MTC - Large Onsite Renewables Initiative (LORI) Grants

Summary

Note: LORI grants are no longer available for photovoltaic (PV) systems. Funding for PV systems is now available through Commonwealth Solar, a state-funded rebate program that took effect in January 2008. The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s (MTC) Large Onsite Renewables Initiative (LORI) provides two types of grants -- Feasibility Study Grants, and Design & Construction Grants -- on a competitive basis to expand the production and use of distributed renewable-energy technologies in the state. MTC is the administrator of the Renewable Energy Trust Fund, the state's public benefits fund for renewable energy. Program funds support grid-tied renewable-energy projects (excluding PV) greater than 10 kilowatts (kW) in capacity that are located at commercial, industrial, institutional and public facilities that will consume more than 25% of the renewable energy generated by the project on-site. The applicant and project site must be a customer of a Massachusetts investor-owned electric distribution utility or a municipal utility that pays into the Renewable Energy Trust. Grant awards may be used to facilitate the installation of renewable-energy projects on existing buildings (retrofits) or in conjunction with new construction/major renovation projects, including green buildings. The sixth round of LORI funding, totaling approximately $3 million, was made available in August 2008. The application deadline for this round of funding is October 9, 2008. Under this solicitation, Feasibility Grants are capped at $40,000, with an applicant cost-share of 15%. Design & Construction Grants are calculated based on an incentive matrix (see solicitation). Design Grants are capped at the lesser of $125,000 or 75% of actual cost, and construction grants are capped at the lesser of $275,000 or 75% of actual costs. See the current solicitation on the program web site for more details. MTC anticipates issuing new rounds of LORI funding twice annually -- usually in February and August. Eligible technologies generally include wind energy; fuel cells (using any fuel source); hydroelectric power; landfill gas; and low-emission, advanced biomass power-conversion technologies such as gasification using biomass fuels (e.g., wood, agricultural or food wastes, energy crops, biogas, biodiesel or organic refuse-derived fuel). All equipment (except hydroelectric equipment) funded in part or in whole by MTC must be new. Refurbished hydroelectric equipment with warranties and service support options comparable to new equipment may be accepted subject to MTC approval.