Sustainable Design Leaders in NYC
New York City has been discussing implementing PACE Financing for years but has not taken action. Over 48 municipalities in New York State have PACE financing for Commercial (including multi-family) properties, it's time NYC does as well. I recently learned from colleagues in the City that all of the administrative issues have been addressed and they only need City Council to vote on legislation. This type of political laziness on such a critical issue - funding for deep energy retrofits can't happen when we're working to create healthy resilient communities prepared for climate change.
You can learn more about the NYS program here; and more about PACE financing around the country, here. I've also attached a PDF with basic backup information (resources for everyone here!)
Please circulate with all your New York colleagues and friends, we need councils members to know their constituents care about this issue!
PACE Financing will:
- unlock fresh CHEAP private capital to upgrade existing buildings to be more energy efficient and resilient
- reduce carbon emissions related to building use
- spur innovation in the building retrofit market
- fund new and additional work for the AEC community in NYC
- support cleaner air and a more stable electrical grid through reduced consumption of fuel and electricity.
Please take a moment to contact your City Council Member (emails can be found here) and send a copy to the the Speaker, Corey Johnson (SpeakerJohnson@council.nyc.gov). Phone numbers on on the same website, if you prefer to call.
I've drafted a short email for your use, please feel free to edit it, below:
Dear Councilman XXXX
As a member of the Architectural community of New York, I am writing to urge you and your colleagues to propose and pass PACE legislation this year. All of the internal issues and concerns about PACE have been addressed by city administrators, we only need to propose a local law and pass it through City Council. (Example legislation can be found here).
Passing PACE legislation is critical to developing new financial markets to support the upgrading of existing buildings to be more energy efficient in order to meet our carbon use reduction goals, improve human health and air quality in the city, provide new construction jobs, and make the city safer and more resilient to major disruptions.
Any legislation must include commercial, institutional, and multifamily buildings in order to address the true needs of New Yorkers. At the state level, we need further advocacy to pass single family residential PACE as well.
I urge you and your colleagues to take action now, we've waited too long for this valuable free market tool to transform our city for the better.
Regards
XXXXX
Thanks Everyone!
Chris
