Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy & Resiliency (C-PACER)

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Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy & Resiliency (C-PACER) Program: A financing tool for more efficient, resilient commercial and multi-family properties.

What is C-PACER?

Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy and Resiliency (C-PACER) Program is an innovative financing mechanism to help commercial, industrial, agricultural and multi-family buildings become more efficient and resilient.


C-PACER does not use any government funds, it is a loan agreement between a private lender and the property owner, like a mortgage or home improvement loan. The unique part about C-PACER financing is that the county records the loan as a lien on the property, which means that if the property owner sells the building, the assessment stays with the building (unless the payoff is part of the sale agreement).

Benefits of C-PACER

  • Save money by lowering utility bills and energy costs
  • Reduce your building's footprint by lowering greenhouse emissions
  • Longer loan-payback terms can make C-PACER-funded improvements cash-positive sooner than traditional loans
  • C-PACER loans rarely require cash up front, making them more accessible
  • Lower interest rates make C-PACER loans more affordable
  • Creates local jobs through the funding of new efficiency and resiliency projects
CPACER Flow Chart

Examples of Qualified Improvements

  • Improvements to eliminate the use of fossil fuels
  • Electric vehicle charging infrastructure 
  • Renewable energy improvement such as smart meters
  • Improvements to conserve water
  • Seismic retrofits
  • Flood mitigation improvements
  • Stormwater management improvements
  • Fire detection and suppression
  • Wildfire and wind resistance
  • Energy storage

Eligible Properties

The Snohomish County C-PACER Program is available for all eligible properties within incorporated and unincorporated Snohomish County. Qualified projects must be located within the jurisdiction of Snohomish County. Eligible properties include privately-owned commercial, industrial or agricultural real property or multifamily residential real property with five or more dwelling units.


Fees

At the time of closing, an application fee of $3,400 is due to Snohomish County. This covers the cost of program implementation and operation, plus the Auditor’s Office fee for recording the Closing Documents on the property title.