Scott Maslansky is the Director of Clean Energy Finance, CDFA
This past spring, REDC visited with Scott Maslansky, Director of Clean Energy Finance with the Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA). We talked about the role of the CDFA and clean energy in New Hampshire.
REDC: What’s your role at CDFA?
Scott: My role at CDFA is to manage our energy programing, which includes low interest financing, some small grants for energy audits, and to ensure our clean energy policy is adhered to, that the projects we're investing in consider all the clean energy opportunities that they can in their development. Our primary clients are nonprofits, municipalities, and businesses.
REDC: What are the goals of the Clean Energy Fund?
Scott: The goals of the Clean Energy Fund are to ensure that businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities have all the opportunities they can to advance clean energy in their facility’s development. [The project] might be part of an existing plan or one just focused on clean energy.
REDC: What are the biggest barriers to clean energy in New Hampshire?
Scott: There are several significant barriers to clean energy in New Hampshire. Specifically, our current energy policies and regulatory environment have some limitations in fostering clean energy. There are also some workforce limitations and weatherization [issues], along with the future need for electricians. And finally, just overcoming some of the hurdles in the complexity of getting funding and financing to align to be able to pursue a project.
REDC: What's the most enjoyable part of your job?
Scott: The most enjoyable part of my job is to see the passion and creativity that different entities and individuals have for doing this work, being part of the clean energy transition in New Hampshire.
REDC: If you had unlimited funding, what is something you would like to do?
Scott: I think if we had unlimited funding, one of the primary things I would want to see is that we supported projects comprehensively, that applicants wouldn't have to go to many different funding sources to be able to pursue a project. It would simplify the process and get the projects over the line quicker. It would make it much more efficient for everybody.
REDC: How does how does your work tie into the other initiatives at CDFA?
Scott: There's a deep connection between the work I do in energy and other work completed at CDFA. CDFA is engaged in [the support and development of] a lot of housing and community facilities. All of the projects that we support at CDFA have an energy component to them. Those buildings utilize energy, and that's an important part of their operating costs and the comfort and health in those facilities. So, it's important that those projects consider all the energy opportunities to make those improvements to both reduce their costs, but also improve the building conditions for the inhabitants.
To learn more about the clean energy program at CDFA, visit their website at or contact Scott directly at smaslansky@nhcdfa.org.
REDC's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
This interview took place in March 2023 for the purpose of documenting first-hand perspectives on issues that present the largest obstacles to continued economic growth in our region. REDC's 2023 CEDS Update will be available for free electronically on our CEDS page in late June, 2023.
Part of this interview will be available to watch in a video on REDC's YouTube channel in late June, 2023.