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Application Period is Open

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources offers low-interest loans to communities for qualified energy-saving investments and energy efficiency and renewable energy projects to reduce energy use and cost. Loan recipients repay the loan with money saved on energy costs as a result of implementing energy efficiency projects. By using loan financing, the loan recipient's tax dollars are freed up for essential services or other capital improvements. The loan recipient also benefits from reduced energy costs and increased comfort of building occupants. An energy-saving loan for schools and local governments is not defined as debt and therefore does not count against debt limits or require a public vote or bond issuance.

As the loans are repaid, the loan principal and interest earnings are recycled back into the state’s Energy Set-aside Fund. These funds are used to finance new loans to other recipients, allowing the funds to "revolve".

Information and Assistance

The department encourages potential applicants to contact the department's Division of Energy for information and assistance. Please refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunity for more information. The Energy Loan Program can be reached at 573-751-2254 or energyloanprogram@dnr.mo.gov.

Who Can Apply

Eligible recipients include the following: 

  • Public schools (K-12)
  • Public higher education institutions (colleges and universities)
  • Local governments, including the following:
    • Cities, towns, villages or counties (which may include water treatment plants or wastewater facilities)
    • Public-owned airport facilities (municipal, county, regional and international)
    • Any hospital district as defined in section 206.010, RSMo
    • Any sewer district as defined in section 249.010, RSMo
    • Any water supply districts as defined in section 247.010, RSMo
    • Any ambulance district as defined in section 190.010, RSMo
    • Any sub-district of a zoological park and museum district as defined in section 184.352, RSMo

Applicants must not be in default or have a pending event of a default and must also be current on all taxes due and owed to the state of Missouri.

Please refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunity for more information.

Eligible Projects and Costs

These loans can be used for various types of equipment, including high efficiency lighting fixtures and lamps, combined heat and power systems, renewable energy systems, waste heat recovery, high efficiency pumps and high efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. These loans can also be used for building shell improvements, such as insulation and other infiltration measures, and other measures that reduce energy use and cost.

The applicant must own and operate the building or system proposed for energy-saving improvements. The proposed project must be located within the borders of Missouri and projects must be in compliance with all state and federal environmental laws and permits.

Please refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunity for more information.

Award Amounts

Funding is limited and is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until March 31, 2025, or until all funds are obligated — whichever comes first. All or part of the cost of implementing an energy-saving project may be financed through the Energy Loan Program.

  • Loan amounts are based on estimated annual energy savings documented as part of the application process
  • Loans are awarded between $10,000 and $5 million 
  • Loan interest rate for the Fiscal Year 2025 loan cycle is 2.50%
  • An administrative fee of 1% of the loan principal is added to the repayment amount
  • Loan repayment term is typically 10 years or less

Once a project is complete, the loan recipient submits a reimbursement request and final project cost report, along with itemized invoices and canceled checks, to the department's Energy Loan Program for review and reimbursement.

Please refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunity for more information.

Application Process

Complete applications for loans from $10,000 to $ 5 Million will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until March 31, 2025, or until all funds are obligated – whichever comes first. Applications will be marked as complete and received based on the date the department receives all information needed to determine the feasibility of the project. Loan applications will be approved or disapproved within 90 days of receiving a complete application. Loan applications for less than $10,000, or with a payback score of less than six months, will not be considered. 

Applicants must submit their application through the department’s Funding Opportunities Portal (preferred) or by email to energy@dnr.mo.gov. New users of the Funding Opportunities Portal must submit an Access Request to utilize the portal. Please allow up to 48 hours for the request to be completed. The applicant will receive an email with user ID and password.

Applicants must agree to the requirements of the Energy Loan Program including, but not limited to, those contained in the following:

By clicking the “Agree” button as an applicant, you agree to abide by the Energy Loan Program requirements, which may be viewed at the links provided above. 

NOTE: You must agree to the conditions to apply for an Energy Loan. 

  • If you are using Google Chrome as your web browser, an Excel file containing the application forms will automatically download to your device and can then be opened from your downloads folder. 
  • If you are using Microsoft Edge as your web browser, it will open in "view-only" in Microsoft Edge for quick viewing. The file can then be downloaded using the blue "Download file" button above the document view.
  • Energy Loan Program Application Macros Instructions - Instructions to enable macros

Awarded Loans

The following is a sampling of some of our previously awarded Energy Loan Program projects:

  • The City of Monett received a loan of $33,543 for lighting upgrades. The estimated annual savings are $4,720.
  • The Monett R-I School District received a loan of $561,495 for lighting upgrades. The estimated annual savings are $108,574.
  • Hannibal Public Schools received a loan of $709,600 for HVAC upgrades and $1,115,959 for lighting upgrades. The estimated annual savings are $242,918.
  • Missouri Western State University received a loan of $213,367.50 for lighting upgrades. The estimated annual savings are $24,525.
  • The Wentzville R-IV School District received a loan of $3,073,831 for lighting upgrades. The estimated annual savings are $334,500.
  • The City of Unionville received a loan of $86,609 for lighting upgrades. The estimated annual savings are $9,169.
  • Normandy Public Schools received loans of $851,966, $278,295, and $977,047 for lighting upgrades, building automation systems, chiller plant recommissioning, boiler plant and hot water upgrades, and a window AC load management system. The combined estimated annual savings are $273,797.
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