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Public hearing on county PACE program draws support from solar developer and nonprofits
Summary
At a public hearing Aug. 8, 2023, Benzie County commissioners heard local developers and nonprofit representatives urge creation of a county PACE program to support solar and energy projects; no formal vote on program creation was recorded that day.
A public hearing on creating a county Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program drew support from local developers and nonprofit representatives during the Benzie County Board of Commissioners’ Aug. 8 meeting in Beulah.
Todd Williams, identified in the record as President and General Counsel, attended to answer commissioners’ questions while the board opened the hearing. Jeremy Jones of Lake Township, who said he owns a solar development company, told commissioners he is interested in using a county PACE program for a planned Benzie County project. John Brinkinmulder, a member of the Michigan Shores building and grounds committee, said his organization is exploring solar installations and is “very interested in the program,” according to meeting minutes. Local resident Jim Dulzo described his involvement in bringing PACE to other Michigan counties and urged the board to adopt the program, saying it would help businesses and townships move projects forward.
The hearing provided developers and property owners an opportunity to describe how PACE financing — which attaches funding repayments to property tax assessments — could lower upfront costs for energy upgrades and enable community institutions to invest in renewable power. Todd Williams was present throughout the hearing to respond to technical and legal questions raised by commissioners and attendees, per the record.
Commissioners did not take a final vote or adopt an implementing ordinance at the Aug. 8 meeting; the public hearing was opened, public comment was received, and the hearing was closed. The record does not show any formal action to create the county PACE program on that date.
If commissioners move forward, next steps typically include drafting enabling county documents and authorizing the administrative mechanism for assessments; neither step was recorded as completed during the Aug. 8 meeting. The hearing transcript indicates interested local developers and community facilities are watching the board’s follow-up decisions.
