Up to $75,000 in Low Interest Loans for Energy Efficient Improvements
This program makes available low interest loans for residential energy efficiency improvements. Only improvements to existing buildings that are at least 5 years old are eligible for loan assistance. This incentive applies mainly to energy efficiency improvements though renewable energy projects are eligible under one of two criteria. This list includes a variety of energy efficiency measures as well as the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles. Pre-qualified improvements have minimum efficiency standards. Eligible efficiency technologies are: clothes washers/dryers; dishwasher; refrigerators/freezers; dehumidifiers; ceiling fan; equipment insulation; water heaters; lighting; lighting controls/sensors; furnaces; boilers; heat pumps; air conditioners; heat recovery; programmable thermostats; caulking/weather-stripping; duct/air sealing; building insulation; windows; doors; roofs; combined water and space heaters; hot water flow restrictors; automatic flue or vent dampers; intermittent ignition devices; whole house fans; telecommunications; pollution prevention; and numerous home & office electronic equipment. Eligible renewable technologies are: solar water heat; solar space heat; photovoltaics; landfill gas; wind, biomass; hydroelectric; renewable transportation fuels; renewable fuel vehicles; geothermal electric; municipal solid waste; and skylights. Maximum loans are $75,000. Contact: Nebraska Energy Office, P.O. Box 95085, 1111 O Street, Suite 223, Lincoln, NE, 68509-5085; 402-471-2867; Fax: 402-471-3064; http://www.neo.ne.gov/loan/

Credit Refund for Installation of Approved Heat Pumps
Omaha Public Power District offers energy credit refunds to its residential customers for installing high-efficiency heat pumps through their Energy Conservation Program. For high-efficiency electric heat pumps larger than 1.5 tons with a SEER rating of 10 or greater, OPPD will pay $250 per unit for single family structures and $150 per ton for multi-family structures. OPPD will also provide $75 per unit for heat pumps 1.5 tons and smaller. The rebate is available to any customer who either purchases and installs a new high-efficiency heat pump in a new residential structure, or replaces their existing standard air conditioner with a heat pump and is using natural gas or propane for supplemental heating. Customers who install a heat pump are also eligible to receive the special Energy Conservation Rate. Contact: HVAC Technology Department, Omaha Public Power District, 444 S. 16th St. Mall, Omaha, NE 68102-2247; 402-636-3753; 800-648-2658; http://www.oppd.com/ResidentialCustomers/FAQs/22_001511

100% Sales And Use Tax Exemption for Community Wind Projects
In May 2007, Nebraska established an exemption from the sales and use tax imposed on the gross receipts from the sale, lease, or rental of personal property for use in a community-based energy development (C-BED) project. A C-BED project is defined as a new wind energy project that meets one of the following ownership conditions: for a C-BED project that consists of more than two turbines, the project is owned by qualified owners with no single qualified owner owning more than 15% of the project and with at least 33% of the power purchase agreement payments flowing to the qualified owner or owners or local community; or for a C-BED project that consists of one or two turbines, the project is owned by one or more qualified owners with at least 33% of the power purchase agreement payments flowing to a qualified owner or local community. Contact: Taxpayer Assistance, Nebraska Department of Revenue, Nebraska State Office Building, 301 Centennial Mall South, Lincoln, NE 68509-4818; 800-742-7474; 402-471-5729; http://www.revenue.state.ne.us/

$500 in Rebates for Energy Efficient Technologies
Twin Valleys Public Power District offers rebates to its residential customers for energy-efficient space heating and water heating equipment. Incentive amounts are: resistance heating (furnace, baseboard, or cove) $200 per unit; air-source heat pump $500 per unit; ground-source heat pump $500 per unit; resistance water heating (40 gallon or larger) $50 per unit; heat pump water heating $100 per unit. Incentives only apply to new construction or conversion installations and all equipment must be new, permanently installed and operating. Mobile homes are eligible for the rebates, but they must be on a permanent foundation. Contact: Customer Service, Twin Valleys, Public Power District, PO box 160, 1145 Nasby Street, Cambridge, NE 69022; 800-658-4266; 308-697-3315; Fax: 308-697-4877; http://www.twinvalleysppd.com/electric_heat.html