Thermal Energy Investment Program
The Thermal Energy Investment Program (TEIP) provides financial incentives to businesses, municipalities, educational institutions, and nonprofit entities located in the state of Maine for the installation of new thermal energy derived projects. The Trust will consider any governmental entity as a nonprofit. A thermal energy derived project is defined as; a project that produces thermal energy and thermal renewable energy credits including but not limited to, (1) conversion of fossil fuel-fired boilers to wood-fueled boilers or boilers using biofuels derived from wood, and (2) installation of new wood-fueled boilers or boilers using biofuels derived from wood. TEIP requires program participants to substantially share in the cost of projects.
Program Term
The Trust will accept rolling applications starting on July 1, 2024. The Trust will review these applications in the order received and make awards to applicants who meet the criteria within this PON, as funding allows.
Eligible Projects
Under this PON an eligible small project is defined as a conversion of a fossil fuel-fired boiler to wood-fueled boiler or a new wood-fueled boiler or boiler using biofuels derived from wood with an installed heating capacity of less than 600,000 Btu/h
Under this PON an eligible large project is defined as a conversion of a fossil fuel-fired boiler to wood-fueled boiler or a new wood-fueled boiler or boiler using biofuels derived from wood with an installed heating capacity of greater 600,000 Btu/h.
Ineligible Projects
Projects involving refurbishment or maintenance of existing wood-fueled or biofueled derived from wood equipment are not eligible for the program. Projects that include expansion of system heating capacity of an existing heating system are eligible.
A project that is awarded an incentive through this PON cannot receive any additional incentives from Efficiency Maine’s C&I Prescriptive Initiatives, the C&I Custom Programs, or from the Biomass Boiler/Furnace Rebate Program.
Incentives
All eligible projects will be provided with an incentive 35% of the combined cost of the equipment and the labor for installation as funding permits. An additional 10% incentive may apply If the project includes the installation of advanced emission controls or BTU meters. All costs associated with shipping and equipment warranty are the responsibility of the applicant or their contractor/vendor.
The Trust reserves the right to reject an application in whole or in part if it determines, in its reasonable discretion, that project costs, expenses, or charges are unreasonable.