VALLEY COUNTY, Idaho — Valley County commissioners voted to approve a notice of intent to study and pursue a Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (CPACE) program and scheduled a public hearing for March 30 at 1:00 p.m.

Scott Turlington of Tamarack Resort told commissioners the resolution is procedural: it does not adopt a CPACE program or guidebook, does not authorize projects or county financing, and is intended only to signal the county’s interest in evaluating the program and then hold public hearings before any adoption. “It is 100% voluntary,” Turlington said, describing CPACE as a financing tool that typically covers energy- or water-efficiency work as part of a project’s capital stack rather than an entire construction cost.

The nut of the discussion was how the program would be structured and who would carry administrative burdens. Turlington and county staff said statute allows counties to delegate administration to a third-party administrator, which many jurisdictions use to limit work for the treasurer’s office; he added that any county costs can be reimbursed by applicants. County staff reported they had met with representatives from jurisdictions that already use CPACE in Idaho and that earlier legal concerns were largely answered during those meetings.

Commissioners asked for and received clarifications on liability and lien priority. Turlington said special assessments placed under CPACE would be recorded against participating properties and are subordinate to property tax liens; he said the county would not pledge its full faith and credit and would have no obligation to repay project debt. He also described a typical financing share for CPACE as a portion of a project — he cited roughly 10 to 15 percent as an example — and offered Tamarack’s planned hotel (about 70–80 rooms) as the kind of larger commercial project that might use CPACE funding.

A county staff member who met with Turlington and outside counsel told the board that the program is aimed at commercial projects and is not intended for single-family homeowners. The staff member said technical reviews of individual applications could be handled by hired professionals and that the administrative costs could be recouped from applicants so the county is not expected to bear net costs.

A motion to approve the notice of intent (identified in discussion as Resolution 2026-07: Notice of Intent to Establish a CPACE Program) was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. Commissioners discussed recommending a 60–90 day public-notice window so the public and staff have time for due diligence, and they agreed to schedule the hearing for March 30 at 1:00 p.m. The clerk’s office will run the required legal notice in the Star News and the county’s public relations provider may be used for broader outreach.

Next procedural steps are for staff to finalize hearing notices and for the county to take public comment at the scheduled March 30 hearing; no program will be adopted until the board formally approves program documents and a guidebook after that public process.