West Virginia-2021-HB2225-Introduced

As used in this article:

(1) “District” means a district created under a local energy efficiency partnership program by a local unit of government that lies within the local unit of government’s jurisdictional boundaries. A local unit of government may create more than one district under the program, and districts may be separate, overlapping or coterminous.

(2) “Energy efficiency improvement” means equipment, devices or materials intended to reduce the consumption of energy while maintaining or improving the existing level of functionality, including;

(A) Insulation in walls, roofs, floors, foundations or heating and cooling distribution systems;

(B) Storm windows and doors; multi glazed windows and doors; heat-absorbing or heat-reflective glazed and coated window and door systems; and additional glazing, reductions in glass area, and other window and door system modifications that reduce energy consumption;

(D) Heating, ventilating or air conditioning and distribution system modifications or replacements;

(E) Caulking, weather stripping, and air sealing;

(F) Replacement or modification of lighting fixtures to reduce the energy use of the lighting system;

(G) Energy recovery systems;

(H) Daylighting systems;

(l) Installation or upgrade of electrical wiring or outlets to charge a motor vehicle that is fully or partially powered by electricity;

(J) Measures to reduce the usage of water or increases the efficiency of water usage;

(K) Any other installation or modification of equipment, devices or materials approved as a utility cost-savings measure by the governing body, excluding any and all energy-generating equipment.

(3) “Energy project” means the installation or modification of an energy efficiency improvement.

(4) “Governing body” means the county commission of a county, or the council or other similar elected legislative body of a municipality.

(5) “Local unit of government” means a county or municipality.

(6) “Person” means an individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, unincorporated joint venture or trust, organized, permitted or existing under the laws of this state or any other state, including a federal corporation, or a combination thereof. However, “person” does not include a local unit of government.

(7) “Property” means privately-owned commercial or industrial real property located within the local unit of government.

(8) “Local energy efficiency partnership program” or “program” means a program as described in §5B-2K-3 of this code.

(9) “Record owner” means the person or persons possessed of the most recent fee title or land contract vendee’s interest in property as shown by the records of the clerk of the county commission.

§5B-2K-3. Establishment of local energy efficiency partnership program.

(a) Pursuant to the procedures set forth in this section, a local unit of government may establish a local energy efficiency partnership program and may, from time to time, create a district or districts under the program.

(b) Under a program, the local unit of government may enter into a contract with the record owner of property within a district to finance or refinance one or more energy projects on the property. The contract may provide for the repayment of the cost of an energy project that is determined to be cost-effective through assessments upon the property benefitted. The financing or refinancing may include the cost of materials and labor necessary for installation, permit fees, inspection fees, application and administrative fees, bank fees, and all other fees that may be incurred by the record owner pursuant to the installation on a specific or pro rata basis, as determined by the local unit of government.

(c) To establish a local energy efficiency partnership program, the governing body of a local unit of government must take the following actions in the following order:

(1) Adopt a resolution of intent that includes all the following:

(A) A finding that the financing of energy projects is a valid public purpose;

(B) A statement of intent to provide funds for energy projects that are determined to be cost-effective, which may be repaid by assessments on the property benefitted, with the agreement of the record owners;

(D) The types of energy projects that may be financed;

(E) Reference to a report on the proposed program as described in §5B-2K-4 of this code, and a location where the report is available pursuant to the section; and

(F) The time and place for a public hearing on the proposed program.

(2) Hold a public hearing at which the public may comment on the proposed program, including the report required by §5B-2K-4 of this code.

(3) Adopt a resolution establishing the program and setting forth its terms and conditions, including all the following:

(A) Matters required by §5B-2K-4 of this code to be included in the report; for this purpose, the resolution may incorporate the report or an amended version thereof by reference; and

(B) A description of which aspects of the program may be amended without a new public hearing and which aspects may be amended only after a new public hearing is held.

(d) A local energy efficiency partnership program may be amended by resolution of the governing body. Adoption of the resolution shall be preceded by a public hearing if required pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection.

§5B-2K-4. Report requirements on proposed local energy efficiency partnership program.

(a) The report on the proposed program required under §5B-2K-3 of this code shall include all the following:

(1) A form of contract between the local unit of government and record owner governing the terms and conditions of financing and assessment under the program;

(2) Identification of an official authorized to enter into a program contract on behalf of the local unit of government;

(3) A maximum aggregate annual dollar amount for all financing to be provided by the local unit of government under the program;

(4) An application process and eligibility requirements for financing energy projects under the program;

(5) A method for determining interest rates on assessment installments, repayment periods, and the maximum amount of an assessment;

(6) Explanation of how assessments will be made and collected consistent with §5B-2K-5 of this code;

(7) A plan for raising capital to finance improvements under the program. The plan may include any of the following:

(A) The sale of bonds or notes, subject to appropriate laws and rules;

(B) Amounts to be advanced by the local unit of government through funds available to it from any other source; or

(C) Owner-arranged financing from a commercial lender; under owner-arranged financing, the local unit of government may impose an assessment pursuant to §5B-2K-5 of this code and forward payments to the commercial lender or the record owner may pay the commercial lender directly.

(8) Information regarding all of the following, to the extent known, or procedures to determine the following in the future:

(A) Any reserve fund or funds to be used as security for bonds or notes described in subdivision (7) of this subsection;

(B) Any application, administration or other program fees to be charged to record owners participating in the program that will be used to finance costs incurred by the local unit of government as a result of the program;

(9) A requirement that the term of an assessment not exceed the useful life of the energy project paid for by the assessment;

(10) A requirement for an appropriate ratio of the amount of the assessment to the assessed value of the property;

(11) A requirement that the record owner of property subject to a mortgage or deed of trust obtain written consent from the mortgage or deed of trust holder before participating in the program;

(12) Provisions for marketing and participant education;

(13) Provisions for adequate debt service reserve fund;

(14) Quality assurance and antifraud measures;

(15) A requirement that a baseline energy audit or analysis be conducted before an energy project is undertaken, to establish future energy savings and cost-effectiveness of the project. After the energy project is completed, the local unit of government shall obtain verification that the energy efficiency improvement was properly installed and is operating as intended; and

(16) For an energy project financed with more than $250,000 in assessments, both of the following:

(A) A requirement for ongoing measurements that establish the savings realized by the record owner from the energy project; and

(B) A requirement that, in the contract for installation of the energy project, the contractor guarantee to the record owner that the energy project will achieve a savings-to-investment ratio greater than one and agree to pay the record owner, on an annual basis, any shortfall in savings below this level.

(b) The local unit of government shall make the report available for review on the local unit of government’s website or at the office of the clerk or the official authorized to enter contracts on behalf of the local unit of government under the local energy efficiency partnership program.

(c) If an energy efficiency project is implemented under this act, it must contact the local electric distribution utility and take advantage of any utility-sponsored initiatives, programs, incentives or rebates that may be available for the project, and any energy savings realized by the project are to be counted toward any energy efficiency commitments the utility may have.

(d) The local unit of government shall submit a quarterly report to the appropriate electric distribution utility that includes, but is not limited to, both of the following:

(1) The total number and a description of each new and ongoing energy project located within the district that produces energy savings;

(2) Any additional information available to the municipality that the electric distribution utility needs in order to evaluate, measure, and verify energy savings from such projects.

§5B-2K-5. Assessment imposed under a local energy efficiency partnership program.

(a) A local unit of government may impose an assessment under a local energy efficiency partnership program only pursuant to a written contract with the record owner of the property to be assessed.

(b) Before entering into a contract with a record owner under a program, the local unit of government shall verify all of the following:

(1) That there are no delinquent taxes, special assessments or water or sewer charges on the property;

(2) That there are no delinquent assessments on the property under a local energy efficiency partnership program;

(3) That there are no delinquent payments on loans secured by a mortgage or deed of trust lien on the property;

(4) That the property owner is not insolvent or in bankruptcy proceedings; and

(5) That the title of the benefitted property is not in dispute.

(c) An assessment imposed under a local energy efficiency partnership program, including any interest on the assessment and any penalty, is a lien against the property on which the assessment is imposed until the assessment, including any interest or penalty, is paid in full. The lien runs with the property and has the same priority and status as other property tax and assessment liens. The local unit of government has all rights in the case of delinquency in the payment of an assessment as it does with respect to delinquent property taxes. When the assessment, including any interest and penalty, is paid, the lien shall be removed from the property.

(d) Notwithstanding subsection (c) of this section, the assessment has priority over any previously recorded mortgage or deed of trust lien only if a written subordination agreement, in a form and substance acceptable to each prior lienholder in its sole and exclusive discretion, is executed by the holder of each mortgage or deed of trust lien on the property and recorded with the assessment in the land records where the property is located.

(e) Installments of assessments due under a program shall be included in each property tax bill and shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as property taxes collected according to §11A-1-1 et seq. of this code. Alternatively, installments may be billed and collected as provided in a special assessment ordinance of general applicability adopted by the local unit of government pursuant to state law or local charter.

§5B-2K-6. Issuance of bonds.

(a) A local unit of government may issue bonds or notes to finance energy projects under a local energy efficiency partnership program.

(b) Bonds or notes issued under subsection (a) of this section may not be general obligations of the local unit of government, but shall be secured by one or more of the following as provided by the governing body in the resolution or ordinance approving the bonds or notes:

(1) Payments of assessments on benefitted property within the district or districts specified;

(2) Reserves established by the local unit of government from grants, bond or note proceeds, or other lawfully available funds;

(3) Municipal bond insurance, lines or letters of credit, public or private guaranties, standby bond purchase agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, and any other available means of providing credit support or liquidity;

(4) Tax increment revenues that may be lawfully available for such purposes; or

(5) Any other amounts lawfully available for such purposes.

(c) A pledge of assessments, funds or contractual rights made by a governing body in connection with the issuance of bonds or notes by a local unit of government under this article constitutes a statutory lien on the assessments, funds or contractual rights so pledged in favor of the person or persons to whom the pledge is given, without further action by the governing body. The statutory lien is valid and binding against all other persons, with or without notice.

(d) Bonds or notes of one series issued under this article may be secured on a party with bonds or notes of another series issued by the local unit of government pursuant to the terms of a master indenture or master resolution entered into or adopted by the governing body of the local unit of government.

(e) Bonds or notes issued under this article, and interest payable on such bonds and notes, are exempt from all taxation by this state and its political subdivisions.

(f) Bonds or notes issued under this article further essential public and governmental purposes, including, but not limited to, reduced energy costs, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, economic stimulation and development, improved property valuation, and increased employment.

§5B-2K-7. Joint implementation of programs.

(a) A local unit of government may join with any other local unit of government, or with any person, or with any number or combination thereof, by contract or otherwise as may be permitted by law, for the implementation of a local energy efficiency partnership program, in whole or in part.

(b) If a local energy efficiency partnership program is implemented jointly by two or more local units of government pursuant subsection (a) of this section, a single public hearing held jointly by the cooperating local units of government is sufficient to satisfy the requirements in §5B-2K-3(c)(2) of this code.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to authorize certain local units of government to adopt local energy efficiency partnership programs and to create districts to promote the use of energy efficiency improvements by owners of certain real property; to provide for the financing of such programs through voluntary property assessments, commercial lending, and other means; to authorize a local unit of government to issue bonds, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness and to pay the cost of energy efficiency improvements from the proceeds thereof; to provide for the repayment of bonds, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness; to authorize certain fees; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain governmental officers and entities; and to provide remedies.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.