About Nelnet Renewable Energy

Nelnet Renewable Energy began from Nelnet, a company that started 40-plus years ago with a purpose to serve our customers and communities. Over the years, our corporate color green has taken on new meaning as we’ve applied multiple capabilities to our passion for supporting a transition to renewable energy. Learn more about who we are, what we do – and the many ways we can help you achieve your sustainability and financial goals.

Nelnet Renewable Energy By the Numbers

Nelnet Renewable Energy is proud to be a Nelnet company. Founded over 45 years ago, Nelnet is a publicly traded (NYSE: NNI), investment-grade company offering a diverse set of solutions across a wide range of markets and industries. Our involvement in renewable energy began in 2018 with a commitment to fund over $142 million for the building of solar energy projects via tax equity financing. Since then, our commitment grew, leading us to develop a new brand, Nelnet Renewable Energy, offering a range of renewable energy solutions, including a solar tax equity co-investment platform, a first-of-its-kind sustainability literacy platform for educational institutions, and a venture capital investment team focused on supporting renewable energy innovation. In 2022, we acquired leading engineering, procurement, and construction firm GRNE Solar, enabling us to offer expert residential, commercial, and small utility-scale installation services.

2 K

Residential Solar Project Installations

We have a vast number (and counting) of satisfied customers and experiences to draw from.

40 +

Years of Service Expertise

We’re a purpose-driven company founded on one simple idea: serving our customers and communities.

$ 1 B

In Solar Projects Facilitated by Nelnet

Since 2018, we’ve facilitated the construction and operation of nearly $1 billion in solar projects nationwide.

317 MW

Project Portfolio

Nelnet’s current total project portfolio nationwide totals 317 megawatts and over $87 million.

Our Leadership

Nelnet Renewable Energy’s leadership team represents the broad expertise we offer in serving diverse areas within the renewable energy industry. Our leaders share a commitment to driving the renewable energy transition, meeting client needs, and creating exceptional customer experiences.

Scott Gubbels

President, Nelnet Renewable Energy

Scott Gubbels is President of Nelnet Renewable Energy and Executive Director of Corporate Tax at Nelnet. Scott worked as a certified public accountant before joining Nelnet to lead their corporate tax department when the company went public in 2003. He has managed all tax considerations for more nearly 60 acquisitions, and his team has created significant, tangible value through tax planning, compliance, and controversy defense. Beginning in 2018, Scott started and continues to lead Nelnet’s Renewable Energy group and its various divisions. This group’s vision is “powering the dreams of the next generation.” This segment includes the investment in solar tax equity funding and portfolio management in excess of $600 million; a growing co-investor platform; a solar engineering, procurement, and construction company with eight offices focused on commercial and residential installations; greenfield solar development; and CleanTech innovation.

Jess Baker

Director, Special Projects

Eric Peterman

Director of EPC Services

Utilizing his degrees in Industrial Engineering & Management Sciences and Economics from Northwestern University and past business management and executive roles, Eric Peterman co-founded GRNE Solar in 2012 and served as Chief Executive Officer. With GRNE Solar's transition to the Nelnet Renewable Energy brand in 2023, Eric is Managing Director of EPC Services, serving a vital role in developing Nelnet Renewable Energy's full vertical integration in the solar industry and ensuring their commitment to providing a five-star customer experience.

 

Eric's background in strategic planning and process improvement and his exceptional leadership have led to the intentional growth of the EPC Services team and the delivery of top-notch solar solutions. In a past life, he was a member of the Chicago Bears football team - and he continues to stay active physically by participating in triathlons.

Jon Miller

Director, Tax Equity Capital Markets

Jon Miller is the Director of Tax Equity Capital Markets at Nelnet, CFA Charterholder, and Board Member of Solar Energy International. He has held positions as capital markets advisor, tax equity consultant, investment manager, and debt underwriter. Over the past decade, Jon has transacted on over $1.5 billion of solar and wind projects for some of the nation’s largest developers and institutional investors. Jon holds a BBA in Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and also studied at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia and the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal in Durban, South Africa.

Chad Riley

Director of Innovation & Strategic Partnerships

Chad Riley is the Director of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships at Nelnet Renewable Energy. Chad has over 20 years of experience in sustainability, renewable energy, real estate development, and venture capital. As a founder or co-founder of several start-ups over the course of his career, Chad understands the unique needs, timelines, and challenges that start-ups face when bringing their ideas to market. Chad holds a B.A. in Sustainable Community Development from Warren Wilson College and an M.B.A. with a concentration in finance from the University of Denver.

Vic Engel

Managing Director, Solar Development, Operations, and Project Management

Work With Us

Five-Star Service

You’ll see evidence of our commitment to serving our customers in our consultative approach, use of quality materials, and attention to creating exceptional customer experiences from start to finish.

Industry Experts

We offer our turnkey engineering, procurement, and construction services, as well as expertise in green construction, tax equity investing, asset management, venture capital, and sustainability education.

Vertically Integrated

With the ability to finance, develop, deploy, and manage solar energy solutions, we can support large asset owners, financiers, developers, businesses, municipalities, agriculture, schools, hospitals, residents, and more.

I could not be prouder or more excited to execute our vision of owning and operating 1 gigawatt of solar assets by 2030.

Scott Gubbels

President, Nelnet Renewable Energy

Our Service Locations

While we have strong roots in the Midwest, our reputation for quality work and exceptional service has led to rapid expansion into other states. Learn more about our current service locations for solar services in these states.

Our Values

We believe in:

  • Providing superior customer experiences.

  • Creating a culture of excellence and joy.

  • Pursuing opportunities for diversification and growth.

  • Communicating openly and honestly.

  • Giving back to communities in which we live and work.

Find answers to questions you may have about Nelnet Renewable Energy.

Nelnet Renewable Energy is a company of Nelnet, a large, publicly traded diversified financial services and technology company that has been providing exceptional customer experience for 40-plus years.
  • Our solar installation team is an engineering, procurement, and construction partner that has specialized in the design and installation of solar systems for residential, commercial, and small utility-scale customers since 2012, first as GRNE Solar and now as part of Nelnet Renewable Energy.
  • As a leading solar tax equity investor, we used our expertise to create a unique co-investment platform that allows others to access the environmental and financial benefits of investing with us in renewable energy.
  • Our expert venture capital team identifies partners with and deploys capital to support CleanTech and ClimateTech innovators to accelerate a clean energy transition.
  • We designed Net Zero Academy, a unique sustainability literacy platform specifically to help educational institutions assess, educate, and engage learners for an eco-friendly future.
Learn more about who we are
We serve others by deploying solutions that create sustainable value. Our vision is powering the dreams of the next generation.
  • Providing superior customer experiences
  • Creating a culture of excellence and joy
  • Pursuing opportunities for diversification and growth
  • Communicating openly and honestly
  • Giving back to communities in which we live and work

Get in Touch

If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help support your sustainability or investment goals, reach out today. We’d love to talk with you.

Contact Us

The material on this website does not constitute and should not be relied on for tax, legal, investment, or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal, and other professional advisors for such advice, with due consideration given to the risks of investing in renewable energy products and your own individual circumstances. The use of terms such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “target”, “project”, “estimate”, “intend”, “continue”, “believe”, or other comparable terms are not guarantees of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Due to various risks and uncertainties, actual events or results may differ.

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