Some Marin residents interested in financing solar panels for their house — or other energy efficiency or water conservation improvements — have a new option.
The Marin Board of Supervisors and councils in Larkspur, San Rafael, San Anselmo and Fairfax have recently given the green light to residents in their jurisdictions to participate in a property assessed clean energy program. Called PACE, this CaliforniaFirst program allows homeowners to pay the cost of installing solar panels, or making other energy efficiency and water conservation improvements, over a period of 20 years as part of their property tax assessments.
CaliforniaFirst is sponsored by California Communities, a joint powers authority of the League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties. California Communities generates the capital for the program by issuing bonds.
Assembly Bill 811 made the PACE program possible in 2008. Read more.