For Immediate Release
August 28, 2026
Contact: Will Eley, Green Economy Program Director,
Piedmont Environmental Alliance / will@peanc.org / 334 462 0663
Piedmont Environmental Alliance and partners celebrate Forsyth County approval of clean energy financing program
Winston-Salem, NC – At last evening’s meeting of the Forsyth Board of Commissioners, the commission unanimously approved a financing framework that will help create good-paying green jobs, expand access to clean, affordable energy, and improve local air quality. C-PACE, short for Commercial Property Assessed Capital Expenditure Program, will allow commercial and non-profit property owners in Forsyth County to take advantage of longer term, lower interest financing for major building efficiency upgrades and renewable energy projects, like rooftop solar, modernized HVAC, envelope and roofing improvements, and electric vehicle charging.
Piedmont Environmental Alliance (PEA), alongside 35 other community partners–including Piedmont Federal Bank, Clean Energy Fund of the Carolinas, Goodwill Industries of Northwest NC, ASPIRE and dozens of faith communities and sustainable businesses–worked closely with Forsyth County Community and Economic Development staff to realize C-PACE locally.
“It is a clear ‘win-win-win’ for developers, residents, and the environment,” said Jamie Maier, Executive Director of Piedmont Environmental Alliance. “By reducing energy and water consumption, our local businesses, nonprofits, and affordable housers can significantly lower their overhead, allowing them to reinvest those savings back into our local economy. We are so grateful for Forsyth County’s leadership.”
Helena Fiore, Forsyth County’s Community & Economic Development Program Administrator, reiterated that “opting into the statewide C-PACE Program allows property owners in our county to have access to a new financing tool. We hope this tool benefits our community as various organizations use C-PACE for needed renovations and efficient improvements to their property.”
In addition to helping Winston-Salem and Forsyth County reduce climate-warming pollution, the benefits of C-PACE include:
- Higher property values – Revitalized buildings improve property values and create more tax revenue for local communities. C-PACE programs in other states have significantly reduced rates of foreclosure as well.
- Economic growth – New development and adaptive reuse projects stimulate the local economy and create good-paying green jobs, and keeps dollars that would have otherwise been spent on expensive utility bills in our pockets;
- Stronger communities – More resilient and energy-efficient buildings deliver positive public health and social impacts for everyone.
“Commercial buildings are the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Forsyth County, according to a 2021 report authored by The City of Winston-Salem’s sustainability department,” stated Will Eley, PEA’s Green Economy Program Director. “C-PACE, combined with local campaigns like Solarize the Triad and Electrify the Triad–not to mention federal clean energy tax credits and state programs like Energy Saver North Carolina–will empower our community to solve issues at the intersection of affordable housing, rising energy costs, and sustainable growth.”
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Piedmont Environmental Alliance (PEA) is a Winston-Salem based nonprofit that educates and empowers, builds community, and inspires action to create a healthier, more economically vibrant, and environmentally sustainable community. Learn more about PEA’s work at peacnc.org