Section 53-F:3 - Authority To achieve the public benefits of protecting the economic and social well-being by reducing energy costs in the community and risks to the community associated with future escalation in energy prices, and addressing the threat of global climate change, any municipality which has adopted the provisions of this chapter and established an energy efficiency and clean energy district may, upon a finding by the governing body of the municipality, after notice and hearing, that the energy conservation and efficiency and clean energy improvements will serve the public purposes as set forth in this chapter and not primarily be for the benefit of private persons or uses even though such private benefits and uses may incidentally result, do the following:
I. A municipality which adopts this chapter shall thereafter be authorized to establish one or more energy efficiency and clean energy districts.II. Encourage private financing from individuals or institutions for qualifying improvements to eligible properties within the district and enter into agreements with those private lenders to administer the energy conservation and efficiency improvements or clean energy improvements program on their behalf, including evaluating eligible properties, supervising the improvements, arranging for the closing of the loans, collecting the special assessments, and assisting them with the exercise of their lienholder rights, provided that anticipated expenses for the administration of the program shall be borne by the owners of eligible properties participating in the program.III. Participate in state or federal programs providing support for municipal energy efficiency and clean energy finance programs such as those authorized by this chapter.IV. Enter into agreements with owners of eligible property in which the owners consent to make energy conservation and efficiency improvements or clean energy improvements to their properties and to have the municipality include a special assessment to pay for such improvements on their property tax bills, their bills for water or sewer service or another municipal service, or separate bills, provided that such agreements shall not affect the tax liability or municipal services charges of other participating or nonparticipating property owners in the district.V. Collect charges from participating owners of eligible properties to cover the cost of administration for the district.VI. Otherwise administer a program for promoting and financing energy efficiency and clean energy improvements within a district in accordance with this chapter, enter into an agreement with a public or private entity to administer such a program on its behalf in accordance with this chapter, and enter into an agreement with one or more other municipalities to share services and otherwise cooperate in the administration of a district or districts in accordance with this chapter.VII. Adoption of a clean energy efficiency and clean energy district shall include a commercial property assessed clean energy (C-PACE) model implemented according to the most recent U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released best practice guidelines for PACE financing programs.Amended by 2023, 91:1, eff. 8/19/2023.Amended by 2015 , 121: 2, eff. 6/8/2015.Amended by 2014 , 294: 2, eff. 9/30/2014.Amended by 2011 , 68: 2, eff. 7/15/2011. 2010, 215 : 2 . 2011, 68 : 2 , eff. July 15, 2011. 2014, 294 : 2 , eff. Sept. 30, 2014. 2015, 121 : 2 , eff. June 8, 2015.