Working with the Ypsilanti based non-profit Clean Energy Coalition (CEC), the master's project team was taskedwith leveraging a $4.4 million grant from the Michigan Public Services Commission to develop a self-sustaining funding mechanism for energy efficiency projects in eight of Michigan's poorest cities.  The team goal was to maximize the energy savings achieved by every dollar of investment, reducing energy costs for cash-strapped cities as well as greenhouse gas emissions for the atmosphere.  The team began by reaching out to municipal energy managers across the country to research existing financial options and energy management strategies.  Insights from this research were shared with the CEC, leading to the establishment of a “Revolving Energy Fund" in each city.  In addition, the team developed a modeling tool to prioritize energy conservation measures, predict future investment scenarios, and measure the program's effectiveness.  With a generous donation from the Ford Motor Company Fund, the team worked on a business plan to expand this opportunity to cities throughout the Midwest.