Powering Rural Schools with Project Financing
“Craft3 took the time to understand the complex utility incentive structure, our approach with Partners for Rural Washington, and Zero Emissions Northwest’s start-up history to create an affordable, replicable, and scalable financing structure. We wouldn’t have been able to create the impact here in our communities without Craft3.” –David Funk, President, Zero Emissions Northwest
Schools in small communities in eastern Washington, like Tekoa, Harrington, and Colville, face the same rising energy costs as everyone else — but with far fewer resources to manage them. A partnership between energy developer Zero Emissions Northwest (ZEN), nonprofit Partners for Rural Washington, and Craft3 is changing that.
ZEN develops clean energy projects across rural Washington and Idaho with a clear mission: to bring practical, affordable energy solutions to rural communities that larger developers often overlook.
The project: 30 community solar installations across thirteen school districts, with systems ranging from rooftop panels to ground mounts. The solar energy powers the schools, while utility incentives administered by Washington State University flow back to repay the project costs. Low-income students at each school benefit directly through the community solar program.
Craft3 bridged the gap between installation and repayment — a window of roughly 60 to 90 days while incentive payments work their way through the system. We structured a $2.1 million revolving line of credit that can fund up to seven projects at a time, moving efficiently from one school district to the next. It's exactly the kind of creative, trust-based financing that conventional lenders don't offer — and that rural communities rarely get access to.
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