On Wednesday a bipartisan group of members of Congress introduced a bill in support of the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program and, at the same time, sent a message to mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, who have blocked the program's implementation.

North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena), Congress member Nan Hayworth, M.D. (R-NY) and Dan Lungren (R-CA) introduced the PACE Protection Act of 2011.

The PACE program – currently available in 27 states and the District of Columbia – allows property owners to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for their homes and commercial buildings – without any government subsidies or taxes. More important, it means lower utility bills for property owners and job creation in the hard hit construction industry.

“PACE promotes energy efficiency in ways that are good for our country, our economy, and our environment,” said Thompson. “It saves property owners money by lowering energy costs and, perhaps more important, creates jobs without taxes or government subsidies. Congresswoman Hayworth, Congressman Lungren and I are committed to protecting PACE for the future, which is why we introduced legislation to continue to allow property owners to finance innovative energy projects through these innovative, affordable, and responsible programs.”

The PACE Protection Act addresses adverse action taken by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and their regulators at the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) which has prevented communities nationwide from harnessing PACE benefits.

The PACE Protection Act of 2011 is meant to protect PACE programs from federal overreach by the FHFA and allow them to continue reducing energy consumption, boosting our economy, and creating jobs, without mandates from the government or taxpayer funds.

“PACE programs in our states have allowed homeowners to make energy-saving modifications on their houses through a voluntary assessment on their own property, at no cost to local taxpayers,” said Hayworth.

“PACE programs create jobs and help Americans to conserve energy, saving on those costs and protecting our environment,” she added. “Unfortunately, interference by the Federal Home Finance Administration has prevented states from enabling all of their homeowners to take advantage of PACE. Our bill addresses the concerns of FHFA and facilitates participation by homeowners in every state with a PACE program, which will in turn promote conservation, energy savings, and job creation.”

With unemployment hovering around 9 percent, legislation that focuses on creating jobs at the local level all across America is paramount.

Independent studies have shown the benefits of PACE to be substantial to homeowners, the economy, the environment, and federal, state and local governments.

“My colleagues and I are fighting for a common sense program that would both increase the value of homes involved and help create jobs in our region. The time is now, more than ever to pass legislation that will accomplish this goal,” Lungren concluded.

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