HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 119

(By Delegates Fleischauer, Marshall, Lawrence,

      Pasdon, Barker, Manypenny, Perdue, Skinner, Guthrie,

         Sponaugle, Skaff, Wells, Householder and Cowles)

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study the authorization of cities and municipalities to provide a private-public financing option for small businesses and commercial property owners in West Virginia to improve energy efficiency and reduce business costs and examine solutions to barriers in energy efficiency upgrades.

    Whereas, In a survey of building owners and facility managers conducted in June, 2013 for an industry report, nearly half of respondents said that the up-front costs of energy efficiency upgrades and lack of resources were the biggest obstacles to energy retrofits; and

    Whereas, Energy retrofit projects may include building shell improvements, such as insulation, roofing, walls and windows, as well as upgrades in lighting, commercial food service equipment, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, office equipment, appliances and refrigeration; and

    Whereas, Investing in energy efficiency improvements benefits small businesses by lowering utility costs and improving the overall quality and value of buildings; and

    Whereas, Investing in energy efficiency creates permanent private sector jobs for professionals and construction workers in West Virginia where many West Virginia buildings are in need of upgrades and repair; and

    Whereas, There are few financing options available that provide an attractive interest rate and favorable repayment terms; and

    Whereas, Local Energy and Efficiency Partnerships (LEEP) is a voluntary financing option by which states, cities and municipalities can assist small businesses and property owners to finance energy retrofits on buildings through private investment or by issuing municipal bonds that are repaid by property owners through a special assessment to their property taxes for up to twenty years; and

    Whereas, LEEP financing requires statewide enabling legislation to allow local governments to establish a LEEP special assessment district; and

    Whereas, LEEP financing is tax neutral with no exposure to the General Revenue Fund; and

    Whereas, LEEP (sometimes referred to as Property-Assessed Clean Energy or PACE) legislation has been successfully codified in thirty-one states and the District of Columbia; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is requested to study the authorization of cities and municipalities to provide a private-public financing option for small businesses and commercial property owners in West Virginia to improve energy efficiency and reduce business costs and examine solutions to barriers in energy efficiency upgrades; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance submit its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations, to the Legislature no later than the first day of the 2015 Regular Legislative Session; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.