Incentives
Biomass Incentives
Many governments encourage the use of renewable wood heat as a means for achieving renewable energy goals. For instance, in our home state of NH, one goal established by Governor Lynch in 2006 is to achieve 25% use of renewable energy by 2025. Biomass is a key component of the solution. Vermont wants to transition to 90% renewable energy by 2050. Other states around the country have similar goals. Especially in the Northeast, where we are heavily dependent on heating oil, nearly 80% of all money spent on heating fuels exits our state economies. By purchasing wood fuel instead of fossil fuels, billions of dollars can be kept in our region to re-circulate and improve living standards. We try to stay abreast of all biomass incentives. You will find a list of those we know about below.
Residential
• A rebate payment of 40% of the system and installation cost, up to a maximum of $10,000.
• Minimum three ton capacity for pellet fuel storage.
• Must be a resident of New Hampshire and their primary residence.
Commercial
• A rebate payment of 30% of the system and installation cost, up to a maximum of $50,000.
• Minimum three ton capacity for pellet fuel storage.
• An additional rebate payment of 30% for the installation of a thermal storage tank, up to a maximum of $5,000.
Efficiency Vermont
• $3,000 cash back after purchase.
• Rebates are for new, high-efficiency wood pellet boilers and furnaces that are installed as primary central heating systems.
• Replacement of natural gas-fired heating systems is not eligible.
• Systems must be classified as indoor systems and installed inside.
• Systems must be wood pellet only.
• Systems must have at least one-week fuel-storage and automated on/off and fuel feed.
Commercial
Commercial buildings over 5000 sq. ft. may be eligible for funding of up to $1.25 per sq. ft. Please contact Renewable Energy Vermont for more details.
Vermont Renewable Energy Resource Center
• $3,000 per installed pellet boiler.
• Fuel storage capacity such that the system may continuously operate for a period of at least 14 days under peak load conditions.
• Automated fuel feed from a bulk storage container/area to the burn chamber in an integrated path.
• Automated on/off fuel feed control based on a demand for heat.
• Bulk fuel storage container systems must be able to receive automated bulk delivery of pellets.
• Customers are eligible for a $500 Pellet Storage Upgrade Adder for pellet storage systems that have at least 20 days of storage under peak load conditions.
• Residential and commercial installations qualify.
• Mass save HEAT Loan - 0% for 7 years; up to $25,000.
• Alternative Energy Credits - The amount varies.
Residential Small Commercial Pellet Boiler Incentives
• Incentives are 45% of installed costs based on system size:
| Boiler Size (kW) | Boiler Size (Btu/hr) | Maximum Incentive |
| > 25 | 86,000 | $10,000 |
| 35 | 120,000 | $16,000 |
| 50 | 171,000 | $23,000 |
| 88 | 300,000 | $36,000 |
• An additional $5,000 for documented recycling (removal and destruction) of old outdoor or indoor wood boiler, or $2,500 for recycling a whole house wood furnace is also available.
• Incentives are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• You may qualify for a Green Jobs - Green New York Smart Energy Loan to help pay for eligible project costs.
• Pellets must be stored outside of the building as outlined in the Program Manual.
• System Performance Requirements:
| System Measures | Levels |
| Thermal Efficiency | 85% |
| Particulate Emissions | less than 0.080 lb/mmBtu |
| Carbon Monoxide (CO) Emissions | less than 270 ppm at 7% O2 |
Large Commercial Pellet Boiler Incentives
• Base award of 40% (up to $200,000 for units with output over 88kW (300,000 BTU/H).
• The incentive is for 45% of installed costs, with a cap of $270,000 for tandem pellet boilers with output over 300 MBtu/h (88kW).
| System Type | Incentive | Maximum Incentive per Facility |
| Pellet Boiler Output over 300 MBtu/hr (88kW) |
40% of Total Installed Cost | $200,000 |
| Tandem Pellet Boilers Output over 300 Mbtu/hr (88kW) |
45% of Total Installed Cost | $270,000 |
Advanced Cord Wood Boiler Incentives
• Incentives are available for advanced cord wood boiler heating systems with full thermal storage for installations in the residential and small commercial sectors.
• The installation must include full thermal storage as outlined in the Program Manual.
• Total up to $10,000, calculated as 25% installed cost up to $5,000 per unit.
• $5,000 for documented recycling (removal and destruction) of old outdoor or indoor wood boiler.
• $2,500 for recycling whole house wood furnace.
• Up to $5,000 per installed unit is available for customers with existing oil heat or propane.
• Incentives are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and will only be reserved for customers once an application has been approved by NYSERDA