Support for innovative financing programs in a post-coronavirus economic stimulus package

The authors argue that innovative financing is essential to leverage grants and tax incentives for clean energy projects, particularly for low- and moderate-income individuals and small businesses. They specifically advocate for on-bill financing, which allows borrowers to repay energy efficiency and renewable energy costs via utility bills, noting its success in rural areas and specific states. The letter requests increased funding for the USDA's Rural Energy Savings Program and DOE's State Energy Program, and authorization for on-bill financing within the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant and state or local 'green banks'.

• Innovative financing is necessary to maximize the impact of grants, rebates, and tax incentives, ensuring that recovery funds sustain the clean energy workforce and continue to reduce emissions after initial funding is exhausted.
• On-bill financing programs, which enable borrowers to repay energy efficiency and renewable energy costs through a utility bill line-item, are currently utilized by over 60 public utilities and electric cooperatives, with a strong presence in rural areas where energy costs are typically 40% higher than in urban areas.
• Certain states, including Washington, South Carolina, Hawaii, and Arkansas, have implemented innovative on-bill program designs, such as transferable tariffs, to improve equity and ownership in disadvantaged communities and attract private-sector or USDA no-interest loans.
• The authors recommend that Congress increase funding for the USDA's Rural Energy Savings Program and the DOE's State Energy Program, and explicitly authorize on-bill financing for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant and state or local 'green banks'.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2020). Support for innovative financing programs in a post-coronavirus economic stimulus package. https://www.eesi.org/files/OBF-Stimulus-Letter-051120.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Support for innovative financing programs in a post-coronavirus economic stimulus package. 2020. https://www.eesi.org/files/OBF-Stimulus-Letter-051120.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Support for innovative financing programs in a post-coronavirus economic stimulus package |date=11 May 2020 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/OBF-Stimulus-Letter-051120.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2020support, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Support for innovative financing programs in a post-coronavirus economic stimulus package}}, publisher = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2020}, month = may, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/OBF-Stimulus-Letter-051120.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }