The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) announced the availability of a new incentive program for advanced wood heat systems in commercial and institutional new construction. Qualifying installations will be eligible to receive custom incentives of $1.25 per square foot of heated space, up to $50,000.

The program is made possible by a $250,000 Wood Innovations Grant to the Department from the USDA Forest Service and is supplemented by matching funds from the Vermont Department of Public Service’s Clean Energy Development Fund and Efficiency Vermont.

Vermont has a stated goal in its Comprehensive Energy Plan to meet 35% of its thermal energy needs with wood heat by the year 2030. At present, 21% of Vermont’s thermal energy comes from wood. Achieving this goal would not only displace fossil fuels, but also retain local wealth, maintain and create jobs for Vermonters, and keep forests as forests by providing markets for the products of sustainable forestry. This new program is expected to support 20 medium- to large-scale projects.

Learn more about this program here.