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Miami-Dade PACE Program for sustainable living!

By BEATRIZ GONZALEZ-LEAL

Real Estate Agent with Realty Empire 3226418

April 24, 2018 08:38 AM

Engaging Miami-Dade residents to practice, and support, a reduction in energy use and sustainable living.

Energy

Twenty-four seven access to reliable energy in Miami-Dade is critical to power buildings, equipment and vehicles that we depend upon every day. In fact, electricity and transportation together account for roughly 90 percent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Miami-Dade County.

The County's Energy Efficiency Campaign includes programs that engage residents to practice, and support, a reduction in energy use and sustainable living.

The County has also developed the Miami-Dade County Electricity Master Plan , which provides a systemic approach to efficient energy use within Miami-Dade County government operations.

Property Assessed Clean Energy Programs (PACE)

Miami-Dade County homeowners, businesses and industries in unincorporated Miami-Dade County interested in solar panels, hurricane windows and other energy saving upgrades now have another financing option through the property assessed clean energy (PACE) program.

PACE allows property owners to receive upfront financing for a variety of energy-related home improvements, then repay the debt through voluntary assessments on their property tax bills. Approved third-party administrators will provide funding, and the assessment can be amortized over a period of five to up to 20 years, which allows for the cost savings resulting from the improvements to be used to pay back the annual amount owed.

PACE-funded improvements must be properly permitted and installed by licensed contractors, and they must meet applicable federal, state, and local energy, wind and building code standards.

Although the County has to authorize PACE programs to operate in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, the County does not administer or operate the programs in any way. All contractual PACE agreements are between property owners and the PACE district, a non-County entity.

To foster competition and protect consumers, Miami-Dade County has included compliance requirements in its agreements with each PACE provider such as provisions for clear communication with customers, disclosure of all fees and risks associated with participating in the program, prepayment penalties and hardship exceptions, and mandatory data reporting.

To request a copy of a data report from one of the approved PACE providers, please contact the Office of Resilience at 305-375-5593 or by email.

Currently, the County has an agreement with two Districts to provide services in Unincorporated Miami-Dade County and is negotiating with several other PACE Districts. Details are provided below.

Authorized by Miami-Dade County to provide services in Unincorporated Miami-Dade County