&EPA
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RenewablE Energy and
Energy Efficiency Incentives
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RENEWABLE ENERGY INCENTIVES
Maine Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Incentives
Climate change and energy security are major challenges of our time and the
environmental implications are as much local as they are global. Reducing our use of
fossil fuel-based energy reduces greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate
change. EPA New England is providing this resource fact sheet as a starting point for
residential, municipal and commercial energy consumers. It outlines the federal, state
and utility incentives for energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy.
(left photo) Wind turbine at Sam
Wastewater Treattnent Plant; photo courtesy
ofSacoWWTP
(center photo) Colby College purchases 100
percent renewable power; ptnto courtesy of
Colby College
(right photo) Solar system at Shipyard Brew
Pub; photo courtesy of Shipyard Brew Pub
Federal
Energy Efficient &
Energy Improvement Mortgages
• Credits a home's energy efficiency in the mortgage itself
• Gives borrowers the opportunity to finance cost-effective,
energy-saving measures
• Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM) fund new homes that are
already energy efficient
• Energy Improvement Mortgages (EIM) allow borrowers to
include the cost of energy-efficiency improvements in
existing homes without increasing the down payment
• Sponsored by federally insured mortgage programs
• Visit energystar.gov - enter "Mortgage" in the search box
Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credits
Credit available for systems placed in service by 12/31/2016:
Applies to qualified systems for photovoltaics, solar water heat, wind,
fuel cells, geothermal heat pumps, solar electric technologies.
Credit is up to 30% of the cost.
Credit limit:
• No limit on solar photovoltaic electric systems
• $2,000 for solar water heating
• $500 per O.SkW for small wind (<100kW) up to $4,000
• $500 per O.SkW for fuel cells
• $2,000 for geothermal heat pumps
• Visit dsireusa.org - click "Federal Incentives," then scroll
to "Personal Tax Credit" and click on "Residential Renewable
Energy Tax Credit"
Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credits
Credit available until 12/31/2009:
Applies to qualified water heaters, furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, air
conditioners, building insulation, windows, doors, roofs, circulating fans used
in qualifying furnaces, stoves that use biomass fuel to heat a home or to heat
water. Credit is up to 10% of cost of building envelope improvements, or up
to 100% for qualified energy property.
Credit limit:
• No more than $500 for all improvements combined
• $50 for advanced main air circulating fans
• $150 for natural gas, propane or oil furnace or hot water boilers
• $200 for windows
• $300 for electric heat pump water heaters
• $300 for electric heat pumps
• $300 for central air conditioners
• $300 for natural gas, propane or oil water heaters
• $300 for biomass stoves
• Visit energystar.gov- enter "Tax Credits" in the search box
Residential and Corporate Energy
Conservation Subsidy Exclusion
• Electric utility customers joining an energy conservation
program may receive a:
. Reduction in the purchase price of electricity
. Non-refundable credit against the price of electricity
. Rate reduction that is not included in income and not taxable
• Visit dsireusa.org - click "Federal Incentives," then scroll to
"Corporate Exemption" and click on "Residential Energy
Conservation Subsidy Exclusion (Corporate)" or scroll to
"Personal Exemption" and click on "Residential Energy
Conservation Subsidy Exclusion (Personal)"
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USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
• Promotes energy efficiency/renewable energy for
agricultural producers and rural small business
• Grant program open to commercial, schools, local
state and tribal governments, rural electric
cooperatives, agricultural, public power sectors
• Maximum limit of grant equals 25% of project cost with
various caps
• Visit www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill
Tribal Energy Program
• Federal grant program to promote tribal energy
efficiency with eligible systems, including passive solar
space heat, solar space and water heat, photovoltaics
• Visit eere.energy.gov/tribalenergy
State
Voluntary Renewable Resources Grants
• Applies to solar thermal electric, photovoltaics, wind, biomass,
hydroelectric, geothermal electric, fuel cells, municipal solid
waste used in conjunction with recycling, tidal energy
• Open to Maine-based nonprofits (including community-
based nonprofits), electric cooperatives, quasi-municipal
corporations and districts, and community action programs
• Funding supports small-scale demonstration projects
showcasing value and cost-effectiveness of renewable energy
• Grants available only during specified times
• Grant amounts vary by project, maximum grant up to $50,000
• To be eligible for funding, renewable-energy resources:
. must qualify as a small power production facility
under Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rules OR
. must not exceed 100 megawatts in capacity and use one or
more of the above-listed resources to generate electricity
• Visit efficiencymaine.com/renewable_programs_voluntary.htm
Efficiency Maine - Business (Non-Residential)
Rebate Program
• For qualified refrigerators/freezers, lighting, chillers,
heat pumps, air conditioners, energy management systems/
building controls, motors, custom orders pending approval
• Open to commercial, industrial, non-profit, school,
state and local government, agricultural, institutional sectors
• Retrofits receive rebate up to 35% of total project cost
• New construction, major renovations and replacement of failed
equipment receive rebates up to 75% of incremental cost
• Maximum rebate $100,000 per applicant, per calendar year
• Customers must be grid-tied
• Visit efficiencymaine.com/business_programs.htm
Efficiency Maine—Residential Lighting Rebate Program
• Applies to lighting
• Open to residential sector
• $2 instant rebate on ENERGY STAR
compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)
• $12 instant rebate on certain other ENERGY STAR
lighting fixtures
• Visit efficiencymaine.com/retail_programs.htm
Efficiency Maine—Small Business
Low-Interest Loan Program
• For funding Maine Public Utilities Commission
(MPUC) approved energy conservation measures
• Open to commercial sector
• Eligible businesses have <$5 million
in sales or <50 full-time employees
• Loan amounts vary by project, maximum loan $35,000
• 3% interest rate; term varies
• Energy audit by MPUC or licensed auditor must identify
necessary improvements
• Projects subject to site monitoring
• Visit efficiencymaine.com/business_programs_sblilp.htm
Efficiency Maine—Solar and Wind Energy Rebate Program
• Applies to solar water heat, solar space heat,
photovoltaics (PV), wind
• Open to residential, commercial, industrial, state and
federal governments, agricultural, institutional sectors
• Rebate amounts vary by system type and size
• Eligible PV systems may not exceed 100 kW
• Wind systems must be grid-tied
• Certification requirements for installers
• Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits remains
with customer/producer
• Visit efficiencymaine.com/renewable_programs_solar.htm
Home Energy Loan Program (HELP)
• For qualified dehumidifiers, water heaters, furnaces,
boilers, caulking/weather-stripping, duct/air sealing, building
insulation, windows, doors, roofs, home
energy audits, heating system repair, solar
water heat, biomass, geothermal heat pumps
• Open to residential/low-income sector
• Loan amounts vary $2,800-$30,000
• Loan terms up to 15 years with a fixed
interest rate of 3.95% (subject to change)
• Visitwww.mainehousing.org/
PROGRAMSHelp.aspx?ProgramlD=32
CDntinuEd >
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RENEWABLE ENERGY INCENTIVES
Utility
Northern Utilities—Commercial
Energy Efficiency Rebate Programs
• For qualified water heaters, chillers,
furnaces, boilers, heat recovery, programmable
thermostats, building insulation, custom orders
pending approval, low-intensity infrared heating, fryers
• Open to multi-family residential, commercial,
industrial, schools, local government, institutional sectors
• Base rebate equals 50% of qualified
installation cost, maximum of $50,000
• Scoping study rebate for large businesses
equals 50% of cost up to $7,500
• Additional equipment rebates for high efficiency
space and water heating equipment: $25 - $1,000
• Visit northernutilities.com/business/eneraudit.htm
Maine State Contacts:
Efficiency Maine Utilities Commission
(866) 376-2463 (ph)
(207) 287-3831 (TTY)
efficiencymaine.com
Maine State Housing Authority
(877) 544-3271 (toll-free)
Federal Contacts
US Department of Agriculture
REAP Grant
(800) 670-6553
US Environmental Protection Agency
EPA New England
Cynthia Veit
(617) 918-1666
veit.cynthia@epa.gov
John Moskal
(617) 918-1826
moskal.john@epa.gov
Northern Utilities—Residential Energy Efficiency
Rebate Programs
• For qualified water heaters, furnaces, boilers,
programmable thermostats, caulking/weather-
stripping, duct/air sealing, building insulation, windows,
doors, faucet aerators, low-flow showerheads
• Open to residential, commercial sectors
• Rebate amounts vary by type of equipment and installation
• Maximum incentive amounts:
• Space-heating and water-heating equipment: $1,350
. Home energy assessment rebate: $150
. Weatherization: Up to $1,500
• Visit northernutilities.com/forhome/eneraudit.htm
SUCCESS Stories
Business—The Shipyard Brew Pub in Eliot, ME, has
converted its facility at the Eliot Commons complex to green
technologies using solar and other energy efficient systems that
meet Efficiency Maine standards. A newly installed solar system
is the backbone of an energy efficient system that includes: heated
sidewalks; interior, exterior, and parking lot lighting; low energy, high
efficiency kitchen motors; recaptured heatfrom refrigeration motors;
preheated water; and cooking systems that utilize steam generated
by natural gas.
College—Colby College in Waterville, ME, no longer relies on
fossil fuels for electricity thanks to a contract that has all the college's
electricity coming from renewable energy sources. Half of the college's
power is coming from Maine hydropower, the other half from Maine
biomass wood waste such as wood chips and sawdust. Colby has cut
its smog-causing nitrogen oxide emissions by 41 percent and acid
rain-causing sulfur dioxide emissions by 98 percent through eliminating
its reliance on coal for 70 percent of its power.
Wastewater—The Saco, ME, wastewater treatment facility
slashed its energy costs through a systematic approach to energy
management. They received one of the highest possible rankings on
the ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager benchmarking tool and have
some of the lowest energy cost for a utility its size in the nation. The
utility is now looking to add renewable energy to its portfolio. A solar
thermal heating array and a 1.8- kilowatt windmill are in operation,
and future upgrades may include a larger 50-kilowatt windmill and
a project to reuse waste heat from the plant's effluent wastewater.
&ER&
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency New England
EPA 901 -F-09-008
April 2009
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