City First Enterprises Celebrates District's Solar For All Funding Award as a Partner

Press Release

Washington, DC — City First Enterprises (CFE) congratulates the District’s Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) on its recent award to expand its efforts to bring solar energy to low-income residents. Monday, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the District was awarded $62 million under the Solar for All (SFA) program, marking a significant milestone in America’s journey toward equitable clean energy solutions.

A Look at Our Impact
As a member of the consortium led by the DOEE, we are positioned as a key player deeply committed to widening access to clean energy for low-income households across DC. Over the past few years, we have supported solar installations for low-income households, financed the installation of EV chargers, and provided flexible capital for affordable housing projects that integrate clean energy elements into their design. This work ultimately supports these communities by opening a door of access to enhanced energy efficiency, reduced utility costs, and increased quality of life.

Alignment with Broader Goals
The initiatives of this program directly align with our goal to support an equitable transition to a clean economy. Earlier in the month,   announced by the EPA. NCIF and SFA funding complements our strategic goals to grow our clean energy lending and bring more transformative projects to fruition. We are excited about the opportunities this funding will create and how it will bolster our ongoing efforts to ensure the benefit of these technologies reaches those who stand the most to gain.

“The Solar for All program embodies the key values of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, recognizing that investing in clean energy means more than just cutting emissions—it’s about fairness for everyone. With $7 billion in grants nationwide, the program aims to provide clean electricity to 900,000 low-income homes and generate 200,000 jobs, offering savings and opportunities. At CFE, we’re committed to advancing these goals by teaming up with the DC Government on this transformative initiative,” said Oswaldo Acosta, CEO of City First Enterprises.

Partners in Impact
Partnerships are the cornerstone of this work, allowing us to combine our strengths and resources to amplify our impact. With that, we are also excited to congratulate our SFA partners on this monumental win for the future of equity in clean energy in the District:

  • DC Department of Energy and Environment
  • DC Green Bank
  • DC Sustainable Energy Utility
  • International Brotherhood of Electric Workers
  • Interfaith Power and Light
  • Green and Healthy Homes Initiative
  • Groundswell

To see the District DOEE’s press release, click here.

Learn more about the Solar for All Announcement here.

About City First Enterprises:

City First Enterprises is a certified CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) specializing in flexible lending for affordable housing, commercial real estate, small businesses, non-profits, and clean energy projects. With a mission to create equitable financial solutions to support people and communities in achieving their economic aspirations, we envision a future where all people and communities transform their futures through equitable access to capital. For more information, visit https://www.cfenterprises.org/.

For Immediate Release
April 24, 2024
Contact: jasmine@cfenterprises.org

“The Solar for All program embodies the key values of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, recognizing that investing in clean energy means more than just cutting emissions — it’s about fairness for everyone. With $7 billion in grants nationwide, the program aims to provide clean electricity to 900,000 low-income homes and 200,000 jobs, offering savings and opportunities.”

– Oswaldo Acosta, CEO, City First Enterprises