IRVINE, CA—Twenty six cities and five counties acrossCalifornia launched the HERO PropertyAssessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program this week. HERO PACEfinancing enables homeowners to make energy- and water-efficiencyimprovements and pay for them over time through their property taxbill. Interest may be tax-deductible, and homeowners may seeimmediate savings on utility bills.

The HERO Program launched this week in the cities ofArcata, Camarillo, Chowchilla, Chula Vista, Fairfax,Firebaugh, Fowler, Hayward, Huron, Larkspur, Madera, Millbrae,Mission Viejo, Mountain View, Novato, Oakland, Patterson, RohnertPark, Salinas, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Santa Cruz, Seaside,Tiburon, Trinidad and Union City, as wellas the unincorporated areas of Del Norte, El Dorado,Humboldt, Marin and Tehama Counties.Residents of these municipalities may now submit applications forHERO financing.

HERO has helped fund residential efficiency projects in almost47,000 households in California, totaling morethan $1.08 billion in financing. By stimulating home renovationactivity, the HERO Program increases demand for local contractorservices. HERO is estimated to have spurred the creation of morethan 9,100 jobs in California since beginning in December 2011.Cities and counties benefit through economic stimulus and local jobgrowth while helping their communities reach state-imposed waterand energy savings goals.