The Municipal Investment Fund Market Building Grant provides resources to build a pipeline of clean energy projects, which will create jobs, reduce energy prices, and help Richmond take control of its energy future.

RICHMOND, VA (Dec. 15, 2025) - As rising electricity rates continue to put economic pressure on households and businesses, the need for affordable, effective energy that allows Richmond to meet its climate goals by 2050 grows.

To address this need, The City of Richmond in partnership with the Community Climate Collaborative (C3), has been selected as part of a highly competitive, nationwide strategy to be one of the 52 initial cohort communities to receive a grant of $250,000 from the Coalition for Green Capital's Municipal Investment Fund (MIF). Funded by the Coalition for Green Capital, the MIF is seeding green financing at the community level across the U.S to secure local clean energy access and advance local solutions.

The City and C3's partnership will focus on building a self-sustaining market for clean solar and battery power, one that looks past the tax-credit era and into the future. "Clean energy, like solar power and battery storage, has tremendous economic benefits, but it remains out of reach for a wide swath of our community members. As tax credits expire, we need to look ahead to community-level financing solutions that make solar and battery storage available to those who currently can't afford them. Richmond's MIF award will enable the City to engage a wide array of stakeholders in creating these financing programs, and planning to get them in the hands of the residents and businesses that are most in need of lower bills and backup power," states Coles Jennings, Director of Corporate Sustainability, Community Climate Collaborative.

Over the next six months, C3 and the City of Richmond will be working on a public-private partnership (P3) plan that will connect private investment and government support to grow the Richmond area solar and battery power market.

Dawn Oleksy, Energy Program Manager at the Office of Sustainability for the City of Richmond, believes, "This foundational investment is a powerful step toward a cleaner, more equitable and sustainable Richmond. 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."

"At the Community Climate Collaborative (C3), we believe in the power of communities. We are thrilled that Richmond was selected for a Municipal Investment Fund grant. This opportunity has the potential to accelerate solar and battery deployment across the City while offering new career opportunities for its residents," adds Susan Kruse, Executive Director, Community Climate Collaborative. Identifying the opportunities and challenges associated with developing a strong clean energy project pipeline in Richmond can be a game-changer for Richmond residents' access to clean energy.

The team is thrilled to be bringing this project to the Richmond area and looks forward to working with the Richmond community to build a brighter, cleaner, and more prosperous future. C3 and the City of Richmond encourage financial service providers, building owners and developers, solar developers, and others with an interest in expanding Richmond's solar capabilities to reach out to the project team through this project inquiry form. 

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About Community Climate Collaborative

The Community Climate Collaborative aims to bring communities together to lead on climate by working closely with schools, businesses, residents, and local governments to implement carbon emissions reductions, develop climate action plans, and enact equitable policies that accelerate climate action. Visit theclimatecollaborative.org.