A: I got my bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College in Vermont where I did a joint major in International Politics and Economics. After college, I went directly to grad school to do my master’s at The Fletcher School at Tufts University, focusing on Business for Social Impact & Political Economy, and that’s where I became interested in impact investing.  

After I graduated, I worked in renewable energy finance as a tax equity investment professional. Most recently, I was a Senior Associate at a clean energy investment firm, working on a team that managed community-based solar transactions from underwriting through closing. My role included investor sourcing, coordinating due diligence, and supporting transaction execution across partnerships with high-net-worth individuals, banks, and institutional investors.

A: When I was interviewing for roles after graduate school, I was looking at both impact investing firms that provide consulting services, and firms that focus more on the research side. Part of the reason I ended up going with my previous employer was the focus of the firm. They were focused on democratizing the benefits of solar and bringing solar to LMI communities. That was a direct connection between what I was looking for; a role where I could have an impact, but also be able to utilize my background in finance where I could learn more about how to structure investments that have both financial returns and also community benefit.  

I think specifically with the renewable energy and solar projects that I have been a part of, I appreciate that you have a role in directing capital towards projects that help communities create green jobs, help with climate change and reducing carbon emissions, and ultimately, provide renewable energy access to communities that are usually left behind. 

A: I would say some of my greatest strengths include transaction management, attention to detail, and the ability to coordinate across multiple stakeholders. I have helped manage transactions from early-stage diligence through closing, balancing financial analysis, third party diligence, legal coordination, and investor communication, often all at once. I’m also really comfortable working in fast-paced environments where ownership and execution are critical. I’m particularly interested in improving transaction efficiency and standardization in the tax equity and transferability markets, helping make the process more streamlined and scalable for all parties involved.

A: I’m definitely motivated and inspired by organizations that are able to blend impact with financial returns, especially in the renewable energy space. When you think about impact, you may potentially see it as a competing with financial return, but in reality, they can reinforce each other. The tax equity space is a good example of how the two can work together. You can have impactful projects that help communities and also have strong financial returns that help investors. You don’t have to sacrifice returns for impact. I think that NT Solar and NTCIC both prove that model works.

A: My focus in my previous role was mainly on smaller scale solar projects, so I’m excited to work on and learn more about how larger scale projects work. I’m excited to work with different developers and investors as well.

I’m also looking forward to learning more about historic tax credits from my NTCIC colleagues in hopes that we’ll have opportunities to work on projects where you blend different types of tax credits. Overall, I’m thrilled to be in a role where we’re able to work on impactful projects and help our investors achieve their goals.

We’re thrilled to have Mortaza as part of the NT Solar team!

Learn more and connect with him here.

Paul Holshouser brings more than 15 years of experience in wind and solar energy, with a background in project finance, business development, and energy policy. Since joining NT Solar in 2024 as Director of Solar Transactions, he has managed closings and fundings for renewable energy tax credit investments, working closely with investor and developer partners. Prior to joining NT Solar, Paul led finance at Distributed Sun and served as a tax policy specialist at the American Wind Energy Association.

“I am honored and excited to carry forward NT Solar’s legacy—serving investors by delivering strong returns and lasting community benefits,” said Paul. “Karin built a platform at NT Solar that is poised for continued success and industry leadership.  It is our dedication to superior customer service that will continue to satisfy investors and developers alike.