The SEFI Toolkit, a newly released online resource published and maintained LPO, is designed to help applicants, potential SEFIs, and others understand the process for becoming a SEFI and communicate the types of SEFIs that are currently certified.
September 18, 2023
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Today the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office (LPO) announced the launch of the State Energy Financing Institution (SEFI) Toolkit, an online resource to help applicants, potential SEFIs, and policymakers understand the process for becoming a SEFI, communicate the types of SEFIs that are currently certified, and provide SEFIs a resource for sharing relevant financial assistance opportunities with prospective borrowers through the SEFI Partnership Portal.
Under an expanded authority granted to LPO, projects receiving financial support or credit enhancements from an eligible SEFI are exempt from the Title 17 innovative technology requirement. This authority, which was established by the President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, has increased the diversity of projects that LPO can support and strengthened its ability to advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s clean energy goals.
The SEFI Toolkit:
- Provides information on how State, Tribal, or Alaska Native entities can become SEFIs.
- Provides an indicative list of entities LPO has determined to be SEFIs.
- Through the SEFI Partnership Portal, provides a list of SEFI programs where SEFIs have identified publicly available financial support opportunities relevant for potential LPO applications.
Additional resources to help you learn more about the SEFI program and application requirements are available on the Title 17 Overview web page. You can also contact LPO at SEFI@hq.doe.gov with questions or request a no-cost Pre-Application Consultation.
Jigar Shah
Former Director, Loan Programs Office
Jigar Shah served as Director of the Loan Programs Office (LPO) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) from March 2021 to January 2025. He led and directed LPO’s loan authority to support deployment of innovative clean energy, advanced transportation, and Tribal energy projects in the United States. Prior, Shah was co-founder and President at Generate Capital, where he focused on helping entrepreneurs accelerate decarbonization solutions through the use of low-cost infrastructure-as-a service financing. Prior to Generate Capital, Shah founded SunEdison, a company that pioneered “pay as you save” solar financing. After SunEdison, Shah served as the founding CEO of the Carbon War Room, a global non-profit founded by Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Unite to help entrepreneurs address climate change.
Shah was also featured in TIME's list of the "100 Most Influential People" in 2024.
Originally from Illinois, Shah holds a B.S. from the University of Illinois-UC and an MBA from the University of Maryland College Park.