Funding Opportunities for Energy Projects

The list of funding opportunities, financing mechanisms, and incentives included below is intended for entities located in Kansas.

USDA Rural Energy for America Program

  • Grants
    • Up to 25% of total eligible project costs
    • Renewable energy - $10,000 minimum project cost; $2 million maximum
    • Energy efficiency - $6,000 minimum project cost; $1 million maximum
  • Loans
    • Loan guarantees up to 75% of total eligible project costs
    • $5,000 minimum loan amount and $25 million maximum loan amount
    • Up to 85% loan guarantee

USDA Community Facilities Grant

  • Eligible entities: Public bodies, community-based nonprofit corporations, federally recognized Tribes
  • Funds can be used to purchase, construct, and/or improve essential community facilities, purchase equipment and pay related project expenses
  • Funding Priorities: Small communities with a population of 5,500 or less and low-income communities having a median household income below 80% of the state's nonmetropolitan median household income.
  • Grant funding:
    • Maximum of 75% when the proposed project is:
      • located in a rural community having a population of 5,500 or fewer; and
      • the median household income of the proposed service area is below the higher of the poverty line or 60% of the State's nonmetropolitan median household income.
    • Maximum of 55% when the proposed project is:
      • located in a rural community having a population of 12,000 or fewer; and
      • the median household income of the proposed service area is below the higher of the poverty line or 70% of the State's nonmetropolitan median household income.
    • Maximum of 35% when the proposed project is:
      • located in a rural community having a population of 20,000 or fewer; and
      • the median household income of the proposed service area is below the higher of the poverty line or 80% of the State's nonmetropolitan median household income.
    • Maximum of 15% when the proposed project is:
      • located in a rural community having a population of 20,000 or fewer; and
      • the median household income of the proposed service area is below the higher of the poverty line or 90% of the State's nonmetropolitan median household income.

Facility Conservation Improvement Program (FCIP)

  • Allows government-owned buildings to implement energy-efficiency projects without upfront capital costs.
  • Covered under K.S.A. 75-37,125 and administered by the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC).
  • Projects are paid for through guaranteed energy and operational savings.
  • Requires an annual budget-neutral cash flow of less than 30 years.
  • There is an FCIP fee paid to the KCC, not the energy service company (ESCO).

Energy Performance Contracting

  • Similar to FCIP 
  • One party provides all engineering and construction (sometimes including financing)
  • Intent is to improve infrastructure to increase energy efficiency while reducing operating costs
  • Guaranteed savings, performance, and price
  • Savings offset costs (energy and operational)

Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE)