Hawai‘i Energy seeking applicants for the 2023-2024 Empower grant program
Hawai’i Energy, the state’s Public Benefits Fund administrator that focuses on energy-efficiency education and clean-energy initiatives, today announced the application period for its 2023-2024 EmPOWER Grant program which is designed to help local nonprofits, small businesses and restaurants reduce their energy usage and operating costs. Applications will be available beginning Aug. 1, 2023 and must be submitted by Sept. 29, 2023. Organizations may apply for a grant of up to $6,000, depending on the equipment type, which may cover up to 100% of eligible project costs.
EmPOWER Grant funding may be used to cover the following expenses of energy efficiency projects:New energy efficient equipment, including HVAC systems, window film, ENERGY STAR® certified commercial kitchen appliances, and refrigeration technologies like motor controls and adding doors and anti-sweat controls to open cases
Parts, accessories and other materials necessary for installation
Labor for old equipment removal, site preparation and installation of energy efficiency measure(s)
Shipping costs for equipment and materials
Taxes for the above items
To be eligible for the EmPOWER Grant, applicants must fulfill the following requirements:Be a commercial rate schedule account holder of an electric utility on the island of Hawaii, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, or Oahu where the electricity-saving energy efficiency measure is being installed
Business must fall into ONE of the following categories:501(c)3 nonprofit organization
Small businesses with electric rate Schedule “G”
Small business with less than 5,000 sq. ft. facility
Restaurant
Complete the installation with one of Hawai‘i Energy’s participating Clean Energy Ally contractors
All eligible applications are competitively reviewed and applicants, if selected for a grant award, will receive their grant funding as a reimbursement after Hawai‘i Energy verifies the completion of their project. There is no requirement that any purchases are made by an applicant before they learn whether they will be offered a grant award.
Preference will be given to organizations that serve populations identified as ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-constrained, Employed) or rural/other hard-to-reach communities, as well as organizations who have not participated with Hawai‘i Energy before. Since 2020, Hawai‘i Energy has distributed more than $3.5 million to more than 300 small businesses, nonprofits and restaurants through the grant program. Past recipients include Ko‘olau Distillery, The Arc of Hilo, Salvation Army, Children’s Discovery Center, The Molokai Dispatch, and Kula Sandalwoods Inn &Café.
For more information about the 2023-2024 EmPOWER Grant program, Hawai‘i Energy will be hosting a virtual webinar on Tuesday, Aug. 1, at 11 a.m. Interested applicants may register for the webinar at HawaiiEnergy.com/empower-grant.
A full list of eligible equipment, applications, and frequently asked questions are available online at HawaiiEnergy.com/empower-grant. Applications must be submitted by Sept. 29 at 11:59 p.m. HST to HE-Grants@Leidos.com.
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