$5,000 Loans to Make Your Home Energy Efficient
Cass County Electric Cooperative offers a low-interest loan to help its residential members finance energy efficiency improvements in their homes. The minimum loan amount is $500. The maximum loan amount for installing heating/cooling equipment is $5,000, and the maximum for weatherization, water heaters and fireplaces is $3,000. Both categories of loan are available for terms of up to 5 years.   Contact:  Cass County Electric Cooperative, 4100 32nd Ave., S. Fargo, ND 58104; 710-356-4400 or 800-248-3292; http://www.kwh.com/residential/default.asp?ID=456
Application: http://www.kwh.com/uploads/resources/413/financing-application-for-dual-hting-weather.pdf

Up to $10,000 for An Energy Efficient Makeover
Through the ERC Loan Program, Northern Plains Electric offers a low-interest loan program for weatherization for residential and commercial customers that wish to install energy efficient electric space conditioning systems, electric water heaters, and weatherization improvements. Customers can borrow up to $5,000 ($10,000 for geothermal heat pumps) for the purchase and installation of energy efficiency measures such as insulation and storm doors or for the purchase of energy efficient heating and cooling systems. Contact: Northern Plains Electric Cooperative, PO Box 180, 1515 West Main Avenue, Carrington, ND 58421-0180; 800-882-2500; Fax:  701-652-1847; http://www.nplains.com/Member_Programs/Low_Interest_Loans/index.html
Application:  Email a request for an ERC loan application to janellem@nplains.com

Property Tax Exemption for Energy Saving Homeowners
North Dakota exempts from local property taxes any locally assessed solar, wind, or geothermal energy device. Qualifying systems can be stand alone or part of a conventional system, but in the case where the solar, wind, or geothermal system is part of a conventional energy system, only the renewable energy portion of the total system is eligible. This exemption is applied only during the five year period following installation. To apply for this exemption, system owners must contact their local tax assessor or their county director of tax equalization.  For more details:  North Dakota Department of Commerce, Division of Community Services, 1600 East Century Avenue, Suite 2, PO Box 2057, Bismarck, ND 58502-2057; 701-328-5300; Fax: 701-328-2308; http://www.nd.gov/tax//genpubs/energy.pdf or Office of the State Tax Commissioner, State Capitol, 600 East Boulevard Ave., Bismarck, ND 58505-0599; 701-328-2770

Tax Credits if You Save Energy
North Dakota allows any taxpayer - an individual or corporation - to claim an income tax credit of 3% per year for five years for the cost of equipment and installation of a system that uses geothermal, solar, biomass or wind energy and that is installed after December 31, 2000. (For systems installed before January 1, 2001, the credit is taken in an amount equal to 5% per year for three years.) If the eligible device is part of a system that uses other energy sources, only the portion of the system that uses geothermal, solar, biomass or wind energy is eligible.  For individuals, the credit is allowed only on Form ND-2 (the optional method). For an estate or trust, the credit is allowed only on Form 38, Schedule 2 (the optional method). A corporation claims the credit on Form 40, Schedule TC.  For more details:  North Dakota Department of Commerce, Division of Community Services, 1600 East Century Avenue, Suite 2, PO Box 2057, Bismarck, ND 58502-2057; 701-328-5300; Fax:  701-328-2308; http://www.nd.gov/tax//genpubs/energy.pdf or Office of the State Tax Commissioner, State Capitol, 600 East Boulevard Ave., Bismarck, ND 58505-0599; 701-328-2770

Loans from $150 to $25,000 to Buy New Energy Equipment
Otter Tail Power Company's Dollar Smart Financing Program offers $150 to $25,000 loans to its residential and business customers. Customers may use the 7.9% interest rate loan to finance purchases of new electric technologies. Loans may not exceed 80% of the project's total cost, and the maximum residential loan is $7,000 with the exception of geothermal heat pump installations and combination electric systems such as a thermal storage central furnace with an air source heat pump, which are eligible for up to $12,000 in financing. The maximum loan amount for businesses is $25,000.  Contact:  Customer Service, Otter Trail Power Company, PO Box 496, 215 S Cascade Street, Fergus Falls, MN 56538-0496; 218-739-8200 or 800-257-4044; http://www.otpco.com/ProductsServices/Financing.asp

Rebates to Make Your Home Run Efficiently
Otter Tail Power Company offers incentives to all of its customers to install energy efficient equipment in their homes/facilities. Rebates are available for a variety of high-efficiency electric heating technologies including hot water heaters, thermal storage technologies, and commercial cooking equipment. Residential customers who install a Residential Demand Control unit on the RDC rate (rate 241) are eligible for a $300 rebate. The maximum incentive is $5,000.  To find out more, contact:  Customer Service, Otter Trail Power Company, PO Box 496, 215 S Cascade Street, Fergus Falls, MN 56538-0496; 218-739-8200 or 800-257-4044;  http://www.otpco.com/SaveEnergyMoney/Rebates.asp