Request for Information (RFI)
New Opportunity Created by the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF)

SUBMISSION WINDOW NOW OPEN THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2025

Collective Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) is a mission-first, nonprofit investment fund that fills financing gaps to accelerate clean energy adoption. We provide below market rate loans to building owners, developers, business owners, nonprofits and other entities.

CCEF has been awarded a significant amount of capital through the GGRF – National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF). As an NCIF sub-awardee, CCEF financing has been designated toward EPA Region 8, which includes Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, and 28 Tribal Nations.

The EPA has identified the following priority project categories: Net-Zero Emissions Buildings, Distributed Energy Generation and Storage, and Zero-Emissions Transportation.

Along with the priority project categories above, CCEF will prioritize applications that meet the following criteria:

  • Potential for greenhouse gases emissions reduction
  • Mobilization of public-private capital
  • Project location is based in the United States
  • Compliance with Build America, Buy America and Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (see the EPA FAQs page for more information)
  • Benefits to LIDACs (Low-Income and Disadvantaged Communities) according to Justice40, defined as:

For specific information and definitions regarding geographically dispersed low-income households and/or affordable housing, visit the EPA’s website here.

RFI SUBMISSION DEADLINE: DECEMBER 31, 2024

For more information about the RFI, watch the webinar (recorded October 3) and download the fact sheet below.

Webinar recorded on October 30. Click here to view and download the webinar slides.

Additional Requirements

Projects receiving funding through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund – National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF) award will be required to comply with the following:

Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA)

Requires payment and reporting of prevailing wages on federally funded or assisted construction projects.

Learn more here

Build America, Buy America Act (BABA)

Requires that all iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used on projects deemed “public infrastructure” must be produced in the U.S.

Learn more here

National Historic Preservation Act

For renovations on buildings over 50 years old or those listed in the National Register of Historic places.

Learn more here

Collective Clean Energy Fund is launching a regional Request for Information (RFI) to build a pipeline for qualified projects to receive investment from the GGRF National Clean Investment Fund.

Do you have a project that will be ready within the next 6-12 months?

Submit a Project

CCEF is soliciting submissions from projects that are shovel-ready and anticipate closing on financing within the next 6 to 12 months. Financing requests of $1 million and higher are encouraged.

Information can be submitted through CCEF’s Project Intake Form. Requested materials can be uploaded as an attachment to the project intake form. Please include the following preliminary information:

A summary of the overall experience and expertise of the development entity

  • Organization summary
  • Key personnel bios
  • Examples of success with similar projects
  • Provide project name
  • Provide project address
  • Indicate if the project supports a Low Income Disadvantaged Community (LIDAC)
  • Indicate if the project impacts an historic property

Provide a summary of the environmental attributes of the project.

Provide an analysis of clean energy production and/or energy savings (kWh/therms) if available.

If an engineer analysis is not available, please provide:

  • Solar production report (if applicable)
  • Storage capacity (if applicable)
  • List of energy measures (if applicable)
  • Building square footage (if applicable)
  • Number of charging ports and estimated load (if applicable)
  1. Total capital amount requested
  2. Type of loan product requested (i.e. short term debt, long term debt, bridge loan, pre-development funds, construction financing)
  3. Identify how CCEF capital fills a “finance gap” to help implement the clean energy elements of the project
  4. Please provide a breakdown of the project capital stack: sources and uses of equity, debt, grants, etc.

CCEF Process for GGRF Projects

  • 1

    Phase #1: Submit a GGRF Project Intake Form

  • 2

    Phase #2: CCEF will conduct a pre-qualification review and follow-up within 3 business days 

  • 3

    Phase #3: If the project meets the pre-qualification requirements, CCEF will host a qualification meeting with applicant to deep dive into project specifics

  • 4
    Phase #4: CCEF will invite applicant to submit a full GGRF loan application
  • 5
    Phase #5: Once the full application is submitted, CCEF will begin the formal underwriting process

Ready to submit a project?