May 4, 2025

Chris Cucci, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Climate First Bank, speaks at Startup Bazaar: DC Climate Week at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, DC, on April 29. Also pictured are Rokas Beresniovas (center), Senior Director of Commercial Business & Climate Finance at Montgomery County Green Bank, and Bhagyashree More, ESG Reporting and Compliance member at FedEx.

Green banks are bridging capital gaps to fund clean energy, electrify communities, and build local climate resilience.

By AB Wire

At a time when climate action demands both innovation and scalable financing models, green banks are emerging as vital players in the clean energy transition. At “Startup Bazaar: DC Climate Week,” hosted by The American Bazaar at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, DC, on April 29, a compelling panel explored how these institutions bridge the gap between public purpose and private capital to drive sustainable infrastructure and clean energy innovation. Read more.

Discover how the first county-wide Green Bank in the US, Montgomery County Green Bank, is driving decarbonization. Learn about their innovative public-private partnership model, leveraging public funds to attract private investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and more, all within their county. See how they’re helping achieve ambitious climate goals and fostering a greener future through strategic financial mechanisms and technical assistance.

The main things they talked about were:

The growth and future of the Green Bank space nationwide, including the GB 50 coalition and increasing interest from CDFIs and conventional banks in climate finance.

The founding and mission of the Montgomery County Green Bank as the first county-wide Green Bank in the nation, established to help the county decarbonize.

Successful projects and initiatives, such as a large affordable multifamily solar installation, and the lessons learned from them.

The future priorities and actions of the Montgomery County Green Bank and the broader Green Bank Network, including adapting to evolving building energy performance standards.

Innovative partnerships, such as the one with Climate First Bank to provide residential solar loans.

Read more.

Rokas Beresniovas will be speaking at the 11th Annual UNC Cleantech Summit on March 24-25, 2025, at the Friday Conference Center in Chapel Hill, NC. As a panelist on the Green Banks session, he will join industry leaders to discuss the critical role of green banks in driving clean energy investment, accelerating sustainability efforts, and fostering economic growth. With nearly 1,500 attendees, this Summit is the largest university-led cleantech event in the U.S., bringing together professionals from business, government, and academia for meaningful discussions and networking. Rokas looks forward to sharing insights on the future of climate finance and engaging with fellow experts in the field. Learn more and register here.

Startup Bazaar: Climate Tech 2024
Panel Title: “Climate Tech Investment Trends: Where is the Smart Money Going?“

Rokas Beresniovas, Senior Director at Montgomery County Green Bank, will moderate a panel exploring investment trends in climate technology. The discussion will feature insights from prominent venture capitalists and impact investors, including JP Moscarella, Co-founder of Resilient Earth Capital, and Hana Freymiller, Chief Impact Officer at West Potomac Capital LLC.

This engaging session will provide a deep dive into how funding flows are shaping the future of climate innovation. Read more.

Montgomery County, MD (August 13, 2024) – Rokas Beresniovas, Senior Director of Commercial Business & Investments at Montgomery County Green Bank, has been selected to participate in the 2025 Connecting Our Region’s Execs (CORE) program of Leadership Montgomery (LM). With over two decades of diverse experience spanning business-to-business, community engagement, and retail sectors, Rokas Beresniovas excels in team leadership, relationship cultivation, market analysis, and client asset expansion.

“We are excited for Rokas to participate in the 2025 Leadership Montgomery CORE program. Throughout his tenure at the Green Bank, Rokas has demonstrated exemplary leadership among peers and a deep connection to community and partnerships,” says Stephen Morel, CEO of Montgomery County Green Bank.

LM, a Montgomery County-based community leadership organization, fosters cross-sector collaboration to address complex county issues through its programs and services. Beginning in September, class participants will attend monthly sessions to connect and prepare them to build thriving and inclusive communities in Montgomery County and beyond.
“LM is thrilled to convene such a diverse group of leaders to participate in the leadership programs,” said Dana Pauley, President and CEO of Leadership Montgomery. “By gathering cross-sector leaders to advance thinking around regional issues, they can examine challenges and solutions from multiple perspectives.”

The organization’s flagship program, CORE, is geared toward seasoned public, private, and nonprofit leaders. In addition to CORE, LM offers other individual and organizational leadership programs, training, and consulting services.

The 35th cohort of the CORE program will run from September 2024 until May 2025.

About Leadership Montgomery

Leadership Montgomery (LM) is an award-winning organization that supports public, private, and nonprofit leaders in Montgomery County, MD, and beyond. Connecting the community for over thirty years, LM is committed to unlocking the potential of cross-sector leaders in understanding and addressing complex issues in our region. LM mobilizes leaders to build thriving and inclusive workplaces and communities through curriculum-based leadership programs, meaningful alumni engagement, and impactful corporate activation. Please visit our website at www.leadershipmontgomerymd.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn to learn more.

Media contact: Kaarmin Ford, Senior Director, Communications and Engagement

About the Montgomery County Green Bank

The Montgomery County Green Bank is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping businesses and residents affordably implement energy efficiency, clean energy, and climate-resilient solutions. The Montgomery County Green Bank supports Montgomery County, MD by driving investment into energy efficiency and clean energy through lending and investment partners in the region. These efforts include working with homeowners, renters, nonprofits, and commercial entities of all varieties. For more information, visit www.mcgreenbank.org. Read more.

Rokas Beresniovas will be featured on two panels at the 10th Annual Wharton Club of DC Innovation Summit

With over 40 incredible panelists covering topics from sustainability/energy to healthcare/biotech, disruptive technologies like AI, and innovation funding workshops, this is an event you don’t want to miss.

Join us and dive into the future of innovation!

📅 Date: Thursday, June 20, 2024
🕒 Time: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
📍 Location: Tysons Corner, VA
👉 Event details: https://lnkd.in/d2_KxNk

Clean energy initiatives already underway in the region take many different forms and address a diverse set of priority issues, such as ensuring solar energy is accessible and convenient to residents across all income levels. 

MCGB a nonprofit chartered by Montgomery County and funded through a municipal energy tax, leverages private funds to bring clean energy projects to historically underserved communities.

Rokas Beresniovas, Director of Commercial Business & Investments for the MCGB shared details regarding the organization’s recently completed Seneca Village Apartments project in Gaithersburg, MD. The property includes 684 units, with 90 percent of those available as affordable, multi-family housing. Read more.

Colvin Webinar Series: Green Building Solutions in Real Estate Development (Virtual)

Wednesday, November 3, 2021/ 6pm – 7:30pm
Join us as our panel explores best practices in green building, sustainability, design and financing followed by a Q&A. 

PANELISTS:

Rokas Beresniovas
Director of Commercial Business
Montgomery County Green Bank

Jessica Jones, (MRED ’09), LEED AP BD+C
Senior Real Estate Development Manager
Enterprise Community Development, Inc.

Member of the DC Building Energy Performance Standards Task Force

Kyle J. Wacyra, PE,CEA,LEED AP BD+C
Principal
Energy Engineer at Capital Efficiency, LLC

Registration required. 

REGISTER TODAY!

Rokas to moderate a panel on Economic and Regional Security for BRICS

THE EURASIA CENTER / EURASIAN BUSINESS COALITION
The 6th Annual “DOING BUSINESS WITH THE BRICS” CONFERENCE

Thursday, May 17, 2018 | Washington, DC | 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Evening Reception 5:30-7:00 pm)

Conference Agenda

EMBASSY OF SOUTH AFRICA (Morning Session)
3051 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008

9:00 – 9:15 am – Welcome:  South African Ambassador Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu
Keynote Speaker:  Mikhail Kalugin, Representative for Russia to the BRICS, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

9:30 – 10:15 am – 1st Morning Panel
New Developments in the BRICS – Multinational Investment Support for Businesses:
Moderator: Charles Sills, Senior Advisor, The Eurasia Center/EBC
Rita Ramalho, Manager, Doing Business Unit, International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Bart W. Édes, Representative of the North American Office, ADB

Keynote Speaker: Professor Xiaochen Chen from RDCY, China

10:15 – 11:15 am – 2nd Morning Panel
Expanding Market Share & Trade Development with the BRICS: Opportunities for Product & Service Sector Growth, Moderator: Richard Trifan, VP, Government Relations & Trade, EC/EBC
Arunish Chawla, Minister, Economic Affairs, Embassy of India
Malose Letsoalo, Minister, Economic & Commercial Section, Embassy of South Africa
Sameer Somal CFO, Blue Ocean Global Technology

11:15 – 11:30 am – BRICS Networking Break

11:30 am – 12:30 pm – 3rd Morning Panel & Lunch
New Infrastructure, Transportation Projects & Joint Ventures with the BRICS
Moderator: Earl Rasmussen, Executive Vice President, Eurasia Center/EBC
Ian Twinn, Head, Infrastructure Portfolio EMENA at IFC (International Finance Corporation)
Secretary Ricardo Daskal Hirschbruch, Head, Trade & Investment Bureau, Embassy of Brazil
Richard Coyle, Principal, The Denrich Group

Reston Limousine Bus Service available to Paid Conference Participants (transfer) 1:00 pm

2:00 pm – Welcoming Remarks: Major General Luis Rodriguez Bocio, Chairman of the IADB, Council of Delegates

2:15 – 3:15 pm – 4th Panel Afternoon
Initiatives for Technological Innovation with the BRICS: The New Energy Grid
Moderator: Ralph Winnie Jr., VP Global Development, Director China Program, EBC
Andre Bondarov, Head, Russian Economic Division
Counselor Lucinia Mancini, Head, Science & Technology Office, Embassy of Brazil
Igor Danchenko, Expert on Russian and Eurasian Energy and Economics Issues

3:15 – 4:15 pm – 5th Panel Afternoon
BRICS: Managing Political/Financial Risk, Legal Developments and Challenges
Prospects for Improving East and West Relations, The Way Forward
Moderator: Tom Thomson, Managing Principal, T. Thomson & Associates
Mikhail Usubyan, Special Legal Counsel, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLC
Michael Skopets, Attorney, Miller & Chevalier Chartered
Rajen Ranchhoojee, Special Legal Counsel, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

4:15 – 4:30 pm – BRICS Networking Break

4:30 – 5:30 pm – 6th Panel Afternoon
Economic and Regional Security for the BRICS: Global Growth Regions
Moderator: Rokas Beresniovas
Elena Beier, B&P Beier and Partners
Gene Burd, Partner, Arnall Golden Gregory, LLP
Robert Galiullin, Trade Representative of the Republic of Tatarstan

5:30 – 7:00 pm – Evening Reception and Golden BRICS Awards

Register here.