Greater Cincinnati Green Bank

The Greater Cincinnati Green Bank (GCGB) is an innovative initiative committed to transforming the region into a more sustainable community. This initiative is guided by a team of leaders from the City of Cincinnati, The Port, Cincinnati Development Fund, and Cincinnati Business Committee, supported by Donovan Energy. This effort would serve all governments, non-profits and businesses throughout the region. Our goal is to create practical solutions dedicated to driving cost-effective and equitable investment into reducing climate pollution from energy use in homes and buildings. GCBG aims to accomplish this by financing energy efficiency, renewable energy generation, and electric vehicle charging projects through a mix of expanding existing and creating new financial tools.

The tools would include revolving loan funds, loan loss reserves, and other solutions to reduce risk in order to attract private capital to lend to these new and emerging markets. Indicative examples of new or expanded financing programs being considered by the GCGB:

·      Mezzanine debt financing for low-income multifamily developments to spend more money upfront on energy efficiency and solar. This could build on the track record of successful lending programs that CDFI’s, like the Cincinnati Development Fund, has proven over many years.

·      Bridge loan financing to support local government and non-profits perusing direct pay from the section 48 federal tax credits.

·      Developing a local marketplace to increase the value of transferable section 48 tax credits.

·      Low interest unsecured residential loan fund aimed at a targeted group of mid- to low-income homeowners to pursue significant reductions in their energy bills through energy efficiency upgrades. This loan fund would be designed to support existing and successful programs led by organizations by The Port to invest in distressed properties and increase access to homeownership.

The GCGB will be poised to leverage the available local, state and federal programs such as: GGRF, CPRG, GRRP, 45L, 179D, ITC, EECBG, SEFI, HEEHRA, REAP, LEED CRA Abatement, Solarize Cincy, Warm Up Cincy, CAIP, CARC, ODOD’s Qualified Energy Project Tax Exemption, Energy Loan Fund, Energy Loan Loss Reserve, and HIP Loans. Navigating the various tax incentives, grants, and rebates offered at all levels of government can be challenging due to their complexity. The GCGB would work to create a centralized location for our region to access and share in the benefits of stacking these incentives and leveraging them with innovative financing solutions.

Central to the GCGB’s mission is promoting equity and justice through its programs and tools. By embracing the Justice40 Initiative, we strive to address historical disparities of environmental burdens, ensuring that the benefits of our financing solutions are equitably distributed.

Through collaboration with various stakeholders, including banks, community lenders, and government entities, the GCGB will pull together tailored financing tools to fill market gaps. Our approach is holistic, connecting individuals and businesses with energy programs and simplifying the process for utilizing different financial tools. The GCGB strives to be a transformative force, catalyzing positive environmental change, fostering economic growth, and promoting social equity in the Greater Cincinnati region.