Peach State C-PACE connects commercial property owners with long-term, fixed-rate financing for energy efficiency upgrades, building improvements, renewable energy, and water conservation — repaid through a voluntary property tax assessment alongside existing property taxes.
Operating under Georgia's C-PACE enabling statutes
Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) is a financing mechanism that allows commercial, industrial, and multifamily property owners to fund qualifying energy efficiency, resilience, and water conservation improvements through a voluntary assessment on their property — repaid over time alongside property taxes.
All financing comes from private lenders. No public funds are at risk — local governments simply enable and administer the program.
Repayment is structured as a special assessment on the property, providing lenders with a senior security interest that travels with the land.
Eligible improvements span energy efficiency, renewable energy, building electrification, water conservation, and resilience upgrades across hundreds of qualifying improvement types.
Peach State C-PACE operates under county-level enabling legislation. Each participating jurisdiction adopts its own C-PACE program through Peach State C-PACE as administrator.
| Typical Traditional Loan | Standard C-PACE Financing |
|---|---|
| Closing costs and down payment due up front | Closing costs included in total financing and paid off through annual assessment payments |
| First loan payment due within a few weeks of closing | First assessment payment not due for 3–24 months |
| Fixed rate for only a certain period of the loan term | Fixed rate for up to 30 years |
| Must be paid off if owner sells the property | Assessment transfers to new owner upon sale |
| Multiple years until positive cash flow is achieved | Creates immediate positive cash flow |
| Funding availability based on business credit | Funding availability based on net benefits of project |
| Increases debt on the balance sheet, which may negatively impact future borrowing | Does not increase debt on the balance sheet, which may positively impact future borrowing |
There may be other types of financing available to property owners for eligible improvements. Property owners should obtain professional financial assistance in selecting the option most appropriate for their situation.
A county or municipality passes C-PACE enabling legislation and partners with Peach State C-PACE as the program administrator.
A commercial property owner identifies qualifying energy, water, or resilience improvements and commissions an energy audit or feasibility study.
An approved C-PACE lender underwrites and funds the project. Mortgage lender consent is obtained if there is an existing mortgage.
Peach State C-PACE records a C-PACE assessment against the property. The assessment appears on the property tax bill as a special line item.
The property owner repays the lender via annual tax assessments over the agreed term. If the property sells, the assessment transfers to the new owner.
Peach State C-PACE supports hundreds of qualifying improvements for commercial, industrial, nonprofit, and multifamily properties across Georgia — helping owners reduce operating costs and improve building performance.
HVAC systems, building envelope upgrades, LED lighting retrofits, building automation systems, cool roofs, and insulation that reduce a property's energy consumption.
Rooftop and ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems, solar thermal, and other on-site renewable generation that reduce reliance on grid electricity.
Conversion from fossil fuel systems to electric alternatives, including heat pumps, electric water heaters, induction cooking, and electric boilers.
Low-flow fixtures, greywater recycling, rainwater harvesting, smart irrigation systems, and other improvements that reduce potable water consumption.
Flood mitigation, hurricane-resistant windows and doors, backup power systems, stormwater management, and green infrastructure improvements.
Electric vehicle charging stations and supporting electrical infrastructure for commercial and multifamily properties, enabling tenant and visitor electrification.
C-PACE financing is available in jurisdictions that have enacted enabling legislation. Additional counties are actively exploring participation.
Peach State C-PACE offers institutional and community lenders a compelling, lower-risk asset class backed by a property tax assessment — one of the most secure forms of collateral available in commercial real estate finance.
Opting into Peach State C-PACE is a low-cost, high-impact economic development tool that attracts private investment, supports local businesses, and advances community sustainability goals.
Whether you are a private lender, county official, or exploring project eligibility — we want to hear from you. Peach State C-PACE will follow up shortly.