Gaining Momentum: Clean Energy Credit Union

Since our official launch earlier this spring, the Clean Energy Credit Union continues to gain momentum, drawing support for its one-of-a-kind clean energy investment model. In just a few months, this grassroots approach to helping community members afford their clean energy projects has drawn in over 450 new members and over 300 clean energy loan applications. That’s a fabulous start and an encouraging proof of concept.

Clean Energy Credit Union’s lifeblood is our member deposits. While off to a good start, these deposits will need to accelerate in the final quarter of 2018 in order to keep up with the wonderfully brisk pace of clean energy loan applications. We’re grateful to all of the ASES members and Solar Today readers who’ve already joined and made deposits. Early adopters like you inspire other clean energy supporters to follow suit by depositing their money in alignment with their values. Remember that all deposits are federally insured (up to $250k per member), earn interest, and will only be used to fund clean energy loans. Transferring funds from other financial institutions is free and easy via Clean Energy Credit Union’s online banking website (and will also be possible via our mobile app by early 2019).

Clean Energy Credit Union’s mobile app is already available for download wherever you get your Apple and Android apps. Initial features include account balance viewing and photo check deposit. We consider our app a critical member-convenience technology and are committed to expanded functionality and feature enhancements. Your suggestions and feedback will help us prioritize this software development work going forward.

From the “create some buzz” desk, we’re delighted to report having been the focus of some welcome media coverage and podcast interest since our last update. We’re attracting positive attention thanks to vocal clean energy enthusiasts like you, so please keep sharing the news both online and off. To that same end, if you’re already among the many member-borrowers who’ve received a loan for your clean energy project, send us a smiley photo of you (and your family) in front of your new electric vehicle or solar installation. We’ll post it online and send you a Clean Energy Credit Union T-shirt or hoodie as our way of saying thanks. Of course, if you or anyone you know is in the market for an electric vehicle, home solar system, e-bike, or home efficiency upgrade, please do browse our outstanding-by-design loan terms or get an application started at cleanenergycu.org/apply.

Lastly, we were very excited to give two presentations at SOLAR 2018, the annual ASES conference hosted by at University of Colorado–Boulder this past August. (NOTE: If you missed those live presentations, there’s a similar, recorded webinar presentation introducing Clean Energy Credit Union at https://lnkd.in/dSGVPfr). We’d love to schedule a similar presentation for your group of clean energy enthusiasts or your state ASES chapter/affiliate— whether in-person or via video conference or webinar. Inquiries on this (or any other) subject are always welcome at info@cleanenergycu.org, and you can learn more about how Clean Energy Credit Union works and/ or you can join at any time by visiting our website at www.cleanenergycu.org. Thank you, ASES members and Solar Today readers, for your ongoing support!