2022 Business Energy Efficiency Grant Application

The Business Energy Efficiency Grant Program (BEEGP) is a grant program of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce (MCC).

Please submit project information for grant consideration using this form. 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.

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.

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

Eligible Projects

• All projects must receive a commercial utility rebate to be awarded funding
• Projects that receive instant rebates are not eligible
• Purchase order has not been signed and project work has not begun

Funding Details

Standard Application:

• Up to $3,000 may be approved for unique projects per year, per commercial customer facility
• Separate applications must be completed for each project
• ONE grant will be awarded to LED projects – 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
• 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
• Applicants may apply for standard and high energy savings grants for multiple projects that receive unique rebates

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 announcement: TBD - depending on available funds
• Final invoices and rebate paperwork submitted to Xcel Energy within 120 days of application approval

CenterPoint Energy Projects:

• Application closure announcement: TBD - depending on available funds
• CenterPoint Energy rebate applications must be submitted by Dec. 30, 2022

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
• 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 approved unless the technology also qualifies for a prescriptive rebate

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
  • Link to Xcel Energy form
  • Link to CenterPoint Energy form
• 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

 

 

Applicant Demographics