This section provides information on the types of funding currently available through the Clean Energy Development Fund. 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.
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).
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February 8, 2018 - Request for Proposals: Compost Heat Recovery Grants
The CEDF released a request for proposals (RFP) for grants in support compost heat recovery system installations on Vermont farms. Proposals were due on or before March 19, 2018.
All proposals under this RFP were reviewed and one award was made to Kingdom View Compost in Lyndonville.
Questions regarding this RFP were due February 19, 2018. Response to the questions received are posted below:
Questions Received on the RFP and Answers Provided
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 orAcall 877-888-7372
- Efficiency VT (EVT) has a new (as of 2018) custom incentive for commercial/institutional installations of pellet heating systems. Contact EVT to get details on this new program: (888) 921-5990
A. EVT also has 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:
www.efficiencyvermont.com/rebates/list/central-wood-pellet-furnaces-boilers-business
- For Vermonters in Windham and Rutland counties there are specific pellet stove programs designed for low to moderate income residents to change-out old cord wood stoves for new pellet stoves or to install pellet stoves even if they don’t have an old wood stove.
- In Windham County contact the Windham and Windsor Housing Trust: Tara Brown at 802-246-2119 or go to their web page:
www.w-wht.org/homeownership-center/rehab-loan-program/
- In Rutland County (and towns in neighboring counties that boarder Rutland Co.) contact Melanie Paskevich mpaskevich@nwwvt.org at NeighborWorks of Western Vermont, (802) 797-8610) The Rutland Heard had an article on this program:
www.rutlandherald.com/articles/funds-offered-to-replace-old-wood-stoves/
- Members of Washington Electric Co-op (WEC) can get a $1,000 rebate on approved pellet boilers/furnaces. This is in addition to the CEDF and EVT incentives for a total of $7,000:
Call WEC for more information: 802-223-5245
- Members of the Vermont Electric Co-op can get a $150 credit on the purchase of an approved pellet stove:
www.vermontelectric.coop/programs-services/energy-transformation-programs
June 30, 2017 - Incentives for Pellet (or chip) Fired Sap Evaporators Announced.
- 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 have obtained 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
CEDF Sub-Grants
For Vermonters in Windham and Rutland counties there are specific wood heating programs that provide grant funding, technical support and more:
- In Windham County
- For residential low- and moderate-income residents there is a pellet stove program. Contact the Windham and Windsor Housing Trust for more information: Tara Brown at 802-246-2119
- For wood heating (pellet or chip boilers/furnaces) in municipal buildings, schools, and non-profits contact the Windham Regional Commission: Marion Major at 802-257-4547 ext. 109 or visit their web site: http://www.windhamregional.org/energy/wwh
- In Rutland County (and towns in neighboring counties that boarder Rutland Co.) contact Melanie Paskevich mpaskevich@nwwvt.org at NeighborWorks of Western Vermont, (802) 797-8610.
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 only be claimed by individuals (despite being a credit for business investments) and is equal to 24% of the Federal ITC claimed (Federal ITC is currently 30% and thus the Vermont ITC is worth 7.2% of the eligible costs of the solar system). Citation: 32 V.S.A. § 5822 (d)(1)
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), which was created under the 2008 Farm Bill and reauthorized under the 2014 Farm Bill. The USDA REAP seeks applications for FY 2018 funding. The deadline to apply for grants is April 30, 2018. Applications for loan guarantees are accepted year round. 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). Additional information about the program and how to apply for this funding is available on page 10829 of the March 13, 2018 Federal Register.