Overlooking downtown Des Moines, Iowa, the Market One commercial building’s photovoltaic solar canopy contains 787 solar panels.

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE or Commercial PACE) Toolkit is an outcome of DOE's C-PACE Working Group. The C-PACE Working Group represents a three-year partnership (2018–2020) of state and local governments that worked together to learn about, launch, and refine C-PACE financing programs. By 2021, the working group stimulated $70 million in C-PACE investments among 17 state and local partners, exceeding a $60 million goal two years ahead of schedule. 

DOE's collaboration with more than 70 participants, including more than 30 state and local government participants (see the full list below), resulted in tools and resources to inform public-sector C-PACE program development and implementation. State and local governments can use these resources to build a foundational understanding of C-PACE, inform the decision to start a program, improve implementation, and apply C-PACE to support a range of public purpose objectives.  

Why Commercial PACE Matters for State and Local Governments  

C-PACE is authorized by state legislation, requires further authorization from local governments, and is a voluntary tool for financing energy efficiency, renewable energy, and resilience upgrades in commercial buildings. More than 37 states and Washington, D.C., have adopted C-PACE enabling legislation because of the opportunities for investment in local businesses, energy and cost savings, and job creation. C-PACE programs have resulted in more than $2 billion in private capital investment in commercial building upgrades in more than 20 states.    

State and local governments adopt C-PACE to generate jobs, stimulate economic development, and combat climate change. State and local governments can advance these public purpose objectives through C-PACE with little to no investment of public funds while being engaged and supportive of program outcomes. By leveraging DOE's tools and resources, state and local governments can make more informed decisions and ensure their C-PACE programs achieve public purpose objectives.

Introducing the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Toolkit

The Commercial PACE, or C-PACE, Toolkit is a four-part compilation of resources that any state or local government can use to navigate barriers and benefit from C-PACE financing. Toolkit resources support best practices and innovative approaches successfully used by states and local governments to establish, join, or design a C-PACE program, implement a program and generate project uptake, and apply C-PACE to support underserved communities or advance resilience objectives.

 

Start with the basics including the C-PACE financing mechanism and the role of the public sector. Understand the key features, stakeholders, and lessons learned from early adopters through foundational resources. 

Identify existing C-PACE enabling laws and programs; understand the opportunities, risks, and strategies to successfully offer a program; and leverage data to assess the energy savings opportunity at the state or local level. 

Prioritize "early wins" in the form of completed projects and long-term success including demonstrated energy savings.

Get more out of C-PACE by applying it to a range of public purpose objectives including supporting underserved communities such as small and medium businesses and multifamily housing, efficient new construction, and resilient buildings. 

 

C-PACE Working Group Participants

Partners

  • Arlington County, VA
  • Bernalillo County, NM
  • Chicago, IL
  • Commonwealth of Massachusetts and MassDevelopment
  • Cook County, IL
  • Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility
  • Jefferson County, CO
  • Las Vegas, NV
  • Milwaukee, WI
  • New York, NY & NYCEEC
  • Philadelphia, PA—Philadelphia Energy Authority
  • Portland, OR—Prosper Portland
  • Reno, NV
  • State of Alabama
  • State of Nevada
  • State of New Mexico
  • Will County, IL

Observers

  • Bay Area Regional Energy Network (CA)
  • City and County of Honolulu, HI
  • City of Longmont, CO
  • Shift Zero Building Alliance (WA)
  • State of Iowa
  • State of Montana
  • State of New Jersey
  • State of Pennsylvania

Advisors

  • California Municipal Finance Authority
  • Connecticut Green Bank
  • Dallas, TX
  • Ohio Port Authorities and Energy Special Improvement Districts
  • Show Me PACE Clean Energy District
  • State of Colorado
  • State of Texas—State Energy Conservation Office
  • Washington, D.C.

  • PACENation
  • Abacus Property Solutions
  • ALB Engineering Contractors 
  • Alliance to Save Energy
  • American Women Empower Real Estate & Development
  • Appraisal Institute
  • CleanFund Commercial PACE Capital
  • Colorado Clean Energy Fund
  • C-PACE Alliance
  • CrossRiver Capital
  • Energy Alliance Group of North America
  • Energy Finance Solutions with Slipstream
  • Government Sustainability Coalition
  • Grits Capital
  • Greenworks Lending
  • Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Real Estate
  • Highview Creations
  • IncentiFind 
  • Institute for Building Technology and Safety
  • Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance
  • Lean and Green Michigan
  • Lever Energy Capital
  • LordCap PACE
  • Marcena Capital
  • Maryland Energy Advisors
  • Minnesota Credit Union Network
  • Missouri Energy Initiative
  • Motivate Capital
  • National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO)
  • National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO)
  • OHIO PACE
  • PACE Equity
  • PACE Financial Servicing (PFS)
  • Petros PACE Finance
  • RAHILL Capital
  • Restaurant Lighting Concepts
  • Sustainable Energy Fund (PA)
  • Sustainable Real Estate Solutions (SRS)
  • Texas PACE Authority
  • von Briesen & Roper
  • White Oak Global Advisors
  • Ygrene Energy Fund

State and Local Government TrackMarket Partner Track

Partners – State and local governments with state level C-PACE enabling legislation, but no program, or limited project financing completed to-date. Partners are actively working to develop or refine their C-PACE program.

Companies and organizations directly impacted by or specializing in C-PACE financing, including:

- PACE Trade Associations

- 3rd Party Program Administrators

- Capital Providers

- Commercial Lenders

- Contractors and Energy Service Companies

- Commercial Property Owners 

Observers – State and local governments with an interest in exploring C-PACE, but without the state level C-PACE enabling legislation or other constraints that prevent partner participation.

Advisors – State and local governments with state level C-PACE enabling legislation, a program, and financed projects. These participants are valued members of the Working Group and serve as advisors to the observers and partners.

 

State and Local Participant Map

A map of the state and local participants for the C-PACE Working Group.

Additional Resources

Resources designed to support and grow the C-PACE market are available from leading national and state-based organizations. Visit the following websites curated by C-PACE leaders to find more resources:

Questions and Feedback

Contact us with questions and feedback: stateandlocal@ee.doe.gov.