TEPRI Releases Initial Report on Research Landscape Analysis of the Energy-Poverty Nexus

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We are pleased to share with you TEPRI’s first publication: the “Energy Poverty Research Landscape Analysis.” By providing an analysis of the landscape of publicly available current research, TEPRI’s goals for this working paper are to increase understanding of and raise awareness about the complex nexus of energy and poverty.

Click the link above to view the full publication.

Watch Jeff Tannenbaum Talk Solar and PACE on Nasdaq Spotlight

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PACENation’s Founder Jeff Tannenbaum was featured on Nasdaq’s channel to discuss new opportunities in solar, energy efficiency, and financing for the clean energy economy.

 

The conversation turns to PACE at 15:10:

 

“PACE is done locally. It’s being driven by entrepreneurs, it’s creating jobs, it’s improving energy security, and it’s raising tax revenues.”

 

Watch the interview below:

 

Courtesy of:
PACENation

Hays County Establishes PACE Program

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This morning Hays County, Texas became the 12th local government to establish a commercial PACE program in Texas. Under Judge Cobb’s leadership, commercial PACE is now available throughout the county including Buda, Dripping Springs, Kyle, San Marcos and many more wonderful communities. Hays County joins Travis and Williamson counties to form a three-county central Texas PACE region along the I-35 Corridor. The Commissioners Court adopted the PACE in a Box model and selected the Texas PACE Authority to administer the program. We look forward to serving the businesses and nonprofits in Hays County.
For more information about the establishing a PACE program, visit www.KeepingPACEinTexas.org and www.TexasPACEAuthority.org, or contact Charlene Heydinger at charlene.heydinger@KeepPACE.org.

EDF Publishes PACE Paper

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Today the Environmental Defense Fund published PACE Financing Opportunities in the Affordable Multifamily Housing Sector, written by Laura Sanchez, an EDF Climate Corp Fellow and Masters in Public Policy candidate at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy focusing on energy markets and sustainability.
laurasanchez

Laura Sanchez, EDF Climate Corp Fellow

The City of Austin, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Texas PACE Authority – together with affordable housing industry stakeholders – explored using PACE financing in affordable multifamily housing properties as a means to increase the city’s housing affordability, increase property owner’s operating profits, and improve the living condition of tenants. The final outcome of this collaborative effort is the paper, which:
  1. Lists potential opportunities for the affordable multifamily housing sector to leverage PACE, including properties under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, and properties that are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA RD) program;
  2. Provides specific guidance for affordable multifamily housing stakeholders incorporating PACE financing in the capital structure of rehabilitation projects reflecting variables including the policies of the public agency(ies) providing subsidies or direct capital, the existence and type of utility allowances, and the type of metering;
  3. Identifies potential pilot projects in Central Texas that serve as example of how PACE financing may be used within the affordable multifamily housing sector; and
  4. Makes recommendations to federal, state, and local governments to improve the effectiveness of PACE utilization in the affordable multifamily housing sector.
The Texas PACE Authority thanks the EDF for the opportunity to host Laura Sanchez as a Climate Corp, and congratulates Laura on her excellent work and this report.
Nonprofits and companies are encouraged to engage a Climate Corp Fellow.
For more information visit the Climate Corp Fellowship website.

 

PACE Comes to Aggieland

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Brazos County, Texas Adopts PACE

This morning, the Brazos County Commissioners Court adopted the PACE in a Box program.  The local stakeholder community is especially grateful to Commissioner Irma Cauley, who heard a local presentation about PACE and immediately went to work with local economic development experts -The Research Valley Partnership, contractors, property owners, lenders, and other stakeholders from Bryan, College Station, and throughout the County to promote the process and shepherd the program through the adoption process.

 

 

Queen Theater in Historic Downtown Bryan, TX

Brazos County, home to the Texas A&M University and the George Herbert Walker Bush Presidential Library and Museum, is the 9th local government to adopt the uniform PACE in a Box program.  Local stakeholders are wasting no time in taking advantage of the new Brazos PACE program, which is administered by the Texas PACE Authority.

 

 

Brazos County is experiencing significant growth.  To meet the housing needs of the collegiate community and permanent residents of Brazos County, a large portion of the multi-family housing stock needs renovation that will result in energy and water saving measures, and help preserve affordable housing.  Giving small businesses and industrial companies the financing necessary to retrofit their infrastructures with more efficient equipment that lowers operating expenses will make Brazos County businesses more competitive. A Brazos County PACE program also enables nonprofit organizations to improve their properties without diverting core mission dollars or donations.