Whereas retrofitting buildings across BC is crucial to reducing green-house gas GHG emissions and meeting our provincial climate targets; And whereas upfront costs of retrofitting homes and businesses for climate resilience are cost prohibitive to many of our property owners, and Property Tax Assisted Clean Energy PACE lowers barriers to implementing GHG reductions, adding value to buildings and making them more desirable places to live or work; And whereas PACE BC is working with interested municipalities across BC to assist in the establishment of a successful province-wide PACE program that meets the needs of residents and that local governments of all sizes can participate in with minimal start up costs or staff time; And whereas PACE and the resulting ecosystem of retrofitting programs would create well-paying green jobs during a just recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and a just transition away from fossil fuel infrastructure-related jobs: Therefore be it resolved that UCBM ask the Ministry of Environment, the Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Minister of Housing and PACE BC to support BC legislation enabling PACE by third-party administration.
Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation The establishment of a Property Assessed Clean Energy PACE financing program was included in mandate letters to Ministers of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation and Municipal Affairs in November 2020. StrongerBC allocated 2M to the development of a PACE Roadmap and pilot program. The CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 reiterated a commitment to proceeding with the next steps on a PACE program. Government will be considering the scope and phasing of a PACE program as a next step. Implementation of a PACE program will require legislative amendments as well establishment of an administrative structure.