Building upon six consecutive sold-out issuances, Connecticut Green Bank launches ninth Green Liberty offering with Raise Green; investments start as low as $100 and support small business energy efficiency
CGB Green Liberty Notes LLC, a subsidiary of the Connecticut Green Bank, proudly opened its ninth Green Liberty offering today. The crowdfunding campaign is entering its third year and is made possible with Raise Green, an online marketplace for impact investing. Connecticut residents and citizens nationwide can begin working toward their sustainability-focused New Year's resolutions by supporting small business energy efficiency upgrades through this offering to invest in local restaurants, town halls, community organizations, and more.
"As we enter 2024, recent reports have projected the world will cross the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming threshold this decade if we continue to burn fossil fuels at the current rate," said Bryan Garcia, President and CEO of the Connecticut Green Bank. "Energy efficiency is one significant way to curb carbon emissions and confront climate change. If you're looking for ways to join the fight this year, a Green Liberty investment is an affordable option that will earn you a competitive return on investment."
Investments in the Green Liberty offering support Eversource's Small Business Energy Advantage (SBEA) program, which enables small businesses in Connecticut to reduce their energy costs through efficiency upgrades and zero-interest loans. As a result of the climate benefits associated with the SBEA program, this Green Liberty offering has been reviewed and verified for its environmental attributes by Kestrel. The Green Bank's partnership with Amalgamated Bank has deployed $100 million of private capital into the SBEA program.
Notes may be purchased through the Raise Green online platform without a broker, with a $100 minimum. The previous Green Liberty offering was the sixth consecutive offer to surpass its maximum limit for raised amount, so interested investors are encouraged to act quickly.
Featuring a low minimum investment, a short term, and easy online purchase, Green Liberty offerings were created to be accessible to nearly anyone who wants to invest. More than 60% of original investments have been $1,000 or less, with buyers from 35 states nationwide, and more than half of the investors have been Connecticut residents.
"We've raised over $1.8 million through our first eight offerings and are encouraged by the consistent increase in demand for the notes. This was shown during our last offering, which featured an increased maximum raise limit and exceeded that goal," said Garcia.
Investors from the fifth round of Green Liberty Notes (now reaching the end of its term) can reinvest their principal and interest in this latest offering. Anyone who invested in the fifth round and invests in this offering, either by reinvesting their principal and interest or by investing a different amount, will receive an interest rate "boost" as a thank-you for their early support of the Green Liberty Notes.
For more information about this investment opportunity, please visit invest.ctgreenbank.com.
About the Connecticut Green Bank
The Connecticut Green Bank was established by the Connecticut General Assembly in 2011 as the nation's first state-level green bank and has since supported the creation of more than 27,000 green jobs in the state, while reducing the energy cost burden on over 68,000 families, businesses, and nonprofits. The Green Bank's vision is a planet protected by the love of humanity and its mission is to confront climate change by increasing and accelerating investment into Connecticut's green economy to create more resilient, healthier, and equitable communities. This is accomplished by leveraging limited public resources to scale-up and mobilize private capital investment into Connecticut. In 2017, the Connecticut Green Bank received the Innovations in American Government Award from the Harvard Kennedy School Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation for their "Sparking the Green Bank Movement" entry. To date, the Green Bank has mobilized nearly $2.5 billion into the State's green economy. This has reduced the energy costs for thousands of families and businesses, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change and worsen public health.
For more information about the Connecticut Green Bank, please visit www.ctgreenbank.com.
About Raise Green
Raise Green is the first marketplace in the U.S. for local and inclusive impact investment into climate solutions. On Raise Green's investor marketplace, anyone (individuals and institutions) can invest in community-focused climate infrastructure and resilience projects across a varied range of project scales and minimum investments. Raise Green gives solar developers the tools to cut soft costs and easily access financing for up to $5M per year. Investors can create quantifiable impacts in local communities, as well as receive financial returns if the project is successful.
For More Information, Contact:
Rudy Sturk (rudy.sturk@ctgreenbank.com)
