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Clackamas County adopts CPACE ordinance to speed private financing for clean‑energy commercial projects
Summary
The county unanimously adopted Ordinance 05‑2026 to authorize a Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (CPACE) program, allowing private capital providers to offer energy‑efficiency and clean‑energy loans secured by property liens while the county provides administrative oversight and lien recordation.
Clackamas County on April 23 adopted Ordinance 05‑2026 to create a Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (CPACE) program that the county says will enable private lenders to finance clean‑energy and efficiency projects on commercial properties.
Dan Johnson, director of Transportation and Development, told the board the county’s role would be administrative: staff would confirm applications meet statutory criteria and ensure the required lien is recorded in favor of the county when private capital providers offer loans. "The power within this tool is the fact that the public is backing the lien that is placed upon the property," Johnson said, adding that capital providers — not the county — would fund projects and collect payments.
Johnson asked the board to adopt the ordinance on an emergency basis because constrained capital availability is impeding multifamily, industrial and commercial development. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about county exposure and process; Commissioner West framed CPACE as "one tool in the toolbox" to help attract private investment to the metro area.
The board opened and closed the public hearing with no public testimony. After reading the ordinance by title, commissioners voted 4–0 to adopt Ordinance 05‑2026, allowing CPACE to be implemented without a second reading under unanimous approval.
Why it matters: CPACE programs use private capital to finance energy improvements, with a lien recorded on the property to secure repayment. Supporters say the structure can reduce upfront costs for owners and accelerate energy upgrades; opponents elsewhere have raised concerns about lien priority and borrower protections. County staff emphasized there is "no essential financing or fiscal impact to the county" because capital providers retain collection responsibility.
Next steps: County staff in Transportation and Development will finalize implementation procedures and work with private capital partners and legal counsel to operationalize the program.
