Small-Scale Renewable Energy Incentive Program
Administered by Renewable Energy Resource Center
Vermont's Small-Scale Renewable Energy Incentive Program (SSREIP) is currently paused as of June 2025 and not accepting new applications; however, if you are a low- or moderate-income household in Windham County, you may qualify for up to $15,000 back for installing a central wood pellet boiler or furnace, or up to $8,000 for an efficient cord wood or pellet stove through the Income-Eligible Windham County programs. You must use a pre-approved installer and reserve funding before beginning your project, with six months to complete the installation after your reservation is granted.
Pre-approved installers can help residential, commercial, institutional, and nonprofit customers access SSREIP biomass heating incentives, though the program paused new applications in June 2025 pending program modifications. For active programs, residential customers in Windham County with low or moderate income can receive $8,000–$15,000 depending on whether they install a stove or central heating system; installers must ensure customers secure fund reservations before work begins and submit final applications within six months of project completion.
SSREIP, administered by the Renewable Energy Resource Center under Vermont's Clean Energy Development Fund, currently operates only the Income-Eligible Windham County wood heating programs ($93,295 available funding) with incentives of $8,000 for stoves and up to $15,000 for central pellet systems; the broader SSREIP paused in June 2025 for program modifications. Eligible sectors include residential, commercial, institutional, nonprofit, and local government, with lifetime caps of $5,000 (residential) and $25,000 (commercial/institutional). Applications require pre-approval of installers and fund reservations before project start, with six-month completion windows and final application submission requirements.
Program details
- Program ID
- 1239
- Last updated
- 7/2/2025
Eligibility
- Sectors
- commercial industrial local government nonprofit residential multifamily residential low income residential institutional
- Technologies
- biomass
Program summary
Note: effective June 2025 the SSREIP programs are paused and are not accepting new applications as the Renewable Energy Resource Center works to modify existing programs.
Vermont's Small Scale Renewable Energy Incentive Program (SSREIP), initiated in June 2003, currently provides funding for new advanced wood pellet heating installations. The program is available to residential, commercial, institutional, and non-profit entities. Only systems installed by pre-approved installers will be eligible for funding. Funding must be reserved and applications approved before expenditures are made. Fund availability can be found here. Once reservations are granted, applicants have six months to complete their projects and submit the final application. Current incentives are as follows:
Advanced Wood Pellet Heating
- Flat-Rate Incentive (Residential and small commercial with less than 5,000 sq ft of heated space): $3,000
- Custom Incentive (Commercial projects above 5,000 sq ft.): $3,000
- Income-Eligible Adder (Residential; only for Windham County): adder is $8,000 (low-income) and $6,000 (moderate-income)
- Lifetime Cap: $5,000 (residential); $25,000 (commercial, industrial, non-profit, institutions)
For terms and conditions, and requirements for the advanced wood pellet heating incentives, click here.
Contact & resources
- Contact email
- info@rerc-vt.org
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
