ATLANTA, Ga.— Justice Climate Fund (JCF), in partnership with RE-volv, has received a grant to accelerate clean energy projects and unlock investment across the state of Michigan. The $720,000 grant award is designed to help nonprofits, public institutions, and other tax-exempt entities access federal clean energy tax credits through Elective Pay, also known as Direct Pay.
JCF will work alongside RE-volv, a nonprofit solar developer and technical assistance partner, the Detroit CDFI Coalition, the Michigan CDFI Coalition, and other partners to create climate financing programs for nonprofits and community lenders that maximize the impact of Elective Pay and increase public awareness.
Elective Pay, a key driver of local clean energy, allows eligible entities such as nonprofits, schools, local governments, and houses of worship to receive certain federal clean energy tax credits as direct cash payments.
The grant is from the Office of Climate and Energy (OCE) in the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and is part of the MI Healthy Climate Challenge (MHC Challenge). The MHC Challenge is a series of competitive grants designed to accelerate clean energy deployment and unlock new investment across the state.
“Our work in Michigan will help small and medium-sized organizations access the benefits of clean energy, including lower utility costs, energy independence, and economic and environmental resilience,” said JCF’s Chief Executive Officer Amir Kirkwood. “Our national network includes community lenders and nonprofits in Michigan that will help us build and drive this program.”
“Innovative partnerships led by the Justice Climate Fund and the other MHC Challenge awardees will make positive and healthy changes throughout Michigan by helping communities access federal tax credits for clean energy projects,” said Alessandra Carreon, chief climate officer in EGLE’s Office of Climate and Energy. “We are pleased to support and shine a light on these efforts.”
JCF and its partners will design and launch a statewide Elective Pay acceleration program to expand use of federal clean energy tax credits among Michigan nonprofits and eligible tax-exempt entities, with at least 50 percent located in low- to moderate-income areas. The program will address upfront capital barriers by bundling projects, deploying bridge financing and interest rate buydowns, and providing technical, compliance, and legal support to move projects through completion and reimbursement. The program will also strengthen local lender and community capacity and capture lessons learned through evaluation and reporting.
“RE-volv is thrilled to be working alongside JCF and the Michigan and Detroit CDFI coalitions to accelerate local clean energy adoption with community-serving nonprofits that will result in electricity bill savings and jobs created across the state,” said RE-volv’s Executive Director Andreas Karelas. “The state of Michigan is demonstrating what it means to be a clean energy leader, and our goal is to produce incredible benefits through this program that will inspire other states to follow its lead.”
The Detroit CDFI Coalition and the Michigan CDFI Coalition will partner with JCF and RE-volv to document best practices and case studies and identify local CDFIs for program fit and participation in investments.
“We hope this investment will help move clean energy from possibility to practice for communities across Michigan,” said Michigan CDFI Coalition Chair Elissa Sangalli. “CDFIs are trusted, place-based partners, and we’re excited to find ways to work with Justice Climate Fund to support approaches that expand access, strengthen local capacity, and deliver real community benefit.”
JCF is set to kick off its work in Michigan later this month.
About JCF
Justice Climate Fund (JCF) is a national nonprofit mobilizing capital and resources to strengthen under-resourced communities across America. JCF drives transformative investments in climate and clean energy solutions that deliver energy independence, support cleaner air and water, create healthier communities, and build economic and environmental resilience. JCF’s national network includes more than 400 community lenders and state and local stakeholders across the country.
About RE-volv
RE-volv is an equity-informed, clean energy access organization that helps nonprofits in underinvested communities across the country go solar, while raising awareness about equitable climate solutions, and training the next generation of clean energy leaders. To date, RE-volv has developed and financed over 135 nonprofit solar projects in 20 states, collectively saving them $46 million on their electricity bills, allowing them to better serve their 380,000 beneficiaries, and avoiding over 140,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions. Learn more at re-volv.org.
JCF Media Contact: Jeanne Mariani-Belding, JBelding@JusticeClimateFund.org
RE-volv Media Contact: Tierney Sheehan, tierney@re-volv.org