WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS RECEIVE PRESENTATION ON PACE PROGRAM
Washington County Commissioners heard a presentation this (Tuesday) morning about a financial tool to help upgrade facility infrastructure while keeping costs down for property owners.
Commissioners heard about the Texas Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program, which enables property owners to lower their operating costs and use savings for eligible water conservation, energy efficiency, resiliency, and distributed generation projects.
Through the program, property owners are granted access to private, long-term financing options for commercial, industrial, and multi-family properties.
PACE Senior Advisor Marina Badoian-Kriticos explained that building owners can apply to the program once they find a contractor, select a project, and identify a lender. If the owner, building, and project all meet PACE requirements, the owner signs a contract with the PACE Program, which places a senior lien on the property.
The lender then signs a contract with the county in exchange for the assessment payments. The lender provides the funding, the contractors complete the project, and the program bills assessments to the owner and forwards payments to the lender.
Badoian-Kriticos said the program is a liability-free, no-cost way for the county to incentivize better resource conservation.
If the county decides to move forward with the program, Badoian-Kriticos said it will first need to post a report on the county website on how the program will work. It will then need to pass a resolution of intent and hold a public hearing, before adopting a resolution establishing the PACE Program. She noted that, if the county approves the program, it would cover all entities in the county, so the City of Brenham would not need to approve the program separately.
When asked what the timeline typically looks like for setting up the program, Badoian-Kriticos said, once the process gets started, she has seen the program be fully adopted in as little as a month.
City of Brenham Economic Development Director Susan Cates said she came to the county first with the proposal because there are properties outside of Brenham that could benefit from the county being in this program. She added that, if the county decides to not opt in, the City of Brenham likely will.
Click here to view a copy of Tuesday's presentation.
Also in court today, commissioners:
- Heard a presentation from the Texas Extension Education Association.
- Approved advertising for sealed bids for fuel, oil, asphalts and emulsions, drive bridge piling, road construction materials, and steel products. The bids will need to be in to the office of the county clerk by 5 p.m. December 2nd. They will be opened in commissioners court on the 3rd, and accepted on the 10th.
- Authorized submission of a grant application to the Office of the Governor. The approved resolution allows for the use of Night Vision for the Sheriff’s Office SRT Team.
- Tabled formal notice from NEWCWS-Corix Utilities, Inc. for a road bore on Prairie Hill Road in Precinct One.
- Approved formal notice from Hydroline LLC for a temporary lay-flat water line on Lone Star Road in Precinct One.
The court will also meet tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at 9 a.m. at the Washington County Courthouse, to canvass the votes for the State Constitutional Amendment Election.