Financial Opportunities In order to stimulate the demand for the advanced energy industries in Ohio in an effort to gain investment, attract and retain jobs, and achieve environmental benefits, the Ohio Energy Office provides financial incentives to businesses, communities, and residential customers to deploy energy efficient and renewable energy technologies. As well, the Ohio Department of Development administers incentive programs to help encourage businesses to locate to, and grow in, Ohio. Further, other state agencies as well as the federal government administer incentive programs relevant to energy-related projects. For a list of advanced energy projects funded by the Ohio Energy Office, please click here. The list of these incentives, along with other financial opportunities available by the State of Ohio and federal government are provided below. Please visit this page often for updates. Advanced Energy Fund To qualify, projects must be located in Ohio and in the service territories of one of the four participating electricity distribution companies: AEP-Ohio, Dayton Power & Light, Duke Energy, or FirstEnergy. For more information, please click here. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – Energy Programs The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act strengthens Ohio’s economy by building upon its strategic investments in the advanced energy industries. Several programs are available for energy projects that will enable Ohio to stimulate the creation and retention of jobs, save energy, increase energy generation from renewable energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For information on these programs, please click here. To access guidelines and forms for competitive solicitations that are currently available, click here. Interested parties are encouraged to visit www.Recovery.Ohio.gov and enroll to receive regular communications on program guidelines, eligibility and application process. Clean Air Development and Project Financing To help Ohio businesses contribute to cleaner air in Ohio, the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority provides financing support to encourage investment in the purchase, construction and/or installation of air quality facilities. The Ohio Air Quality Development Authority issues financing instruments called “conduit project revenue bonds” and finances power purchase agreements, or PPAs. For more information, click here. Federal Incentives The federal government offers a variety of federal income tax incentives, grants, loans, and industry recruitment programs to consumers and businesses for qualified energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. For more information, please visit the Tax Incentives Assistance Project or the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency. Each maintains a list of existing federal incentives. Ohio Job Stimulus Package – Advanced Energy Component For more information, visit http://www.ohioairquality.org/advanced_energy_program/. Rural Development Business and Cooperative Programs United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development provides financial resources and technical assistance to businesses and cooperatives in rural communities. Interested parties are encouraged to visit United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development for more information. Third Frontier Program The Ohio Department of Development administers the Third Frontier Program to provide investments to research and commercialization projects that contribute to the growth of advanced energy supply chains that increase Ohio’s competitive advantage. Alternative Fuels Transportation Grant Program This program closed on June 30, 2009. B20 Biodiesel School Bus Grant Program This program closed on June 30, 2009.
The Ohio Department of Development's Energy Office administers incentive programs, supported by the Advanced Energy Fund, to support investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the industrial, agricultural, public and residential sectors.
The bipartisan Job Stimulus package approved in June 2008 includes $150 million in funding focused on increasing the development, production, and use of advanced energy technologies in the state, and is divided into two parts: