Efficiency Maine’s Commercial and Industrial Custom Program Serves the Needs of the State’s Largest Businesses and Entities

There are more than 1,600 manufacturers in Maine,* 36 hospitals,** and nearly 40 accredited, degree-granting institutions of higher learning.*** These and other large businesses and entities, such as commercial bakeries, food processors, office complexes, and data centers, draw on the resources of Efficiency Maine’s Commercial and Industrial Custom Program (C&I Custom).

The program provides incentives for tailored energy efficiency and distributed generation projects that require site-specific engineering analyses. These types of projects are not covered by the Trust’s other programs and funding levels can range from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $1 million per customer per fiscal year (July 1 through June 30). 

These businesses pursue a variety of custom efficiency projects, including ones that implement measures to reduce the consumption of grid-supplied electricity, natural gas, oil, and other fuels; to transition to cost-effective behind-the-meter distributed generation technology; to decrease facility grid demand during summer peak conditions using behind-the-meter energy storage, and to install beneficial electrification and heat recovery systems at manufacturing facilities.

Many of today’s custom projects at manufacturing sites use technologies like industrial heat pumps (a key decarbonization technology) and heat recovery systems. The efficiency of industrial-grade heat pumps coupled with their capacity to offset or eliminate fuel consumption is becoming pivotal for meeting the State’s climate goals. This is where Efficiency Maine’s C&I Custom Program can help. Funding is available for efficiency projects that reduce the use of natural gas, oil, biomass, and other fuels. 

For context, in July 2023, Maine surpassed its goal of installing 100,000 heat pumps in Maine residences and businesses – two years ahead of the 2025 target date. It is a milestone that represents significant progress toward reducing Maine’s reliance on heating oil, lowering heating costs, and curbing harmful carbon emissions. At that time, a new goal was set: install another 175,000 additional heat pumps in Maine by 2027, bringing the number of heat pumps installed in Maine homes, businesses, and public buildings to 275,000. The goal encompasses businesses, public buildings, and industrial facilities, which can require more advanced heat pump technologies to meet commercial and industrial needs. 

To assist eligible businesses, Efficiency Maine offers free scoping audits to help determine if a proposed project has the potential to develop a qualifying project under the C&I Custom Program. These scoping audits provide businesses with the opportunity to get a professional consultation on their facility’s specific energy use and to identify cost-effective energy efficiency projects that will reduce operating expenses. Click here to find out if your facility is eligible for a scoping audit.

Efficiency Maine also offers incentives for Technical Assistance Studies to those customers that have already identified a project but need additional engineering support to move  forward. Learn more here.

Now that you know more about the Custom Program, please return to our Blog page to read more about how beneficial electrification and heat recovery technology is helping Maine’s manufacturing facilities curtail their reliance on fossil fuels. 

* IndustrySelect
** Maine Hospital Association
*** https://www.maine.gov/portal/education/colleges.html

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