Renewable Energy Incentives & Grants

Special Opportunity Grants are now available!
For more information and to download a grant application, click here.

NOTE: Special Opportunity Grants are due October 29, 2008.

Look here for a brief summary of the Incentives and Grants that the Renewable Energy program offers.
Renewable Program Incentives and Grants

Look here for a fact sheet about the Federal Residential Solar Energy Tax Credit.
Residential Solar Energy Tax Credit

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

Cash-Back Rewards
Cash-Back Rewards are available for installing or expanding commercially available wind and solar energy systems on your home, farm or business.

Eligible Systems
Cash-Back Rewards are available for electric renewable systems of 20 kilowatts or less and for thermal renewable systems that produce less than 5,000 therms per year. (For larger electric or thermal renewable projects, use the Implementation Grant form.)

Download these forms to apply before December 31, 2008:
        Solar Electric Cash Back Reward Form
        Solar Hot Water Cash Back Reward Form
        Wind Cash Back Reward Form
        Non Residential Biomass Combustion Cash Back Reward Form

Grants

Special Opportunity Grants are now available!
For more information and to download a grant application, click here.

NOTE: Special Opportunity Grants are due October 29, 2008.

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)

Implementation Grants
These grants provide financial support for developing large renewable energy systems with a capacity greater than 20 kW or 5,000 therms per year. Use the technology specific application below.
     Solar Electric Implementation Grant (PDF)
     Solar Electric Implementation Grant (Word Format)
     Solar Hot Water Implementation Grant (PDF)
     Solar Hot Water Implementation Grant (Word Format)
     Wind Implementation Grant (PDF)
     Wind Implementation 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 generally cost $1.75 million dollars or less.
     Biomass Combustion Grant (PDF)
     Biomass Combustion Grant (Word Format)

Industrial / Municipal Anaerobic Digester Grant
This grant provides financial support for the installation of a commercially available anaerobic digester system at eligible Wisconsin industries and municipal wastewater treatment plants to produce any of the following forms of energy: electricity, thermal energy and biogas. The Industrial / Municipal Anaerobic Digester Grant is for systems that:

cost $1.75 million dollars or less
projects that aggregate biogas production from a number of individual businesses may be larger

Industrial Anaerobic Digester Grant (PDF)
Industrial Anaerobic Digester Grant (Word Format)

Dairy Farm Anaerobic Digester Grant
This grant provides financial support for the installation of a commercially available anaerobic digester system at eligible Wisconsin dairy farms to produce any of the following forms of energy: electricity, thermal energy and biogas. The Dairy Farm Anaerobic Digester Grant is for systems that:

cost $1.75 million dollars or less
Projects that aggregate biogas production from a number of individual farms may be larger

     Dairy Farm Anaerobic Digester Grant (PDF)
     Dairy Farm Anaerobic Digester 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)

Demonstration Grant
This Special Demonstration Grant provides financial support for the installation of a solar make-up air heating system. Preference will be given to highly visible building sites at organizations with an educational mission. Proposals are due October 29, 2008.
     Demonstration Grant (PDF)
     Demonstration 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