An Interview With Martita Mestey
Sustainability and Long-Term Vision: A successful renewable energy business must have a clear, transparent sustainability mission which they report on annually. Focusing on long-term impact, environmental responsibility, and social equity will help build trust with customers, investors, and partners, positioning your business as a leader in the energy transition.
As the world grapples with climate change and environmental degradation, the shift towards renewable energy has never been more critical. Innovative companies are at the forefront of this transformation, developing sustainable energy solutions that reduce carbon footprints and promote a greener future. How are these companies driving the renewable energy revolution, and what impact are they making on the environment and the economy? As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Marcio deOliveira.
As Chief Technology Officer and Chief Digital Banking Officer, Marcio deOliveira provides leadership and guidance in proprietary digital product development including mobile banking and digital client onboarding for both consumer and commercial banking platforms. As the former Vice President of Banking Platforms at the Silicon Valley-based Y Combinator company, Prelim, and lead inventor of five patents in banking technology and payments, deOliveira brings a wealth of expertise in the financial services technologies space. Before Prelim, deOliveira spearheaded digital transformation as former Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of C1 Bank. While at C1 Bank, deOliveira was an influential co-founder of a successful fintech startup C1 Labs, and helped execute the bank’s IPO on the NYSE in 2014. When C1 Bank was acquired by Bank OZK, deOliveira’s role shifted to become a key member of the leadership team as President of Innovation. In that role, deOliveira led Bank OZK’s market positioning strategy as a leader in technology and innovation within the banking sector.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you. Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?
We are currently very excited that OneEthos is expanding into new states including Florida, Texas, Maryland and the Carolinas and partnering with CDFIs nationwide who share our mission and values to bring low cost, honest solar financing to states with a focus on low-income communities. In addition, OneEthos has played an active role supporting multiple GGRF applications resulting in $27 billion in federal funds awarded to promote green lending programs across the country. As one of the only fintech companies regulated by the Federal Reserve Bank, OneEthos understands the critical role CDFI’s play as community lenders under GGRF to make funding possible.
Ok super. Thank you for all that. Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview. What innovative technologies are you implementing to enhance renewable energy production?
Through our proprietary technology and our partnership with Climate First Bank, OneEthos has achieved $150 million in solar lending in only two years and is leading the charge for honest solar finance, offering residential and commercial solar lending with no dealer fees and competitive terms. Our mission is to bring honest solar financing to the nation, and we are currently working with thousands of vetted solar energy consultants throughout the country to bring this to fruition.
How do you balance economic viability with environmental responsibility in your renewable energy projects?
Together with Climate First Bank, we have been quite deliberate about creating a product that puts what is best for the consumer ahead of profit. We know that in the long run this will lead to sustained success, and it’s been working as we continue to execute our mission. Our model of ethical solar financing and no dealer fee loan programs is a tremendous benefit to consumers and to the businesses who serve as borrowers. In addition, for solar installers, Climate First Bank is offering them a much safer option of a loan versus a lease, funding loans through deposits and not relying on the more volatile and less reliable funding sources of competitors. This provides installers and investors in both companies with more certainty that they can continue to operate profitably while offering a product to their clients that is honest, transparent and safe.
What are the biggest challenges your company faces in the renewable energy sector, and how are you addressing them?
As the solar industry continues to experience a challenging period of concern with rising interest rates that made solar loans less feasible for consumers, an opportunity presented for Climate First Bank and OneEthos to prove that they can change finance to finance change. This downward trend for the industry not only affects consumers, but significantly slows sales for installers, causing many of the nation’s largest to fail financially. In addition, solar leasing companies are also impacted as they too begin to close leaving consumers sometimes mid-project with an installer that can no longer be funded, creating great consumer risk and uncertainty.
This is a very critical and pivotal time in the solar industry. What our companies are doing is providing a safer, more secure, more ethical means of financing clean energy across the country. The next six to twelve months will be an interesting time for this industry and we are in a strong position to stand out and to deliver.
How do your renewable energy solutions contribute to reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change?
Fossil fuels, like coal, oil, and natural gas, are the primary contributor to climate change as burning them releases large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. We’ve enabled over 2,000 homes in the United States to power themselves with rooftop solar, which collectively saves over 20,000 tons of CO2 equivalents from entering the atmosphere every year. And that’s as of today! Every day we approve new solar lending projects, reducing the need to rely on fossil fuels for energy production and making homes and businesses more sustainable.
Climate change is anticipated to increase the frequency, intensity, and severity of extreme weather events, raising the likelihood of power outages in homes. Solar energy, combined with battery storage, offers a reliable alternative to keep homes powered during these disruptions.
Can you share a success story where your renewable energy initiative significantly impacted a community or industry?
I would say that it’s not just one story…it is thousands of stories that we help our customers be the star of! When you embrace solar power for your home, you are taking control of your utility expense by stabilizing the cost in the form of a 30-year fixed rate loan, similar to how a homeowner stabilizes their housing expense by buying a home and paying a fixed rate mortgage versus rent that can rise at the whim of a landlord. And talking about community…I’m so proud to share that we are not just providing solar to homeowners in wealthy neighborhoods as around 33% of our loans today are to people in low-income neighborhoods and that number also is continuing to grow. We are helping those who need it most to stabilize their energy cost.
What are “5 Things You Need to Know to Create a Successful Renewable Energy Business” and why?
1 . Understand the Regulatory Landscape: Renewable energy businesses operate within a highly regulated environment. It’s crucial to stay informed about federal, state, and local policies, incentives, and compliance requirements. Programs like tax credits, grants, and subsidies can significantly impact profitability and if you’re able to be proficient and advise your client towards the right solution for their circumstance, not only will you potentially save your client money in the long run, you’ll build your reputation as a leader in your field.
2 . Focus on Technological Innovation: The renewable energy sector is driven by technological advancements. Staying ahead of the curve by investing in innovative technologies like energy storage, smart grid integration, and efficient client management systems can give your business a competitive edge. It’s crucial to put the customer experience front and center when considering digital innovation — make sure digital solutions don’t take away from providing stand out customer service to your clients.
3 . Market Demand and Consumer Trends: Identifying and understanding your target market is key to business success. With the increasing demand for clean energy, it’s important to stay tuned to trends in consumer preferences, such as residential solar, community solar programs, and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.
4 . Access to Financing and Funding: Renewable energy projects often require significant upfront capital. Seak values-driven financial institutes that put the consumer first, not profits. In the long run, you’ll gain credibility and trust leading to a more sustainable business model. Stay informed on available government-backed programs designed to facilitate the growth of clean energy businesses.
5 . Sustainability and Long-Term Vision: A successful renewable energy business must have a clear, transparent sustainability mission which they report on annually. Focusing on long-term impact, environmental responsibility, and social equity will help build trust with customers, investors, and partners, positioning your business as a leader in the energy transition.
How do you engage with and educate the public about the benefits of renewable energy?
We do this through strategic marketing activity including PR, press, and communications. A key piece of content that communicates our mission and our progress every year is our Impact Report which tells the story of honest solar financing as well as our impact on communities and the environment. We firmly believe that companies must be held to account — they must walk the walk and not simply talk the talk.
How do you measure the environmental and social impact of your renewable energy efforts?
We quantifiably measure our environmental impact annually by tracking the amount of kilowatts (kW) of solar financed every year, the number of households we’ve supported to gain access to rooftop solar, and we proudly report every year on the number of solar loans originated in low-income areas as we believe in prioritizing communities who are likely to be most affected by climate change.
By measuring the number of solar installers we’ve engaged with and vetted to join our program, we can ensure we’re providing our clients with trusted, quality installers for their solar projects, bringing accessible and honest solar financing far and wide.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 😊
Lucky for me, I feel I am already inspiring a movement to bring clean, sustainable, affordable renewable energy to the United States. One of OneEthos’ key areas of focus is to bring sustainable power to low-income communities — the communities which are most likely to be affected by the ever-pressing threat of climate change and subsequent extreme weather.
OneEthos aims to democratize access to renewable energy, ensuring that even the most underserved communities have the power to harness clean energy solutions. By focusing on solar and other renewable sources, we’re not only reducing an individual’s carbon footprint but also providing cost savings, energy independence, and resilience against extreme weather events. We believe that everyone, regardless of their economic status, deserves a future powered by sustainable energy. This movement isn’t just about technology; it’s about empowerment, equity, and giving communities the tools they need to thrive in a changing world. By championing this cause, we’re helping to create a brighter, more sustainable future for all.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Follow OneEthos on LinkedIn! Every week we have a new announcement, a new state we are launching in, or an event we are attending. Check us out here: linkedin.com/company/oneethos/
This was very inspiring and informative. Thank you so much for the time you spent with this interview!
Marcio deOliveira Of OneEthos On How they Are Creating Renewable Energy was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.