Lone Star PACE presents program to commissioners; court asks county attorney to review documents

Representatives from Lone Star PACE briefed Grimes County commissioners on Wednesday about PACE, a financing mechanism that attaches long-term private capital to qualified commercial properties to fund energy- and water-efficiency projects.

Ryan McCormick, a Lone Star PACE principal, described the program as private capital for private projects with a governmental assessment component that secures repayment. McCormick said PACE can finance improvements such as HVAC replacement, windows, roofing, lighting and other measures that lower utility consumption, and that projects typically use 20- to 30-year terms to improve cash flow for property owners.

Why commissioners did not act and what they asked for

Commissioners did not create a local PACE program on Wednesday. Judge Fowle asked Lone Star PACE to submit program documents to the county attorney for review; staff said the legal review would determine whether the court wished to consider a formal resolution of intent and subsequent program establishment.

What Lone Star PACE said

- Lone Star PACE staff described program history in Texas, technical eligibility (commercial, industrial, hospitality, multifamily and certain data centers but not government-owned buildings such as courthouses), and the potential financial benefits to developers and building owners. - The presenters emphasized the program’s voluntary nature and that projects are secured by a property assessment attached to the real estate, not taxpayer funds. - Lone Star PACE said they have facilitated projects across Texas, that program adoption is done at the local-government level, and that administrator services are commonly provided under contract.

Next steps and county considerations

- Lone Star PACE will send program documents to the county attorney for legal review. - The court requested the county attorney review the materials and schedule the matter for a future agenda if appropriate. The court did not adopt any enabling resolution or take action to create a county PACE program at the June 18 meeting.

Provenance (selected transcript evidence)

- {"block_id":"t=2883.095","local_start":0,"local_end":90,"evidence_excerpt":"Thank you, Lucy. You're welcome. Good morning, Judge, Commissioners. I'm Ryan McCormick with the Lone Star PACE and I have the pleasure today of introducing the PACE program...","reason_code":"topicintro"}

- {"block_id":"t=3715.215","local_start":0,"local_end":40,"evidence_excerpt":"I thank you for the presentation. I'd ask that you get your documentation to our county attorney. Absolutely. And let her look it over. And then based on her looking it over, we'll get it on an agenda for the near future.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}