Energy Loan Fund
Administered by Ohio Development Services Agency
Your business, nonprofit, or government entity can borrow $250,000 to $1 million at low cost to fund energy efficiency upgrades (like insulation, HVAC, lighting) or renewable energy systems (solar, wind, biomass). Your project must demonstrate at least 15% energy savings, and you qualify if you're Ohio-based with fewer than 500 employees, a manufacturer in the state's Energy Efficiency Program, or a public/nonprofit organization.
The Energy Loan Fund finances diverse efficiency and renewable projects for commercial, industrial, nonprofit, and government clients in Ohio. Your customer's project must show a minimum 15% energy reduction and meet program requirements; applications are evaluated on energy savings, job creation, environmental benefit, project readiness, and applicant financial need. Loans range from $250,000 to $1 million depending on scope.
This low-cost loan program, funded by the Ohio Advanced Energy Fund and Federal State Energy Program, serves Ohio businesses under 500 employees, enrolled manufacturers, nonprofits, and public entities for efficiency and renewable projects. Applications undergo first-come, first-served review on criteria including 15% minimum energy savings, completeness, job creation, environmental quality, match investment, project timeline, and alignment with Office of Energy mission. Loans span $250,000–$1 million based on project scale.
Program details
- Program ID
- 5069
- Effective
- 12/15/2011
- Last updated
- 7/29/2025
Eligibility
- Sectors
- commercial construction industrial local government nonprofit schools state government institutional
- Technologies
- solar thermal electric solar photovoltaics wind (all) biomass combined heat & power landfill gas microturbines lighting chillers boilers heat recovery energy mgmt. systems/building controls duct/air sealing building insulation windows doors other ee led lighting hvac lithium-ion
Incentive amount
FY 2025: $3.2 million
Program summary
Note: Loan applications for fiscal year 2025 will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.
The Energy Loan Fund provides low-cost financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements to Ohio-based businesses with less than 500 employees, manufacturers enrolled in the Energy Efficiency Program for Manufacturers, nonprofits, and public entities. For further information regarding eligibility, please view the Program Guidelines.
Loans can range between $250,000 and $1 million depending on the project. Funding is provided through the Ohio Advanced Energy Fund and the Federal State Energy Program.
The applications must demonstrate a minimum 15% reduction in energy use as a result of the project. Other evaluation criteria include the application’s completeness, whether the application meets the requirements of applicable state and/or federal funding sources, the type of eligible technologies utilized and the extent of energy savings achieved as a result of the project, extent of job creation and improvement in environmental quality as a result of the project, extent of match investment in the project, the project readiness and timeline to complete the project by deadline of certain funding sources, applicant’s need for financial assistance to complete the project, and the advancement of the mission of the Office of Energy.
See the website above for complete details and information on where to submit a pre-application.
Contact & resources
- Contact email
- energy@development.ohio.gov
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
