C-PACE New Construction Pilot Program Launched
Rocky Hill, CT (June 15, 2018) – The Connecticut Green Bank is proud to announce a pilot program that will make Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing available for new construction in Connecticut. The C-PACE New Construction Pilot will provide property developers and owners with long-term, affordable and non-recourse financing to help them design and construct buildings that achieve a higher level of energy performance and reduced operating costs.
C-PACE New Construction can fill gaps in the capital stack needed for a new construction project, lower the overall cost of financing, or both. New commercial and industrial buildings designed and built to exceed what is required by Connecticut building and energy codes will be eligible to receive C-PACE financing for a portion of their overall eligible construction cost. C-PACE New Construction can be applied for a wide range of property types, including major redevelopment of existing and historic sites.
“Connecticut’s C-PACE program has already been very successful, providing more than 200 projects with $114 million in financing,” said David Gabrielson, Executive Director of PACENation, an industry group promoting Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing, “This New Construction Pilot expands C-PACE into an untapped market in the state by offering innovative financing to developers who can more affordably build to higher energy standards.”
When applying for C-PACE financing in the C-PACE New Construction Pilot, applicants will use whole building energy modeling to demonstrate that their project’s energy performance will exceed a code-compliant baseline. An eligible finance amount will be determined based on the performance beyond the baseline up to a maximum 20 percent of the total eligible construction cost.
“C-PACE for new construction opens many new opportunities in Connecticut,” said Mackey Dykes, Vice President of Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Programs at the Green Bank. “By expanding the reach of C-PACE beyond building retrofits, C-PACE New Construction provides another financing option for developers. Other lenders view C-PACE more like equity than debt, which can help developers with overall project financing. New buildings in Connecticut will serve our residents for 50 years or more, and we want to help get them right from the start.”
Financing through the C-PACE New Construction Pilot will be able to include costs directly related to the building’s design and construction, for example:
- Engineering and design expenses;
- Energy modeling expenses;
- Building core and shell;
- Energy consuming equipment and energy saving measures (HVAC, lighting, elevators, controls, windows, green or cool roofs, meters, etc.); and
- Clean energy generation.
Applicants seeking funding through the C-PACE New Construction Pilot should discuss and review their projects with the Green Bank before submitting a financing application. This engagement ahead of application submission will help ensure that projects meet the requirements of the C-PACE New Construction Pilot.
Connecticut Green Bank will be hosting a launch event for the C-PACE New Construction Pilot on Wednesday, June 20 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM at the Energize CT Center, 122 Universal Drive N, North Haven, CT. For more information and to register to attend the event, please visit ctgreenbank.com/event/c-pace-new-construction-launch-event/
Learn more about the Pilot at http://www.cpace.com/newconstruction.
Original article posted on https://www.ctgreenbank.com/cpace-new-construction-pilot-launched/