2021 Energy Efficiency Finance Forum VIRTUAL

The 13th Energy Efficiency Finance Forum (EEFF) — the premier conference for industry leaders — explored the vital role that financing will play in cutting-edge initiatives and major opportunities to finance projects that save energy, reduce costs, and create jobs.
 
Attendees had the opportunity to network with leaders in finance, government, utilities, and energy service companies. In interactive sessions and dynamic plenaries, participants learned about successful projects and innovative models and discovered ways to overcome barriers, scale the industry, and deliver deep energy savings. 

In a recent series of blog posts, ACEEE looked at financing’s vital role in cutting energy use and greenhouse gas emissions over the next 30 years. 

Likely participants
For more than a decade, the Finance Forum has brought together a diverse mix of participants including clean-tech and energy efficiency investors; financiers; real estate professionals; community development finance institutions and other mission-driven lenders; utility staff; local, state, and federal officials; policymakers; NGOs; energy service company personnel; energy efficiency program planners, operators, and evaluators; and marketing experts.

Click here to view a list of organizations that participated in EEFF's 2018 conference.

Jigar Shah, executive director of the U.S. Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office (LPO), presented the opening keynote address at the virtual Energy Efficiency Finance Forum(EEFF). Mr. Shah discussed strategies and partnerships that could open the LPO's $40 billion of available loan capital to fund energy efficiency initiatives. Attendees discovered why this portfolio has historically not funded many efficiency projects and what can be done to change it. Read more about Jigar Shah here.

The opening plenary featured a timely and vital discussion about the role of financing in simultaneously addressing the climate crisis and environmental justice. Both the Biden administration and New York State have ambitious plans to tackle these two challenges at the same time. The administration's Justice40 Initiative and New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act include a goal for 40% of clean energy investment to benefit disadvantaged communities. Wise and Erle looked at what is being done at the federal level and in New York State to ensure that these 40% goals are met.

Kim Erle, LEED AP is the managing director and oversees Strategy, Impact & Investor Relations for NY Green Bank. Ms. Erle is an accredited sustainability professional, and creative problem solver with extensive operational execution and business strategy experience, and a bias toward using performance measurement/metrics to drive change.

Jahi Wise is the senior advisor for climate policy and finance in the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy where he focuses on domestic climate finance, clean energy deployment, economic development, and equitable investment. 

Green Banks Have Mobilized Over $5 Billion in Clean Energy Investments. What Has Been the Efficiency Impact and What Is the Outlook?
- Wednesday, May 26

Congress is considering legislation to fund a $100B national green bank that will support and fund green banks in every U.S. state. This panel brought together experts from the Coalition for Green Capital, Michigan Saves, Connecticut Green Bank, and Montgomery County Green Bank to discuss their program’s progress and provide insights for using the green bank model to further scale energy efficiency.

"ACEEE Energy Efficiency Finance Forum is one of my favorite conferences! This is one of those conferences that has great content that's specifically geared to those interested in energy financing, and there are so many wonderful opportunities to learn and network with others interested in this topic. Looking forward to participating again this year!"
- Mary Templeton of Michigan Saves

 Financing Efficiency in Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) and Affordable Multifamily Housing
- Wednesday, May 26

There is an increased focus on social equity in energy efficiency and this is attracting new types of lenders, investors, and innovative financing structures aimed at hard-to-reach markets. This panel featured experts from ACEEE, StopWaste, Inclusive Prosperity Capital, and Fannie Mae to showcase some of these new capital sources and financing structures that are targeting energy efficiency upgrades for affordable multifamily housing – a market that has been traditionally underserved.

EE Financing 101 (sponsored by National Energy Improvement Fund)

Workshop participants were given an introduction to the world of energy efficiency finance. They gained an understanding of key components that make up an energy efficiency financing program, the most popular financing models, the state of the market, and what drives program performance. Participants also learned about financing related to the three major market sectors: residential, commercial, and government facilities, with a discussion of the pros, cons, and applicability of different finance mechanisms available for each. The workshop was presented by Matthew Brown, National Energy Improvement Fund.