Sample Municipal Green Revenue Bond Order

Updated October 29, 2025

WHEREAS: The climate crisis creates a pressing need to expand publicly-owned, clean, and resilient energy infrastructure. The nation’s growing energy demand and   the slashing of federal climate investments in July 2025 are causing energy costs to increase and make electric grids less reliable. Households, government bodies, small businesses, and nonprofit entities are all expected to face higher utility bills; and

WHEREAS: There are a wide variety of clean energy and energy efficiency options for municipalities, including, but not limited to, solar (especially at small, commercial, and community-scale), wind, geothermal, battery storage, electric vehicles (EVs), EV chargers, heat pumps, weatherization, and building envelope upgrades. “Clean energy” and “energy efficiency” projects in this bond order do NOT include coal, oil, natural gas, liquefied natural gas, petroleum, kerosene, carbon capture, carbon capture and use, enhanced oil recovery, direct air capture, incinerators, waste methane incineration, blue natural gas, blue hydrogen, renewable hydrogen, hydrogen fuel cell, renewable natural gas, geoengineering, and other green-washed harmful solutions; and

WHEREAS: Publicly-owned clean energy projects can reduce future energy costs for [your type of governing body/ eligible entities] and taxpayers, raise revenue through energy generation and vehicle charging, enhance air quality, create good-paying jobs, and improve environmental justice; and

WHEREAS: Clean energy can especially benefit communities afflicted by harmful contaminants and fossil fuel pollution, which are more likely to affect low-income and BIPOC communities, when public entities like [your type of governing body/ eligible entities] provide sufficient upfront funding, center community benefits in project development, and support technical assistance; and

WHEREAS: Clean energy projects also double as investments in the local clean energy workforce when projects comply with strong labor standards. [Your governing body] must require prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements, employ union labor when possible, and make good faith efforts to engage local residents in community benefit plans.

CONCLUSION: The issuance of the proposed Series 2025A Renewable Energy Obligation Bonds represents a prudent and strategic investment in the future of the [your governing body]. The bond proceeds will directly address critical infrastructure needs outlined in the [existing governing Climate Plan, if it exists] and specifically fund [mention 1-2 key projects, e.g., governing-body-owned renewable energy, solar on all public schools in the jurisdiction, etc.], which are essential for energy abundance, grid reliability, climate security, green job creation, enhanced quality of life, and continued economic vitality.

The [your governing body]'s strong credit profile is characterized by a stable and diverse tax base, a history of sound financial management with strong General Fund balances, and a demonstrated commitment to meeting its debt obligations. The full faith, credit, and taxing power of [your governing body]'s pledge to the repayment of these bonds provides a high degree of security for investors.

By moving forward with this financing, [your governing body] is taking a necessary step to preserve and enhance its public assets in a fiscally responsible manner, ensuring the community's infrastructure meets the demands of future growth. The projects funded by these bonds will provide long-term benefits to residents and businesses, solidifying the foundation for the [your governing body]'s continued prosperity.

Now therefore, be it:

ORDERED: That [your governing body/ eligible entity] shall support clean energy implementation by issuing a bond of [$1,234,567] to finance clean energy projects that:

• Provide at least 50% of its benefits to low-income households, OR are located in Justice40 or energy communities;

• Meet prevailing wage and worker protection requirements including [insert locally relevant protections including meet local procurement standards, meet prevailing wage requirements, implement a project labor agreement or community benefits agreement, and commit to regular reporting that shows compliance with each of these standards, includes an accurate record of individuals employed, hours worked, and wages paid, and details fringe benefit contributions and penalties if these standards are not met];

• [insert/adjust community benefits as needed]; and

ORDERED: Revenue generated by the clean energy assets will be spent in the following priority: 

1. Repaying bond investors;

2. Funding necessary repairs and maintenance for the life of the clean energy assets;

3. Financing new clean energy projects [or insert other community priority here, such as affordable housing, family economic security programs, education, libraries, etc. These projects can be specifically named in the bond or determined at a later date by a named entity (for example, a community commission or an office of the bond-issuer)]; 

4. Seeding capital for a revolving loan fund or new or existing state or municipal Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) or green bank.

ORDERED: A Citizens' Oversight Committee will be established to monitor compliance with the aforementioned worker protections and revenue spending plan outlined in this bond order. The committee will:

• Reserve at least 25% of the committee seats for persons representing local organized labor groups, and at least 25% of the seats for persons representing local community-based organizations;

• Convene on a quarterly basis at a minimum;

• So far as construction and maintenance of the clean energy assets is concerned, have access to hiring, employment, and compensation data that’s updated at least annually;

• Have access to financial reports detailing revenue generation and allocation that’s updated at least annually;

• [insert/adjust accountability mechanisms as needed].