Currently, residential PACE programs are implemented in California, Florida and Missouri. Maine offers residential programs without holding a lien against properties.

The state of Florida allows for localities to offer loans which are paid for through a property tax increase to your local government. Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loans can finance not just solar systems, but most energy efficiency upgrades as well. The benefit of PACE is that you can start saving money on your utility bills on day one, and if you choose to move to a new home, you can pass the remaining balance on the loan to the next property owner.

The new owner can elect to keep paying the loan or have the equipment removed, although it’d be unwise to do so as the savings from solar would far outweigh the loan payments.

You should check with your local county, but here are the counties in Florida that currently offer PACE financing:

• Alachua County

• Brevard County

• Broward County

• Charlotte County

• Citrus County

• Clay County

• Collier County

• Escambia County

• Flagler County

• Gadsden County

• Gulf County

• Hillsborough County

• Hernando County

• Holmes County

• Jackson County

• Jefferson County

• Lee County

• Levy County

• Manatee County

• Marion County

• Miami-Dade County

• Monroe County

• Nassau County

• Osceola County

• Orange County

• Palm Beach County

• Pasco County

• Seminole County

• Suwannee County

• Volusia County

• Walton County