Grants Available to PA Small Businesses for Energy Savings

A new grant is available to Pennsylvania’s small businesses looking to make their operations more energy efficient. The $3 million Small Business Energy Efficiency Grant Program is the first initiative of the $650 million Alternative Energy Investment Fund signed into law last July by Governor Ed Rendell and described at the GPCC’s "Greening Your Business" program this fall.

Upgrading to more energy efficient operations now could provide future savings by decreasing long term operating costs and increasing competitiveness. Grants may be applied to energy saving improvements on systems such as lighting, heating, cooling, refrigeration and process machinery, as well as building insulation and weatherization improvement projects.

To be eligible for the grant, a business must be located in Pennsylvania and have no more than 100 employees. The projects must save at least 20 percent of a company's annual energy costs and at least $1,000 a year. The grants will provide up to 25 percent of project costs, with a maximum grant of $25,000.

Click here for information on applying or contact the Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Energy and Technology Deployment at (717) 783-8411.

Applications must be received by May 1. Grants will be awarded to eligible applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the $3 million is depleted. Only current and future project costs are eligible for funding.