Session 4: Dollars to Donuts: Making District Energy a Reality Through Financing Strategies

How are projects financed, the affordability challenge, leveraging available funding, and strategies to accelerate and scale district energy solutions? Which stacks work here? How do we turn public dollars into private leverage? What delivery models (utility, concession/SPV, ESCO) best fit campus vs. downtown? How to leverage CCA dollars, federal tools, green/climate bonds, $/ton effectiveness, gap-funding, and off-balance-sheet structures for public institutions?

Panelists:
• Ash Awad, McKinstry
• Wayne Barnett, Cordia
• Keith Bate, Creative Energy
• Travis Hickford-Kulak, Corix
• Isaac Kastama, Water Street Public Affairs
• Meghan Riesterer, CenTrio
• David Woodson, University of Washington

Moderated by: Bonnie Frye Hemphill, UMC