List of Financial Resources
DSIRE
The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency, or DSIRE, is a comprehensive source of incentives and policies that support renewable energy projects and energy efficiency in the United States. Their website allows users to search for incentives on a federal basis, or on a specific state basis, which includes summaries of policies from local governments and larger electric and gas utilities. DSIRE was established in 1995 and operated and funded by the N.C. Solar Center at N.C. State University. Additional funding is received from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, as well as the U.S. Department of Energy.
The DSIRE website also allows users to search policies and incentives which apply to a specific type of project. Renewable energy and energy efficiency incentives and policies through DSIRE include financial incentives, such as tax incentives, grants, loans, green building incentices, and rebates, as well as rules, regulations and policies which include public benefit funds, net metering, and building energy codes.
AlabamaSAVES
The AlabamaSAVES program is offered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, also known as ADECA, and funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The program provides subsidized loan funds for Alabama commercial and industrial businesses to implement energy-efficiency and renewable-energy projects. The projects are administered through Abundant Power Solutions, LLC
The loan funds provided by AlabamaSAVES may be used to purchase and install equipment for renewable-energy systems and energy-efficient fixtures and retrofits. In order to receive a subsidy, the proposed project must have a simple payback of 10 years or better. Eligible renewable-energy systems may include solar, biomass, biofuels, or other fuel cell technologies. Eligible energy-efficient fixture and retrofits may include mechanical systems such as HVAC and hot water systems, electrical systems such as lighting and energy management systems, or other categories such as refrigeration and combined heat and power systems. The provided funding does not provide for new construction of buildings or factories.
USDA Loans
You might not ever think about the United States Department of Agriculture having capital resources available to help you, but if your business is located in a rural area of the country, then some of their programs may be open to you.
A future where America runs on cleaner, homegrown fuels is a priority of President Obama and Secretary Vilsack. As part of his plan the Win the Future, the President has called for 80 percent of America's electricity to come from clean sources by 2035, including wind, solar, nuclear, clean coal and natural gas.
Under the leadership of Secretary Vilsack, Rural Business and Cooperative Programs has a wide array of programs that will help attain that goal and ensure America.s energy independence.
The USDA has funds available to complete energy audits and feasibility studies, complete energy efficiency improvements and install renewable energy systems. Some of these programs help to convert older heating sources to more energy efficient technologies, produce advanced biofuels, install renewable energy sources, build biorefineries, and more.
TVA Incentives
EnergyRight® Solutions is a program funded by the TVA to provide eligible participants financial incentives to implement energy-savings and efficiency improvements in their operations. TVA provides technical assistance to industrial users of power to aid those TVA customers develop their approach to energy savings on plant-wide level. Projects that help reduce energy intensity (demand) are available for incentives. Incentives vary depending on the level of contract demand for each TVA customer.
Qualifying customers that have electric energy-saving projects, they may be served by a participating power company. Financial assistance is available to ease the transition to energy efficient facilities. Rebates and Incentives are available to help reduce project costs and payback period. Custom projects that qualify could receive a TVA lump-sum incentive that amounts to $0.10 per kWh on the first year savings or 70% of project cost, whichever is less. Industrial customers in this contract demand level are eligible for technical advice if they are serviced by a participating distributor of TVA power.
Depending on your local power company, incentives may differ if you.re facility has more or less than 5 MW of contract power demand. To find out if you qualify for these efficiency incentives contact your local power company or reach out to your TVA account manager.
Small Business Administration
The small Business Administration (SBA) offers a variety of programs to help small businesses to finance energy-efficiency improvement projects. The SBA website provides a .Loans and Grants Search Tool. which helps the users learn about the loans and grants which they might be qualified for, such as pollution control loans.
The SBA website also maintains a database of some state and federal funding resources for energy saving projects. For more information about resources and also energy saving tips, see their website.
