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Lansing, Mich. — Michigan Saves, the nation’s first nonprofit green bank, is under new leadership as Chanell Scott Contreras joins the organization as president and CEO today. Under Scott Contreras, Michigan Saves will further expand access to affordable funding for residential and commercial clean energy projects across Michigan. She succeeds Mary Templeton, Michigan Saves’ first full-time president and CEO, who retired in July, and Todd Parker, who served as acting president and CEO since Templeton’s departure.
I’m excited to lead Michigan Saves as it continues its impactful work in the sustainability space,” said Scott Contreras. “When people think of clean energy, I want them to think of Michigan Saves as a key resource that is supporting our greater, collective climate resiliency through important tools in communities that it serves. I am focused on Michigan Saves growing as a leader, not just in our state but across the country.”
Following a national search for Michigan Saves’ next president and CEO, Scott Contreras was selected in part due to her extensive background in strengthening outcomes for businesses and individuals in underrepresented communities. She joins Michigan Saves after serving as executive director of ProsperUs Detroit, an organization that advances economic equity by supporting under-represented entrepreneurs with opportunities and capital to build businesses, generational wealth and vibrant neighborhoods.
“Chanell is a visionary, and that’s exactly the kind of leader we need to expand access to affordable clean energy solutions and improve the quality of life for working families throughout Michigan,” said Paul Schutt, Michigan Saves’ board president. “Chanell’s experience coupled with her passion for sustainability and her skill at collaborating with diverse stakeholders makes her an excellent leader for Michigan Saves.”
As Scott Contreras begins her tenure, she is focused on understanding and responding to the diverse needs of constituents across Michigan. “Given the objectives and ongoing program development at Michigan Saves and my great passion for sustainability and climate resilience, I feel a sense of responsibility to provide equitable clean energy solutions to community members that don’t normally have the support to implement them in their homes and businesses,” she said.
Michigan Saves has enabled more than $500 million in clean energy financing while supporting job creation and energy independence. In recent years, the organization has added additional programming, including the Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund targeted to homeowners who are not covered for free lead abatement through the State, and the Ability to Pay program (formerly the Detroit Loan Fund), which helps remove barriers for those who may not qualify for traditional financing due to credit scores.
For more information about Michigan Saves, visit MichiganSaves.org.
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About Michigan Saves
Michigan Saves, the nation’s first nonprofit green bank, is dedicated to making clean energy improvements easier for all Michigan consumers. Through affordable financing and other incentives, Michigan Saves connects borrowers to a network of skilled contractors for energy-efficiency, geothermal and solar installation projects. Michigan Saves believes an equitable transition to a carbon-free Michigan where everyone has access to the benefits of clean energy and climate-resilient solutions is possible. Through consistent outreach, quality workmanship and affordable funding, Michigan Saves promotes accessible, equitable, and just investments in energy efficiency and clean energy to support healthy and thriving communities. For more information, visit www.MichiganSaves.org and follow us on Facebook @michigansaves, Twitter @MichiganSaves and LinkedIn @michigan-saves.
