The City of Richmond, Virginia, in partnership with the Community Climate Collaborative (C3), has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the Coalition for Green Capital’s Municipal Investment Fund (MIF) to develop a sustainable local clean energy market.
Richmond is one of 52 communities nationwide selected for this highly competitive program, which aims to build pipelines of solar and battery projects that create jobs, reduce energy costs, and advance community-controlled clean energy solutions.
The grant will support initiatives to expand solar and battery storage access beyond the traditional tax-credit model, focusing on affordability for households and businesses that currently lack access.
“This foundational investment is a powerful step toward a cleaner, more equitable and sustainable Richmond,” said Dawn Oleksy, Energy Program Manager at the Office of Sustainability for the City of Richmond, in a statement. “It directly supports two pillars of the City’s strategic plan – Thriving and Inclusive Communities and a Thriving and Sustainable Built Environment. With support from the Municipal Investment Fund, we are excited to build a local clean energy economy that advances solar installations, develops the necessary workforce, and continues the important work of building a healthier, more resilient future for every Richmond resident.”
Over the next six months, C3 and the City of Richmond will develop a public-private partnership plan connecting private investment and government support to grow the region’s solar and battery market.
The project team is encouraging financial service providers, developers, solar companies, and other stakeholders interested in expanding Richmond’s clean energy market to engage with the initiative through the project inquiry form. The collaboration promises to help Richmond residents and businesses participate in a cleaner, more resilient, and economically vibrant energy future.
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