Leadership

Connecting with the MnCIFA team   

We welcome you to connect with the team at the Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority.  

Looking for info about MnCIFA loans?  

Before contacting MnCIFA staff about potential financing for a project, learn more about projects that MnCIFA is seeking and parameters for qualified projects:   
Steps to apply.   

Meet our greatest asset: the team at MnCIFA   

Our team brings talent and passion for MnCIFA’s vision that all Minnesotans share in the benefits of a clean energy future. We support our state’s clean energy economy by expanding financing options for clean energy projects.  

Interim Executive Director: Pete Klein  

Pete has been appointed Interim Executive Director by the Board of Directors. Pete served as MnCIFA's initial interim executive director from 2023 to 2024, leading the new state agency in establishing a board, governance, operations and lending.  

Previously, Pete was Vice President of Finance at the Saint Paul Port Authority. During his 27 years with the port authority, Pete created, implemented and managed two nationally recognized energy financing programs. The Trillion BTU Revolving Loan Fund and the MinnPACE property assessed clean energy program. He managed the operations of a large district energy system. And he led issuance of over $1 billion in bonding for business, nonprofit and government infrastructure projects that created thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in property tax revenue.  

Chief Investment Officer: Arpita Bhattacharyya 

Arpita joined MnCIFA in September 2025 as CIO overseeing MnCIFA's capital deployment, after previously consulting on investments with MnCIFA. Arpita brings nearly two decades of experience advancing climate solutions across the public and private sectors. Previously, Arpita held senior leadership roles at the Department of Energy, including Chief Climate Officer at the Loan Programs Office. She led the office with the Director to execute on a $300B+ pipeline of clean energy and manufacturing projects, with $25B finalized during her tenure. In the private sector, she developed and financed commercial solar projects for Fortune 500 companies, and later led the Channel Project Development and Finance team at SunPower. Her additional experience includes roles in renewable energy investment banking at Credit Suisse, energy policy at the Center for American Progress, and product launches at Impossible Foods. Arpita also brings an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a BA from Carleton College.