About

PACE is an innovative program that enables property owners to obtain low-cost, long-term loans for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation improvements.

What is PACE?

Projects financed using PACE, or Property Assessed Clean Energy, can generate positive cash flow upon completion with no up-front, out-of-pocket cost to property owners—eliminating the financial barriers that typically prevent investment in revitalizing aging properties. The term of a PACE Financing may extend up to the useful life of the improvement, which may be as high as 20 years or more, and can result in cost savings that exceed the amount of the PACE Financing. The result is improved business profitability, an increase in property value, and enhanced sustainability.

PACE Financing is sourced from an open lending market and secured through a voluntary PACE Special Charge, repaid directly to the lender. Like property taxes, PACE Financings may be transferred to the next property owner if the property is sold. The remaining balance of the PACE Financing is repaid by the subsequent owner, who continues to receive the benefits of the improvements from the project. Eligible commercial properties include multifamily buildings of five units or more, as well as industrial, non-profit, agriculture, and hospitality properties.

What is PACE Wisconsin?

PACE Wisconsin authorizes municipalities and counties to work with private sector lenders to provide upfront financing to property owners for qualified projects. PACE Financing repayment is secured through a voluntary special charge repaid directly to the lender.

Legal authority for PACE in the State of Wisconsin
PACE financings are authorized in the State of Wisconsin pursuant to Section 66.0627(8), (the "PACE Statute"). The PACE Statute enables "political subdivisions" (counties, cities, towns, and villages) to impose a special charge on real property to secure loans made for energy efficiency, water conservation, and renewable energy improvements.

Wisconsin PACE Commission: A unified approach
Creating a PACE program from the ground up can be time consuming and resource-intensive. That’s why—with the support of the Wisconsin Counties Association, the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, and Green Tier Legacy Communities—Wisconsin local governments established the Wisconsin PACE Commission (the "Commission"), which offers an efficient and cost-effective option to collectively administer a uniform PACE program in Wisconsin entitled "PACE Wisconsin."

The Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement
Wisconsin counties and municipalities utilized their joint exercise of powers authority under Wisconsin Statute § 66.0301 to form the Commission. Under the terms of a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement (the "JPA"), County members agree to adopt a Model PACE Ordinance (see below), and to delegate to the Commission the ability to impose PACE special charges according to a single, uniform PACE program operated in the Commission members' jurisdiction. Municipal members (cities, villages, and towns) join the Commission, participate in its governance, and agree to support the Commission.

The Model Ordinance
County members agree to adopt a Model PACE Ordinance as a condition of joining the Commission. Among other powers, this ordinance authorizes the County to impose a PACE special charge, collect payments for the special charge in installments, place those installments on the tax roll at its discretion, and delegate that authority to the Commission.

Each Member Community delegated to the PACE Commission the power to administer PACE Wisconsin in their jurisdictions. PACE Wisconsin is administered by the Program Administrator, who is responsible for handling day-to-day PACE Financing application reviews and approvals, as well as payment collections in certain Member Communities on behalf of the PACE Commission.

PACE Wisconsin is an efficient statewide solution to deliver the benefits of PACE Financing here in Wisconsin in a cost-effective manner. The program offers an open-market solution for building owners and promotes economic development in Wisconsin communities. The benefits of PACE Wisconsin are available to building owners located in member communities. Any Wisconsin local unit of government may elect to become members of the PACE Commission pursuant to the terms of the JPA.

Program Administrator

EFS PACE, a service of Slipstream's Energy Finance Solutions (EFS), is Program Administrator for the Wisconsin PACE Commission. EFS PACE serves as a single point of access statewide for property owners, Member Communities, contractors, and lenders to qualify projects for PACE Financing. The Program Administrator maintains and enforces comprehensive program guidelines to ensure each PACE project meets the requirements of the Wisconsin PACE Statute, the PACE Ordinance, and the Program Manual, and certifies that repayments occur according to contract.

Founded in 1980, Slipstream is a mission-based non-profit organization that champions innovative energy efficiency initiatives that deliver short-and long-term economic and environmental benefits to consumers, businesses, and policy makers. EFS provides financing program consultation, design, and delivery services in support of energy efficiency improvements. Through partnerships with utilities, contractors, and other agencies, EFS offers simple, affordable solutions to financing energy efficiency improvements.

Board of Directors

Wisconsin counties and municipalities utilized their joint exercise of powers authority under Wisconsin Statute § 66.0301, to form the Wisconsin PACE Commission.
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Wisconsin PACE Commission is governed by the following directors:

• Chair

  Patrick Miles
  Supervisor
  Dane County, WI

• Vice Chair

  Brett Rondeau
  Supervisor
  Bayfield County, WI

• Secretary

  Jim Braughler
  Supervisor
  Jefferson County, WI

• Treasurer

  Tom Wegner
  Supervisor
  Sheboygan County, WI

• Director

  Clark Schroeder
  County Administrator
  Ashland County, WI

• Director

  Peter Olson
  Supervisor
  Barron County, WI

• Director

  Troy Streckenbach
  County Executive
  Brown County, WI

• Director

  Todd Romenesko
  County Administrator
  Calumet County, WI

• Director

  Donald Hauser
  Supervisor
  Chippewa County, WI

• Director

  Ed Benter
  Supervisor
  Dodge County, WI

• Director

  Jeff Berres
  Supervisor
  Dodge County, WI

• Director

  David Enigl
  Supervisor
  Door County, WI

• Director

  Charlie Glazman
  Supervisor
  Douglas County WI

• Director

  Thomas Quinn
  Supervisor
  Dunn County, WI

• Director

  James Dunning
  Supervisor
  Eau Claire County, WI

• Director

  Allen Buechel
  County Executive
  Fond du Lac County, WI

• Director

  Bruce Paull
  Supervisor
  Iowa County, WI

• Director

  Jim Kreuser
  County Executive
  Kenosha County, WI

• Director

  Hanz Breitenmoser
  Supervisor
  Lincoln County, WI

• Director

  Bob Ziegelbauer
  County Executive
  Manitowoc County, WI

• Director

  Jennifer Bizzotto
  Supervisor
  Marathon County, WI

• Director

  Rick Polzin
  Supervisor
  Marinette County, WI

• Director

  Sheldon Wasserman
  Supervisor
  Milwaukee County, WI

• Director

  Dave Hintz
  County Board Chair
  Oneida County, WI

• Director

  Nadine Miller
  Supervisor
  Outagamie County, WI

• Director

  David Larson
  County Board Supervisor
  Ozaukee County, WI

• Director

  Robert Kopisch
  Supervisor
  Price County, WI

• Director

  Melissa Kaprelian-Becker
  Supervisor
  Racine County, WI

• Director

  Mary Mawhinney
  Supervisor
  Rock County, WI

• Director

  Stacy Hessel
  Supervisor
  Sawyer County, WI

• Director

  Arlyn Tober
  Board Member
  Shawano County, WI

• Director

  Ken Witt
  County Administrator
  St Croix County, WI

• Director

  Mary Rae
  Supervisor
  Vernon County, WI

• Director

  Stephen Smith
  Supervisor
  Washburn County, WI

• Director

  Don Kriefall
  1st Vice Chair
  Washington County, WI

• Director

  Tom Dondlinger
  Supervisor
  Waukesha County, WI

• Director

  Duwayne Federwitz
  Supervisor
  Waupaca County, WI

• Director

  Jon Doemel
  County Executive
  Winnebago County, WI

• Director

  Adam Fischer
  1st Vice Chair
  Wood County, WI

• Nominee Director

  Ned Noel
  Member
  Green Tier Legacy

• Nominee Director

  Curt Witynski
  Assistant Director
  League of Wisconsin Municipalities

• Legal Counsel

  Andrew Guzikowski
  Attorney
  von Briesen and Roper, s.c.

• Legal Counsel

  Andrew Phillips
  Attorney
  von Briesen and Roper, s.c.

The Partnership

The Wisconsin Green Tier Legacy Communities (GTLC), the Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA), the League of Wisconsin Municipalities (LWM), and the Wisconsin State Energy Office work collectively to continually seek new and innovative ways to improve Wisconsin communities.  

This partnership identified the Wisconsin PACE Commission as an opportunity to create a competitive advantage for Wisconsin communities to stimulate investment. The Commission invites local governments, businesses, and property owners to participate in this exciting new opportunity to make Wisconsin’s built environment and communities more economically and environmentally sustainable.