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California Pollution Control Financing Authority (CPCFA) Exempt Facility Bond Financing Program

🏛 State Treasurer's Office (California)

✓ Free, no account · Source: California Grants Portal · Last verified Jul 10, 2026

⏰ Deadline
Jun 11, 2020 ⚠ passed
💰 Award amount
$1.5M – $550M
📊 Total program funding
$550M
📍 Scope
State
📨 Letter of Intent
No
💵 Disbursement
Advances & Reimbursement(s)

Can you apply?

This grant is for eligible organizations seeking low and zero-interest financing for energy conservation projects. California public agencies, schools, hospitals, and public care institutions can apply. Projects must involve energy audits, conservation improvements, or renewable energy installations on public buildings.

Funding supports capital improvements that reduce energy consumption. Awards range up to approximately $3 million per project. All projects must comply with California environmental and contracting laws.

Geographic scope is limited to California. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to repay loans through energy savings or other revenues.

Eligible applicants
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Program description

CPCFA acts as a conduit issuer in the transaction. The bonds are issued to raise capital for revenue-generating projects where the funds are used by the borrower to make payments to investors. The conduit financing is typically backed by either the borrower’s credit or monies pledged to the project by outside investors. If the project fails and goes into default, it is solely the borrower’s responsibility to repay the bondholders. Eligible Facilities The following types of projects are eligible for financing: Provides financing to California business, irrespective of company size, for the acquisition, construction or installation or qualified pollution control, waste disposal, and resource recovery facilities  Provides financing to California businesses that meet the size standards set forth in Title 13 of the Code of Federal Regulations or are an eligible small business, which is defined as 500 employees or less, including affiliates, for the acquisition, construction or installation of qualified pollution control, waste disposal, and resource recovery facilities. Final determination of eligibility is based upon opinion of Bond Counsel and Tax Counsel pursuant to Federal Tax Laws. Types of projects, which may qualify for tax-exempt bond financing, include: Curbside collection facilities, Recycling facilities, Composting facilities, Materials recovery facilities, Transfer station Landfills, Waste-to-energy facilities, Qualified solid waste or hazardous waste disposal projects Waste recovery facilities, Water Furnishing Facilities, Wastewater Treatment Facilities. Potential Uses of Bond Proceeds: Buildings and equipment Machinery and furnishings Land Costs of architects, engineers, attorneys and permits Costs of bond issuance Federal Eligibility Requirements Restrictions on use of proceeds: 95% of proceeds must be used for the defined project 2% of bond proceeds can be used for costs of issuance 25% of bond proceeds can be used for land costs in certain cases A public Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA) hearing must be held before the bonds are issued To acquire an existing building, a minimum of 15% of the bond proceeds must be used to renovate the building The average life of the bond issue cannot exceed 120% of the weighted average of the estimated useful life of the assets being financed. Prospective borrowers should contact bond counsel to help determine if a proposed project qualifies under federal law. Financing is performed in conjunction with allocation from the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee (CDLAC). The allocation is required by federal tax law for private activity tax-exempt bonds to be issued. CPCFA Fees: Application Fee: .0005 (1/20 of 1%) of total application amount, not to exceed $5,000. Payable with initial application.  Administrative Fees: .002 (2/10 of 1%) of total amount of bonds issued utilizing volume cap allocation, minus the application fee. Please see the CPCFA Bond Program website for additional fees which may apply to the financing.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants

How to apply

Application links

Program contact

Funding track record

Past applications & awards under this program (California Grants Portal) — how competitive it is.

26
applications
16
awarded
62%
award rate
6
years tracked

By fiscal year

Fiscal yearApplicationsAwardedAward rate
2021-2022 3 3 100%
2022-2023 2 2 100%
2020-2021 10 0%
2023-2024 4 4 100%
2024-2025 3 3 100%
2025-2026 4 4 100%

Source: California Grants Portal

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