Congresswoman Matsui Urges California Energy Commission to Support PACE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 28, 2010

CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163

Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) followed up the letter she sent last week to President Barack Obama urging him to use all of the avenues available to him to reinstate the Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, with a letter to the California Energy Commission urging them to express their support for PACE. The PACE program has proved to be a successful resource for homeowners and for municipalities that want to reduce their energy consumption.

Last week's letter to President Obama asked that the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), who recently announced that they would no longer allow responsible homeowners to use the PACE program, revise their guidelines to allow PACE financing to continue. Congresswoman Matsui's letter to California Energy Commission Chair Karen Douglas, which was received early this morning, asked that the Commission express their continued support for the PACE program. The letter also asked that the Commission preserve the PACE program on the State, so that, when FHFA reinstates the program at the national level, California will be able to reinstate their programs immediately. Additionally, the letter requests the Commission to strongly urge FHFA to reverse their stance and reinstate the PACE program in a timely manner .

In her letter to Chair Douglas, Congresswoman Matsui wrote, As our nation, and for that matter, our State, strives to be the leader in the global clean energy economy, the PACE programs have proven to be an effective way to get Americans back to work. At a time when the State's unemployment rate is over 12 percent, and the construction industry's unemployment rate is over 25 percent, the actions by FHFA will have a severe impact on our economy, our local communities, and our efforts to move to a clean energy economy and establish energy independence.

After receiving Congresswoman Matsui's letter, the Commission took immediate action to show support for the PACE program. The California Energy Commission Chair Karen Douglas publicly read Congresswoman Matsui's letter at the Commission's meeting held today on the PACE program. The Department of Energy also responded to Rep. Matsui's request, and reiterated the Administration's endorsement of the PACE program through a letter to the Commission also sent ahead of the Commission's meeting.

Congresswoman Matsui applauded the Administration for continuing to show support for this vital program, saying I will continue to work with the Administration in the coming days and weeks to make sure PACE is fully restored.

To see the letter that Congresswoman Matsui sent to California Energy Commission Chair Douglas, please CLICK HERE .