A financing concept for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that seems to be sweeping the nation has made its way to Massachusetts. A provision of a major bill now pending in the House Ways and Means Committee would enable Massachusetts municipalities to issue Property Assessed Clean Energy ("PACE") bonds to finance energy efficiency or renewable energy generation projects in commercial and residential properties. PACE bonds are typically issued by municipalities. The proceeds are lent to property owners to finance energy efficiency retrofits or the up-front costs of installing renewable energy systems. The projects are treated as "betterments", much like a sewer or septic system fees; the borrower repays the loan over time through annual assessments on their property tax bill.

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