Business Energy Efficiency Grant Rules
The Business Energy Efficiency Grant Program (BEEGP) is a grant program of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce (MCC).
The purpose of the BEEGP is to motivate business owners to complete projects that would otherwise not have been completed without the aid of the BEEGP.
Applications for which a verbal or written commitment has been made to complete the project will not be considered. All grant applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, are contingent on available funds, Energy Smart evaluation of the specific project, and administrator final approval. If you are a contracting company submitting on behalf of an applicant, please reach out to EnergySmart@mnchamber.com or call 651-292-3902.
The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce reserves the right to revoke the grant award if the customer or contractor violates program rules and procedures. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is not liable for grants promised to customers as a result of a contractor misrepresenting this grant program, changing the work scope mid-project, or miscalculating the grant award.
Funding Levels
Grant Estimate Calculation:
up to $3,000 or $4,000
LED Projects = Utility rebate*0.5 (EJZ = rebate*0.6)
Other Projects = Utility rebate*3 (EJZ = rebate*4)
up to $10,000
High Energy = Utility rebate*1
High Energy Savings Calculation:
kWh*3.412 = kBtu
Dth*1000 = kBtu
Environmental Justice Area Map
Blue zone in the People in Poverty tab
Eligible Businesses
- Member of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce - does not include affiliate or federation members
- Xcel Energy or CenterPoint Energy Commercial or Industrial Customers
Non-Eligible Businesses
- Public facilities
- Schools
- Multi-unit facilities that have not recently completed the Multi-Family Building Efficiency program
Eligible Projects
- All projects must receive a commercial utility rebate to be awarded funding
- Projects that receive instant rebates are not eligible
- Must include line item make, model, and cost information on proposal to determine rebate eligibility
- Purchase order has not been signed and project work has not begun before submitting an application
- Must have reasonable simple payback - paybacks close to or less than one year are subject to additional review and/or pro-rating the grant award
Funding Details
Standard Application:
- Up to $3,000 may be approved for unique projects per year, per commercial customer facility or campus
- ONE grant will be awarded to LED projects, for all time – if the facility has already received a grant for a LED project, future LED projects will not be approved
- Applicants may re-apply year over year for non-lighting projects
- Final grant payments are based on the actual utility rebate, not the estimate
- The funding maximum is tallied in the calendar year the application is approved, up to $3,000/$4,000 per year based on chart above
High Energy Savings Application:
- Estimated gas and electric savings must reach a combined minimum of 750 kBtu to qualify
- One grant will be awarded per applicant facility, for all time
- May not be used in conjunction with any municipal grant or cost share program
- May not be combined with the standard application
Dates/Deadlines
Project Timelines:
- Projects must be completed, and rebate paperwork submitted to the utility with 120 days of grant approval
- Projects with delays outside of the control of the applicant will be honored, so long as sufficient communication is maintained
- Should applicants or contractors become unresponsive after 120 days, Energy Smart will send a notice indicating the forfeiture of funds. Applicants may re-apply
Xcel Energy Projects:
- Application closure: November 17th, 2023
CenterPoint Energy Projects:
- CenterPoint Energy rebate applications must be submitted by Dec. 29, 2023
Other Utilities:
- Final invoices and rebate paperwork submitted to utility within 120 days of application approval OR by rebate program deadlines outlined by the utility
Payment
- Grant funds are paid to the applicant business after the project is complete and utility rebate has been verified - payments will not be awarded to contracting companies
- Rebates generally take 6-8 weeks to be processed after invoice submission to the utility
- Applicant may submit a copy of the received rebate check to expedite grant payment
- Custom rebates that fail utility analysis will not be awarded funds unless the technology also qualifies for a prescriptive rebate
- Final grant amount is based on the final utility rebate issued by the utility - major changes to the project that may impact the grant amount should be sent ASAP
Required Documentation
All Applications:
- Project proposal with make/model information (2-3 preferred)
- Copy of recent utility bill
- Signed utility release form- for each form below complete and save the 2nd page only
- Up-to-date W9
- Project final invoice once work is complete
High Energy Savings Applications:
- Documentation of estimated energy savings
- Documentation of passed custom utility rebate analysis, if applicable