Close to 300,000 additional homes across Missouri now have access to the HERO Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program, which enables homeowners to make energy improvements and pay for them over time through their property tax bills. HERO financing payments may have tax benefits, and many homeowners see immediate savings on energy bills by investing in efficiency or renewable energy upgrades.
Since the innovative program first launched in Missouri in September, it has already financed over $2 million in energy and efficiency improvements across more than 150 Missouri homes. With this announcement, HERO financing is now also available to homeowners in:
- the entirety of Greene County, the fourth most-populous county in Missouri, including the city of Springfield;
- the cities of Cottleville, Dardenne Prairie, O’Fallon, St. Charles, St. Peters and Wentzville in St. Charles County, as well as residents of unincorporated areas of St. Charles County;
- the cities of Bellefontaine Neighbors, Creve Coeur, Florissant, Kirkwood and St. Ann in St. Louis County;
- the cities of Nixa and Ozark in Christian County.
HERO (Home Energy Renovation Opportunity) is the largest residential PACE program in the United States and has already helped tens of thousands of homeowners lower energy bills by replacing HVAC systems, upgrading windows and doors, adding insulation, going solar and more. Moreover, by stimulating home renovation activity, the HERO Program increases demand for contractor services, creates clean-energy jobs and stimulates local economic growth.
HERO is available to communities that join the Missouri Clean Energy District (MCED). “Our main goal with this effort is to increase access to residential energy efficiency and renewable energy,” said David Pickerill, executive director of MCED. “HERO is a great tool to help homeowners install energy solutions that can lower utility bills and make people’s homes more comfortable.”
The HERO Program is run by Renovate America and MCED, which work in close partnership with cities and counties. Because of the nature of the public-private partnership, HERO financing includes additional requirements to protect consumers not found in other payment options like credit cards or home equity loans.
Homeowners interested in applying for HERO financing should visit www.heroprogram.com. Contractors interested in offering HERO financing can register at https://register.renovateamerica.com/.
News item from Renovate America