State and Local Climate and Energy Program
Tri-County Small Business Efficiency Program
Lewis and Clark County, Montana
Federal Funding: $305,000
Project Timeline: February 2011 – February 2013
Project Summary
Helping Small Business Owners Reduce Energy and Water Use
The Tri-County Small Business Efficiency Program will educate small business owners in Lewis and Clark, Jefferson, and Broadwater counties about strategies to reduce their energy and water use, and will help to overcome the barriers that prevent small business owners from making energy and water efficiency improvements. To implement the program, Lewis and Clark County will partner with NorthWestern Energy to build on NorthWestern Energy's existing E+ Energy Appraisal for Business program. The County will also partner with the Montana Business Assistance Connection, which will help the county market the program to small businesses in the tri-county area. Jefferson County, Broadwater County, and the City of Helena will also support the project. The program will provide:
- free audits of electricity, natural gas, and water use for small businesses, and
- financial assistance to implement the audit's energy- and water-efficiency recommendations.
During the electricity, natural gas, and water use audit, simple energy- and water-saving measures will be implemented, such as the installation of compact fluorescent light bulbs, faucet aerators, programmable thermostats, and water heater wraps. Participating small businesses will receive audit reports recommending additional measures to save them money while reducing their energy and water use. The audit report will quantify the expected energy, water, and cost savings associated with both the implemented and the suggested measures.
Lewis and Clark County will also provide financial assistance to small businesses to implement the energy- and water-efficiency recommendations resulting from the energy audit. This assistance will reduce upfront costs and remove the biggest barrier to implementation of efficiency measures. The program will provide information to participating small businesses about NorthWestern Energy rebates available to offset the cost of improvements recommended in the audit. In addition, the program will reimburse each participating small business up to 85 percent of the remaining cost of the efficiency upgrades that they undertake, to a maximum of $2,000 per business.
The program will have multiple benefits, including: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel consumption, and water use among small businesses; saving money for small business owners; and educating small business owners about the benefits of energy and water efficiency.
Community Characteristics
| Population: | 60,081 |
|---|---|
| Area: | 3,461 square miles |
| Government Type: | County |
| Community Type: | Rural |
| Median Household Income: | $50,245 |
Program Results/Estimated Results
| Expected GHG Reductions: | 800 metric tons CO2e annually |
|---|---|
| Expected Audits Performed: | 180 |
| Expected Retrofits Performed: | 150 |