Owners of commercial, industrial, and residential properties now have a low-cost way to go “Green” and lower utility bills while increasing property values. Eligible property owners can use the Property Assessed Clean Energy Program (PACE) to install energy efficiency, water conservation, and renewable energy upgrades to their buildings.
Last Friday, the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) and the City of San Antonio announced they have selected the Texas Pace Authority (TPA) as the administrator of the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program. This is the result of a multi-year collaboration between the San Antonio Chamber, City of San Antonio Office of Sustainability and Office of Economic Development, AACOG, and key community organizations such as the San Antonio 2030 District, and the USGBC.
PACE is an innovative financing program that enables owners of commercial, industrial and residential (5 units or more) properties to obtain low-cost, long-term loans for water conservation, energy-efficiency improvements and renewable retrofits. The program is entirely voluntary for every party involved, does not rely on taxpayer funding, and allows private property owners to exercise their property rights to the maximum advantage of their businesses.
The San Antonio of Chamber of Commerce has been advocating for adoption of the PACE program for nearly 3 years. We have been at the forefront of educating elected officials and business leaders about the benefits of the program, and in 2016, the Board of Directors approved a position statement in support of the PACE program. While the position statement encouraged Bexar County to adopt the program, the Chamber is pleased the City of San Antonio has decided to adopt the program.
For more information about PACE or the Chamber’s position statement, please contact Stephanie Reyes, Vice President of Public Policy by email at sreyes@sachamber.org or by phone at 210-229-2162.
