Video not working? Click here to view the webinar on YouTube.
On October 15, 2024, the Local Infrastructure Hub hosted a webinar on the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund’s National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF). The NCIF is a program designed to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy by creating and expanding financial markets in the clean energy sector. The NCIF provides financing to projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote clean energy through three national nonprofits (sometimes known as Green Banks): Climate United Fund, Coalition for Green Capital, and Power Forward Communities.
On this webinar, we heard directly from all three NCIF lenders as we discussed key information about how cities can determine their eligibility and access funds. Featured speakers include Krystal Langholz, Chief Community Officer for Climate United; Stephen K. Brown II, Chief Network Officer, Coalition for Green Capital; Rahul Young, Senior Director of Community Engagement at Rewiring America; and Douglass Sims, Managing Director, Green Finance & Economic Development, Natural Resources Defense Council.
Key insights from the discussion included:
NCIF is an opportunity to leverage federal programs and coordinate funding sources for a more significant impact.
Doug Sims highlighted the importance of aligning NCIF resources with other federal programs, such as Direct Pay. He stressed that cities need to plan upfront funding through tools like green banks and CDFIs to maximize the benefits of federal investments and meet environmental justice targets. He also emphasized that green banks help overcome traditional barriers, such as high upfront costs, by blending public and private capital. This enables cities to unlock private investments at scale and build long-term capacity for sustainable projects.
The Climate United Fund will focus on rural, tribal, and underserved communities with targeted investments.
Krystal Langholz explained that the Climate United Fund has set a goal for 60% of funds to benefit low-income and disadvantaged communities, along with 20% in rural areas and 10% in tribal communities. She highlighted their “3-7-3 strategy”: focusing on three green sectors, serving seven market segments, and deploying three types of financial tools to drive market transformation.
This is an opportunity to build a national network of sustainable green banks to accelerate clean energy investments.
Stephen Brown explained that the Coalition for Green Capital (CGC) focuses on filling gaps by supporting 16 sub-awardees across 15 states, with plans to expand nationwide. He highlighted CGC’s strategy of using junior debt to unlock private capital, emphasizing rapid deployment, project scaling, and collaborative investments through local partners.
These funds will empower households and communities to drive electrification and reduce emissions through equitable programs.
Rahul Young emphasized that 42% of U.S. emissions come from decisions made at the household level, such as how homes are heated and vehicles are fueled. Power Forward Communities’ NCIF-funded program focuses on electrifying homes—particularly in low-income communities—while reducing costs and creating jobs. The coalition with Habitat for Humanity, United Way, and Enterprise will leverage data, technical assistance, and workforce development to streamline the process and make climate solutions accessible.
Resources Shared During the Webinar and in Discussion:
- CGC Project or Portfolio Submissions
- Community Net Zero Accelerator: Request for Proposal (RFP) Information Session
- Power Forward Communities
- Climate United Intake Form
- FAQs: The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund’s National Clean Investment Fund
Local Infrastructure Hub Bootcamp Materials
The Local Infrastructure Hub is here to support cities in accessing Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding and communicating the success of BIL-funded projects through a mix of webinars, practical tools and templates. Our webinars and Grant Application Bootcamps can guide you through different application processes and actionable steps to submit a strong application.
Register for our Local Infrastructure Hub Bootcamps now to receive technical assistance for city staff on relevant tools and templates that can be applied to grant applications; learn how to build community engagement plans and leverage community assets; understand how to effectively incorporate data into the grant application process; and construct a strong budget and grant narrative.