Have you been wanting to reduce your power bill by implementing energy efficiency or renewable energy systems in your commercial building, or perhaps make your building more climate resilient? There are two opportunities right now that might help you fund such improvements to your business in Jefferson County!

First, the USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) is accepting applications until Sept. 30, 2024 for grants and/or loans for rural small businesses and/or agricultural producers, for energy efficiency or renewable energy systems. This includes installing solar, high-efficiency HVAC systems, insulation, refrigeration, and more!  It is currently offering grants for up to 50% of total eligible project costs, and combined grants and loans for up to 75%. (Grants were previously only available for up to 25%, but the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022 has provided additional funding, so this is a particularly good deal right now!). Examples of how this has been used in the past locally is for a solar energy installation at Finnriver, and for a solar array at Edensaw Woods. And there is even a WA nonprofit, Spark Northwest, that can help rural businesses with the application process free of charge – contact them to discuss and get your application going.

Additionally, a brand new opportunity is available thanks to the good work at Jefferson County, where the county recently implemented the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy and Resiliency (C-PACER) program. It allows commercial property owners to seek long-term financing for qualified improvements related to energy and building resiliency. The loans are tied to the property, not the owner, meaning business owners are not locked into a long term commitment if they decide to sell. This generally allows for longer term, lower interest rate loans from banks or credit unions. These loans could be for energy efficiency improvements, water conservation, or renewable energy, and on the resiliency side, the loans could be used for seismic improvements, flood mitigation, wildfire and wind resistance, and stormwater management. Some of our local buildings could use flood mitigation improvements, as we saw during some king tides in the last few years!

More good news - in April, Jefferson County was awarded a Department of Commerce grant to offer selected commercial properties energy audits.  Expected to start in the summer 2024 as a C-PACER incentive activity, updates will be posted to the C-PACER website where you can learn how to apply and more details (www.co.jefferson.wa.us/1655/C-PACER). An energy audit is a great first step for both the C-PACER and REAP programs.

And for homeowners: Don’t feel left out, there are some incredible energy efficiency and renewable energy rebates for you too, including federal IRA tax credits,  rebates from Jefferson PUD, and soon to be coming rebates from WA State, including point of sale rebates! Check out JeffersonCAN.org/energy for a summary of those, as well as links to the other opportunities noted above.

These various funding opportunities will not last forever, so take advantage of them now to reduce your energy bills and carbon footprint.  This is a great time for local business owners to take advantage of these incentives and make our community more resilient to challenges that the future may bring!

Cindy Jayne is part of the Steering Council and the Climate Group of Local 20/20, whose mission is ‘Working together to foster a regenerative, sustainable, resilient and compassionate community in Jefferson County.”