Energy

Investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy often pay for themselves in a short period of time – in the case of LED lights, it’s often less than two years! With Mountain Association’s low-interest solar loan, solar might be able to result in a positive cash flow from day one. As a business, you can also depreciate the business solar expense on taxes over five years, offering another opportunity to achieve a positive cash flow. Regardless of what upgrade you choose, lowering your energy costs reduces overhead and limits the impacts of ever-rising electric rates.

Resources: Solar Energy Industries Association

Costs shouldn’t be a barrier to take on energy efficiency or renewable energy projects that will save you money in the long run. The Mountain Association provides affordable financing to eligible businesses and organizations, with loans up to $50,000 at 5% interest with up to 72-month terms for general energy efficiency projects. For solar projects, we offer 4% fixed interest with up to a 20 year term. All loans are subject to approval. Personal residences are not eligible.

As a for profit business, there are two grant programs that the Mountain Association can help you apply for through the USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy’s Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund for agricultural businesses. We have helped businesses bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars through these programs. 

Some utility companies offer incentives and rebates for commercial upgrades. For example, Kentucky Utilities offers this Small Business Direct Install program and a rebate program. Other utilities – Kentucky Power and East Kentucky Power Cooperative and their Rural Electric Cooperatives – are currently developing new commercial rebate programs.

There are also many tax credits and direct payments available through the Inflation Reduction Act signed into law in 2022. *NOTE: Federal programs are currently in flux, so please note incentives may change or be eliminated.

There are a number of options for residential energy efficiency audits that vary depending on where you live. Depending on your utility, they may offer an audit through our How$mart program. Additionally, there are a number of housing nonprofits that serve Appalachia and many offer energy programs. 

Start by contacting Chris Woolery at the Mountain Association, chris@mtassociation.org or (859) 621-4765, who can tell you all about your options.

The Mountain Association can walk commercial energy users, which include businesses, nonprofit, government and schools, through what is wrapped up in the charges on your utility bill, whether you are served by Kentucky Utilities, Kentucky Power or a rural electric cooperative. Please watch contact us for one-on-one support at liz@mtassociation.org or 859-880-3904.

To find and compare current utility rates across Eastern Kentucky, visit here.

The Mountain Association is happy to learn about new or existing contractors working in the growing fields of energy efficiency and renewable energy. In fact, through our New Energy Internship program, a workforce development program that ran from 2018-2020, we trained seven former coal industry or other out-of-work individuals in energy efficiency and renewable energy, such as assessing buildings and homes for energy efficiency issues, implementing energy efficiency upgrades, particularly in lighting and duct sealing, and in facilitating renewable energy systems. In fact, some of those interns are now contractors that we use for referrals.

To be added to our current list of contractors that we refer to businesses and organizations interested in implementing energy projects, email Liz Howard liz@mtassociation.org.

We also have various hand-held and data-logging tools available for free, short-term borrowing by individuals or businesses/organizations. Anyone wanting to borrow equipment first needs to become a lending library member (it’s easy!) and agree to return the equipment in the time allotted. A late fee of $1.00 per day will be assessed if equipment is not returned on time. For more information, contact us at info@mtassociation.org.

Thousands of Kentuckians across the state are saving money on their electric bills through rooftop solar installed by reputable local companies. But there are also companies operating here that are making big promises that don’t deliver, locking you into a costly solar installation that’s overpriced, improperly designed, unpermitted, or poorly installed.

So how do you tell the difference? Check out our solar scam post.

Please get in touch and we can recommend a number of DIY YouTube videos to follow on insulation improvements, lighting changes, water heater settings, and more. We also have various hand-held and data-logging tools available for free, short-term borrowing by individuals or businesses/organizations. Anyone wanting to borrow equipment first needs to become a lending library member (it’s easy!) and agree to return the equipment in the time allotted. A late fee of $1.00 per day will be assessed if equipment is not returned on time. For more information, contact us at info@mtassociation.org.