RESOLUTION NO. _____________

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO SEND LETTERS TO STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE DELEGATIONS AND THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION IN SUPPORT OF BOTH PROPERTY ASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY FINANCING AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVE FINANCING OPTIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL ENERGY UPGRADES

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RESOLVED, by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, that

WHEREAS, San Mateo County is participating in two regional pilot projects, Retrofit Bay Area and CaliforniaFIRST, to encourage homeowners to retrofit their homes for energy efficiency; and

WHEREAS, Over the past year, the Federal Housing Finance Agency has conducted an evaluation of Property Assessed Clean Energy financing, a tool for financing energy efficiency retrofits identified for adoption by Energy Upgrade San Mateo County and already in use nationwide; and

WHEREAS, On July 6, 2010 the Federal Housing Finance Agency issued a statement finding that senior Property Assessed Clean Energy liens are in violation of their standard mortgage contracts, thereby halting the development of Property Assessed Clean Energy financing districts nationwide; and

WHEREAS, In response to the Federal Housing Finance Agency finding, House Resolution 5766, the PACE Assessment Protection Act of 2010, has been introduced in Congress to overturn the Federal Housing Finance Agency findings; and

WHEREAS, The California Energy Commission is set to deliberate cancelation or amendment of Program Opportunity Notice (PON) 400-09-401 for Municipal Financing Programs; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of the valuable role that financing can play in supporting the energy retrofit market in San Mateo County, the Environmental Quality Committee has recommended supporting both the federal legislative process and the allowance of alternate financing mechanisms at the state level.

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY DETERMINED AND ORDERED that the President of the Board is hereby authorized and directed to send letters to state and federal legislative delegations and the California Energy Commission in support of both property assessed clean energy financing and the development of alternative financing options for residential energy upgrades.

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