Six Reasons CleanFi Will Become Your Best Friend in C&I Financing In this SolarAcademy Learning-in-the-Open Conversation, we reconnect with Philippe Hartley, a seasoned general and electrical contractor from California and the founder of CleanFi. Philippe passionately shares six compelling reasons why CleanFi is destined to be your go-to partner in Commercial and Industrial (C&I) project financing. He underscores the platform’s ability to finance any kind of project—be it solar installations, solar plus storage, EV charging stations, heat pumps, or even solar panel cleaning—and its applicability to a wide array of properties, including churches, public schools, healthcare facilities, industrial sites, mobile home parks, multifamily units, and even cannabis operations.
Philippe emphasizes that CleanFi is free to use with no dealer fees, making it an accessible tool for contractors looking to streamline their financing processes. He highlights the platform’s speed and efficiency, where entering a project can instantly generate proposals from interested funders, subject to credit review and underwriting. With multiple funding mechanisms like loans, leases, C-PACE, and third-party ownership, and dozens of funding entities competing for your business, CleanFi maximizes your chances of securing the right financing solution. Viewers can expect to learn how CleanFi acts as a virtual finance department at zero cost, saving time and reducing frustration, and are invited to use SolarAcademy’s financial portal to kickstart their next commercial project.
Topics covered in this conversation:
1. What types of projects can be financed through CleanFi?
CleanFi can finance a wide range of clean energy and improvement projects. This includes solar installations (solar alone or solar plus storage), solar combined with roofing, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, heat pumps, solar panel cleaning, and hundreds of other improvement types. The platform is designed to accommodate virtually any project related to energy efficiency and renewable energy enhancements.
2. Which types of properties are eligible for financing with CleanFi?
CleanFi offers financing solutions for almost any type of property. Eligible properties include churches, public schools, healthcare facilities, industrial sites, mobile home parks, Native American reservations, multifamily residences, and even cannabis operations. No matter the property type, CleanFi strives to provide a suitable funding solution.
3. Is CleanFi free to use, and are there any dealer fees?
Yes, CleanFi is completely free for contractors to use, with no dealer fees involved. Contractors can immediately begin using the platform without any cost, making it an accessible and cost-effective tool for streamlining the financing process.
4. How fast is the financing process with CleanFi?
The financing process with CleanFi is designed to be fast and efficient. Upon entering a project into the platform, CleanFi instantly calculates proposals from funders interested in the project profile, subject to credit review and underwriting. This quick turnaround helps contractors move forward rapidly with their projects.
5. What funding mechanisms does CleanFi offer?
CleanFi provides a variety of funding mechanisms to maximize the chances of securing financing for a project. These include loans, leases, Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing, and third-party ownership models. This diversity allows contractors to choose the financing structure that best fits their project’s needs.
6. How many funding entities are available through CleanFi?
CleanFi collaborates with dozens of funding entities that offer different financing products on the platform. These funders compete for contractors’ attention and business, increasing the likelihood of finding a suitable and competitive financing solution for each project.
7. Does CleanFi guarantee financing or improve bad credit?
While CleanFi significantly streamlines the financing process, it does not guarantee financing nor can it improve a client’s bad credit. The platform facilitates connections between contractors and funders, but final approval is subject to credit review and underwriting by the funding entities.
8. How does CleanFi serve as a virtual finance department for contractors?
CleanFi acts as a virtual finance department at zero cost to contractors. It saves hundreds of hours that would otherwise be spent on financing searches, dealing with dead-end projects, and managing customer frustrations. By centralizing financing options and providing instant proposals, CleanFi simplifies the financial aspect of project development.
9. What recognition has CleanFi received from the U.S. Department of Energy?
CleanFi was honored by the U.S. Department of Energy as the first and only FinTech company to be a finalist in its prestigious Solar Prize. This recognition underscores CleanFi’s innovative approach and significant contribution to advancing financing solutions in the clean energy sector.
10. How can contractors get started with CleanFi through SolarAcademy?
Contractors can get started by using SolarAcademy’s financial portal available on the page mentioned in the conversation. Even without a free CleanFi account, contractors can enter their next commercial project into the portal. CleanFi will then enroll them in the process, providing a fast, easy, and free way to begin leveraging the platform for their financing needs.