| Q: |
Does Tennessee provide technical or financial assistance for energy conservation measures in small businesses?
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| A: |
Yes. The Energy Division offers existing small businesses energy loans up to $300,000 at 0% interest for businesses located in 3-Star communities and 3% annual interest for all others. Loans may be repaid over a period of up to 7 years. Free energy audits are available for prospective applicants. The loans must be used to identify, purchase and install approved energy efficiency measures. The loans fund purchase and installation of approved energy efficiency measures. For details please call 1-800 342-1340.
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| Q: |
What are the qualifications for the Small Businesses Energy Loans or technical assistance? |
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Briefly: The candidate has less than 300 employees or less than $3.5 million in annual gross sales or receipts. For details please call 1-800 342-1340. (http://www.state.tn.us/ecd/energy_sbel.htm) |
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| Q: |
Can the Energy Division help my business save money on my utility bills? |
| A: |
Yes, the Energy Division offers a Small Business Energy Loan, which offers assistance to Tennessee businesses to help them save energy. Free technical assistance is available to help identify possible energy-saving areas. |
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| Q: |
What is the purpose of the Small Business Energy Loan Program? |
| A: |
The purpose of the Small Business Energy Loan is to assist in the identification, purchase and installation of approved energy efficiency measures onto, or into, the existing Tennessee-located facilities processes, and/or operations of approved applicants. Energy loans cannot be used as venture capital to start a new, start-up business. |
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| Q: |
How much can I borrow? |
| A: |
You can borrow up to $300,000 at 0% interest for businesses located in 3-Star communities and 3% for all others. Loans may be repaid monthly over a period of up to 7 years. |
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| Q: |
What businesses are eligible for a Small Business Energy Loan? |
| A: |
Small businesses located in Tennessee that have less than 300 employees or less than $3.5 million in annual gross sales or receipts and are able to meet financial analysis and collateral screening criteria are eligible to participate in the Small Business Energy Loan Program. |
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| Q: |
My company is located just across the Tennessee-Kentucky border. Can I get an energy loan to replace the heating and cooling unit on my store? |
| A: |
No, the Small Business Energy Loan can only be used on facilities that are located in Tennessee. Check with the Kentucky Energy Office to see if they have a comparable loan. |
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| Q: |
What can I use an energy loan for? |
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Energy loans must be used to identify, purchase and install a variety of energy efficiency/saving measures such as insulation, double pane windows, heating and cooling equipment and lighting, to name a few. Loans cannot be used to start a new business or provide operating capital. |
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| Q: |
Can I get an energy loan to replace my home heating and cooling unit? |
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No, an energy loan can only be used for commercial, industrial and other business-related energy projects. |
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| Q: |
What is the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) definition of an alternative fuel? |
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Alternative fuels are substantially nonpetroleum and yield energy security and environmental benefits. DOE currently recognizes the following as alternative fuels:
- Methanol and denatured ethanol as alcohol fuels
- (alcohol mixtures that contain no less than 70% of the alcohol fuel)
- Natural gas (compressed or liquefied)
- Liquefied petroleum gas or propane
- Hydrogen
- Coal-derived liquid fuels
- Fuels derived from biological materials
- Electricity (including solar energy)
- Biodiesel
For more information on try the Alternative Fuels Data Center: www.afdc.doe.gov
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| Q: |
Has any Tennessee city been designated as a Clean City by the U.S. Department of Energy? |
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The cities of Nashville and Knoxville have been designated "Clean Cities" under this federal program by the Department of Energy. For more information on the federal Clean Cities Program, go to the following website. http://www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/ |
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| Q: |
Does the Energy Division offer energy educational materials for teachers? |
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Yes, the Tennessee Energy Education Network offers a variety of energy educational materials. For details please call 1-800 342-1340 or visit the web site. |
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| Q: |
Does the Industries of the Future Program offer support for small business research and development? |
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Yes, it’s the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program. You will find more details at: http://www.science.doe.gov |
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| Q: |
I have a new energy technology almost ready, where can I find help? |
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The US DOE, Office of Industrial Technologies, Inventions and Innovation (I&I) program provides financial assistance at two levels: up to $40,000 (Category 1) or up to $250,000 (Category 2) - for conducting early development and establishing technical performance of innovative energy saving ideas and inventions. The Category 2 portion will fund up to $250,000 for more well-developed inventions moving towards prototype development or commercialization. At a minimum, engineering analysis and/or a benchscale model must be complete for an invention to be considered a Category 2 application. |
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| Q: |
My business wants to make improvements using our staff engineers. Can you offer help? |
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Tennessee’s Energy Division supports the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Industrial Technologies (OIT) BestPractices program. The program works with industry to identify plant-wide opportunities for energy savings and process efficiency.
Visit: http://www.oit.doe.gov/bestpractices
Free BestPractises software tools are located at: http://www.oit.doe.gov/bestpractices/software_tools.shtml |
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| Q: |
What is Biomass fuel? |
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Renewable fuels can be derived from living organisms or as by products of living organisms. Biomass fuels may include wood, dung, methane gas, and grain alcohol. Biomass fuels from fast growing trees and grasses used in efficient ways might provide a sustainable source of such energy. Agricultural crop residues and animal wastes not needed for the soils and animal feeds are potential biomass fuels.
For more details visit the web page at: http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/bioenergy.html |
