IMPACTASSETS 50™
An Annual Showcase of Impact Investment Fund Managers
ImpactAssets 50
An Annual Showcase of Impact Investment Fund Managers
Aligned Climate Capital
Climate Change
Decarbonization and Carbon Drawdown
EnergyFirm Overview
Aligned Climate Capital is a multi-strategy asset management firm focused exclusively on opportunities related to the clean energy transition and global decarbonization. We strive to be a fully-mission aligned investor focused on the just climate transition. Aligned invests in the people, companies, and real assets that are decarbonizing the global economy and its infrastructure. We believe this is an opportunity to generate strong financial returns, while also achieving meaningful environmental and social impact. Our team works at the intersection of finance, technology, and public policy. We believe that each of these disciplines is critical to understanding this market, seeing the trends, and investing successfully. Aligned’s investment strategies are informed by this ethos and guided by a vision that the success of our firm, our investors, our partners, and the planet are all Aligned.
Years of Operation: 5 – 9 years
% of Capital from Top 3 Investors: 25% – 49%
Aligned invests in proven climate solutions to scale these markets sufficiently to achieve the $50 trillion of investment required to achieve the Paris Climate Agreement targets while also focusing on building a clean and affordable energy ecosystem for all and ensuring a just climate transition.
Aligned is dedicated to scaling proven climate solutions, such as clean energy, electric transport, efficient buildings, and sustainable land use. We believe most greenhouse gas emissions reductions will come from these demonstrated climate solutions over the coming years and are key areas to address environmental justice concerns. Our focus on building a clean and affordable energy economy for all intentionally results in broader set of economic, environmental, and social impact. A just climate transition is important to Aligned because the people who are being harmed first and worst by the climate crisis are those who contribute least to its causes, and who are the least able to protect themselves against it. By focusing on real assets and proven solutions, Aligned can achieve greater climate impact and materially help those who are the most vulnerable while supporting the green economy through the creation of green jobs and various workforce development programs.
Aligned is an experienced investor focused exclusively on the climate opportunity. We believe we are differentiated in three key ways. 1. We are active investors. Aligned seeks out control positions and Board participation in its venture capital investments. We take a proactive approach to asset management in our solar assets. 2. We are public policy experts. Our senior management team has held executive positions in Federal and State government. We use this knowledge to create value in our investments by identifying new market opportunities, mitigating regulatory risks, and utilizing public finance. 3. We are mission-driven and employ a rigorous ESG approach on all investments. Aligned has created its own ESG methodology, which it applies across the full investment lifecycle (investment strategy, origination, execution, and portfolio management). Our ESG methodology is quantitative, informed by SASB materiality, and indexed to the UN SDGs.
Investment Example
BoxPower designs, installs, and operates solar plus storage microgrids in underserved, remote, and rural communities on behalf of utilities. Specifically, BoxPower’s microgrids are deployed by electric utilities to provide additional grid resiliency and remote power in parts of their service territory that are at risk of power disruptions due to wildfires, extreme weather events, and aging grid infrastructure. BoxPower’s systems allow these communities to maintain electricity service even in these circumstances. Another example is ChargerHelp. ChargerHelp maintains and repairs EV chargers using its proprietary software and EV service technicians. To date, ChargerHelp has trained over 1,000 people to become EV service technicians and workforce development is a central part of the company’s revenue model. Specifically, the company partners with local community colleges and non-profits to train and hire EV service technicians. ChargerHelp currently partners with 15 organizations, including Pasadena City College, Baton Rouge Community College, Michigan Central, and more.
Leadership and Team
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Peter Davidson – Chief Executive Officer More Info
Peter Davidson is the CEO of Aligned Climate Capital and on the Board for Impact Capital Managers. Previously, Davidson was the Executive Director of the Loan Programs Office at the U.S. Department of Energy where he oversaw the program’s more than $30 billion portfolio of loans and loan guarantees, making it one of the largest project finance organizations in the U.S. government. Prior, he was the Executive Director of New York State’s economic development agency, the Empire State Development Corporation. Since 2001, he has been chairman of the JM Kaplan Fund, a family foundation with over $135 million in assets. |
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Jamie Rubin – Chief Investment Officer More Info
Jamie Rubin oversees investment activities for Aligned Climate Capital, a leading investment firm focused on the energy transition. He was until June 2021 the CEO of Meridiam NA, which develops infrastructure projects in partnership with local governments in Canada and the United States. Meridiam NA is investing its $1.2 billion third fund in this market. He was previously Director of State Operations for the State of New York And Commissioner of the state Department of Homes and Community Renewal Redevelopment (HCR). |
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Brendan Bell – Chief Operating Officer More Info
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Financial Performance
Impact Performance
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Percentage of Total Assets Under
Management that are Impact Investments: |
100%
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At Aligned, sustainability is core to our business. By integrating ESG considerations into our investment process, Aligned seeks to create lasting benefits for portfolio companies and the communities in which we live and work. Our ESG methodology is informed by our partnerships with leading impact investing organizations. At Aligned, ESG is viewed as a risk management tool to evaluate material non-financial risks and opportunities. ESG factors are a part of our investment analysis and approval system. To streamline our efforts, a bespoke ESG risk rating system was created for investment analysis. Separately, Aligned also has an impact management framework, which serves as a means to measure the positive impact of our investments. For example, only investments with potential for clear climate benefits and positive social impact are targeted. Also, all our investments are aligned to the UN SDGs at the target and/or indicator levels.
Aligned manages investment strategies that seek to generate strong risk-adjusted returns, while also mitigating and adapting to global climate change. At Aligned, we recognize that ESG issues can impact the long-term performance of our investment portfolios and consider these issues as a core component of our investment process. We believe that with the proper analysis and management, ESG investing can not only mitigate risks but also add value. At Aligned, ESG issues are considered in the early stages of investment origination and throughout the due diligence and acquisition phase. For deals we lead, an ESG clause and DEI clause is added to the deal documents to demonstrate values-alignment. Post-investment, we continue to monitor and manage ESG issues to ensure strong risk management and engagement with relevant stakeholders. All intrafirm social and environmental practices are outlined in our firm's ESG Policy and ESG Guidelines.
Impact Tracking and Monitoring
Learn More
24 West 40th Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10018, United States
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