Energy

The Mountain Association has a team of energy experts that can help you figure out how to save on your energy bills. We are a non-profit, so we aren’t here to sell you anything – just provide you with the information on where to start. The process starts with you filling out an application that gives us some more information about your building, utilities, etc. Apply here, or we can fill it out over the phone if you prefer. After you apply, we’ll have a phone call to discuss your facility, your needs, and your main priorities.

Next, we look at 12 months of your past utility bills to see your current use, and make sure your utility has not made any billing errors. After that, one of our staff or one of our contractors will come out to walk through your building: looking at your HVAC, lights, insulation, water heating, and any other areas of concern. These are free or low-cost depending on our current offerings. As of August 2020, our on-site audits are free for small businesses and non-profits (most audits take two hours per building). A few weeks later, we’ll send you a written report of our recommendations, and we can help you decide where to go from there.

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 financing, 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 60-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.

There is a federal tax credit where businesses can take an additional 26 percent of the solar project cost off their tax bill. This tax credit will soon reduce to 22 percent in 2023 and 10 percent in 2024, so interested businesses must begin construction soon.

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 Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy for agricultural businesses. We have helped businesses bring in over thousands of dollars through these programs. 

Currently, Kentucky Utilities is the only utility to offer rebates to commercial businesses for energy upgrades.

Resources: Information on solar tax credits, USDA REAP, Kentucky GOAP, Kentucky Utilities Rebates

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 non-profits that serve Appalachia and may 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, non-profit, 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 a video here or contact us for one-on-one support.

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. Four of those individuals 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 Carrie Ray at carrie@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.

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.