Pennsylvania has a large quantity of aging municipal buildings and facilities. Modernizing these structures through infrastructure improvements, energy efficiency retrofits, and energy system upgrades will reduce demand on Pennsylvania’s electrical grid and support emission reduction goals. Such improvements will also reduce energy bills for municipalities, providing communities with economic, energy, and environmental benefits. The MORE Program enables local governments to realize their energy efficiency goals without straining their budgets.
PEDA’s MORE Program is a financing program to support local governments to cost-effectively deploy energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The MORE Program consists of both a MORE Grant and a MORE Loan. Together, they provide local governments the opportunity to achieve effective energy efficiency upgrades and reduce energy costs.
Who is eligible for the MORE Program?
Eligible applicants for the MORE Program are Pennsylvania local governments that were not eligible for an Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Please see the resources section below for a full list of local governments allocated EECBG awards that would not be eligible for a MORE Grant. Eligible local government entities include:
- Counties
- Cities
- Boroughs
- Towns
- Townships
- Municipal Authorities
MORE Grants
PEDA is offering $1.8 million in grants as the first step in the MORE Program. MORE Grants are first come, first served and aim to reduce barriers for local governments to secure energy efficiency financing. Eligible applicants can apply for up to $50,000 for any one or all of the following uses:
- Level 2 commercial energy audits
- Energy Conservation Measure (ECM) Project design and MORE Loan application development
- Interest rate buydown on a MORE Loan
These grants are administered by the Commonwealth using its electronic single application website. Grant guidance and application instructions can be found in the Resources section below. Please note that applications will only be open from June 3, 2024, to December 6, 2024*. PEDA has set aside $1 million for priority applicants through August 30, 2024. Funding is limited, so it is imperative for applicants to apply early. Please see the resources section below for the full list of priority applicants for the MORE Program.
*The due date for the MORE Grant has been pushed back to December 6, 2024, from October 25, 2024.
MORE Loans
The MORE Loan is a revolving loan fund to help local governments achieve their energy efficiency projects, small or large. These loans must be at least $5,000 and can have repayment terms of up to 15 years or the end of a project’s useful life. The MORE Loan offers below-market interest rates ; however, MORE Grant recipients can buy down their interest rate to as low as 0%. Borrowers must have a level 2 commercial energy audit and energy conservation measure project design/scope to apply. MORE Loans can be used for the following:
- Energy efficiency upgrades
- Building retrofits
- On-site renewable energy generation projects (must be paired with energy efficiency measures to qualify)
MORE Loans will be administered by the National Energy Improvement Fund (NEIF). The MORE Loan application will open June 3, 2024, though eligible applicants should secure their MORE Grant first before applying for a MORE Loan. MORE Loans have no closing date and will be open for applicants after the MORE Grant application closes as long as funds are available. For more information on how to apply, please visit NEIF’s website.
Local Government Unit Debt Act Approval
Each local government borrower must provide NEIF with a copy of the proceedings submitted to, as well as the approval from, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) stating that the debt to be incurred by the borrower, or by any local government unit guaranteeing its debt, in connection with the project funding is approved under the Local Government Unit Debt Act (LGUDA), 53 Pa.C.S. § 8001 et seq. The loan cannot be closed without prior approval by DCED. More information about the LGUDA approval requirements and process can be found on DCED’s website and questions should be directed to DCED at RA-DCLGUDA@pa.gov or (717) 783-8452.
MORE Program Informational Webinar
- MORE Program Informational Webinar June 25, 2024 (PDF)
- MORE Program Informational Webinar June 25, 2024 (MP4)
MORE Program Timeline
The MORE Grant application will only be open from June 3, 2024, to December 6, 2024*, but the MORE Loan will continue accepting applications as long as funds are available. As a revolving loan fund, the MORE Loan does not have a closing date.
June 3, 2024: MORE Grant and MORE Loan open for application
August 30, 2024: Priority Applicant window for the MORE Grant closes
December 6, 2024: MORE Grant application closes
*The due date for the MORE Grant has been pushed back to December 6, 2024, from October 25, 2024.
Contact
For project and funding inquiries, please contact Alayna Schmeider, Energy Program Specialist at aschmeider@pa.gov or 717-783-0908
Resources:
- Priority Applicants for the MORE Program (PDF)
- EECBG Local Government Allocations from DOE (XLSX)
- MORE Grant Guidance (PDF)
- Electronic Single Application system – All grant applications must be submitted via this online tool
- MORE Grant Electronic Single Application Step-by-Step Instructions (DOCX)