Meet David Jimenez: The GDF Leader Driving Solar Project Financing and Supporting Nonprofits
For David Jimenez, vice president of sales for Greenday Finance (GDF), his job is about much more than simply making a sale.
“For me, it’s about doing good deeds on a daily basis. You not only help the client but a whole ecosystem. It will generate an environmental impact for a generation,” says Jimenez, who, in addition to his passion for the environment, counts among his interests animal welfare, poverty alleviation and solar services.
As a father of two, he’s especially interested in improving the environment. For his wife and kids, he often equates a successful solar project financing deal to planting a given number of trees that reduce carbon emissions.
Helping nonprofits serve their communities
But the impact of his solar finance job isn’t just environmental. He often works with nonprofit organizations looking to cut their energy bills. When he helps them do this, he’s aiding their efforts to serve more people.
Jimenez is excited that he’s helped install more than 800 solar projects over the last 10 years. Last year alone, he financed 91 solar projects. He has achieved this success by saying “yes” to his clients and offering out-of-the-box solutions, he says.
More traditional solar financiers will make a standard offer to all clients. But at Greenday Finance, Jimenez looks for custom solutions.
“We look for ways to say yes,” he says. If customers believe it’s not possible to finance a project, his job is to make the project happen.
Customized finance deals help solar projects move forward
Greenday Finance’s solar power purchase agreements (PPA) offer clients flexibility, no upfront payments and immediate savings. To customize a deal, Jimenez might offer more energy cost savings in the beginning of a contract or offer a longer term contract.
Finding solutions also means collaborating. Jimenez works closely with engineering and finance teams, and he recognizes that pooling team members’ experiences and expertise helps overcome obstacles.
“Collaboration not only sparks creativity but also ensures we get things done right,” he says. “At GDF, this team spirit is what sets us apart. With a diverse mix of backgrounds and plenty of know-how, I know I can count on my colleagues to handle any challenge.”
Moving solar financing along quickly
Jimenez is proud of his ability to meet an important challenge: financing solar projects quickly.
For example, recently an engineering, construction and procurement (EPC) firm and developer couldn’t find financing for a $1.5 million solar project in California, where projects are often hung up by financing.
Jimenez and his team developed a solution that allowed the project to be installed in 2024. This success began with a 15-minute call to Jimenez. The EPC firm and developer signed a nondisclosure agreement the next day and began reviewing the project that week. “In just five days, we delivered a prequalified PPA and helped them present it to the customer a couple of days later,” he says. “In less than three weeks, we went from perfect strangers to industry partners, providing day-one savings to the building owner.”
And of course this project, like all solar projects, yields environmental benefits.
“I’m proud of the impact I’ve had,” says Jimenez.
