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Longmont Power & Communications and Public Works & Natural Resources offers a matching grant program for Longmont business customers to help offset the cost of installing and upgrading efficiency measures.
In addition to other incentives, you can receive up to $5,000 in matching funds for projects that reduce energy and water consumption.
Customer requirements
Existing commercial properties must be located within the Longmont municipal boundaries and have an active City of Longmont utility account with no past due payments pending.
Schools and government facilities are excluded.
Grant eligibility
Prior to beginning improvements, the property must receive a professional energy and/or water efficiency audit including or equivalent to:
· PACE EnergySmart Audit
· Longmont Downtown Development Authority commercial audit
· PACE WaterSmart audit (indoors)
· Center for ReSource Conversation irrigation audit (outdoor)
The audit must identify potential efficiency and environmental improvement measures and estimated costs, savings, eligible rebates and return on investment. If a property has received a professional audit after April 1, 2006, LPC will determine if the audit remains valid.
A building improvement or equipment replacement must reduce energy consumption, water consumption or have a verified environmental benefit such as water quality improvement.
The building improvement or equipment replacement must have a positive financial return based on simple payback within one to 10 years.
Renewable energy systems are not eligible for matching grant funds.
Application deadline: October 31, 2009
Individual grant application award: $5,000
Total funding: $60,000
Application and approval process
1. The customer must submit a completed application to LPC. Audit results and proposed project plans must accompany the application. If a property has received a professional audit after April 1, 2006, LPC will determine if the audit remains valid.
2. LPC will review the application for completeness, customer eligibility and available funding:
• If the application is approved, LPC will notify the applicant.
• If the application is disapproved, LPC will inform the applicant of any deficiencies. The applicant will have 10 days to correct the deficiencies.
• If the deficiencies cannot be corrected or the applicant is ineligible, LPC will notify the applicant of rejection.
3. LPC will evaluate all applications and funding will be prioritized by the following criteria (not listed in any order):
• Earliest date of application.
• Projects using contractors and suppliers located within a 10-mile radius of Longmont.
• Projects with the highest projected energy and/or water savings per dollar of total cost.
• Projects with the highest projected total energy and/or water savings.
• Comprehensive projects that include multiple improvement measures.
• Projects that directly or indirectly support primary jobs in Longmont.
4. Funded projects will receive an approval letter specifying funding amount and a project completion deadline.
Eligible energy and water efficiency improvement measures are those approved for incentives or rebates under existing programs, including:
• LPC's Commercial Electric Efficiency Program (CEEP)
• LPC's LightenUP incentive program
• LPC's ENERGY STAR dishwasher and clothes washer rebates
• City of Longmont Public Works & Natural Resources' low-flow and dual-flush toilet rebate
• 2008 Water Conservation Master Plan water conservation measure and programs (May 2009)
• Xcel Energy natural gas incentive program for commercial customers
Funds will be awarded to match the applicant's investment after other incentives are deducted and will be limited to the lesser of:
• $5,000 per project.
• Combined incentives and matching funds not to exceed 70% of total project costs.
• A simple payback of the applicant's investment between one and 10 years.
• Only one application per customer.
• Applications for eligible rebates and the matching grant program must be completed and approved prior to beginning improvements.
• Projects approved for funding must be completed with 120 days following project approval or December 31, 2009, whichever is earlier.
• Grant funds will be processed for payment upon project completion, but no later than December 31, 2009.
• Permit fees, if required, are not eligible for matching funds.
• Audit fees from private auditors are eligible for reimbursement through this grant.
• Environmental improvement measures that do not save energy or water, such as replacing or installing new grease traps and reducing water contamination, may also be considered.
• Project completion occurs when:
. • All proposed improvement measures have been installed.
. • Final inspections, if required, have been passed.
. • All original project invoices have been submitted.