PACE and Competitive Providers

By Carl Hilliard

Hilliard Urges County Board of Supervisors to Move Forward With Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing Programs Funded by Competitive Providers

Hilliard, who is running for County Supervisor, District 3, takes the lead in urging the board to take the steps necessary to implement an expanded PACE financing program in the county.

"The first thing we must do," says Hilliard, "is assure property owners that funding to complete their improvements will be available from the day a project is initiated.

"Secondly, we should have in place a local team to work with organizations to implement the program, including educating and supporting property owners, and training contractors.

"And thirdly, we should incorporate best practices, which in this case means following Sonoma County's highly successful PACE program example. Sonoma County has funded five times more PACE projects than all other PACE programs in the nation."

Hilliard presses the board to endorse and support an open, competitive financing market where property owners and contractors will have immediate funding available from a number of capital providers. The main benefit of PACE for property owners is its up-front financing for energy and water-efficiency programs, which eliminates the need for out-of-pocket costs. The main benefits for the economy are job creation and economic stimulus.

According to an EcoNorthwest report about the economic impact of PACE programs, published in April 2011, every dollar that goes into a PACE project yields about $2.50 in economic stimulus, including improving the local economy and creating local jobs.

Hilliard is a successful businessman who sees the dollars and sense inherent in the PACE program. A longtime environmental activist, too, he supports upgrading energy-efficient standards for older buildings.

The two-term Del Mar mayor, protector of Prop 13 and champion of free 911-cell phone calls is endorsed by retired San Diego County Sheriff Bill Kolender and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, among others. For more on Carl Hilliard, go to http://www.hilliardforsupervisor2012.com.