The BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA) held a webinar on July 7th 2010 discussing a potentially very effective means to overcome financial burdens to implementing clean energy retrofits for homeowners. Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) bonds are a funding mechanism that allows homeowners to install energy efficiency and renewable energy retrofits without the need for big upfront payments. Cash for the energy upgrade is provided by a lender and repaid over time through the property taxes on the home. Unfortunately, all PACE programs in the US (there were many in operation, and many more under development) were recently shut down by the FHFA (Federal Housing Finance Agency) over concerns about payouts in mortgage default situations. In Canada, the city of Vancouver is beginning negotiations with the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to hopefully prevent an analogous situation in Canada. If it is successful Vancouver’s PACE program will serve as a model that can be used by many other municipalities in Canada. For more information about PACE programs visit BCSEA’s blog at http://www.bcsea.org/blog/peter-ronald/2010/06/29/upping-pace-for-going-green or view transcripts of the webinar at http://www.bcsea.org/get-involved/events/2010/07/07/pace-bonds-innovative-approach-to-energy-efficiency-financing