We’re taking action - green banks are growing around the country

We are building a national network of organizations at a variety of levels - state, local, territory, and regional.

Green Banks are mission-driven institutions that use innovative financing to accelerate the transition to clean energy and fight climate change.

Being mission-driven means that Green Banks care about deploying clean energy rather than maximizing profit. They actively develop a pipeline of clean projects and seek out opportunities in the market. All Green Banks have the mission to address climate change, though many also have additional objectives such as improving resiliency or serving low-income communities.

Establishment as institutions means that green banks are durable and can build up organizational culture and expertise. They have the autonomy to be flexible and responsive to the real world. In contrast to programs, institutions may try something, fail, and then try something different.

Green banks use financing, not grants. Financing means that capital is eventually expected to be returned or repaid, and this helps to maximize the impact of each dollar that a green bank deploys. Because of this approach, green banks focus on markets where there is potential for payback. This generally means proven, technically viable projects that are well past the research and development stage. Financing can be done in tandem with other market development activities.

Learn more about green banks on the Coalition for Green Capital website.