TX-PACE For Local Governments
Texas Property Assessed Clean Energy (TX-PACE) is a voluntary program that creates jobs, improves the environment, and saves Texas companies money on their utility bills. Local governments across the state are taking advantage of the Texas PACE statute and establishing programs to further provide quality and valuable services to their constituencies, stakeholders, and taxpayers.
The Texas PACE Act, Chapter 399 of the Local Government Code, is a local adoption model. The Texas “PACE in a Box” model was created by over 130 PACE stakeholders to facilitate a consistent, user-friendly approach to TX-PACE design and implementation. The model has been unanimously adopted by every local government establishing a TX-PACE program in Texas.
The model plug and play program contains consumer protection underwriting and technical best practices and model documents. “PACE in a Box” has minimal impact on government staff, adds no additional cost to the general taxpayer or burden to the treasury, and is administered by a nonprofit that does not compete with the private sector. Texas PACE Authority administers the uniform “PACE in a Box” model as a public service on behalf of local governments and is funded through user fees and grants.
TX-PACE facilitates the use of private capital to finance water conservation, energy efficiency, resiliency, and distributed generation projects to eligible commercial, industrial, agricultural, nonprofit, and multifamily properties. Owners choose a private sector capital provider and request that the local government place a voluntary senior lien on the property for the total cost of the project. The owner agrees to pay the TX-PACE assessment until it is paid in full, similar to that of a sidewalk or sewer assessment.
Property owners can lower operating costs and use the savings to pay for eligible projects. Since the assessment is tied to the property and transfers upon sale, TX-PACE makes it easier for owners to invest in facility upgrades and modernization, with little or no upfront capital.
Contact Charlene Heydinger to start the process of seamlessly adopting a local program.
Charlene Heydinger,
President
Texas PACE Authority
PO Box 200368, Austin TX 78720-0368
855-738-PACE (7223)
charlene@texaspaceauthority.org