Enclosed corn stover conveyor with efficient motor.

“Hold that order! And cancel the check!” A customer recently learned of a rebate program in his state for capital improvements that decreased energy consumption, which the equipment he had ordered from Biomass Engineering & Equipment achieved. The rebate would pay up to 75 percent of the project cost. To qualify, however, he couldn’t have already paid anything toward the project, which he had just done.

Fortunately, we were able to reallocate the payment to another project. Other customers may not have been so lucky. Once our engineers begin modeling and we order parts, we can’t reallocate funds as we did in the situation we noted above.

But this article isn’t about accounting. It’s about that rebate our customer discovered. Such programs are common across the United States because utilities want to limit their capital costs: more energy demand means more substations they must build, more transmission lines they must maintain, and more pollution they must account for. By paying customers to limit their energy consumption, the utility saves money in the long run.

Utilities aren’t the only entities that offer incentives on energy-saving investments. States and federal loan programs do the same. The qualifications for these programs vary widely, as do their limits and availability across the country, but in general, they’re available for new or upgraded technologies that increase energy efficiency or utilize renewable energy sources, such as biomass. As our customer found out, these programs can potentially save you thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars—not to mention savings on your future energy bills.

Below is a sample of programs available through the U.S. These offer incentives for efficient production machinery, motors, and bioenergy systems that result in lower energy consumption. Many other programs are available. Visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE^®) to find a program in your area. Check with your CPA for information on additional programs, too.

We will not update this list after publishing it. Visit the DSIRE^® website for an accurate listing.

As for the systems you’ll need to qualify for this program, know that BE&E offers the most efficient drag chain conveyors on the market. Our conveyors are up to 25 times more efficient than pneumatic systems. We also provide turn-key project management for biomass boilers and biomass CHP (combined heat and power).

Contact us to discuss your project today!

Industrial Efficiency Programs

PACE Financing

PACE programs offer low-interest rate loans at the local or state level.

Available in: Alabama; Arkansas; California; Colorado; Connecticut; Florida; Georgia; Hawaii; Illinois, Kentucky; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Missouri, Nebraska; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New Mexico; New York; Ohio; Oklahoma; Oregon; Rhode Island; Texas; Utah; Vermont; Virginia; Wisconsin; Washington, D.C.; Wyoming