SAN FRANCISCO, — Atmos Financial, PBC and Clean Energy FCU said they have joined to form a new CUSO called Atmos Clean Energy Solutions, which is dedicated to making clean energy lending easy and accessible for every credit union across the United States.
According to the organizations, Atmos Clean Energy Solutions provides credit unions with a turnkey, customizable platform to launch and scale clean energy lending programs that are efficient, cost-effective, and impactful.
“By combining Atmos Financial’s climate-fintech expertise with Clean Energy CU’s proven track record in mission-driven lending, the CUSO enables institutions of any size to enter the rapidly growing clean energy sector with confidence,” the organizations said in a statement.
Mission & Vision
Clean Energy CU and Atmos said their mission and vision include:
- Vision: “Every credit union leading their community in the clean energy transition.”
- Mission: “To make clean energy lending easy and accessible for every credit union.”
A ‘Game-Changer’
“Adopting a plug-and-play model for solar lending would have been a game-changer when we launched,” Terri Mickelsen, CEO of the Colorado-based, $110-million Clean Energy Credit Union said in a statement. “After using the Atmos solution for over six months, I’ve been impressed by its simplicity and the support behind it. It’s incredibly accessible and easy for our small team to manage. We spent an extraordinary amount of time and resources building our solution from scratch; being able to offer credit unions a ready-made path, backed by seasoned industry veterans, isn’t just convenient, it’s invaluable.”
Added Ravi Mikkelsen, CEO of Atmos Financial, in a statement, “Credit unions have always been at the forefront of community-based finance, and now they have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lead in the clean energy transition. Atmos Clean Energy Solutions was designed to eliminate barriers, accelerate program launches, and empower credit unions of all sizes to offer their members affordable, resilient, and sustainable energy solutions. Together, we can transform how millions of Americans power their lives — and how credit unions grow their memberships.”
The Opportunity
According to the two organizations, distributed clean energy lending is one of the fastest-growing segments of consumer finance.
“With historically strong performance, cash-flow-neutral loan structures, and powerful member acquisition potential, clean energy lending positions credit unions to diversify portfolios while deepening community ties,” the organizations said. “Yet, launching a program from scratch has traditionally required significant time, capital, and expertise.”
Bridging the Gap
According to the two companies, Atmos Clean Energy Solutions “bridges this gap” by offering:
- Turnkey product development and compliance
- End-to-end origination, servicing, and portfolio management
- Integration with state and green bank credit enhancements
- Immediate access to a multi-billion-dollar clean energy project pipeline
“For credit unions, the impact is clear: three months from 1st-meeting-to-launch (3 – 9 months saved), dramatically reduced program costs (up to 92% savings versus DIY), and the ability to own the member relationship in one of the most dynamic financial markets of our time,” the organizations said.
