JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JAN. 16, 2020 – The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is now accepting low-interest energy improvement loan applications. Public K-12 schools, public colleges and universities, local governments including municipal, county, regional and international airports, public water and wastewater treatment facilities, and public and not-for-profit hospitals are eligible to compete for a total of $6 million for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects throughout the state.
The loan application period runs from Jan. 15, 2020, through April 17, 2020, for loans between $10,000 and $2 million. Loan applications will be evaluated on a competitive basis by the department’s Division of Energy. If money remains after applications have been reviewed and prioritized, consideration will be given to loans in excess of $2 million.
"Energy efficiency is essential to Missourians and is key to a strong economy. Quality, affordable energy should be available to all, and the Energy Loan Program assists in making this possible," said Craig Redmon, director of the Missouri Division of Energy. "The Energy Loan Program covers many facets of our economy, creating jobs to install energy-efficient innovations and retrofits into already established schools, hospitals and government buildings, saving taxpayers money."
Loans are repaid from energy savings achieved. Loans to public schools and local governments do not count against debt limits or require a public vote or bond issuance.
The loans, administered as part of the Energy Loan Program, provide financing for energy-saving investments, such as high-efficiency lighting fixtures and lamps, high-efficiency heating ventilation and air-conditioning systems, combined heat and power systems, renewable energy systems, waste heat recovery, energy-efficient fine bubble diffusers and high-efficiency pumps, building shell improvements, such as insulation and other infiltration measures, and other measures that reduce energy use and cost.
Since the Energy Loan Program’s inception in 1989, the Division of Energy has awarded more than 616 loans, resulting in more than $115 million in completed energy efficiency projects and more than $214 million in estimated cumulative energy savings. There have been no loan defaults in the 30-year history of the Energy Loan Program.
For a list of recipients or to learn more about the Energy Loan Program, please visit https://energy.mo.gov/assistance-programs/energy-loan-program or contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Energy at 573-751-2254 or toll-free at 855-522-2796.