The State Energy Financing Institution (SEFI) Toolkit is an online resource to help applicants, potential SEFIs, and policymakers understand the process for becoming a SEFI, communicate the types of SEFIs that are eligible, and provide SEFIs a resource for sharing relevant financial assistance opportunities with prospective borrowers through the SEFI Partnership Portal. Additional SEFI program details and application requirements are described in the Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program Guide and on the Title 17 Overview web page.
On This Page:
- How State Organizations Can Become SEFIs
- Example List of Eligible SEFIs
- Defining "Meaningful Financial Support"
- SEFI Partnership Portal
How State Organizations Can Become SEFIs
There is no formal application process for a state organization to be determined to be a SEFI. LPO reviews the qualifying statutory information for a SEFI at the point that a determination is necessary for a project to proceed. Many states will have several entities that would qualify as SEFIs. State, Tribal, or Alaska Native entities that are considering providing SEFI support to projects should identify statutory language and references and consult with LPO through a pre-application process. LPO will make determinations about SEFI eligibility consistent with the following statutory requirements:
- State Recognition: The jurisdiction of the organization must be recognized as a "State" within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. 16511(7) and section 202 of the Energy Conservation and Production act, 42 U.S.C. 6802 (this extends to US territories, for example).
- Entity Establishment: The term “state energy financing institution” means a quasi-independent entity or an entity within a State agency or financing authority established by a State.
- Purpose and Function: The organization must be established to provide financing support or credit enhancements for eligible projects and to create liquid markets for eligible projects or take other steps to reduce financial barriers to the deployment of existing and new eligible projects. (Note that many states’ entities have had their eligible purpose established through amending legislation.)
SEFIs that are interested in having their qualifications reviewed by LPO can contact LPO’s State Outreach and Business Development team at SEFI@hq.doe.gov.
Example List of Eligible SEFIs
The Department recognizes that there are many potential applicants that want to implement projects in various states that might need SEFI support to qualify for LPO financing. To help potential applicants and policymakers understand the potential SEFIs in a state, LPO is publishing this indicative list of eligible SEFIs.
This indicative list is not exhaustive of those entities that we have determined to be SEFIs, but rather is intended to show how there are a range of potential SEFIs in any particular state or across different states. LPO will not continually publish new organizations on this SEFI list.
LPO encourages potential applicants to talk to our State Outreach and Business Development team about their interest in various states. LPO also encourages potential applicants to consider the different kinds of organizations on the indicative list above and then talk directly to the variety of state agencies and quasi-public agencies that might qualify as SEFIs. If you identify that they are prepared to invest in a project that could qualify for LPO financing, please get in touch with LPO to continue the conversation about determining if an entity qualifies as a SEFI.
Potential applicants, as well as potential SEFIs, can reach out to us through our Pre-Application Consultation Request form or at SEFI@hq.doe.gov.
Defining "Meaningful Financial Support"
DOE determines whether SEFI support is “meaningful” in the context of the specific project and proposed financing structure. As such, projects are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and potential SEFIs and applicants should consult LPO through a pre-application consultation on the specifics of their proposed project.
The evaluation of whether a SEFI provides meaningful support may include, but is not limited to, consideration of the following factors:
1. The overall amount of support provided by the SEFI(s).
LPO may look to the dollar value of SEFI support, both in an absolute sense and in proportion to the project’s overall costs or financing needs and anticipated DOE support. In evaluating the amount of support being provided by a SEFI, LPO will take into account any direct or indirect transfer rights proposed to be allowed to the SEFI.
2. The risk level of the type of support the SEFI(s) provides.
Certain types of financial support or credit enhancements represent a higher degree of risk-taking or risk-sharing than others. Higher degrees of risk taking on the SEFI’s part may constitute more meaningful support.
Considerations and factors based on the level of risk of SEFI projects may include:
- The position of the SEFI financial support or credit enhancement in the project’s capital structure.
- Whether the financial support is expected to be repaid (i.e., if it is a grant or a loan).
- Timing of disbursement relative to LPO commitment/disbursement.
- Duration/tenor of the financial support.
- Project risk.
LPO may look to the disbursement schedule and conditions for SEFI support in relation to DOE debt, the relative seniority of SEFI support (loan or other) in relation to DOE debt, the tenor of the SEFI facility and, if applicable, the amortization schedule.
3. Whether SEFI support is offered at below-market terms.
LPO may look to the rate of return, interest, and fees required or anticipated by the SEFI, and the extent to which these terms are standard under current market conditions for the degree of risk assumed by the SEFI or are instead below-market or concessionary in nature and, thereby, meaningfully reduce financial barriers that may otherwise prevent the deployment of eligible projects.
The more of a concession the SEFI is taking versus earning a market return, the more “meaningful” the support may be. Where a SEFI offers financial support or credit enhancements on market terms, the existence of this factor is not meant to imply such support cannot be meaningful in accordance with factors 1 and 2.
LPO will consider the meaningfulness of all types of SEFI financial support or credit enhancements provided in multiple forms in the aggregate. All determinations of meaningfulness of SEFI support will be made on a case-by-case basis taking into account all relevant facts and circumstances.
The final determination as to meaningfulness of SEFI support will be made when all relevant facts and circumstances of a potential project have been identified and application materials have been submitted, which generally will happen with the issuance of the conditional commitment. Changes to the type and level of SEFI support after conditional commitment could impact DOE’s determination.
If you have a project that may be eligible for financing, please request a no-cost pre-application consultation.
SEFI Partnership Portal
SEFIs in many states may offer financing support or credit enhancements to entities that implement programs in a state agency’s various priority areas. Examples of SEFI activity across the country can be found in the SEFI Activities Handout.
LPO publishes and maintains the SEFI Partnership Portal, a list of programs where SEFIs (or potential SEFIs) have identified publicly available financial support opportunities relevant for potential LPO applications. The Portal will be updated on a rolling basis. Note that there are SEFIs or potential SEFIs that may fund projects that do not have a published funding program in this portal.
Disclaimer: Please note that by enabling and publishing the SEFI Partnership Portal and SEFI Activities Handout, LPO is not endorsing, sponsoring, or otherwise evaluating the qualifications of the organizations that are self-identifying themselves for placement on this website or the sufficiency of the financing support that may be offered by such organizations for purposes of eligibility for LPO financing under Title 17.
| State | Organization Name | Relevant Solicitation/Opportunity | Description of Opportunity and Project Areas | Contact Information |
| AZ | Arizona Finance Authority and the Arizona Office of Resiliency | Request for Information: Clean Energy Projects to Leverage Federal Financing Programs | The Arizona Office of Resiliency (OOR) and Arizona Finance Authority (AFA) are seeking input and proposals for eligible projects that can be enhanced by state coordination and/or financial support and through federal programs that drive clean energy investments. Municipalities, school districts, counties, Tribal governments, manufacturers, private developers, utilities, rural electric cooperatives, and nonprofits are welcome to submit. | communications@afa.az.gov |
| CA | Strategic Growth Council (SGC) | Announcement: Request for Proposals – Virtual Power Plant Development for Community Benefit (ca.gov) | The Strategic Growth Council under the Office of Planning and Research invites qualified and experienced virtual power plant providers beginning or considering applications to U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office for Title 17 Loan Guarantees to submit proposals for developing and implementing Distributed Energy Resources at eligible sites. | sean.kennedy@sgc.ca.gov |
| CO | Colorado Energy Office (CEO) | RFI for LPO's SEFI Program Opportunity: Solicitation #: RFI-EFAA-2024000070-3 | The Colorado Energy Office (CEO) will facilitate clean energy project development acting as a SEFI, and is opening this request for information (RFI) to the public. Projects financed by SEFI require that the CEO will offer meaningful financial assistance in the capital stack, through existing approved clean energy tax credit incentives. The CEO is soliciting open market feedback for projects or programs which are interested in collaboration on this program. | eric.cowan@state.co.us |
| DC | DC Department of Energy & Environment | RFI - Department of Energy Loan Programs Office: Clean Energy Financing Program | DOEE is requesting input from interested parties in the District of Columbia (“the District”) to identify potential opportunities for financing under the U.S. Department of Energy Loan Program Office’s (LPO) State Energy Financing Institution (SEFI) program to inform DOEE program design and policy making. | 2024LPORFI.responses@dc.gov |
| MA | MassDevelopment | Request for Expressions of Interest | This solicitation will serve as a market discovery tool to identify projects which could be advanced through to DOE-LPO federal financial assistance through direct loans, loan guarantees, loan loss reserves, equity investments or existing grant streams from MCCB agencies. | lpo-rfei@massdevelopment.com |
| MD | Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC) | Request for Information | MCEC Seeks Public Private Investment Partnerships to Leverage Federal Loans for Clean Energy in Maryland | Ben Rupert Director of Procurement |
| MI | Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy | Request for Information | Opportunity for respondents to provide input on a potential Michigan SEFI. | EGLE-OCE@Michigan.gov |
| MN | Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority (MnCIFA) | Request for Proposals (RFP) / Minnesota Department of Commerce - Business (mn.gov) | The mission of MnCIFA is to accelerate the adoption of proven clean energy technology and greenhouse gas reduction projects to expand access to untapped markets and to bring benefits to historically underserved communities. In particular, MnCIFA is looking to support projects in Minnesota that have financial needs that cannot be fully met by existing financial tools available on the private market. | Any questions by prospective Respondents concerning this RFI shall be sent by email to: peter.klein@state.mn.us. The subject line of the e-mail should state: MNCIFA RFI Questions. |
| NC | North Carolina Department of Commerce | Request for Information | Potential State Energy Financing Institution | Invites input from energy project developers who are seeking financing for proposed projects which reduce carbon emissions, increase the resilience of North Carolina communities, and/or increase the resilience of the state’s energy system | SEFIquestions@commerce.nc.gov |
| NJ | New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) | New Jersey Green Fund (NJGF) Request for Expressions of Interest | Opportunity for Respondents to express interest in at least $5 million of financial support from the NJGF for potential clean energy projects in NJ. Priority project categories: Zero-Emission Transportation; Clean Energy Generation and Storage; and Building Decarbonization and Resiliency | Ram Akella For RFEI-specific questions and submissions, please email: NJGFrfei@njeda.gov |
| NM | New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department | Request for Information to Leverage Federal Funding Programs for Clean Energy Projects in New Mexico | EMNRD is seeking to gauge private, public, and nonprofit interest in developing and operating emissions-reducing projects in a subset of LPO's categories that align with statewide deployment targets. | Rebecca Stair Energy, Conversation and Management Division Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department |
| NY | NY Green Bank | RFP 1: Clean Energy Financing Arrangements (ny.gov) | NY Green Bank invites private sector capital providers and other clean energy industry participants to propose transactions involving NY Green Bank that facilitate the financing of clean energy projects in New York State, consistent with its mandate, mission and priorities in addressing financing market gaps and barriers. | investmentrfps@greenbank.ny.gov |
| NY | New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) | State Energy Financing Fund | Through the State Energy Financing Fund, NYSERDA expects to deploy up to $20 Million of direct capital and credit enhancements to eligible entities, at an amount not to exceed the lesser of $5 Million or 3% of an eligible applicant’s proposed project portfolio amount. | John Joshi or Luis Aguirre-Torres Program Administrators SEFIfund@nyserda.ny.gov |
| OH | Ohio Air Quality Development Authority (OAQDA) | Various | Financing, green bonds, and tax exemptions for air quality improvement projects (e.g. efficiently designed buildings, energy efficiency, renewable energy generation, clean transportation, hydrogen) | Christina O’Keeffe Executive Director (614) 466-6825 info@aqda.state.oh.us |
* Check back soon for more information.
SEFIs interested in being represented on this list or interested in exploring how to obtain a determination of SEFI eligibility for the purposes of the Title 17 Clean Energy Finance Program, should contact SEFI@hq.doe.gov.
This page was last updated on March 17, 2025.