Wood Energy Incentives for Small Business & Commercial Users
Rebates
- $6000 Flat rate incentive for commercial buildings up to 5000 sq. ft. from Efficiency Vermont and CEDF
- Custom Incentive for buildings over 5000 sq. ft., contact Efficiency Vermont
- $400 Wood Stove Rebate from Efficiency Vermont
Coal Changeout Adder from CEDF
- Replace coal stove, furnace, or boiler with a pellet stove, furnace, or boiler
- Adder is up to $27,000 for commercial projects
- Can be combined with other incentives
Grants
- USDA Rural Energy for America: Grants and loans to farms and small businesses
- USFS Wood Innovations and Community Wood Grants: Grants primarily support businesses that grow the wood utilization market (e.g. pellet mill, wood-based insulation) but also wood heating equipment
- Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Initiative Grants: Grants for Vermont's ag and forestry-related businesses
Technical Assistance
US Forest Service - Wood Energy Technical Assistance
The USFS Wood Energy Technical Assistance Program offers targeted technical assistance to move clean and efficient thermal and CHP projects from concept to the point where the owner can move forward with implementation and to ensure implemented projects provide successful models for future projects. The technical assistance provided is flexible in scope to meet the unique needs of each project. The following are potential examples of assistance that may be provided, and the scope will be tailored to each project as determined to be appropriate by the USFS:
- initial screening;
- feasibility study;
- operational troubleshooting;
- energy/emissions metering;
- data analysis on existing wood energy systems to document and improve their performance;
- and general technical assistance targeted to help move projects or state and local programs forward (presentations to Boards, provision of information to regulatory agencies, etc.).
To request assistance complete this form and send it to Lew McCreery, at Lew.McCreery@usda.gov.
Vermont Sales and Use Tax Exemption:
Starting July 1, 2018, advanced wood heat boilers will qualify for a retail sales and use tax exemption. The exemption is on qualifying equipment and directly associated equipment must meet the following requirements: (A) installed as a primary central heating system; (B) rated as high-efficiency, meaning a higher heating value or gross calorific value of 85 percent or more; (C) containing at least one-week of fuel-storage, automated startup and shutdown, and fuel feed; and (D) meeting other efficiency and air emissions standards established by the Department of Environmental Conservation. On a typical residential-sized boiler, this represents an estimated average savings of $900/boiler. This exemption sunsets in July 2024.