The Center for Impact Finance (CIF) at the University of New Hampshire's Carsey School of Public Policy and the Inclusiv Center for Resiliency and Clean Energy have partnered to provide the Green and Solar Lending Training & Technical Assistance program for community lending institutions (CDFI loan funds, credit unions, MDI and CDFI banks, green banks). This program was created thanks to generous support from the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) and the Wells Fargo Foundation.
The content and information were relevant, understandable, and full of available resources... The instructors were available [and] highly competent.
Terry Gearheart, VP Lending
Neighborhood Finance Corporation
Participants in this program learn and apply technical skills to rapidly launch and grow green loan products at their community lending institutions. Since 2020, this program has trained over 800 lenders from over 400 community-based financial institutions across the country. Graduates of the instructor-led training courses earn a Green and Solar Lending Certificate from UNH and Inclusiv and may earn UNH course credit towards a Master in Community Development degree.
Upon completion of instructor-led courses, participants join an alumni program that delivers additional in-depth training workshops, technical assistance to launch and grow solar and green loan products, and development of shared financing platforms.
Submit this short, free online application to be informed when course dates are released to join our rolling list of applicants.
Our instructor-led training courses are offered to small cohorts of community-based lenders with high potential to develop new solar and green lending products, collaborate with partners to provide solar and green financing, and/or deploy new loans or investments. Participants will:
- Access engaging videos, reference materials, facilitated online discussion, and expert webinars focused on practitioner needs.
- Earn a Solar or Green Lending Professional Certificate issued through UNH and Inclusiv upon successful course completion.
- Continue with technical assistance after course completion in the form of follow-on peer workshops and coaching to move your ideas to action.
Earn a digital badge you can share on LinkedIn and other social networks!
Courses Offered:
Instructor-Led Courses
- Multifamily Clean Energy Lending
Next cohort: Jan 21 – Mar 25, 2025
(Tuesdays 2-3:30 pm ET)
- Green Home Consumer Lending
New 2025 dates to be announced.
Previously on Tuesdays from 4-5:30 pm ET.
- Commercial Solar Lending
New 2025 dates to be announced.
Previously on Thursdays from 4-5:30 pm ET.
Self-Paced Courses
- Introduction to Solar Finance (3 hrs)
Register here
- Resilient Solar and Storage
Coming soon
Applications for 2025 are being received on a rolling basis and participants are encouraged to apply now.
- Participants should be current employees at community lenders and looking to build a loan product for that institution. These courses should not be taken as general professional development.
- Participants should have at least 1 year of lending experience (1 year of commercial lending or commercial real estate for the Commercial Solar Lending courses).
- Participants should have basic proficiency in Excel or equivalent spreadsheet software.
- For Commercial Solar Lending, participants' institutions must have an existing commercial/business loan program.
- For Green Home Consumer Lending, participants' institutions must have an existing consumer loan or residential mortgage program.
- For Multifamily Clean Energy Lending, participants' institutions must have prior experience in multifamily lending. Institutions should plan to bring a 2-person team.
- Participants should be based in/work for a U.S. organization (including U.S. territories).
- For grant reporting purposes, participants will be asked to share new loan and product information with UNH and Inclusiv on a quarterly basis for 2 years after course completion.
Course Pricing:
Registration for instructor-led courses is $5,800 for the first participant, and $3,800 for the second participant from the same organization. Financial aid may be available.
We are also working with select Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund awardees to design training programs for the community lenders that they select to receive financial and technical assistance.
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The content and information were relevant, understandable, and full of available resources. I have a much better understanding of how solar works which will allow us to have better communication with customers and providers. Additionally, it will help with discussions together with city, county, and other agency decision-makers. The instructors were available, highly competent and I'm fortunate to have been a participant. Looking forward to seeing content and sharing ideas in the Alumni network.
Terry Gearheart, Vice President of Lending
Neighborhood Finance Corporation -
Neda, Cheryl, Hannah, & Laurie were all absolutely amazing, and I really appreciate the opportunity to take part. As I shared in class, having completed this course, I am confident in moving forward with our solar loan product. This class challenged us to take a deeper & eco-friendlier look into serving our community.
Artina Blackmon, Senior Vice Preside of Programs & Community Development
People's Trust Community Loan Fund -
We have been given great knowledge through this course. All moderators and students really gave all they had to the program, and I learned so much from everyone. We are moving in the rght direction at JFFCU. We will take what we learned and get action moving in the right direction thanks to this class.
Michelle Cooper, Senior Loan Officer
Jefferson Financial Federal Credit Union -
Thank you again for this course – it's been amazing and I learned so much.
Carla Eaton, Business Development Officer
Travis Credit Union -
I can't thank you enough for the opportunity to participate in the Green Home Lending program. It was absolutely fantastic. It came highly recommended by other team members, and it didn't disappoint. It is a lot of work but all the materials presented were relevant and I feel that I wouldn't have learned as much if it was not as comprehensive. I loved it...every banker interested in climate finance should participate.
Marcio deOliveira, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Digital Banking Officer
Climate First Bank
