Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Loans

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The Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Loan (C-PACE) program provides commercial loans for businesses and nonprofits that want to invest in energy efficiency, renewables, and water conservation projects. The loans are paid back through a surcharge on the tax bill, which can provide favorable loan terms due to the strong position of a tax lien should the property go to tax sale. The new program will allow commercial property owners to produce a new line of capital, create loans with up to 100% financing, and achieve a 20-year payback that can be cash flow positive from day one. Even more so, clean energy projects will add to the value of the commercial asset and can improve tenant retention.

Businesses with an interest in the program can call (443) 949-8505 or email info@md-pace.com. The PACE website also includes program guidelines that specify program costs and other key elements. Additional information about the program can be found on the Frederick County Office of Economic Development website and on the Frederick County, Maryland Business Toolbox fact sheet.

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County Executive Gardner Kicks Off PACE Program to Help Commercial Businesses Go Green and Save Green

Joe Richardson, Commercial Property Owner,  Bar-T Mountainside

"I see suchJ Richardson benefit for other businesses to invest in green technology, green infrastructure, and PACE really makes it possible."  Full interview

Bar-T's facilities provide outdoor education for schools, team building for company retreats, and a wedding venue. Joe worked with several local business owners, including John Spears of Sustainable Design Group and Brent Hollenbeck of TimberRock Advanced Energy, to design and construct CleanEnergy1a new high-efficiency building on the Bar-T Mountainside campus that utilizes state-of-the-art technology. 

The projects, included in the Energy Master Plan, have an estimated environmental benefit of saving the equivalent of 7,956 gallons of gas or planting 13.77 acres of trees per year, and will be financed via PACE with a cost-effective interest rate. This project will be one of the first in the country to combine efficiency, generation, grid resiliency, and energy management technologies at a single location without out-of-pocket expenses and with savings from day one.

The Frederick County Council passed bill number 16-17 on November 15, 2016 to enable Frederick County to create a PACE program, as well as create a tax bill surcharge.  Eligible projects listed in the bill include:

  • Solar, geothermal, wind and other alternative energy systems
  • Water conservation devices not required by law
  • Any construction, renovation or retrofit to reduce energy consumption, including high efficiency lighting and building systems, HVAC upgrades, high efficiency boilers, furnaces, hot water heating systems, and more.
  • All costs incurred by the qualifying improvements including the cost of the energy audit, feasibility studies and reports, design, installation, construction, insurance, and loan closing costs.