Equitable School Revolving Fund (ESRF) was recognized for their 2020 bond used to finance or reimburse ESRF for the cost of financing charter school loans to qualifying public charter schools.

The Board of Education of the City of Newark, New Jersey, was recognized for their 2021 bonds financing comprehensive energy conservation measures at district schools. Kestrel provided the external review and is delighted to see Newark recognized for implementing energy and water efficiency measures to further advance the pursuit of equitable education and a just transition to a decarbonized economy.

The Board of Education of the City of Newark, New Jersey, was recognized for their 2021 bonds financing comprehensive energy conservation measures at district schools. Kestrel provided the external review and is delighted to see Newark recognized for implementing energy and water efficiency measures to further advance the pursuit of equitable education and a just transition to a decarbonized economy.

Regional Transportation District-Denver (RTD) issued their first Certified Climate Bonds in February 2021. RTD provides transit services to over 3 million people in around Denver, Colorado and refinanced transit system expansion and maintenance projects with the 2021 bond offering that are expected to enable major reductions in transit sector greenhouse gas emissions. As an external reviewer, Kestrel verified that the refinanced projects meet the stringent qualitative standards of the Climate Bonds Initiative’s Transport Criteria.

First in a series of webinars sponsored by the California Municipal Utilities Association, Sacramento Municipal Utility District & Climate Bonds Initiative. Panelists, including Kestrel CEO Monica Reid, provide an overview of green bonds: what they are, green labeling & designations, benefits, best practice, and how they are being used by California municipal utilities.

In an industry first, Connecticut Green Bank is launching a retail climate bond series in which all of the proceeds generated from the roughly $16.1 million issuance will support rooftop solar deployment in the state. Connecticut Green Bank’s new category of climate bond, which it calls “Green Liberty Bonds,” are modeled after the Series-E war bonds that half of all Americans bought during World War II. The Climate Bonds Initiative certified the bonds and Kestrel Verifiers will report on the bonds over time.

PACE Funding Group, LLC, a California-based specialty finance company, announced today that it completed a $ 107 million securitization of residential Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) assets. The financing supported property improvements for energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, and hurricane resiliency measures. Kestrel Verifiers provided a Second Party Opinion to support the green bonds designation for the senior notes.

Municipal “green bond” designations by various market participants are complicating how investors domestically and internationally view and understand the market for those bonds. Kestrel, a Climate Bonds Initiative Approved Verifier, describes how external reviews following internationally accepted standards help contribute to the standardization and growth of the green bond market.

Bryan Garcia and Eric Shrago of the Connecticut Green Bank explain how “Green Liberty Bonds” will expand clean energy investment, and discuss Kestrel Verifiers’ role in Climate Bonds Certification. Hosted by Chip Barnett of The Bond Buyer.

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD), one of the nation’s largest and most highly regarded leaders in wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and green infrastructure issued the first-ever Certified Climate Bond for a combined wastewater and stormwater program in the United States. The bond was verified by Kestrel Verifiers, a Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) Approved Verifier, and Woman-Owned Small Business, based in the US.