As federal climate funding faces uncertainty, state-level coordination has become essential for keeping clean energy projects moving forward, particularly in underserved communities. Ben Dueweke, Director of Michigan’s Climate Investment Hub, talks with us about how the Hub is working to connect capital providers, CDFIs, and community organizations to accelerate equitable climate solutions, and why creating accessible entry points for everyday residents and small businesses may be the key to unlocking broader participation in the clean energy transition. 

 Q: Can you tell me a bit about the Climate Investment Hub, its genesis and purpose? 

A: The Michigan Climate Investment Hub was established by the State of Michigan’s Office of Climate and Energy (under EGLE), who recognized that achieving the State’s climate goals will not only require activating massive amounts of capital, but also additional coordination among public, private, philanthropic and community partners to deploy that capital.  

The $20B in funding that was to be released via the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) presented an immediate use case for organizing Michigan’s ecosystem around climate-related finance in order to capitalize on these resources. Though the EPA has since frozen access to these funds, the work of the Hub transcends that program and we will continue to act as a market convener and systems integrator, working with capital providers, lenders, developers, local governments and community organizations to align financial resources with project needs. 

Q: What are your thoughts about the key barriers to a broad-based participation in this transition, besides financing? 

A: There are absolutely barriers to accelerating the pace of deployment when it comes to clean energy and other decarbonization strategies. One of the most persistent barriers in Michigan (and nationally) is the lack of accessible, trusted entry points for everyday residents, small businesses, community organizations, and public-sector stakeholders to explore project ideas. You would be hard pressed to find someone managing a small business or running a nonprofit that wouldn’t love to put solar on their roof or upgrade their heating and cooling equipment to be more efficient and affordable. However, the current market conditions effectively demand that folks are equipped with the technical fluency and understanding of the options, the benefits, and the means (financial and technical) to actualize this work – which simply isn’t the case.  

If we can solve for this – for example with a more robust ecosystem of resources focused on project ideation, pre-development, and development, we can start to build more momentum. This will have a positive feedback effect on jobs and economic growth in the sector, put downward pressure on prices and ultimately expand access to these technologies.  

Q: As federal clean energy and climate resilience funding, tax credits and other supports face significant cuts, what is the opportunity for state-level public ecosystem coordinator, and why has that role become more critical for CDFIs and clean energy-finance providers right now? 

A: It’s so important that we maintain forward momentum with climate and decarbonization work now, and into the future. Though I’m discouraged by the recent policy changes, the fact is there is an ever-growing demand for more affordable, reliable, and resilient energy systems. CDFIs are such a great example of how climate and clean energy work can augment and be additive to work already being done to strengthen our communities. Whether it’s small business lending, affordable housing, economic development — the CDFI coalition of Michigan and the Detroit CDFI coalition have members that are supporting communities across the state with financing and resources that align with the work of the Hub. We have been working with both Coalitions (who have aligned and coordinated their climate-specific committees) to shape strategy on advancing community resilience and climate solutions through coordinated action in partnership, capital, policy and learning.  

The Hub is also aligned and partnered with Michigan Saves (the state’s green bank) and Lean and Green Lending, who administers the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (or C-PACE) program. These two organizations are really the anchors of climate finance in the state, and we’re working with them to support project pipeline development, coordinating with national efforts, and generally building greater capacity.  

Q: Understanding that CDFIs and other community-focused lenders have been slow to come into this space, from your vantage point, what do state-level finance ecosystems need most in this moment to keep projects moving to market? 

A: I mentioned before the need for better and more accessible ‘entry points’ where folks can take ideas and aspirations, and mold them into projects that are financeable and beneficial for them. Part of the Hub’s work going into 2026 will involve collecting and indexing more data on the interest and demand for climate resilience and clean energy projects across the state. By achieving a better, data-based understanding of the project demand, we can better articulate financial needs, technical and capacity gaps, and also projected benefits and outcomes of the work. This information and synthesis can be used to strategically drive resources to fill these needs as well as to make the case to capital providers to continue to drive their dollars here to Michigan.  

The state has an incredible ecosystem of resources – from grant challenges administered by EGLE and our Public Service Commission, to a Tax Credit Technical Assistance Center supporting elective pay for nonprofits. When I’m speaking to people on the project development or sponsor side of things, I’ve found it rare that everyone knows about all of these resources, and I think the role of a Hub as a central information point could be beneficial to many states.   

Q: What advice do you have for other states or large municipalities who want to see deeper penetration of clean energy assets in underserved communities? 

A: Building two-way trust with local anchor institutions can help both better understand the pain points of a community as well as broaden the understanding of the options and potential benefits of clean energy and other decarbonization strategies. Climate resilience strategies can almost always be applied as a remedy to existing challenges — whether it’s the need for more jobs in a community, healthier housing or more affordable energy costs. We need to further drive the connection between the problems of today and the solutions of tomorrow.  

The power of a visible example goes so far. There is a Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study which found that non-residential solar installations (e.g. houses of worship) are statistically associated with increased residential solar adoption in the surrounding area. Specifically, non-residential systems accelerate residential adoption rates, showing a measurable influence effect on residential PV decisions. Household decisions to adopt rooftop solar photovoltaics are partly driven by social influence. If we can successfully demonstrate to people that these technologies work in their communities, and pair that with accessible and equitable entry points to develop projects, we will be off to the races.