UCS State Green Banks Analysis

The document details a spreadsheet model designed to quantify the effects of hypothetical green banks in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont from 2017 to 2031. It outlines the financial assumptions, including initial capitalization based on New York's per-capita rates, a 5% borrower interest rate, and a 5:1 private-sector leverage ratio. The methodology explains how funds are allocated across energy efficiency, solar photovoltaics, and community wind, and how these investments are translated into installed capacity, electricity savings, and avoided carbon emissions using data from NREL, ACEEE, and the EPA.

• The model assumes initial capitalization for hypothetical green banks based on the New York Green Bank's per-capita rate of $10.65, resulting in $14 million for Maine, $14 million for New Hampshire, and $7 million for Vermont.
• Financial assumptions for the green bank loans include a 5 percent interest rate for borrowers and a leverage ratio where every one green bank dollar attracts five private-sector dollars.
• Loan terms are differentiated by project type, with a seven-year term for energy efficiency projects and a 10-year term for renewable energy projects.
• Fund allocation varies by state: Vermont's model assumes 40% for energy efficiency, 50% for solar photovoltaics, and 10% for community wind; Maine and New Hampshire assume 50% for energy efficiency, 40% for solar, and 10% for community wind.
• The analysis period spans 15 years, from 2017 to 2031, and incorporates the December 2015 five-year extension of federal tax credits for wind and solar.
• To calculate avoided carbon emissions, the model uses EPA Clean Power Plan average emissions rates of 873 lbs/MWh for Maine and 1,119 lbs/MWh for New Hampshire, while using a 2014 regional rate of 1,107 lbs/MWh for Vermont.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2016). UCS State Green Banks Analysis. https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/attach/2016/12/clean-energy-finance-methodology.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. UCS State Green Banks Analysis. 2016. https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/attach/2016/12/clean-energy-finance-methodology.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=UCS State Green Banks Analysis |date=December 2016 |url=https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/attach/2016/12/clean-energy-finance-methodology.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2016ucs, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{UCS State Green Banks Analysis}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2016}, month = dec, url = {https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/attach/2016/12/clean-energy-finance-methodology.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }