Business Energy Rebates and Programs

Save energy, save money, and boost your bottom line by taking steps towards energy efficiency.

  1. If you are new to energy efficiency and wondering where to start
  2. If you want to go deeper and need help with next steps
  3. If you already know what upgrades you want to make
  4. If you need low-cost financing to get your project off the ground

Are you new to energy efficiency and wondering where to start?

Schedule a free energy assessment with Energy Smart to identify potential strategies for reducing energy use. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce offers a no-cost consultation where an Energy Smart staff member will walk through the building to take a look at energy consuming equipment and identify potential strategies for reducing energy.

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Are you ready to do a deeper dive into reducing energy use and need help with next steps?

Schedule a full service energy assessment with your utility provider to understand how you use energy and discover opportunities for energy efficiency improvements:

Xcel Energy Customers: Business Energy Assessments will help you identify energy-efficiency opportunities and enable you to make smart energy decisions. Find your right sized assessment by completing the Energy Assessment Match questionnaire.

Minnesota Energy Resources Customers (MERC): MERC offers large commercial and industrial customers turn-key efficiency audits. There is also a rebate for ASHRAE Level 2 audits for all business customers.

Dakota Electric Association Customers: Dakota Electric Association offers free services to help you analyze and manage electricity at your business. There is also a cost-share audit for a more comprehensive look at electricity use. 

CenterPoint Energy Customers: CenterPoint Energy offers customers a Natural Gas Energy Analysis to help identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency. Customers are also eligible for free direct install natural gas saving measures on the spot.

Take advantage of technical assistance programs that look for efficiencies in industrial and commercial processes:

MnTAP Intern Program: The MnTAP intern program hires and places highly qualified students in a wide variety of facilities to develop industry-tailored solution s for waste and energy challenges. 

Minnesota RETAP: The Minnesota Retiree Environmental Technical Assistance Program (RETAP) employs skilled, retired professionals to provide facility assessments and community sustainability assistance to small businesses, institutions, and communities in Minnesota.  

Explore Federal Tax Credits.

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Do you know what upgrades you want to make?  Find a rebate to help with upfront costs  

Your utility offers a variety of rebates to help make the decision to upgrade easier. From LED lighting to heating and cooling or foodservice equipment, it’s cost effective to make your business more energy-efficient. Select your utility provider to see what rebates and programs are available.

Xcel Energy Customers

Minnesota Energy Resources Customers

Dakota Electric Association Customers

CenterPoint Energy Customers

Don't forget to explore Federal Tax Credits.

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Need low-cost financing to get your project off the ground?

Once you have identified one or more projects your business would like to pursue, there are many different financing options available.

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE): PACE is a way to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades for commercial property owners. Project financing is repaid as a separate item on owners’ property tax assessment for a set period. PACE eliminates the burden of upfront costs by providing low-cost, long-term financing.

Trillion BTU Financing: Trillion BTU Financing is offered through a partnership between the Saint Paul Port Authority, Xcel Energy, and the Center for Energy and Environment.

Commercial Energy Efficiency Loan Program: Commercial Energy Efficiency Loan Program provides up to $100,000 in financing to businesses making cost-effective energy efficiency improvements.