North Carolina-based organization part of group competing to manage federal clean energy funding

Key players convened this week in Durham to discuss clean energy opportunities spurred by the Inflation Reduction Act.

Climate United, a consortium co-led by NC-based Self-Help, has submitted a bid to manage and deploy $14 billion in federal investments from the National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF).

“We're trying to make the Clean Energy Transition real tangible and beneficial in people's lives," said Beth Bafford, the CEO of Climate United and VP of DC-based Calvert Impact Capital.

The National Clean Investment Fund competition will provide grants national nonprofit clean financing institutions to provide accessible financing for tens of thousands of clean technology projects across the country, with at least 40% of the funds dedicated to low-income and disadvantaged communities.

“Our job, if we are lucky enough to manage a portion of the National Clean Investment Fund is really to make sure that kind of activity is happening across every community across the country," Bafford said.

The group gathered with local organizations this week in Durham and toured a number of clean energy sites, including viewing electric school buses at Maureen Joy Charter School and solar panels at Trinity Presbyterian Church. The group also toured Kempower's new North American EV charger manufacturing facility.

"Each time, I was blown away by the community, by the folks who are doing this work and how much they've put in to make these projects happen," said Crystal German, EV of Self-Help.