Biomass Combustion Financial Incentives

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Summary of all incentives
Look here for a brief summary of the Incentives and Grants that the Renewable Energy Program offers.
     Renewable Program Incentives and Grants - June 30, 2008

Below is a listing of all the biomass financial incentives available for biomass combustion systems. To view incentives by another specific technology, click on the technology you're interested in: solar electric, solar hot water, wind or biogas digestion.

Biomass Combustion Cash-Back Rewards
Cash-Back Rewards are available for installing or expanding commercially available biomass combustion systems at your farm or business. Rewards are not eligible for residential biomass combustion applications.

Eligible Systems
Cash-Back Rewards are available for biomass combustion systems of 20 kilowatts or less or systems that produce less than 5,000 therms per year. For larger biomass combustion projects, use the Grant form.

Form valid between January 1, 2008 and June 30, 2008:
     Non-residential Biomass Combustion Cash Back Reward Form

Biomass Combustion System Grants
Grants are available for farms or businesses who are considering installing biomass combustion systems too large to be eligible for a Cash-Back Reward.

The following grant applications are due at noon on the last Wednesday of every month. If your application is received after noon, it will be considered the following month.

Business & Marketing Grant
This grant provides financial support to organizations and businesses that provide renewable energy services for developing their business plans and marketing materials. Focus on Energy can fund up to 50 percent of these project costs, up to a maximum of $10,000.
     Business and Marketing Grant (PDF)
     Business and Marketing Grant (Word Format)

Feasibility Study Grant
This grant provides financial support for feasibility studies to determine whether renewable energy systems will work for you. The grant is intended to increase the ability of businesses and organizations to make informed decisions about using renewable energy systems by understanding and solving technical uncertainties. Focus on Energy can fund up to 50 percent of these project costs, up to a maximum of $10,000.
     Feasibility Study Grant (PDF)
     Feasibility Study Grant (Word Format)

Biomass Combustion System Grant
This grant provides financial support for the installation of a commercially available biomass combustion system at eligible Wisconsin businesses to produce any of the following forms of energy: process heat, space heating, cooling and electricity. The Biomass Combustion Grant is for systems that:

produce 5,000 to 750,000 therms annually and/or have an electrical capacity of 500 kW or less
cost $1.75 million dollars or less

     Biomass Combustion Grant (PDF)
     Biomass Combustion Grant (Word Format)

Development Grant
This grant provides financial support for assessing the feasibility and development activities of customer-sited Biogas Digesters or Biomass Combustion Systems of greater than 500 kW capacity and/or production more than 750,000 therms/year, and Wind Turbine Projects of between 100 kW and 15 MW. These grants co-fund complex feasibility studies, environmental permitting, financing and other developmental activities. Focus on Energy can fund up to 50 percent of the project costs, up to a maximum of $50,000.
     Development Grant (PDF)
     Development Grant (Word Format)

Grant Writing Tips
When filling out a grant application consider using these general guidelines to help write a more effective grant.
     Renewable Grant Writing Tips

Notice of Installation (NOI)
Submit this form after your system is installed. Your installer should help complete the NOI.
     Notice of Installation

Renewable Energy Workshop Scholarships
The Focus on Energy Renewable Energy program is also offering $40 in Renewable Energy Bucks to qualified individuals. Renewable Energy Bucks can be spent on educational workshops offered by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA). To learn more about the eligible workshops visit the MREA Web site.

Business Scholarships
The Renewable Energy Business Scholarship Program supports Wisconsin businesses that either sell or use renewable energy equipment or services. The scholarships may pay a 50 percent reimbursement of the tuition or exam fee, up to $300. An application must be submitted in advance for all scholarships.

Download the scholarship guidelines and application below, then visit the MREA Web site for workshop/exam descriptions and registration.
     Business Skills Scholarship Application
     Business Skills Scholarship Guidelines