Join the Coalition To Take TX-PACE To The Next Level Supporting SB 1281

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SB 1281, Author: Chairman Birdwell
To Perfect and Protect the Texas PACE Act –
Economic Development, Energy and Water Efficiency

SB 1281 will protect and perfect TX-PACE by creating a uniform Texas-wide program overseen by the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) in the Comptroller’s Office (at no cost to the state or local governments) and administered by the best qualified third party organization selected through an RFP process. Local governments wishing to participate can opt-into the program without the current burdensome process of individually standing up their own separate programs.

SB 1281

  • Provides easier access for local governments to voluntarily opt into TX-PACE giving rural counties and communities water, energy, and economic benefits for all of Texas.
  • Keeps TX-PACE uniform to:
    • Increase efficiency and reduce transaction and overhead cost for all participants who need only learn one program, system, set of documents, etc.
    • Enables local banks and credit unions to more easily participate
  • Oversight from SECO in the comptroller’s office will ensure that:
    • TX-PACE is administered as a public service ethically, professionally, cost-effectively, and with best practices in financial and technical standards
    • Ensure that PACE assessments on private property are justified by and exceeded by the resulting water and energy use reduction cost savings
    • Data on energy and water saved is uniformly measured and collected.

Background: The Texas PACE Act (2013, 83R, SB-385, Carona/Keffer) promotes private sector energy and water saving measures to free up Texas’ natural resources in response to population growth and drought. A model program, “PACE in a Box” was created by over 130 volunteers from business, lending, local governments and environmental groups led by well-respected Texans. The TX-PACE program has become a national model.

26 local governments reaching over 43% of the state population have established TX-PACE programs thus far. TX-PACE enabled $42.7 million in new investment in 17 projects in urban and rural Texas since 2016. It’s time to take the program to the next level. For more information, contact Charlene Heydinger, Keeping PACE in Texas, charlene.heydinger@keeppace.org.

SB 1281 Click here

Looking for a deeper dive into TX-PACE 2.0? Click here

Organizations Supporting SB 1281 As of March 25, 2019

  • Ameresco
  • Building Owners and Managers Association – Texas (BOMA)
  • CCG PACE Funding, LLC
  • Conservative Texans for Energy Innovation
  • Dixie Chemical
  • Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)
  • Greenworks Lending
  • Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT)
  • Keeping PACE in Texas
  • Lone Star Chapter Sierra Club
  • Navarro County
  • MM Solar Advisory
  • NetZero USA of Austin
  • PACE Equity LLC
  • Public Citizen
  • R Street Institute
  • Solar Smart Living
  • Texas Association of Business (TAB)
  • Texas Bankers Association (TBA)
  • Texas Association of Manufacturers (TAM)
  • Texas Mortgage Bankers Association (TMBA)
  • Texas Municipal League (TML)
  • Texas Solar Power Association
  • US Green Building Council (USGBC)