Impact Investing: Healthier Wallets & A Healthier Planet

Traditionally, investments are laser-focused on one thing: profits. Where can you make the most money in the shortest amount of time? Where is there a return on investment that feels almost guaranteed? Well, not all investment strategies are so profit-oriented. Some have more on their mind. What about investing in something that generates social or environmental benefits in addition to financial gains? That’s what impact investing is.

The term was coined back in 2007, but the idea was around long before that. Some consider impact investing to be a branch of philanthropy given that it benefits others who are not investors. One of the most popular industries for impact investing over the last 20 years is clean energy. Inventors, product developers, and investors are all searching for the magic bullet that will save us from the uninhabitable planet that seems to be looming in our future. In fact, there is more capital available than there are projects to spend it on. The reason why is the lack of construction-ready projects. What would make a construction-ready power plant, for example?

• Development is complete (site control, entitlements, etc.)

• Construction can be completed profitably

The majority of clean energy projects are not construction-ready, which is why there is more capital than there are projects to spend on.

The thing is, you aren’t a gigantic investment firm looking to invest billions into new clean energy technology. You simply want to make an investment that benefits other people or the planet while also providing you with reliable returns. It’s a win-win. What better way to accomplish this than by investing in a solar development project for a Non-Profit organization?

Not only is this an impactful investment with reliable returns, but SDC’s solar development projects are also construction ready. They carry far less development and construction cost than other impact investing opportunities available to you, meaning less risk and faster turnaround.

As a whole, we need to find ways to invest in projects like these rather than focusing only on the magic bullet. We need to properly implement new technologies as they advance rather than waiting on the one life-saving technology that we hope to find and then expect to be able to implement quickly. The journey to saving our planet will require many steps of progress and not just one giant leap to the destination. We are proud to be one of those steps on the path to a cleaner future.

If you’re interested in an impact investment opportunity with SDC please contact us here.