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Experts recommend 'resilient capital stacks' and green‑bank partnerships to fund Chatham climate projects

Chatham County Board of Commissioners / Climate Change Advisory Committee retreat · November 6, 2025

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Summary

A finance presenter urged Chatham County to combine grants, green banks, loans, performance contracting and public‑private partnerships to finance climate resilience and affordable, equitable projects; staff were asked to compile local financing options and case studies to include in an RFP scope.

Nick Gower and other consultants presented practical financing approaches county leaders could use to move projects from planning into implementation.

Gower introduced the "resilient capital stack" idea — layering grants, philanthropic capital, green‑bank loans, public bonds and private investment to reduce project risk and attract lenders. He cited case studies where communities combined grants with energy‑savings performance contracts to retrofit public buildings with no net annual cost to operations.

Speakers suggested short‑term county actions: identify high‑impact pilot projects that can be packaged for finance (municipal fleet electrification, wastewater‑methane recovery, school composting), explore regional green‑bank or community‑loan programs (noting an emerging "Electrify Triangle" initiative), and create a simplified grant program for community‑based organizations to run outreach and small projects.

The advisory committee and staff agreed to gather local examples and RFPs, and to include financing partners and green‑bank concepts in the scoping materials for a consultant.