“PROPERTY ASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY” PROGRAM STATEWIDE GATHERING A SUCCESS!
Nearly 100 Vermonters interested in exploring a new financing tool for building energy efficiency and renewable energy projects attended a daylong meeting on March 27 at the Vermont Law School to learn about a recently enacted law which enables municipalities to implement Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs that allow building owners to pay for these investments through a line item on their property tax bills.
From across Vermont, people came to learn about PACE and how to implement it at the community level, to share knowledge on first steps for adopting PACE, to better understand resources available to help communities implement PACE, and to discuss the idea of establishing a statewide entity that could take on many of the functions necessary for developing and implementing the program. The event provided an important opportunity for local officials, town energy committee leaders and others to learn how this program could help participating homeowners finance and advance renewable energy and efficiency projects. Find the day's agenda at the bottom of this page.
The day was co-hosted by the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network, VEIC and other organizations, with the generous support of the High Meadows Fund and the Vermont Law School.
To learn more about potential next steps on PACE in Vermont, contact Johanna Miller at 802-223-2328 ext. 112 or email jmiller@vnrc.org or visit VEIC's resource page on PACE.
Handouts from the Conference:
PACE 101
Details of VT Pace Legislation
Financing Issues
Presentation by Tom Buckley - Burlington Electric Department - Getting PACE Started in Your Town
Strength in Numbers, Role of a Potential Statewide Aggregator
VIDEOS from the CONFERENCE - Watch Specific Segment(s):
PACE 101 - An Overview of How PACE Works (Peter Adamczyk, VEIC)
PACE 202 — Details of Vermont's PACE Legislation (Act 45) (Peter Adamczyk, George Twigg, VEIC)
Show Me the Money - What's the Cost, How Is PACE Financed Etc (Peter Adamcyzk, VEIC)
Getting PACE Started In Your Town (Tom Buckley, BED and Steve Barrup, Selectboard, Town of Newport)
Strength in Numbers: Role of a Potential Statewide Aggregator (Karen Horn, VLCT; Brian Shupe, VNRC and Waitsfield Energy Committee Member; Peter Adamczyk, VEIC)
MARCH 27 AGENDA:
Vermont Statewide Gathering on
Property Assessed Clean Energy
(also known as Clean Energy Assessment District)
March 27, 2010 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Chase Center, VT Law School, S. Royalton
Goals:
- To teach interested towns, how PACE works, the first steps for adopting PACE and how to implement it at the community level.
- To discuss the idea of establishing a statewide entity that could take on many of the necessary functions for developing and implementing PACE.
- To clarify resources available to help communities move forward with PACE.
Agenda
8:30 Registration, Coffee, and Bagels
9:00 PACE 101 — A “Pre Session” for Some (Peter Adamczyk, VEIC)
- Basics on how PACE works
- Expanded and updated version of PACE PowerPoint presentation
- NOTE: This section is a basic power point that many may have already seen. Individuals are encouraged to attend this session if they have not seen the PowerPoint before or if they want a refresher before diving into details.
10:00 PACE 202 — Details of VT Pace Legislation (Act 45) (Peter Adamczyk, George Twigg, VEIC)
- Act 45 requirements: town vote, town liabilities, liens, loan-loss reserves and more
- Eligibility: eligible properties; eligible measures
- Roles and responsibilities of communities and other implementers
- Questions and answers
11:00 Show Me the Money
- What are associated costs? How much will it cost to set up?
- Potential sources of financing for PACE; potential sources of seed funding
- Financing issues: where will the money come from, what kind of interest rates can be expected
- Questions and answers
12:00 Lunch
- At your table, consider and discuss: “What questions do you still have about PACE?”
1:00 Getting PACE Started in Your Town (Panel Discussion)
- Hear stories from VT communities that have started the process
- Tom Buckley, Burlington Electric Department (invited)
- Steve Barrup, Selectboard, Town of Newport
- Discussion
2:00 Strength in Numbers: Role of a Potential Statewide Aggregator (Panel Discussion)
- Karen Horn, VLCT: Options for Towns – going it alone or joining with other towns
- Brian Shupe, Waitsfield Energy Committee: benefits of joining with other towns, other applications of VT towns working together; role of an inter-municipal agreement
- Peter Adamczyk, VEIC: What would the role of an aggregator be? What functions would they fulfill? What size aggregation makes sense?
- Discussion
3:00 Resources for You
- What are resources available to help move forward?
- Next Steps …. Become a part of PACENET
3:30 Adjourn
Thanks to the support of the High Meadows Fund and the Vermont Law School the event is free of charge.