Earlier this week, the Federal Housing Finance Agency issued a letter imposing new restrictions on homeowners’ ability to take advantage of Property Assessed Clean Energy legislation (“PACE”), immediately causing a stir among the building and energy communities. PACE legislation allows homeowners to repay the cost of installing solar panels and other energy improvements through an annual surcharge on their property taxes. Approximately 20 states, including Georgia, have passed PACE enabling legislation, and a 24-month trial for nationwide PACE programs (supported by Department of Energy stimulus funds) was set to begin this month. In its July 6, 2010 letter, the Federal Housing Finance Agency… Read more