While LEEP programs vary from state to state, that appears to be the essence of what EEWV is proposing. The commercial or business property applies to the local government for financing for EE investments. This usually requires an energy audit from an energy services company which guarantees the energy cost savings. The investment cost is paid off by an assessment with local property taxes, which assures that the local government makes its money back on the loan, even if the business is sold. The local business gets reductions in energy bills that exceed the increase in property taxes, so the business benefits too.
"PACE" legislation offers the same program for residential properties, but these programs have run into problems with home mortgage lenders, so there is less interest in offering the programs to residential customers.
Another approach that is widely used is to have the local utility pay for the EE investments, and recoup them from the difference in electric savings. This would be useful for a distribution utility, especially in deregulated states, but in WV, the distribution company is a subsidiary of the generation company, so there is less incentive to save money.
JBK
An emerging issue with EEWV (Cathy Kunkel, et al.) is their proposal for a "PACE" or LEEP legislation (see description below). They are looking at an interim legislative study, with a bill to be introduced in 2015. EEWV contacted Bill and Danny, but since this is legislation, it cannot be a c-3 campaign.
Is there interest in the WV Chapter working on such a bill?
Jim Kotcon
From: Bill Price <bill.price@sierraclub.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2014 7:28 AM
To: James Kotcon; David Muhly; Zachary Fabish; Mark Kresowik; Daniel Chiotos
Subject: Fwd: LEEP Interim Study OutreachI spoke to Emmett yesterday, and here's what he wrote up about LEED. Jim Kotcon said he would talk with Chapter leaders.
Bill Price, Organizing Representative
Sierra Club
Environmental Justice Program
Beyond Coal to Clean Energy Campaign
Phone: 304-389-8822 (Cell)
Email: bill.price@sierraclub.org
"If there's no struggle, there's no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet renounce controversy are people who want crops without plowing the ground..." Frederick Douglass 1817-1895
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Emmett Pepper <emmett@eewv.org>
Date: Wed, Jul 16, 2014 at 12:00 AM
Subject: LEEP Interim Study Outreach
To: arthur hallstrom <art@ahallstrom.com>, Bill Price <bill.price@sierraclub.org>, Daniel Chiotos <daniel.chiotos@gmail.com>, Reggie Jones <reggie@prideinlogan.com>
Cc: Dan Taylor <dan@ohvec.org>, Cathy Kunkel <cathykunkel@gmail.com>, Bill Howley <billhowley@hughes.net>
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.
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.
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.
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!
--
Emmett Pepper
Executive Director
Energy Efficient WV
304-346-5891
emmett@eewv.org
www.eewv.org
@eewv
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