Inclusiv Awarded $1.87 Billion through EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund

Inclusiv’s Clean Communities Investment Accelerator program will bring clean energy opportunities to low-income communities across America

Today, on the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded Inclusiv $1.87 billion through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA). Inclusiv is ready to put this award to work to ensure the credit union movement has the tools and resources needed to deliver energy efficiency and clean energy access to consumers, homeowners, and small businesses in low-income and disadvantaged communities across the country.

“Inclusiv was honored to be selected for the EPA’s Clean Communities Investment Accelerator. We are excited to get to work to bring the benefits of CCIA to underserved communities across the country. This award will enable us to direct grants and assistance to high-impact credit unions and cooperativas that create the conditions for an inclusive and equitable transition to a greening economy,” said Cathie Mahon, President and CEO, Inclusiv.  

Inclusiv will use the CCIA award to provide grants for capitalization, staffing, training, software and other operating costs so community lenders can build and scale effective green lending programs. We will drive growth in local and national markets for green lending by expanding our Solar and Green Lending Training and Technical Assistance program for community-based lenders; updating our loan tracking software to support credit unions with required federal compliance and reporting; developing our consumer financial empowerment platform for climate resilience; and helping connect community lenders to minority- and worker-owned clean energy businesses.

Participating credit unions will finance households and small businesses for efficient heating and cooling systems, efficient appliances, electric vehicles, solar panels and other projects that reduce energy bills, improve air quality and health outcomes, create jobs and establish greater resilience and financial security. A sample of credit unions with green lending programs have made more than $1 billion in green loans over the last 5 years. With this historic investment, the credit union movement will scale its green lending capacity, transforming its reach and impact. 

Inclusiv will aim to publish our CCIA program guidelines by November 2024.