From Pioneer to Proven: Travis County’s PACE Program Celebrates 10 Years of Statewide Impact
Ten years ago, a historic shift occurred in the Texas energy landscape—not in a lab or an oil field, but in the Travis County Commissioners Court. On March 25, 2015, Travis County established the first Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program in the state.
Today, that "pioneer model" has transformed from a local experiment into a statewide standard for sustainability and economic resilience. To commemorate this outcome, the Travis County Commissioners Court adopted a Proclamation Celebrating the 10th Anniversaries of the Travis County PACE Program and Texas PACE Authority on December 16, 2025.
The proclamation, sponsored by Commissioner Brigid Shea, Pct 2, stated, “Through leadership, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to excellence, the Travis County PACE Program and the Texas PACE Authority have set the statewide standard for best practices in energy and water efficiency financing, inspiring 109 other local governments across Texas to establish their own programs—together driving more than 100 projects and over $600 million in energy and water saving investment statewide.”
A Decade of Proven Results
Since Travis County launched the first program in 2015, the impact has scaled across the Lone Star State:
“This is one of those structural changes that flies below the radar, and I hope that we will be able to tell the story more widely so that more businesses can take advantage of it because it is a really creative program that does save money for the business side, reduces our use of unnecessary use of water and energy and the taxpayers aren’t footing the bill for it.” Commissioner Brigid Shea, Pct 2
“None of this growth and progress would have been possible without the leadership of this Court and your Tax Office. The statewide success of this program started here and I will be forever grateful,” said Charlene Heydinger, president of the board, Texas PACE Authority (TPA).
Former Travis County Tax Assessor/Collector Bruce Elfant, who led the effort for program adoption noted, “We certainly want to encourage our local business community to take a look at PACE because they can lower their costs for energy and water costs, and we should all to do that. Proud to be here; thank you all for your support; it’s been a great 10 years.”
The "Texas Model" of Efficiency
The beauty of the PACE program lies in its market-driven approach. It allows commercial, industrial, and multifamily property owners to fund 100% of energy and water efficiency upgrades through private financing. The "Texas PACE" model is unique because it requires:
- No Taxpayer Funding: Projects are funded by private capital.
- Neutrality: It is a voluntary program that strengthens the "built environment" without new mandates.
- Expert Administration: Collaborative oversight by the nonprofit Texas PACE Authority (TPA) and the local government.
By the Numbers: A Decade of Growth
The environmental and economic data from the Travis County proclamation tells a compelling story of what happens when policy meets pragmatism.
| Metric | 10-Year Travis County Impact |
|---|---|
| Clean Energy Jobs | 211 Created |
| Electricity Saved | 3.2 Million kWh annually |
| Water Saved | 3.2 Million Gallons annually |
| Emissions Reduced | 1,825 Tons of $CO2 avoided |
| Private Investment | $480 Million+ targeted for future projects |
A Blueprint for more than 100 Local Governments
Perhaps the most significant legacy of the Travis County program is its scalability. What began in Austin has inspired 109 other local governments across Texas to adopt their own programs.
- 110 Local Governments have established model TX-PACE programs.
- 100+ Major projects completed
- $600 million+ in total energy and water saving private capital investment statewide
By proving the model worked in Travis County, TPA was able to show other counties and cities that "green" upgrades are simply good business.
“My job is to bring local governments into the fold; to convince them to do what you did years ago. I guarantee you that it is a whole lot easier when there are 110 governments than there was when there was one or two. Someone had to go first and the fact that you did is enormous, and the significance of that cannot be overstated,” Steve Minick, Program Director, TPA.
Looking Ahead
As the Travis County Commissioners Court commemorates this 10th anniversary, the focus is firmly on the future. With nearly half a billion dollars in private financing already targeted for upcoming projects, the next decade of PACE in Texas promises to be even more transformative than the first.
Travis County didn't just start a program in 2015; they started a movement. Today, every Texan benefits from the more resilient, efficient, and prosperous state that this trailblazing work made possible. The TX-PACE Program importance continues to grow.
Hon. John Hall, president and CEO of the Houston Advanced Research Center, HARC, commented: "It’s amazing what Charlene and her team have done in terms of implementing this program over the past ten years, and they are on track of course to grab that success to over $1 billion in investments."
Just the Beginning
I would suggest that based on the growth of data centers and artificial intelligence and the energy expansion that is underway, this program has a bigger role to play in the future because of the massive energy growth and the water consumption associated with those industries, which our state officials of course are seeking for Texas to lead. So, while Charlene and her team have done great, I think there is opportunity for us to continue to have that same type of progress under Dub [Taylor] and his leadership.”
Steve Minick added, “We have barely scratched the surface. We talk proudly about what we have accomplished in terms of $600 million of capital investment. That is a tiny, tiny, tiny fraction of what’s out there. There are thousands upon thousands of buildings in this state and billions of dollars in potential cost savings not only to reduce water and energy consumption but to put money back into the pockets of people who do these projects, the private property owners.”
“I look forward to working with Travis County and property owners within the region to advance clean energy, energy efficiency, and water efficiency through the PACE Program. A lot of opportunity for sure. As we turn this corner into the next year we will be going full steam ahead,” noted Dub Taylor, CEO, Texas PACE Authority.
Thanks to the Elected Officials and many public servants who supported the Travis County PACE Program adoption in 2015:
Bruce Elfant, who testified before the legislature in support of the Texas PACE Act, and led the adoption effort in Travis County, bringing together bipartisan support stated: “Commissioner Daugherty saw this as a great deal for local businesses to lower their costs for water and energy use and Commissioner Shea saw this as a great way to limit our carbon footprint, so it worked out for everybody. I’m very proud that the first PACE project in Texas was for Temple Beth Isreal. They were able to save about $35,000 a year in energy costs because of the upgrades they did to their temple.”
Craig Smith, Travis County Tax Attorney, retired, helped draft program documents and the process now followed by over 100 local governments, stated, “It’s not often that you have a program a that benefits the environment and economy and doesn’t cost the local government anything, but that’s this.”
TPA thanks many Travis County officials for their support in 2015: former County Judges Sam Biscoe and Sarah Eckhardt, former Tax Assessor/Collector Bruce Elfant, program sponsors Commissioner Gerald Daughtery and Commissioner Brigid Shea, former County Tax Attorneys Elliot Beck and Craig Smith, Deece Eckstein, Intergovernmental Affairs, Cyd Grimes, former Purchasing Agent, and Leroy Nellis, Bob Moore, Peter Einhorn, and many, many others.
Commissioner Shea summarized the effort brilliantly: “This sounds kind of wonky, but it has been a brilliant way to incentivize greater energy efficiency and energy savings and water savings and help to make our community in Texas better prepared for the impacts of climate that are hitting us already.”
How to Get Started
Whether you are a property owner looking to lower utility costs or a local official interested in economic resilience, the path to PACE is simple:
- Check Eligibility: Ensure your property is in one of the 110 participating Texas jurisdictions or work with Texas PACE Authority to adopt a PACE program in your region
- Find a Contractor: Identify the energy or water upgrades your building needs.
- Apply for Financing: Work with the Texas PACE Authority to secure private funding.
Visit www.Texas PACE Authority.org to learn more or start your application today.
About Texas PACE Authority
Texas PACE Authority (TPA) is the nonprofit administrator of more than 100 local TX-PACE programs. TPA is on a mission to empower commercial, industrial, and multifamily property owners across Texas to make energy and water-saving upgrades that save money, benefit the environment, and help their communities. We work with local governments, lenders, service providers, and all other stakeholders to make businesses more profitable, save natural resources, and revitalize communities across Texas. To date, our efforts have facilitated more than $600 million in new investment in Texas.
Photo: Second row: Commissioner Jeff Travillion, Pct 1; John Hall, CEO Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC); County Judge Andy Brown; Dub Taylor, CEO, Texas PACE Authority, Craig Smith, Travis County Tax Attorney, retired; Stephen Minick, Program Director, Texas PACE Authority; Bruce Elfant, Travis County Tax Assessor/Collector, retired
Front row: Commissioner Ann Howard, Pct 3; Commissioner Brigid Shea, Pct 2; Charlene Heydinger, president of the board, Texas PACE Authority; Commissioner Margaret Gomez, Pct 4.