POSTED MAY. 23, 2014, 8:00 AM
PARIMAL M. ROHIT / STAFF WRITER
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors could be taking a page out of Santa Monica’s policy-setting book in hoping to set a nationwide trend, as the five-member panel agreed on May 20 to a funding program in 38 cities aimed at making homes more energy-efficient.
If successful, the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) could be implemented on a nationwide scale.
In the meantime, Santa Monica is reportedly expected to implement the Home Energy Renovation Opportunity (HERO) within its city limits later this month, joining other municipalities such as La Canada Flintridge, Pomona, San Gabriel, South Pasadena, and Torrance.
Council members approved Santa Monica’s involvement in HERO in November 2013. The program is voluntary and the burden of the costs to improve one’s home and make it more energy efficient falls entirely on the homeowner.
Some California cities already have tax assessment incentives available to homeowners under the HOME, which is a PACE program. Read more.