11 - Expansion of Property Assessed Clean Energy Program

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REPORT REQUIRED BY TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 399.009 FOR PROPOSED PROPERTY ASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY (PACE) PROGRAM This Report is adopted by the City Council for the City of Paris Texas ("Local Government") Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program (the "Program") in accordance with the requirements of the Property Assessed Clean Energy Act (the "PACE Act") as set forth in Texas Local Government Code Chapter 399. The Local Government and its constituents benefit when older existing buildings are modified with new technology and equipment that increases energy efficiency and reduces water consumption. As described in this Report, the Local Government is establishing the commercial PACE Program to encourage private sector investment in energy efficiency and water conservation. The PACE Program will be offered to property owners on a strictly voluntary basis and will not require the use of any public funds or resources. Authorized under the PACE Act enacted in 2013, the PACE program is an innovative financing program that enables private sector owners of privately owned commercial, industrial, and multi- family residential properties with five or more dwelling units to obtain low-cost, long-term loans to pay for water conservation, energy -efficiency improvements, and renewable energy retrofits. PACE loans provide up to 100% financing of all project costs, with little or no up -front out-of- pocket cost to the owner. The Local Government has chosen to follow the administrative principles, program processes, and model documents of the uniform Texas PACE in a Box model program.1 Loans made under the PACE Program will be secured by assessments on the property that are voluntarily imposed by the owner. Assessments may be amortized over the projected life of the improvements. The utility cost savings derived from improvements financed with PACE loans are expected to equal or exceed the amount of the assessment. In turn, these improvements are able to generate positive cash flow upon installation because the debt service will be less than the savings. PACE assessments are tied to the property and follow title from one owner to the next. Each owner is responsible only for payment of the assessments accruing during its period of ownership. When the property is sold, the payment obligation for the remaining balance of the assessment is transferred automatically to the next owner. As a result, the program will help property owners overcome market barriers that often discourage investment in energy efficiency and water conservation improvements. https://www.keepingpaceintexas.org/pace-in-a-box