CoPower, an online platform for clean energy investing, today opened its first green bond to investors across Canada. Accessible through CoPower’s secure online platform, and eligible for holding in a self-directed RRSP, TFSA or other registered account, this green bond makes it easy for Canadians to invest in clean energy infrastructure in their communities. The bond is backed by loans to rooftop solar projects in Windsor, Ontario and Chesley, Ontario, and an energy efficiency project at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto.

“We are meeting a growing demand from investors who want a simple way to align their money and their environmental values,” says David Berliner, cofounder and CEO of CoPower. “The average investor was often excluded from impact investing opportunities in the past due to high capital requirements—until now.”

Ethical and impact investing has been gaining momentum as investors increasingly consider the implications of what they own. In 2015, a total of US$2.5 trillion in global assets committed to divest from fossil fuels. In Canada, sales of green bonds went from zero to US$1.2 billion in 2014, according to a report by think tank Sustainable Prosperity. However, most of these financial products have been accessible only to large institutional investors. Now, average Canadians can also earn financial returns while helping to build green communities.

CoPower’s green bond is backed by senior, secured clean energy infrastructure loans. Accessible at a minimum investment of $5,000, CoPower Green Bond I offers five per cent (5%) annual returns on a five-year term, blended distributions (principal and interest) paid quarterly, as well as reporting on both financial and impact performance.

Here’s how it works

CoPower works with experienced development partners—firms that specialize in installing solar and energy efficiency systems—and lends to projects built by these partners. As these projects generate revenue by producing clean power, or by reducing the power used in a facility, the loan is repaid.

CoPower Green Bond I is backed by two loans to clean power projects that are already up and running: 

1) Rooftop Solar Projects in Windsor, ON and Chesley, ON. These projects produce clean energy that is sold to the Ontario government under the Ontario Green Energy Act.

2) Energy Efficiency upgrades at the Harbourfront Centre in downtown Toronto. Senior loan to finance energy efficiency upgrades, including LED lighting and building automation. Savings on the energy bill are used to repay the loan, and also benefit Harbourfront Centre, a nonprofit cultural organization.

This press release is for information purposes only, and should not be construed as a public offering of securities. The offering of any CoPower investments will be made only to those investors in jurisdictions of Canada who meet certain legal requirements.

About CoPower

CoPower is an online platform that simplifies clean energy investing. We help investors place capital into energy efficiency and renewable energy generation projects that offer solid returns, along with measured environmental impact. Since late 2014, CoPower has placed over $2.5 million in clean energy loans. CoPower is a proud Certified B Corporation.