Ex-Im Bank Offers New Terms for Renewable Energy

 

July 12, 2005

Eligible for the 15-year repayment term are U.S. exports for the following renewable energy projects: wind, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, geothermal, ocean thermal, tidal and tidal stream power, wave power, and bio-energy. Also eligible for the 15-year term are U.S. exports for water and wastewater projects.

"Ex-Im Bank's offering of the 15-year repayment term for U.S. renewable energy and water-related exports is a significant enhancement for U.S. exporters in these sectors," said Ex-Im Bank Board Member Linda Conlin, who heads Ex-Im Bank's Environmental Exports Program. "We believe that this enhancement further strengthens the ability of U.S. environmental exporters to compete internationally, and it will help to support highly skilled U.S. jobs in these industries."

Effective as of July 1, the longer repayment terms are available in accord with an agreement of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that permits export credit agencies of OECD countries to offer enhanced terms for renewable energy and water projects.

In response to recommendations from U.S. renewable energy and water industries, Ex-Im Bank encouraged the OECD to permit export credit agencies to offer the extended repayment terms for these environmental exports. In June 2005, the OECD agreed to extend the maximum repayment term from the previous limits for these sectors to 15 years. The OECD agreement permits the 15-year term for a two-year trial period beginning July 1, 2005.

"With this kind of forward-thinking government leadership, the United States will continue to be a net exporter of solar energy," said Rhone Resch, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association. "Progressive export financing terms are essential for U.S. companies to remain competitive in the global solar industry, which is currently growing at 45 percent each year."