Montana C-PACE Financing
C-PACE financing is now available to Montana businesses!
Across the nation, C-PACE financing (Commercial Property Assessed Capital Enhancement) is making energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy investments more attainable to commercial building owners. C-PACE is a fit for most industries including farms, commercial office buildings, nonprofit organizations (including places of worship), and multi-tenant buildings. Common investments include solar panels, HVAC systems, lighting, motors, and more.
Last Best PACE brings value to Montana commercial building owners by improving their bottom line. Last Best PACE can cover up to 100% of eligible project costs and payments are repaid through a special property tax assessment with terms up to 20 years. As a result, projects become cash positive from day one. Projects greater than $75,000 may be eligible for C-PACE. If the aggregate potential project is smaller than $75,000, C-PACE may not be the most cost-effective option.
To learn more about C-PACE financing nationwide, go to pacenation.org.
How C-PACE Works
- The local government (city or county) establishes a C-PACE District
- Commercial building owners evaluate and select projects that reduce energy costs
- The building owners secure financing from a bank or other financial institution
- The local government adds the assessment to the tax rolls
- The building owner pays the assessment for up to 20 years and recognizes savings from the improvements
Benefits
- Commercial property owners are able to invest in energy efficiency projects and solar or renewable energy upgrades with no upfront costs
- Utility savings exceed payment obligations, making investments cash positive for commercial property owners and tenants
- Payments are rolled into a special tax assessment made payable twice per year as part of the building owner’s property taxes
- The program is tax neutral with no financial exposure to cities or counties
- Energy improving investments promote local jobs
Pace Nation
If you answer “yes” to the following questions, your project may be eligible for C-PACE financing...
- Are you the legal property owner?
- Are you current on your mortgage and tax payments? You are not insolvent or bankrupt?
- Do you hold a title to the property subject to a C-PACE assessment? Is said property not in dispute?
- Do the proposed improvements cost more than $75,000? If not, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality may have a more cost-effective option for financing. Learn more here.
- Will the proposed improvements boost energy efficiency? Would they be permanently affixed to the property (ex. solar panels, boilers, insulation)?
- Will the anticipated monetary savings from the improvements likely exceed their costs?
If you answered “yes” to the above questions, please reach out to the Montana Facility Finance Authority to learn more about C-PACE.
If you are interested in C-PACE financing, review the Program Guidelines.
The Program Guidelines were created through the hardwork and participation of 54 working group members. Special thanks goes out to Northern Plains Resource Council, PACENation, and the C-PACE Alliance for being guiding forces through this process.
