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County staff recommend extending CPACE program after assessment; board signals support for continuation and annual review
Summary
Washington County staff presented a program assessment for the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (CPACE) program and recommended continuing the program (either through Dec. 31, 2026, or indefinitely) with clearer outreach and financial criteria; commissioners favored retaining the program and annual assessments.
Steven Roberts, director of Land Use and Transportation, and Adrienne Chelet, economic development manager, briefed the Board of Commissioners on Aug. 26 about a CPACE program assessment and recommended paths forward for the county’s ordinance that currently would sunset CPACE early.
Chelet said the county completed the required program assessment and found the program has completed two projects to date: a recapitalization and energy-efficiency retrofit for a 90-room hotel in Beaverton and a self-storage project in Hillsboro with efficiency and seismic rehabilitation work. The assessment estimated start-up costs at roughly $26,000 and calculated about 23 staff hours of work per project. Chelet told commissioners that fees from the two applications to date had recouped about 90 percent of start-up costs.
Staff recommendation and options: Staff asked the board to reject Ordinance 906 (which would sunset CPACE earlier than the codified 12/31/2025 date) and instead direct staff to file a new ordinance continuing the CPACE program. Two continuation paths were presented: extend to Dec. 31, 2026, with a required program assessment by June 30, 2026, or extend indefinitely with an annual assessment. Staff emphasized program enhancements: clearer program criteria, more outreach, and partnerships (for example, coordination with Energy Trust of Oregon and local jurisdictions) to increase developer uptake.
Board reaction: Commissioners raised questions about the program’s prior low project volume and whether that reflected lack of interest or lack of outreach. Commissioners said they had seen recent upticks in inquiries since staff raised the potential early sunset; some members recommended extending the program indefinitely but with annual June 30 assessments of progress and financial self-sustainability. Several commissioners stressed that the program should pay for itself through fees and that staff should return with clear metrics for continuing the program.
Next steps: Staff said they will draft and file the new ordinance and return to the board for public hearing and readings; the ordinance must be adopted by no later than Nov. 18, 2025 if the board wishes to avoid a sunset gap. If the board directs continuation, staff will prepare clearer program criteria and an outreach plan and will monitor project pipeline and fee revenue.
Ending: Commissioners signaled support for continuing CPACE with oversight: the board directed staff to return with an ordinance (options for a one-year extension or indefinite continuation) and with details on financial feasibility, outreach plans and annual assessment criteria.
