Last DSIRE Review: 03/12/2013
Program Overview:
| State: |
Wisconsin |
| Incentive Type: |
State Grant Program |
| Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: |
Solar Water Heat, Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Geothermal Electric, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Municipal Solid Waste, Anaerobic Digestion |
| Applicable Sectors: |
Commercial, Industrial, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional |
| Amount: | 10-40% of eligible project costs
Minimum award of $5,000 |
| Maximum Incentive: | 2013 RFP
Biomass: $500,000
Biogas: $500,000
Geothermal Technologies: $200,000
Solar PV: $100,000
Solar Thermal: $100,000
Wind: $100,000
All technologies: 40% of eligible project costs |
| Equipment Requirements: | Cannot exceed 125% of the kWh or Therms consumed by the customer in a given year (except farm biogas projects) |
| Installation Requirements: | Must be installed at a site serviced by a participating utility |
| Funding Source: | Focus On Energy Program |
| Program Budget: | $9 million (2013); $1.5 million (2012) |
| Web Site: |
http://www.focusonenergy.com/Business/Renewable/
|
Summary:
Note: This program is no longer accepting applications. See the program web site for information regarding future solicitations.
Wisconsin Focus on Energy offers a competitive grant to support the deployment of large renewable energy projects. Grant recipients and projects must be located in a participating electric or gas utility's service territory. The program web site above contains an interactive tool to assist people in determining their eligibility for different programs.
2013 Program Year
Eligible technologies for the 2013 grants include biomass, biogas, geothermal, solar photovoltaics, solar thermal, and wind technologies. Grants are available for between 10% and 40% of eligible projects costs, with a minimum award of $5,000. Required payback periods and grant maximums vary by technology and are outlined below. Focus on Energy has allocated $9 million for the competitive grant program for 2013, with 75% reserved for Group One technologies (biogas, biomass, and geothermal) and 25% reserved for Group Two (solar PV, solar thermal, and wind).
| Technology |
Grant Maximum |
Maximum Project Cost |
Minimum Payback Period (Before Grant) |
Maximum Payback Period (Before Grant) |
| Biogas, Biomass |
$500,000 |
$5,000,000 |
1.5 Years |
10 Years |
| Geothermal |
$200,000 |
$1,000,000 |
1.5 Years |
10 Years |
| Solar PV, Solar Thermal |
$100,000 |
$1,000,000 |
1.5 Years |
25 Years |
| Wind |
$100,000 |
$1,000,000 |
1.5 Years |
25 Years |
In order to be eligible, the business must be a customer of a participating electric and natural gas provider. Incentive funds may not be used for the purchase of land, buildings, or other real property, internal personnel and labor expenses, feasibility studies and planning efforts, leasing equipment, equipment purchased prior to the award, or down payments or purchase orders made prior to the award.
In order to meet efficiency and effectiveness standards set out in legislation, Focus on Energy has set out specific technology requirements for the 2013 program year. Biogas projects are required to install a meter in order to measure the quantity of gas produced and used, and are also encouraged to use a biogas cleaning system. Biomass projects must provide a detailed plan for tracking renewable fuel inputs in the system, and may only be fueled with renewable fuels. Geothermal, solar PV, solar thermal, and wind projects must complete energy efficiency projects, or plan to complete such projects. Any new construction project must provide further evidence of energy efficiency efforts.
2012 Program Year
$1,500,000 was available for the 2012 program year, with $750,000 allocated for biogas, biomass and geothermal, and $750,000 allocated for solar photovoltaic, solar thermal and wind. Eligible technologies can receive between $25,000 and $250,000 per project. Funds cannot be used for the purchase of real property (land or buildings), internal personnel, labor expenses, feasibility studies, planning efforts, and leasing equipment. All equipment must be new, purchased after the date of the award, and must installed at a facility served by a participating utility. Applications were due August 29, 2012. |
