This section provides information on the types of funding currently available through the Clean Energy Development Fund and related incentives offered by others. If you would like to look at example feasibility studies / projects or listings of completed projects, please choose from the sub-menu to the left.
Affordable Community Renewable Energy (ACRE) program
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June 7, 2022. New draft Affordable Community Renewable Energy (ACRE) program design outline issued.
Comments sought by June 21, 2022.
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September 29, 2021. CEDF Releases a Draft Outline of the $10M Community-scale Renewable Energy Program for Low-income.
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September 27, 2021. Responses to the RFI Issued on July 18, 2021.
This PDF is a compilation of the responses the Public Service Department (Department) recieved in reply to the request for information issued regarding the design and implementation of an Community-Scale Renewable Energy Program for Low-income Vermonters.
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July 18, 2021. Request For Information Released
The Public Service Department released a Request For Information (RFI) regarding the design and implementation of an Affordable Community-Scale Renewable Energy Program (Program). The Program was created by the Vermont General Assembly in Act 74 of the 2021 legislative session. Act 74 appropriates $10 million to the Department of Public Service (Department) for the Program to “support the creation of renewable energy projects for Vermonters with low-income” and stipulates that the Program shall be developed “consistent with the parameters of the Clean Energy Development Fund". Responses to this RFI were due Wednesday August 18, 2021.
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Coal Heating Change-out Adder.
August 12, 2020. The CEDF is offering Vermont home and business owners additional cash incentives to switch from coal to advanced wood heating.
A homeowner that changes-out a coal stove or boiler with an eligible pellet stove or central wood heating system can receive up to 50% of the cost (or $10,000, whichever is less) as an incentive from the CEDF, including disposal costs for old coal systems. The added cash incentive is in addition to the existing $3,000 available from the CEDF for a pellet boiler/furnace. New pellet heating systems are also eligible for incentives and financing through Efficiency Vermont. Businesses can receive up to $30,000 towards a coal heating system change-out.
To qualify for the additional incentives:
- The existing coal heater (coal stove, boiler, or furnace) must be installed and functional. The coal heater being removed must be destroyed/recycled.
- The new advanced wood heating system installed must be eligible for the CEDF pellet boiler/furnace incentive or if it is a wood stove it must be Step Two EPA certified with a <2.0 GPH emissions rating and an EPA rating of >70% efficient as measured by the Higher Heating Value.
For more information and to apply for this incentive go to: www.rerc-vt.org/coal-change-out
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Bulk Pellet Storage Incentives Available.
February, 2020
The CEDF, through its Small Scale Renewable Energy Incentive Program, is providing a cash incentive to Vermonters that purchase an eligible bulk pellet storage bin from a Participating Vendor.
Pellet stove (must be EPA 2015 or 2020 certified), pellet boiler/furnace, and pellet sap evaporator owners are eligible to apply for a cash voucher. The voucher will cover up to $3,000 or 85%, whichever is less, of the total storage bin/materials cost (not including labor). The program will operate on a first-come first-served basis until all funds are spent or June 12, 2021, whichever comes first. Funds remaining will be posted at www.rerc-vt.org and ample notice will be given prior to the end of the program.
Wood stove change-out program
[program ended in 2019 - a new ARPA funded program will start in the summer of 2022]
The ARPA incentive will be available only to low- and moderate-income Vermonters via Participating Retailers for clean, efficient, EPA-qualified cord wood and pellet stoves that replace old, in-use wood stoves.
July 1, 2018 - Advanced Wood Boilers/Furnaces Exempt from Vermont's 6% Sales Tax
Beginning July 1, 2018, sales of advanced wood boilers are exempt from Vermont Sale and Use Tax. 32 V.S.A. § 9741(52).
2019 Wood Heating Rebate Type Programs:
There are several wood heating incentives available in Vermont:
- CEDF offers a flat-rate incentive of $3,000 for the installation of an approved pellet boiler or furnace. For specific information: www.RERC-VT.org or call 877-888-7372
- Efficiency VT (EVT) has several wood heating incentives:
- A custom incentive for commercial/institutional installations of pellet heating systems. Contact EVT to get details on this new program: (888) 921-5990 or visit:www.rerc-vt.org/advanced-wood-heating-systems
- A flat-rate incentive of $3,000 for the same list of approved pellet boilers/furnaces that qualify for the CEDF incentive. This can be combined with CEDF’s $3K incentive for a total of $6,000.
- Special incentives for those that qualify (based on income and program funding): www.efficiencyvermont.com/free-products
- Members of Washington Electric Co-op (WEC) can get rebates on approved pellet boilers, furnaces, pellet stoves, and cord wood stoves:
Pellet Boilers - $1000 rebate
Pellet Furnaces - $500 rebate
Pellet Stove - $250 rebate
Wood Stove - $250 rebate
These can be in addition to the CEDF and EVT incentives. For more information see:
www.washingtonelectric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/6-17-2019-WEC-Button-Up-sheet.pdf
Or call WEC at: 802-223-5245
- Members of the Vermont Electric Co-op can get a $150 credit on the purchase of an approved pellet stove.
Incentives for Pellet-Fired Sap Evaporators
- Press Release Announcing the Incentives
- The incentive will be offered as a rebate on the purchase and installation of new pellet- or wood chip-fired evaporators. The rebate is only paid to those projects that first obtain an incentive reservation. The rebate will be $200/sq. ft of evaporator pan, up to a maximum of $20,000.
- Terms, Conditions, and Requirements (PDF) for the evaporator incentives.
- Evaporator Incentive Reservation Application
- Incentive applications and program information available at: www.RERC-VT.org
Vermont Investment Tax Credit
The Vermont Investment Tax Credit, which includes business investments in solar (PV and hot water) systems that are eligible for the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC), is still available to Vermont individual tax payers. The credit can be claimed by individuals or businesses and is equal to 24% of the Federal ITC claimed (Federal ITC is currently 26% and thus the Vermont ITC is worth 6.24% of the eligible costs of the Vermont-property portion of a renewable energy system).The federal ITC will be reduced to 22% for pojects built in 2023.
Vermont Stautory Citation: 32 V.S.A. § 5822 (d)(1)
FEDERAL TAX CREDIT
The Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is currently 26% of the allowable costs of a renewable energy system (including residential installations of wood heating systems, including wood and pellet stoves that are EPA certified). The ITC is set to be reduced to to 22% for pojects installed in 2023.
FEDERAL GRANT OPPORTUNITY
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) invites applications for loan guarantees and grants for Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Projects. These loan guarantees and grants are part of USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). REAP helps agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy costs and consumption by purchasing and installing renewable energy systems and making energy efficiency improvements in their operations. Eligible systems may derive energy from wind, solar, hydro-electric, ocean, hydrogen, geothermal or renewable biomass (including anaerobic digesters). For more information about the program and how to apply for this funding, please see the Rural Energy for America webpage.