will meet this challenge head-on. We have asked the Council to introduce language to amend the Green Finance Authority Establishment Act of 2018 to formally codify our existing financing approach by prohibiting DC Green Bank from supporting on-site fossil fuel-based systems. This is a vital step to ensure that the District does not lock in fossil fuel infrastructure for decades to come, when the best science available says that we must begin our transition to clean energy now. To address equity and financial gaps that may emerge as part of this transition, we have also asked the Council to identify additional financial resources to ensure that our most vulnerable residents and communities are able to choose a clean energy future in a way that does not create an undue financial burden on them and delivers key environmental, public health, financial, and other benefits along the way. The District is a national leader on issues related to climate, the environment, sustainability, and equity, and taking this step today to introduce language to prohibit the usage of green bank resources to fund fossil fuel infrastructure ensures that we remain on the cutting edge on the road to a clean and inclusive future for all.

51022-Statement-on-Fossil-Fuel-Policy
  • April 4, 2022
  • Virtual
  • Registration Closed

    Connect with lenders:
    City First Enterprises’ Geoffrey Shepard at geoffery@cfe.org
    DC Green Bank’s Matthew Hickman at mhickman@dcgreenbank.com
    • Explore other community lenders if you need financing for other types of projects or pre-revenue (click VIEW FILE here)

    Money Monday

    April 4, 2022
  • April 26, 2022
  • 12:00 pm
  • Zoom
  • Registration Closed
    Participants must be registered to join.

    Join DC Green Bank as we launch the Community Impact Initiative (CII). CII is a pathway open to small businesses, community-based organizations, and non-profits that would benefit from affordable financing, additional technical and management assistance, and end-to-end support from one of our various partners to pursue deferred maintenance needs that increase the sustainability of your building and save you money on your operations. Come hear more about this program from those who have piloted it and meet our partners Go Green Together and ThinkBox. This launch event will give you the details on how to get started in moving your organization towards a clean, green, and affordable future.

    Who can access Community Impact Initiative resources?

    – Childcare Centers
    – Food Pantries
    – Faith-Based Institutions
    – Homeless Shelters
    – Community Centers
    – Non-profit Organizations
    – Other Community-Serving Organizations

    DC Green Bank financing through the Community Impact Initiative can be used for the following:

    – HVAC Upgrades and Replacements
    – Water Efficiency
    – Building Insulation
    – Window Replacement and Remediation
    – Lighting Replacements and Upgrades
    – Roof Repairs and Replacement
    – Solar Panel Installation
    – Building Controls and Smart Systems
    – And More!

    Community Impact Initiative Launch Event

    April 26 2022

    (Washington, D.C.) – DC Green Bank today announced the closing of an investment of more than $500,000 to support Shiloh Baptist Church of Washington as it pursues upgrades to its sanctuary building cooling system and considers additional building efficiency upgrades and capital improvements. This investment is part of DC Green Bank’s Community Impact Initiative (CII) pilot program. The CII pilot is designed to support community-serving institutions, including houses of worship, as they pursue building and systems upgrades that increase energy efficiency, bring down operating costs, and allow them to direct those savings to other deferred maintenance needs. The program also provides support to institutions throughout every stage of the project – from financial document and record identification all of the way through closing. DC Green Bank worked with Go Green Together (GGT) to support Shiloh to outline their energy system needs, assist in preparing the records and information needed to apply for a loan, identify mechanical, electric, and plumbing (MEP) contractors to undertake the work, and get the church to the closing table. The cooling system upgrade alone is expected to reduce electricity demand by the church by approximately 550 kWh for every eight hours of operation, eliminating the equivalent level of toxic emissions as avoiding over 980 miles driven by a typical passenger car.

    Located in Ward 2, Shiloh Baptist Church is one of the oldest historically Black churches in the city and a leader in the faith community in the District and beyond. Donald F. Richardson, Chair, Board of Trustees, Shiloh Baptist Church of Washington, said of the partnership with DC Green Bank and Go Green Together, “We are proud to work with DC Green Bank and Go Green Together to meet our cooling system replacement needs as well as continue discussions about pursuing other systems and facilities upgrades in the coming months. Having a pilot program like the Community Impact Initiative that is dedicated to our city’s community-serving organizations fills an important gap for many institutions that may not be able to access affordable financing through private financial institutions. The ability to be able to finance large investments for our congregation that not only save us money, but are paid back solely on the expected utility savings is a game changer.” The initial loan will finance the purchase and installation of a new, highly energy efficient chiller to cool the sanctuary building. The partners will continue conversations about the potential for additional upgrades and retrofits.

    DC Green Bank is prioritizing CII to align with its core values – Sustainability, Clean Economy, and Inclusive Prosperity – in order to ensure that no community organizations get left behind in the transition to a cleaner future, that they are able to share in the financial savings that come along with it, and they can show leadership in the climate realm in addition to their core missions. Eli Hopson, CEO of DC Green Bank, said of the deal, “We are honored to provide financing to Shiloh Baptist Church to help meet the needs of their congregation and their facilities. Shiloh is exactly the type of institution that CII was created to serve, and we could not have asked for a better partner to showcase the impact of green finance. Faith-based institutions have the power to lead entire communities to a cleaner, greener, and more equitable future, and we are excited to provide financing for many more to come through CII.”

    April-2022-Shiloh_DCGB_GGT-CII-Press-Release
  • April 20, 2022
  • 12:00 pm
  • Zoom
  • Registration Closed

    DC Green Finance Authority (“DC Green Bank”) will conduct a Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors, pursuant to the Open Meetings Act, (DC Official Code §2-574(1)).

    Pre-registration is required.

     

    Download Agenda Here

    REGULAR MEETING OF THE DC GREEN BANK BOARD OF DIRECTORS

    April 20, 2022
  • March 24, 2022
  • 12:00 pm
  • Union Station
  • Registration Closed

    Mayor Bowser’s Fiscal Year 2023 #FairShot budget is making significant investments in the District’s infrastructure, including roads and bridges, bike lanes, traffic calming and safety measures, as well as improvements to roadways, alleys, and sidewalks. Additionally, the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will provide billions in funding and grants to the District to invest in roads and bridges, electric charging infrastructure, and more. The Mayor directed the creation of the Build DC Infrastructure Task Force so that the District can maximize this once-in-a-generation funding opportunity to bolster the city’s competitiveness and resiliency in the region, nationally and globally.

    The events can be streamed live on Channel 16, Twitter, and the Mayor’s Live Event Page. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations, please contact (202) 442-8150 or eomevents@dc.gov. ASL and real-time captioning will be provided.

    Social Media:

    Twitter: @MayorBowser Instagram: @Mayor_Bowser Facebook: facebook.com/MayorMurielBowser

    Learn More Here

  • March 24, 2022
  • 9:00 am - 10:30 am
  • Virtual
  • Registration Closed

    Join Penn IUR, Perry World House, and the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy for a two-day virtual meeting on urban adaptation to climate change. A series of expert panels will highlight the implementation and financing of subnational programs and projects designed to adapt to such global warming-induced hazards that threaten urban lives and livelihoods as rising sea levels and storm surges, heat stress, extreme precipitation, inland and coastal flooding, landslides, drought, increased aridity, water scarcity, wildfires, and air pollution.

    Our CEO Eli Hopson will speak during the 9:00 – 10:30 am session on March 24 on a panel about Financing the Clean Energy Transition for Building Climate Resilience.

    Jeffrey Sachs, University Professor and Director, Center for Sustainable Development, Columbia University will offer a keynote address on the challenges and opportunities of urban adaptation finance. The eight panels that follow include speakers from the public, private and non-governmental sectors, including Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone; Alice Charles, Lead Author, Cities, Infrastructure and Urban Services, World Economic Forum; David Dodman, Lead author, Chapter 6 IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, Director, Human Settlements, International Institute for Environment and Development; Hazem Galal, Global Leader for Cities and Local Government, PwC-Middle East; Kate Gallego, Mayor of Phoenix, Arizona; Jerome Jean Haegeli, Group Chief Economist, Swiss Re Institute; Claudio Orrego, Governor, Metropolitan Region of Santiago de Chile; Aromar Revi, Director, Indian Institute for Human Settlements; Sameh Wahba, Global Director, Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience and Land Global Practice, World Bank; Mark Watts, Executive Director, C40 Cities; and Elizabeth Yee, Executive Vice President, Program Strategy and Chief of Staff, Rockefeller Foundation. Maimunah Mohd Sharif, UN Undersecretary and Executive Director, UN Habitat will offer a greeting and Dr. Poldergeist—an invention of Simon Richter, Professor of German and Department Chair, Germanic Languages and Literatures, Penn School of Arts & Sciences-—to publicize the topic, will stop in for a visit.

  • March 25, 2022
  • 11:00 am
  • International Trade Center - 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
  • Registration Closed

    Join Mayor Bowser for March Madness, a showcase of the District’s real estate, housing and business support initiatives.

    The events can be streamed live on Channel 16, Twitter, and the Mayor’s Live Event Page. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations, please contact (202) 442-8150 or eomevents@dc.gov. ASL and real-time captioning will be provided.

    Learn More Here

    By Tristan Navera, Washington Business Journal

    Mi Casa Inc. has landed some of the money it needs to start work on a long-planned affordable housing project slated for 14 Florida Ave. NW in Truxton Circle.

    D.C. Green Bank closed on a $255,728 pre-development loan for the new Barnett-Adan Apartments development in Ward 5. It will include a 3,000-square-foot office and 27 housing units for residents earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income. The project is to include permanent supportive housing, while Mi Casa Inc. plans to use the office as its headquarters.

    This is the first project to benefit from D.C. Green Bank’s “Navigator” loan, a concept pioneered with Inclusive Prosperity Capital to provide gap financing for developments that are otherwise hard to finance. It will have a 1.99% interest rate and helps finance costs related to energy efficiency improvements, energy audits design and engineering work for green features. In Mi Casa’s original application to the Board of Zoning Adjustment filed in June 2019, it expressed a goal of building a net-zero project with solar rooftop panels.

    Read the Full Article Here

  • March 31, 2022
  • 12:00 - 1:00 pm EST
  • Virtual
  • Registration Closed

    Did you know?  Buildings account for more than 70% of DC’s greenhouse gas emissions.

    The District’s Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) are part of the city’s efforts to cut energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2032, and make DC carbon neutral by 2050.

    Developers, owners, and property managers whose buildings don’t meet the standards could face challenges navigating the process and making the necessary improvements.

    Join us virtually for this FREE event to learn more about the informational, technical, and financial resources available in DC to help your building make the grade, meet the Building Energy Performance Standards, and cut emissions, energy use, and operating costs.

     

    Making the Grade

    March 31, 2022
  • December 7, 2021
  • 10:00 am
  • Zoom
  • Register Here
    All attendees must register.

    DC Green Finance Authority (“DC Green Bank”) will conduct a Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors, pursuant to the Open Meetings Act, (DC Official Code §2-574(1)).

    Pre-registration is required.