Alternative Energy Revolving Loan Program
Borrow up to $40,000 for solar, geothermal or other eligible alternative-energy systems in Montana, with energy-saving improvements included when installed alongside the system.
Beskrivningen av den här finansieringen finns för närvarande på engelska.
Finance solar electricity, solar water or space heating, ground-source heat pumps, EPA-certified low-emission pellet or wood stoves, wind and other recognized non-fossil generation. Small hydropower must be under 1 megawatt. Insulation, high-efficiency windows and energy-efficient appliances qualify only in the same structure as an alternative-energy system, installed as part of it or at about the same time to reduce the system size needed.
This is a loan you repay, with a maximum ten-year term. The published 2026 interest rate is 3.5%, fixed for the loan term. There is no application fee, no down payment and no early-payment penalty. Closing costs include an origination fee of $250 or 2% of the loan, whichever is greater, plus other fees of approximately $200. DEQ sets actual closing costs during review and discloses them in the loan commitment; availability, terms and costs can change without notice.
Highly qualified borrowers may receive an unsecured loan. Other borrowers must provide security, generally a lien on the project property together with the financed system components. Where real-estate security is not possible, the financial contractor works with the borrower on another security arrangement.
Eligibility
- Individuals, nonprofits, units of local government and units of the university system may apply. A small business must be independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field, and employ 100 or fewer people.
- Your project must be in Montana, suitable for its climate, proven reliable and commercially available. Energy must be for the owner's sole use; net-metering systems also qualify. With net metering, surplus renewable electricity goes back to the utility system and earns credits you can use later. It must meet relevant certifications, building codes, utility interconnection rules and environmental requirements. The application certification excludes selling generated energy to a third party.
- Completed projects cannot receive retrospective financing. Eligible spending includes equipment, installation, engineering, consulting, project financial services and normal loan fees. You cannot use the loan to buy land, buildings or vehicles, pay yourself for in-kind labour or services, buy fossil-fuel generators or heating systems, or repair or replace a roof.
- If you lease the project property, include the owner's written permission for the work.
- The individual and business forms require certification that, at application, neither an applicant nor their immediate family member is a DEQ employee or contractor whose duties directly relate to energy conservation or alternative energy.
- Borrowers must obtain applicable permits, approvals and licences and follow their conditions. Individual and business applicants must immediately notify DEQ of material changes and use proceeds only for the described project at its stated location.
How to apply
- Status
- öppnar 1 jan. 2027
- Öppnar
- Stänger
- Villkor för ansökningsomgången
- Electronic applications must be received by 5pm on the closing day. Mailed applications must be postmarked by January 26, 2027. Dates are subject to change without notice.[^c10]
- Funding depends on technical and financial review, ranking and available quarterly cash.[^c8]
Use DEQ's individual or business application form and its checklist. Provide the signed and initialled form, itemised project bid or invoice, equipment information, an energy analysis and a site map showing equipment and excavation. Individuals provide income documentation; businesses provide their latest year-end profit-and-loss statement, balance sheet, tax return and organizational documents. The business checklist also requires an accredited asbestos-inspection report, except for installations on new construction or residential buildings with four or fewer dwelling units. Nonprofits, local government and university applicants should contact programme staff to discuss required materials.
Submit electronically through the Montana File Transfer Service to msikes@mt.gov, or mail or deliver the signed application and supporting documents to Montana DEQ, Alternative Energy Revolving Loan Program, 1520 E. 6th Ave., Helena, MT 59601. Applications are not accepted by ordinary email. Use the applicable quarter's electronic receipt or earlier postal postmark deadline.
DEQ checks technical and environmental eligibility; Montana Business Assistance Connection reviews credit, repayment history, debt-to-income ratio and security. Eligible applications compete for the available quarterly funds. Applications with technical and financial merit that miss funding remain eligible for subsequent scoring for up to twelve months from DEQ's receipt. If approved, sign and return the loan commitment, satisfy its closing requirements, then sign and return the final loan documents before funds are transferred. Repayments go to Montana Business Assistance Connection.
Within 30 days after installation, provide DEQ with photographs of major components, copies of applicable permits and approved inspection records, and fully executed utility interconnection agreements where required. DEQ may visit the site. Individual and business borrowers must allow reasonable access, provide progress reports during construction or installation if requested, and retain project and spending records for audit. Their forms also authorize DEQ to use submitted project information and photos to explain or promote the programme.