Getting Started
Document Actions
PACE Webinar Takeaway: Keep Up the Pressure on Feds
by Don Knapp
ICLEI's July 27 PACE Update webinar brought together the leading thinkers and doers on PACE (property assessed clean energy) programs, and everybody agreed on the top priority: The full-court press on Congressional and Administration leaders must continue.
If you missed the webinar, you can watch a recorded version or download the presentation slides.
View the Recorded Webinar (WebEx video)
View the Presentation Slides (pdf)
To save local government PACE programs from FHFA's shortsighted decision that shuts them down, local leaders and staff should continue to exert pressure on the Obama Administration, the Department of Energy, and their Congressional representatives to push federal legislation through Congress that greenlights PACE and overturns FHFA's decision, and establishes consistent federal guidelines for these local programs. House legislation has already been introduced, and as the focus moves to the Senate and Republican co-sponsorship, we encourage you to download ICLEI's Save PACE Action Kit to make your outreach efforts easier and more effective.
Tuesday's webinar featured legislative developments, next steps, and strategy on PACE from Martin Chavez, ICLEI USA Executive Director; Cisco DeVries, President of Renewable Funding LLC (and the innovator of PACE via City of Berkeley); John Haig, Energy and Sustainability Director; Sonoma County; and Brad Penney, Director of Government Relations, Alliance to Save Energy.
A few more takeaways and notable quotes from the speakers:
Martin Chavez:
It’s important that we continue to interact with the Administration. Urge everyone to be in touch with the White House and DOE, and of course their Congressional representatives. What the President tells Congress makes a huge difference. This is not the time to let up, it’s time to press harder. We cannot let these ladies and gentlemen in Congress go home without addressing PACE.
Cisco DeVries:
There is a strong negotiation effort [taking place]: working together with reasonable people to approach the resolution to issues that have been raised about PACE, and legislation. There is a lot of effort on negotiation. In October 2009, the White House came up with guidelines for PACE programs, released by the Vice President, which coincided with DOE allowing [stimulus] funds to be spent on these programs. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac accepted it as legislation. But later next year there were some renewed guidelines which didn’t have the same reception as the original language. On May 5, FHFA released their statement, and now this has to be a priority for Congress. Without a bipartisan effort we can't get it done.
John Haig:
We’re establishing data that doesn’t exist anywhere else. Federal guidelines and a new law would be appropriate. As of yesterday, Sonoma County filed suit in federal court to protect our PACE program. There is a call for national support for PACE programs. [In Sonoma County], we will continue operations and continue to move forward with this.
Brad Penney, on the idea of a PACE pilot program as a compromise:
A pilot agreement is not favorable. PACE has already proven to be successful in communities. There’s no need for a pilot program. Martin: A pilot program will simply divert attention. We need a Congressional fix.
Cisco, on why Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac singled out PACE:
There is a lot of anxiety over mortgage lending. [The Administration] created FHFA because of the [sub-prime crisis]. They are being excessive in characterizing PACE as a loan rather than an assessment. Martin: They have blinders on, they see their own narrow concern. To satisfy their concern they’re willing to sacrifice this huge program.
