Court Opens Door for Leon County Energy Program

Court Opens Door for Leon County Energy Program
Commercial property owners can now initiate “green” energy projects

 

Leon County successfully defended a Supreme Court case that will allow property owners to borrow funds for certain energy improvement projects. The Leon County Attorney’s Office, in conjunction with the law firm of Bryant, Miller and Olive, handled the case, which involved a challenge to the lower court’s ruling validating the proposed bond issuance for the Leon County Energy Improvement District.

 

“Leon County prevailed in this legal process because of the dedicated and professional work of the County Attorney’s Office,” said Leon County Commission Chairman Mary Ann Lindley. “And soon we will be able to proceed with helping our local businesses.”

 

Last week, the Florida Supreme Court issued an important ruling allowing Leon County (sitting as the County’s Energy Improvement District) to proceed with financing for commercial property owners who want to initiate “green” energy efficiency projects for their buildings. The program allows for property owners to borrow funds for certain energy improvement projects and then have the repayment made utilizing the cost savings through reduced energy costs.

 

About the ruling, longtime County Attorney Herbert W.A. Thiele stated, “We believe that as a result of the Court’s significant decision that Leon County, like other local governments around the state, now possesses another tool in assisting local commercial property owners to achieve important energy conservation goals.”

 

The “Upgrade Leon” Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program is voluntary to commercial property owners who choose to participate in financing agreements with the Leon County Energy Improvement District. Businesses agree to repay the improvement cost over the long term though voluntary special assessments added to their property tax bills. The actual issuance of debt will only occur when a specific project is identified and the commercial property owner agrees to have the debt repayment placed on their respective tax bill.

 

“The PACE program is another example of how we partner with local businesses to save money while reducing energy use,” said Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long. “Through our continued work at the Office of Sustainability, we provide meaningful ways for our business community to help meet the energy needs of tomorrow while saving on the bills of today.”

 

The Leon County Energy Improvement District has engaged Ygrene Energy as the program administrator. Ygrene is a leading provider of clean energy financing for commercial properties throughout the United States.

 

Over the next few months, Ygrene will establish a website and presence in Leon County. This site will be used for stakeholder education, community outreach, customer service, contractor liaison and information sources.

 

Ygrene will start taking applications from Leon County businesses in early 2016.

 

For more information before the official launch, contact the Leon County Office of Resource Stewardship at (850) 606-1810, or Mathieu Cavell, Leon County Community and Media Relations, at (850) 606-5300 / cmr@LeonCountyFL.gov .