The Woodlands, Texas (Sept. 9, 2026) – Today, Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) is announcing the formal launch of the Texas PACE Standards Alliance (TPSA), preserving continuity of the standards that support a statewide financing program for sustainability and energy efficiency projects.
Established in 2013, under the Texas PACE Act, SB 385, Texas PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) enables owners of commercial and industrial properties to obtain low-cost long-term loans for water conservation, energy-efficiency, and onsite generation projects. Texas PACE programs are available in more than 100 regions representing more than 80% of the Texas population. Since 2016, those programs have steered over $1.2 billion in sustainable facility investments.
The new independent standards authority, based at HARC’s Living Lab Headquarters in The Woodlands, will house the nationally recognized PACE in a Box financing program and toolkit that was developed by Keeping PACE in Texas. The TPSA will support innovation, accountability, and statewide program excellence.
The PACE in a Box toolkit provided all the necessary documents and implementation steps necessary for local governments to establish PACE programs quickly and economically while also standardizing the requirements for PACE financing across Texas.
Charlene Heydinger, former Executive Director of Keeping PACE in Texas, says, “The creation of the Texas PACE Standards Alliance represents a major milestone in the evolution of PACE in Texas. By continuing and building on the strong foundation of PACE in a Box and bringing together stakeholders around consistent, high-quality standards, the independent TPSA will strengthen confidence in the program and support continued economic and environmental benefits statewide.”
Building directly on Texas’ nationally recognized and widely adopted PACE in a Box programs and toolkit, the PACE Standards Alliance will:
The TPSA is intentionally structured to operate free from the influence of any single organization or interest group. It will operate as an independent body, housed at HARC, and funded in part by the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO).
John Hall, President and CEO of HARC, says, “We are thrilled to welcome TPSA to HARC, where we will usher it into the next phase of growth. This is an extraordinary opportunity, and we are genuinely excited to build on the strong foundation already put in place thanks to Charlene Heydinger’s excellent leadership and SECO’s continued commitment and investment. Their efforts have been instrumental, and we are proud to steward the next chapter of what they began. We’re honored and humbled to be trusted with carrying this important work forward, and we look forward to helping it reach even greater impact in the years ahead.”
As part of the launch, TPSA will produce a series of webinars and practical guides for local governments, property owners, lenders, capital providers, program administrators, engineers, contractors, and other stakeholders.
Learn more at TexasPACEStandards.org
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About HARC (Houston Advanced Research Center)
HARC is an independent and nonpartisan nonprofit focused on sustainability. We’re a multidisciplinary team of researchers, policy analysts, and bridge builders focused on translating the complicated into clear, accessible insights. Our focus areas include energy, water availability, resilience, community engagement, and innovation.
About the Texas PACE Standards Alliance (TPSA)
The Texas PACE Standards Alliance (TPSA) is the authority responsible for ensuring uniform, high-quality standards for Texas PACE programs. TPSA promotes transparency through consistent and collaboratively developed standards.
About Keeping PACE in Texas (KPT)
From 2012 through 2025, Keeping PACE in Texas (KPT) was the non-profit business association organized for the purpose of promoting uniform Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing “PACE in a Box” programs across the State of Texas.
About SECO (State Energy Conservation Office)
The mission of the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) is to maximize energy efficiency while protecting the environment. SECO administers and delivers a variety of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs that significantly reduce energy cost and consumption in the institutional, industrial, transportation and residential sectors of the Texas economy.
Contact: Matt Dulin, [email protected], 281-364-6060
