For Immediate Release:

Contact: Guillermo Meneses/ICLEI USA.

(202)-445-1570 guillermo.meneses@iclei.org

ICLEI USA Commends President Obama’s Decision to Install Solar Panels Atop the White House – Renews Call to Restore Funding of Clean Energy PACE Programs in 22 States and District of Columbi

PACE Programs Create Viable, Non-Exportable Jobs and Help Local Economies

Congress and the Administration Must Act Now to Restore PACE Funding

Washington, D.C. [Oct. 05, 2010] – The White House today announced a decision to install solar panels atop the White House’s living quarters. ICLEI USA Board of Directors President, Mayor Patrick Hays (North Little Rock, AR) and Executive Director Martin Chávez issued the following statement:

“We welcome the President’s decision to embrace solar energy by installing PV panels atop the White House – as so many local elected officials have been doing for years on their government buildings,” said Martin Chávez, ICLEI USA Executive Director and three-term mayor of Albuquerque, NM. “The President’s decision to go solar also serves as an opportunity to renew our call to Congress and the Administration for the full restoration of local government Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs, which were effectively killed this spring by the regulatory overreach of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).”

“As mayors and county executives continue to battle persistently high unemployment, a fragile economy and the impact that climate change is having on our communities, Congress and the President must help local communities by allowing them to continue their PACE programs,” said Mayor Hays. “The time to act on PACE is now.”

About PACE Programs:

Until recently, PACE programs had been one of the most innovative tools in the nation forempowering homeowners to become more energy efficient and generate clean energy in their homes.  Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia have already enacted PACE-enabling legislation, in which local governments fund energy upgrades through an assessment that is paid back via a homeowner’s annual property tax bills and offset by reduced energy costs. Similar assessment mechanisms are used by local governments and municipalities to fund sewers, sidewalks, schools and other public projects.  More information on PACE at:www.pacenow.org

About ICLEI USA ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA has launched a nationwide effort calling on its 600 plus members across the country to contact the President and the Congress and urge the restoration of PACE funding. Some of the states that are currently engaged in PACE  include, AZ, MD, OR, CA, NV, TX, CO, NM, VT, FL, NY, VA, HI, NC, WI, IL, OH, LA, OK, among others.  More information at:www.icleiusa.org