July 25, 2025
On July 1st, 2025, ReImagine Appalachia brought together stakeholders from across the region with experts on commercial clean energy for a webinar on lowering energy costs and installing clean energy with or without federal funding. You can watch the full recording here. Our presenters included the following:
Chris Jones, Energize Kentucky
- Chris Jones is Program Manager of Energize Kentucky which is a Program Administrator for participating local governments throughout Kentucky who enact Energy Project Assessment Districts or EPADs. Energize Kentucky was created in 2015 and since that time, along with his work in Ohio, has been part of a team that has facilitated over $700 million in PACE financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Prior to PACE financing, Chris worked in private contracting as a General Manager for both a spray foam insulation and heating and cooling company. He also was a Sales Leader for a green products showroom. Chris’s passion is assisting building owners in reducing their energy consumption which includes installing renewable energy. Chris was born and raised in Ashland, Kentucky. He has a B.S. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Kentucky and also lettered as a UK basketball walk-on during the 1988-89 season. In 2023, Chris was inducted into his high school’s Athletic Hall of Fame as he held school records in basketball (career scoring total) and track and field (high jump) upon graduation in 1988. Chris is a proud Kentucky Colonel, which is the highest honor bestowed on civilians by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
David Oliverio, PACE Equity, LLC
- David Oliverio, Managing Director at PACE Equity, LLC, has more than 35 years of corporate finance and commercial banking experience, including 9 years with PACE Equity. In 2021, David was a leader in the PACE financing world, closing $84 million in PACE loans on over $500 million in commercial construction projects. Prior to his time with PACE Equity, David served as General Manager and CFO for two private firms in the Cincinnati area. He also spent time in commercial real estate acquisition for a Fortune 500 company with holdings throughout the Midwest and Southeast. David has 20 years of commercial banking experience, winning various awards for production. He initiated a $120million, multi-bank syndication to fund the real estate needs of a billion-dollar trucking company. This funding enabled his client to grow into the largest privately held trucking companies in the U.S. David is the proud father of 4 children and lives in the Cincinnati area. He has an MBA from the University of Cincinnati and a Bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. At BGSU, David was a two-time captain of the baseball team, all Mid-American Conference and an Academic All-American submission in his senior year.
Elaine Evosevic-Lozada, C-PACE Program, Sustainable Energy Fund
- Elaine Evosevic-Lozada , Leader, C-PACE Program, Sustainable Energy Fund is the first contact for property owners pursuing C-PACE financing in SEF administered counties across Pennsylvania. She supports project teams through the application process and collaborates closely with county officials to enable C-PACE programs tailored to local priorities. Elaine’s career spans economic development, affordable housing and community development banking, program design and nonprofit leadership. Prior to joining SEF in 2022, she led Special Projects and Finance for Allegheny County Economic Development, managing LERTA, TIF and C-PACE programs and an extensive grant portfolio. Her commitment to local impact extends to her continued service on nonprofit boards and local government councils focused on economic and climate resiliency. Elaine holds a Master of Public Policy and Management degree from the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio Wesleyan University.
C-PACE Overview and Background
Through their presentations, our experts gave an overview of C-PACE financing, which is a state legislated private/public partnership providing property assessed commercial real estate financing. This funding can be for development, renovation, and refinancing of projects that focus on clean energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable forms of development.” The first C-PACE program was established in 2007 in Berkeley, CA to fund solar projects. Following the genesis of the program in California, many states have followed suit. Today, there are now 36 states with active programs.
Active States:
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
As for the types of projects that C-PACE can help with, the program provides funding for new construction, mid-construction, retrofit, refinancing, and even post-construction work.
Here are some non-exhaustive, eligible improvements:
- HVAC Equipment and Controls
- Indoor Air Quality
- Seismic and Resiliency
- Indoor & Outdoor Lighting
- Elevator/Escalator
- Windows
- Insulation & Envelope
- Water Efficiency & Plumbing
- Roofing
- Renewable Energy & Energy Storage
- EV Charging
- Energy Recovery
Along with this project stage flexibility, this program is also long-term, fixed-rate, non-recourse financing, in which the borrower is not personally liable. Once the funding has been provided and the project has been completed, the program representatives step back from their already passive role. Another important note is that C-PACE financing is private capital and will not be affected by national or state-level changes. Additionally, the program can work seamlessly with complex stacks of other tax credits and incentives.
For more information, please see this recording and these presentations from our webinar:
You can view a recording of the webinar via Zoom.
Here are the speakers of the event as well as the presentations and links shared during Thursday’s digital convening. They will also be available on our event page shortly. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need help with anything, ReImagine Appalachia is happy to be of assistance!
Chris Jones, Program Manager of Energize Kentucky
David Oliverio, Managing Director at PACE Equity, LLC
Elaine Evosevic-Lozada, Leader of the C-Pace Program Sustainable Energy Fund