By Bob Walker, SERG (Sustainable Energy Resource Group), www.SERG-info.org

Low interest PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) financing is now available to help Vermonters make energy improvements in their homes. Vermonters earning up to 80% of the state’s Average Median Income (AMI) can get 0% financing; 80-100% AMI can get 0.99% financing; and 100-120% AMI can get 1.99%. See the table below for qualifying income levels.

Improvements that can be financed through these low rates include energy audits; weatherization measures; cold climate heat pumps; high efficiency oil, propane and wood pellet central heating systems; heat pump water heaters; and solar hot water heaters.  Renewable electric generation systems can also be financed through PACE at the usual program rate of 6.5%.

Financing these measures through PACE often results in homeowners saving more on energy costs than they pay for the improvements, so they save energy and money from day one. Your energy-efficiency utility, Efficiency Vermont, will conduct a free analysis of your project plan to let you know how cost effective your project is and assist you through the PACE process. Other PACE advantages include the fact that there is no credit score check, no closing costs and no down payment required.

PACE financing is available to all residents of Vermont towns which have passed PACE at town meeting, including: Bradford, Cavendish, Hartford, Hartland, Norwich, Randolph, Sharon, Strafford, Thetford, Vershire, Weathersfield, and Woodstock. Sustainable Energy Resource Group (SERG) is working with town energy committees in the Upper Valley and with Efficiency Vermont to inform community members about PACE at free town forums that are open to the public.

Upcoming PACE forums:

• December 9^th, 2014, Montshire Museum, Norwich, VT, 6:30pm
• December 10^th, 2014, Hartland Library, Hartland, VT,  6:30pm
• January 20^th, 2015, Thetford Center Community Center, Thetford, VT, 6:30pm
• February 11^th, 2015, Bugbee Senior Center, White River Jct., VT, 6:30pm

These forums are being cosponsored by Upper Valley Sierra Club and Vital Communities. For more information on PACE activities in the Upper Valley area, contact SERG at 802-785-4126 or your town energy committee.

PACE Interest Rates – Based on the total adjusted gross income for all household earners as shown on Line 37 of your most recent tax return:

[ INSERT PACE CHART HERE ]

* The above interest rates are for energy efficiency and thermal measures only and do not apply to renewable energy measures such as solar PV or wind power generation. The rates are limited to $10,000 of eligible project measures.  Any remaining amount of project cost financed will be subject to the current PACE interest rate.

** Subject to change with each new PACE subscription period.

For more information on PACE and help through the PACE registration process, contact www.efficiencyvermont.com/PACE, PACE@efficiencyvermont.com or 888-921-5990.