During Tuesday’s Leon County Commissioner meeting, the Board will consider adopting a resolution to join the Florida PACE Funding Agency (FPFA). If approved, the resolution will continue the residential Property Assessed Clean Energy Program (PACE) in Leon County.
The PACE program was launched in 2017 and allows residents to finance energy efficiency, wind resistance, and solar energy improvements to their homes. The financing is then repaid on the property tax bill. Since the program’s launch in 2017, more than 148 residential property owners have used the tool to make energy efficiency upgrades to their homes.
The PACE program for Leon County was administered through Renovate America, the Florida Development and Finance Corporation’s (FDFC) residential provider. However, Renovate America halted its PACE financing program and filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2020. The FDFC has since decided only to maintain a commercial program.
Subsequently, for Leon County to continue the PACE initiative for its residents, they must consider joining the Florida PACE Funding Agency (FPFA) or another district. The FPFA, through multiple providers, uses contractors to perform the actual improvements, ensuring competitive pricing for the customer. There are roughly 23 other Florida Counties that are members of the FPFA.
Better yet, reduce property taxes and let us keep our money. This is saying, unless you buy Green New Deal crap and install it on your home, we will tax you higher.
Two years ago the city promised to give me 700 dollars if I had gas installed in my house. I have yet to see one nickel from them. This is just another “friend of the commission” program that benefits the friends of the commission and no one else.
Virtue signaling has a cost. Why would the County Commission risk taxpayer funds and lien standing by effectively becoming the guarantor of a program that has minimal public interest, is fiscally unsustainable, and has a now proven track record of failure?
… as always, follow the money
“Since 2017, more than 148 residential property owners have used the tool to make energy efficiency upgrades to their homes” ……………. SO, that means what, 150 Homes? How many Tens of thousands of Homes are in Leon County? One Company filed Bankruptcy doing this, what is this going to cost us since just a very small handful of people have shown interest in this program? I would like to see Home Owners who install Solar on their Homesteaded Homes get a discount on their Property Taxes.