Dear energy efficiency allies,
As you know, LEEP (also known as PACE) is being studied by the legislature. LEEP is a really great way to spur growth in the energy efficiency sector by having some property owners pay back loans for energy efficiency upgrades over tie. In most programs, the
upgrades can be paid back over a number of years (up to 20 years). While LEEP laws vary from state-to-state, the main aspects that define them are that the repayments are done with the property tax and the loan stays with the property no matter who owns it.
In many of the upgrades that have happened through LEEP/PACE programs, companies have been able to reduce energy use by half, so the impacts have been huge.
Here is our page about the LEEP program, which includes our fact sheet.
http://www.eewv.org/leep
This interim study is the way the legislature will form its thinking about how to proceed with LEEP. At this time there is no specific legislation being considered, though the legislators may decide to introduce a bill as a committee.
We want to make sure that the voices of the members of the subcommittee studying the issue hear from cities in or near their districts. 23 local governments have asked to be given home rule permission, and 15 of those are in or near districts of subcommittee
members or other prominent state legislators. Of the 15, I have identified six top targets (Huntington, Martinsburg, Charles Town, Oak Hill, Weirton, and Parkersburg) based on the number of key legislators with districts in those areas.
I have attached a list of all of the subcommittee members, and listed all 15 of the towns by region. The highest concentrations of committee members are in the Eastern Panhandle, Northern Panhandle, and Huntington area, but the chairs are from Fayette
County and Logan County. You will notice that there is absolutely no one on the subcommittee from the Charleston area. If you are not able to contact any of these local governments, if you have a connection to the subcommittee members, it would be much appreciated
for you to reach out to them.
We need your help letting local government officials know about this study and have them inform our legislators about how energy efficiency can help local economies. This is likely to be one of the few energy efficiency initiatives that will go forward
in the 2015 session, so it is important that the legislators studying it are well-versed and understand local support for it.
Thank you and I welcome any feedback you have!