Minnesota Credit Unions Recognized for Collaborative Solar Energy Clearinghouse

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Minnesota Credit Union Network is proud to announce that CU Green® was honored with an Environmental Initiative Award on May 22, 2019. Environmental Initiative is a nonprofit organization that works with business, nonprofit and government leaders to develop collaborative solutions to Minnesota’s environmental problems.

Minnesota credit unions launched the website for CU Green in 2018, which is a clean energy lending platform developed to make clean energy accessible to more Minnesotans through educational resources to provide consumers with clean energy information. Annually, the Environmental Initiative honors people and projects focusing not only on environmental outcomes and impact, but also the processes through which they achieve them.

CU green was honored for its collaborative approach in addressing environmental challenges and promoting economic and community vitality. “As not-for profit, member-owned financial institutions, Minnesota’s credit unions are committed to improving their communities. The Minnesota Credit Union Network is pleased to be recognized for CU Green with Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union and Hiway Federal Credit Union for our efforts to move Minnesota towards a more efficient energy footprint.” said Minnesota Credit Union Network President & CEO Mark Cummins.

The partnership behind CU Green originated in 2016 when leaders from Affinity Plus, Hiway, and First Alliance engaged with the University of Minnesota’s Climate Smart Municipalities exchange. Inspired by innovative programs and practices in Germany, these leaders committed to expanding clean energy progress in Minnesota. Using funding from a grant from the Caroline Foundation, the Minnesota Credit Union Network, Hiway and Affinity Plus Federal Credit Unions worked cooperatively to build the website cu-green.org. These credit unions are also offering Solar Loans to help members make the investment in using solar energy.

Recognizing many Minnesotans find powering their homes with renewable energy out of reach, cugreen.org provides information on finding qualified contractors, taking advantage of utility incentives and below-market rate financing for installing residential solar electric generating systems.

The Minnesota Credit Union Network is the statewide trade association that works to ensure the success, growth and vitality of Minnesota credit unions. With nearly $20 billion in assets, Minnesota credit unions are local, trusted financial cooperatives that serve more than 1.7 million members at almost 400 branch locations around the state. As not-for-profit institutions, credit unions give back to the communities they serve. For more information, visit www.mncun.org.