The state of Missouri is on the threshold of joining 19 other states in enacting a sensible plan to make clean energy affordable to homeowners, but only if it is administered in manner that makes it as sustainable as the renewable energy it advances. Every homeowner in the state wants to save on heating and cooling bills, but many have resisted adding insulation, replacing leaky windows or making other energy retrofits because it’s sometimes perceived as too costly. And more costly upgrades, like solar panels, may also be perceived as too costly since it’s doubtful anyone can stay in their home long enough to get a good return on the huge up front costs. However, that’s changing with the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) measure.

PACE awaits Missouri Governor Jay Nixon’s signature to become law and make Missouri the 20th state to enact this intelligent plan. It is a win for those who want to pay lower utility bills and for environmentalists who care about energy conservation, but its effectiveness is highly dependent on a skilled workforce needed to ensure the installations deliver the return on investment promised. Highly technical clean energy installations can ultimately pay for themselves in energy savings over the long run, but only if they are installed and maintained correctly to optimize efficiency.

PACE not only makes energy efficiency upgrades feasible from a cost standpoint, but creates much needed jobs for our highly skilled union construction workforce. It allows residents and business owners to finance the high up front costs of certain energy retrofits and clean energy installations, such as solar panels, by repaying the cost in their property taxes over a manageable 20-year term. Property owners are only eligible for PACE loans if their projected annual savings exceed the additional assessment on their property. When the business or residence is sold, the property tax assessment would be transferred to the new owner.

The partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local One and the St. Louis Chapter of National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) has consistently embraced the need to keep pace with construction technology. Through our Electrical Connection labor-management organization, we invest $30 million annually in training. Most recently we have developed a new curriculum that consolidates 70 courses in green training at the Electrical Industry Training Center in St. Louis. This type of investment is essential to cultivate the nascent renewable energy industry by delivering the highest quality installations.

PACE will only succeed only if the consumer can rely on quality installations. Hence, we strongly support oversight by county energy boards to not only develop the funding mechanism for the PACE program, but to provide quality assurance standards for installations to benefit homeowners and businesses. Only then can the benefits of clean energy provide the enduring value intended by the PACE program. We strongly urge skilled union craft workers to call or write the governor urging him to not only sign the bill, but put proper oversight in place in the form of clean energy boards to ensure its success.