Our goals, which can be realized in tandem, are to:

Prioritize underserved and vulnerable communities

Alleviate energy burden

Maximize green energy

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Our products and programs address gaps between Coloradoans and loan availability or approval, giving everyone equal access to the funding they need to make clean energy improvements in their homes and businesses.
We know there’s a lot of noise in the finance industry – there’s a lot of noise in clean energy, too. Think of us as your North Star – we will guide you through the process of securing funding for your project so the steps are clear to follow and the results are what you are looking for. We are ready to help you make clean, green changes.

Our History
Colorado Clean Energy Fund was born out of a three-year collaboration among the Colorado Energy Office, the Department of Energy and the Coalition for Green Capital. This collaboration aligned to create CCEF with a shared belief that a specialized, nonprofit intermediary was necessary to:
- Identify barriers to financing clean energy projects
- Bridge the gap between clean energy projects and traditional capital providers
- Drive demand for these solutions by performing market engagement and development activities

In 2018, former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper announced the formation of CCEF following our incorporation as a 501(c)(3) Colorado nonprofit. We received initial funding from the State of Colorado in 2021 after the passage of Senate Bill 21-230 and its signing by Colorado Governor Jared Polis. Now, as Colorado’s first green back, CCEF is ready to deploy investment capital to clean energy projects and technologies across the state using a variety of financial tools and services. Our work will build on the growth of clean energy in Colorado and help the state realize its climate goals.
The CCEF Team

Paul Scharfenberger
As CEO, Paul is responsible for developing and overseeing the Colorado Clean Energy Fund’s strategic plan and day-to-day tactical operations. Paul combines a unique and extensive background in traditional finance, operations management, and energy management that spans more than 20 years. Paul began his career in investment banking before consciously transitioning to the energy field where he was able to combine his financial acumen with his passion for energy management and sustainability.

Dave Harris
As CCEF’s Chief Operating Officer, Dave helps to drive the organization’s strategic planning, staff, operations, and workflow. Dave brings over a decade of experience managing and guiding teams, and building businesses and products from the ground up. Dave is passionate about making an immediate impact in the fight against climate change.

Heather Braithwaite
Heather is CCEF’s Chief Investment Officer (CIO). Growing up on the Chesapeake Bay and it’s surrounding rivers and bays, Heather became deeply connected to nature. That connection created her drive to protect the environment through capital deployment for clean energy projects for over a decade.

Emily Richardson

Jeff King

Katharine Rushton

Allie Madden

Nabeeha Kazmi


Paul Scharfenberger
CEO
As CEO, Paul is responsible for developing and overseeing the Colorado Clean Energy Fund’s strategic plan and day-to-day tactical operations. Paul combines a unique and extensive background in traditional finance, operations management, and energy management that spans more than 20 years. Paul began his career in investment banking before consciously transitioning to the energy field where he was able to combine his financial acumen with his passion for energy management and sustainability.
Paul’s transition into the energy field began in 2008 when he worked in the Commercialization and Deployment and Project Finance divisions of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). After several years at NREL, Paul transitioned to the Colorado Energy Office where he would remain for the next seven years of his career, ultimately becoming its Chief Operating Officer. While at the Energy Office, Paul developed various public private partnerships that deployed >$150M towards various clean energy projects. Most notably, Paul was the lead author of multiple pieces of legislation that enabled Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) in Colorado and he Chaired the Board of Directors that created and launched the highly successful Colorado C-PACE program.
After leaving the public sector in July 2018, Paul became the Chief Financial Officer for a mid-sized energy management and sustainability firm headquartered in Denver, Colorado where he oversaw the financial, accounting, and operational facets of the organization. However, after approximately one year with that firm, Paul enthusiastically accepted the role of Executive Director of the Colorado Clean Energy Fund.
In addition to a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Finance from Fairfield University in Connecticut, Paul holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus in Finance and a Master of Science (MS) with a focus in energy policy, markets, and technologies from the University of Colorado at Boulder.


Dave Harris
COO
As CCEF’s Chief Operating Officer, Dave helps to drive the organization’s strategic planning, staff, operations, and workflow. Dave brings over a decade of experience managing and guiding teams, and building businesses and products from the ground up. Dave is passionate about making an immediate impact in the fight against climate change.
Prior to joining CCEF in late 2021, Dave was the Director of Operations for Rockies Venture Club (RVC), the longest running Angel investor group in the U.S. and a nonprofit centered on furthering economic development across the Rocky Mountain region. Dave helped to lead and raise nearly 200 funding rounds, totaling over $50M. Dave is also a Managing Partner of the Rockies Venture Fund, a seed-stage venture capital fund and a venture partner with Spock Ventures, a Colorado-based venture capital fund. Dave has served as an active Board Member for nonprofit and for profit organizations, like the Biz Girls CEO Accelerator and TiLT.
Dave worked with several dozen companies as a collaborative start-up consultant specializing in capital strategy and fund raising, business development, and marketing. He also worked across international finance and project management at Thomson Reuters and Lipper, covering the financial markets for Latin America, Europe, and Canada.
Dave is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, and he enjoys climbing 14ers, backpacking, fly fishing, and cooking; often all simultaneously, while still answering emails.


Heather Braithwaite
CIO
Heather is CCEF’s Chief Investment Officer (CIO). Growing up on the Chesapeake Bay and it’s surrounding rivers and bays, Heather became deeply connected to nature. That connection created her drive to protect the environment through capital deployment for clean energy projects for over a decade.
Heather helped create many on and off-bill financing programs for various stakeholders across the country and helped deploy millions of dollars into projects across all clean energy technologies and sectors. Heather understands the sense of urgency surrounding climate change and the importance capital plays in achieving climate goals.
Heathers personal commitment to her mission is unwavering as she is a “climate change fighter”!


Emily Richardson
Program Manager
In addition to her work in D.C., Emily has completed consulting projects for the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) of Connecticut, Schneider Electric, and Portland General Electric, assisting each organization with goals related to clean energy deployment and carbon reduction strategies.
Emily earned a B.A. in Political Science and Spanish from the University of Texas at Austin, and holds a Master of Environmental Management from the Yale School of the Environment, where she specialized in Business and Energy Systems.
Outside of work, Emily most enjoys summiting 14ers, music concerts, baking, and spending time with her beloved pup, Abbygail (also a 14ers enthusiast).


Jeff King
Senior Business Development Manager
Jeff manages CCEF's Residential programs, including the long-running Colorado RENU program. Prior to joining CCEF, Jeff was the Senior Finance Programs Manager at the Colorado Energy Office where he helped to create Colorado RENU and he managed all elements of the successful program. Jeff also served as Board Chair of the Colorado New Energy Improvement District, which governs Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing in Colorado. Earlier in his career, Jeff was International Business Manager, Asia-Pacific for the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT).


Katharine Rushton
Commercial Business Director
As CCEF’s Commercial Business Director, Katharine advances the adoption of clean energy technologies by connecting project developers with appropriate finance solutions.
Katharine has been involved in the clean energy sector since 2003, working as a building energy analyst and in multiple roles in the solar energy industry. Katharine has extensive experience providing consulting services to municipalities, special districts and commercial entities to help overcome the financial and technical barriers to implementing clean energy solutions and recognizes that building relationships with project stakeholders by listening to their goals, understanding the barriers and offering financially viable solutions is the key to transitioning to a clean energy future.
Katharine has earned certifications from the Building Performance Institute (BPI) and the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NACEP) and holds an MBA in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency from the Beuth University of Applied Science in Berlin, Germany.


Allie Madden
Marketing & Community Engagement Manager
Allie spearheads CCEF’s digital media and marketing efforts, external communications, and community engagement. As an expert in nonprofit marketing, Allie leverages social media, newsletters, webinars and more to showcase the organization’s products and programs across stakeholder groups. She believes that clean energy is the future, and CCEF’s work is fundamental in driving clean energy adoption statewide.
Prior to joining CCEF, Allie led the marketing team at the Chef Ann Foundation, a national nonprofit making healthy, climate-friendly school food accessible to K-12 students across the U.S. She received an M.A. in Journalism with a Graduate Certificate in Environment, Science, & Policy from the University of Colorado and a B.A. in Mass Communication and English writing from Colorado Mesa University.
When she’s not on her laptop, Allie enjoys practicing yoga, cooking, writing, and spending quality time with her husband and two daughters.


Nabeeha Kazmi
Residential Business Development Associate
Nabeeha supports CCEF’s residential programming, specifically the RENU Loan program in which she drives program management and business development efforts. Growing up, Nabeeha has always been interested in Clean energy and environmental science, participating in research trips to Oklahoma and Austin, TX. Prior to joining CCEF, she consulted for Start-ups, Fortune 500 companies & Private Equity firms focusing on M&A and organizational development.
A graduate of the UT School Systems, Nabeeha holds degrees in Political Science and Business. Outside of work, you can find her playing sand volleyball, trying out new food, or volunteering as the PR Director for Panache, a non-profit based in Texas.
Our Board


Eric Drummond
Board Member
Eric Drummond is an entrepreneur, business development ecosystem builder, and a former partner at one of the globe’s largest international law firms, now with 48 offices in 22 countries. He has more than 25 years of business, and complex administrative law experience, with a focus in emerging technology, next generation digital architecture, and alternative energy issues.
Mr. Drummond was elected Mayor of a small community in Colorado in 2007. He also has represented the U.S. Department of Energy in the Loan Guaranty Program and led the development of the then-largest High Concentrating Solar PV generation plant in the world. Mr. Drummond was appointed to Colorado’s Renewable Energy Development Team by the Governor in 2011 and in 2012, he was asked to assist in creating the National Renewable Energy Lab’s (NREL) Energy Fellows Institute, where he founded the Clean Energy Generation program and ultimately served as Expert-in-Residence and Co-Managing Director.
In 2013, Mr. Drummond was appointed by the President of the Senate to the Board of Colorado’s Venture Capital Authority, the State’s premier seed and early stage institutional venture fund and currently serves as the Board Chair. Internationally recognized, he founded the Innovation Corridor, a unique B2B technology enhancement and investment platform, in 2016. An advocate of innovation, job creation, and the business community, Mr. Drummond was appointed to the 5-member Foundation Board of Directors of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) in Boulder, Colorado in 2014. UCAR manages the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the nation’s premiere federally funded research lab in weather forecasting, climate, and the earth sciences.
He received his Undergraduate Degree in Philosophy (emphasis in Symbolic Logic and First-Order Predicate Calculus) from the University of Texas at Austin and his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas School of Law.


Jennifer Gremmert
EOC
Jennifer Gremmert is the Executive Director of Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC), a non-profit organization empowering people through energy security. Ms. Gremmert has worked for numerous nonprofit organizations including, the national office of Junior Achievement, Up With People, the University of Arizona and the University of California. She has served on the Board of Directors of the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition and as Chair of both the Governor’s Commission on Low-Income Energy Assistance and the Colorado Utility Consumer Board.
In 2017 and again in 2020, Ms. Gremmert was recognized as one of the Denver Business Journal’s “Top Women in Energy”. She has extensive expertise in regulatory and programmatic solutions to ensure that vulnerable families have access to affordable, reliable home energy.
Ms. Gremmert received her Masters of Nonprofit Management from Regis University and her undergraduate degrees in Economics and Political Science from the University of Arizona.


Will Toor
Executive Director
In January 2019, Will Toor joined the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) as its Executive Director appointed by Governor Jared Polis. Will’s background spans transportation electrification, sustainable transportation, smart growth, electric vehicle policy, clean energy finance, green building policy, local government policy and regional planning.
Prior to CEO, Will was Transportation Program Director at the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP). Before SWEEP, Will served as Boulder County Commissioner for eight years where he led the effort to create and adopt a countywide Sustainable Energy Plan, the BuildSmart green building code, the EnergySmart program, and the ClimateSmart Loan Program. Prior to being elected Boulder County Commissioner, Will served as Mayor of Boulder for six years where he developed Boulder's community transit network, EcoPass unlimited access transit pass programs, and policies for denser, mixed-use urban infill development as an alternative to sprawl. Will previously served on and chaired the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG).
He was appointed by Governor Ritter to the state Transportation Funding and Implementation blue ribbon panel, the Governor's Climate Action Panel, and the Regional Air Quality Council. He was appointed by Governor Hickenlooper to the Air Quality Control Commission and the state oil and gas taskforce. Will spent 12 years as Director of the University of Colorado Environmental Center, where he developed campus sustainability programs in the areas of solid waste, building energy use, and transportation planning.
Will holds a BS in Physics from Carnegie Mellon University and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Chicago.


Keirstin Beck
Executive Vice President, General Counsel at Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE)
Keirstin Beck is the Executive Vice President, General Counsel at Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE). Keirstin Beck joined KSE in January 2021. Prior to joining KSE, Keirstin worked in private practice for over two decades with a focus on real estate, land use and clean energy financing. Her extensive land use and development background led her to assist on some of the most exciting projects in the Denver including the redevelopment of Elitch Gardens and Loretto Heights.
Keirstin has a true passion for sustainability and is a nationally recognized leader in commercial PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) financing. She was intimately involved in development of the Colorado C-PACE program and assisted many clients in capturing the economic and social benefits of utilizing PACE financing.
Her work in clean energy finance has been recognized by the following honors: Who’s Who in Energy (Real Estate), Denver Business Journal 2017-2019; Top Women in Energy (Real Estate), Denver Business Journal 2017-2019; PaceSetter Award, PACENation 2020.
She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon and JD from University of Denver. She is the proud mother to two daughters.

Eric Drummond
Eric Drummond is an entrepreneur, business development ecosystem builder, and a former partner at one of the globe’s largest international law firms, now with 48 offices in 22 countries. He has more than 25 years of business, and complex administrative law experience, with a focus in emerging technology, next generation digital architecture, and alternative energy issues.

Jennifer Gremmert
Jennifer Gremmert is the Executive Director of Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC), a non-profit organization empowering people through energy security. Ms. Gremmert has worked for numerous nonprofit organizations including, the national office of Junior Achievement, Up With People, the University of Arizona and the University of California. She has served on the Board of Directors of the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition.

Will Toor
Will Toor is the Executive Director of the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) as appointed by Governor Jared Polis. Will’s background spans transportation electrification, sustainable transportation, smart growth, electric vehicle policy, clean energy finance, green building policy, local government policy and regional planning.

Keirstin Beck
Keirstin Beck is the Executive Vice President, General Counsel for Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE). Keirstin joined KSE in January 2021. Prior to joining KSE, Keirstin worked in private practice for over two decades with a focus on real estate, land use and clean energy financing.
We Can’t Do This On Our Own
Partnerships are crucial to our success; we can’t do this on our own. Climate change is a challenge that requires a network of partners – and we are incredibly grateful for ours. If you would like to partner with Colorado Clean Energy Fund and make positive impacts on climate change while improving the lives of Coloradoans, we’d love to speak with you!