Civics in Action: C-PACE

As you may know, part of TLEHL’s triple bottom line mission involves keeping an eye our environmental impact.

To this end, TLEHL is proud to have played a role in the implementation of a program called C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy) in our hometown of Montclair. C-PACE is a state-level program in many states which began here in New Jersey in 2024.

Garden State C-PACE

According to the NJ EDA (Economic Development Authority), C-PACE is a

voluntary financing tool which allows qualifying commercial real property owners to access financing to undertake qualifying energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, and resiliency improvements on their buildings and repay the investment through an additional charge/assessment similar to their real property tax bill.

Just the kind of exciting language you’d expect on this kind of company’s website, right? But, there’s one catch with this program, one that should be familiar to all fellow New Jersey cannabis entrepreneurs: a municipal opt-in requirement.

So, back in June 2025, TLEHL’s CEO made a visit to the Town Hall in Montclair to pitch the program after learning about it from commercial real estate expert Tyler Psenicska. The line of thinking goes as follows: Garden State C-PACE will be an economic development tool for municipalities. Energy upgrades create a more competitive environment for retaining and attracting new businesses by lowering energy costs. Energy upgrades help to reduce greenhouse gases and other pollutants, create construction jobs, and may also create permanent jobs depending on the nature of the particular projects. Resiliency measures help protect property owners from the damaging consequences of disastrous weather events as climate change causes such events to occur with increasing frequency and severity. Last but not least, it is in line with Montclair‘s 2024 Climate Action Plan. Here he is making this case to the Council:

Subsequently, due to the efforts of the township’s Mayor, Council, and staff including the departments of Economic Development and Planning and Community Development, Montclair has now opted in to C-PACE. The Council can be seen approving the opt-in ordinance at an August meeting here:

This will be a boon for sustainable commercial property development in Montclair for years to come. With no funding outlay, this will help Montclair reduce greenhouse gases, support resiliency measures that could be of critical importance to local businesses, and enhance the tax base due to property improvements and new construction projects, and we want to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved.

What is the status of C-PACE in your municipality? If it’s not already approved, this could be you next…