BRATTLEBORO — The PACE (Property-Assessed Clean Energy) subcommittee of the Brattleboro Energy Committee is leading a workshop Wednesday for voters who want to know more about the PACE question on the agenda of the upcoming Annual Representative Town Meeting.
The workshop is Wednesday, Feb. 27, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Marlboro College Graduate Center, 28 Vernon St.
Efficiency Vermont consultant and PACE expert Carol Weston plans to attend, either personally or via Skype, to answer questions and describe how communities across Vermont are implementing PACE.
PACE allows homeowners to borrow money for home energy improvements and repay it in conjunction with their property taxes over relatively long terms.
Towns must approve PACE in order to be able to join Vermont's PACE program.
Town Meeting is March 23.
According to a press release on the workshop, 27 states have enacted PACE legislation, with more than 30 Vermont towns on board including Putney and Marlboro.
PACE loans are attached to the property itself, not the homeowner, and are not considered mortgages or personal loans. When such an improved house sells, the new homeowners assume responsibility for that PACE loan in the same way they pay their taxes, and reap the continuing benefits of PACE.
Loans are issued with tight controls limiting them to energy efficiency (weatherization) and renewable energy (e.g., solar hot water, solar electricity) purposes.