Grant & Rebate

Mass Timber Competition

• RFP instructions

• Applied on January 13, 2025

• Completed the final interview on 7/14/25

FEMA

Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program  => Check in Fall

• Application open in Fall and closes in early Winter

• Prospective sub-applicants should consult the official designated point of contact for their applicant state/tribe/territory for further information regarding specific program and application requirements.

• FEMA will provide financial assistance to eligible BRIC applicants for the following activities: 

  • Capability and Capacity-Building activities – activities that enhance the knowledge, skills, and expertise of the current workforce to expand or improve the administration of mitigation assistance. This includes activities in the following sub-categories: building codes, partnerships, project scoping, hazard mitigation planning and planning-related activities, and other activities;

  • Hazard Mitigation Projects – cost-effective projects designed to increase resilience and public safety; reduce injuries and loss of life; and reduce damage and destruction to property, critical services, facilities, and infrastructure (including natural systems) from a multitude of natural hazards, including drought, wildfire, earthquakes, extreme heat, and the effects of climate change; and 

  • Management Costs – financial assistance to reimburse the recipient and subrecipient for eligible and reasonable indirect costs, direct administrative costs, and other administrative expenses associated with a specific mitigation measure or project in an amount up to 15% of the total amount of the grant award, of which not more than 10% of the total award amount may be used by the recipient and 5% by the subrecipient for such costs generally. 

Inflation Reduction Act Tax Credit (Phasing Out)

• Federal Solar Tax Credits  for Businesses  

• US IRA ITC §48E

Geothermal HP, Battery & Thermal Storage

• Begin construction before 12/31/2033 for full credit

Solar

• BBB shortened the timelines. Installation must begin on 7/4/26 for 100% credit.

• Investment tax credit (ITC) reduces federal income tax liability or awards credits for a percentage of the cost of an installed qualifying system through 2033.

• Originally positioned to support solar projects, expanded to include standalone energy storage solutions with a capacity greater than 5 kWh alongside the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

  • The base rate is 6%, and the full rate is 30% if the project satisfies all labor requirements. Link

    • Up to 10% Domestic Content Bonus. Link

    • Up to 10% Energy Community Bonus. Link

Hawaii Energy  Rebate

Hawaii Energy provides rebates for the new installation and replacement of energy-inefficient equipment. The rebate may also be available for purchasing energy-efficient equipment such as Window films, HVAC, lighting, pumps, vending machines, refrigerators, motors, and VFDs. Check eligibility at the beginning of a project. 

• hawaiienergy.com/for-business/rebates 

• Form

• Energy Code Training 

Energy Efficiency Replacement

• AC

  • VRF AC => min 18 SEER rating

  • Split AC => min 15 SEER rating 

  • Window AC => min 14.3 CEER rating

• Heat pump water heaters 

• Trane/Mitsubishi Rebate Finder  (Estimate of rebate amount)

• EV charging stations 

  • 1. Kauai Code (for spec writing)

Additional 10% Efficiency - New Construction

• New construction - Link

  • Energy saving 10 % above the baseline required (IECC2018)

  • Up to $200k (Work from design stage), $150k (from construction stage) => Contact a Hawaii Energy consultant at early design stage for design reviews, energy modeling incentives

EmPOWER

• Empower grant eligibility 

For a higher tier of energy saving...

• 179D Tax deduction

Contact

Internal Revenue Code Section 179D (Phasing Out)

• Dep of Energy 170D

• Must begin construction by 6/30/26.

• The deduction is for installing energy-efficient commercial building property (EECBP) or energy-efficient commercial building retrofit property (EEBRP) in new construction or building upgrades.

• Qualifying systems include interior lighting, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), hot water systems, and the building envelope (roof, walls, windows).

• The tax deduction can be allocated to the person primarily responsible for designing the energy-efficient improvements.

Requirements

• The energy efficiency improvements must result in at least a 25% reduction in total energy and power costs compared to a reference building.

• A third-party licensed and certified professional must examine the energy model and certify that the building qualifies for the deduction and meets all criteria.

• Use Form 7205 to calculate and claim the deduction.

Small-Scale Water Efficiency

• WaterSMART  Up to $125k

  • WaterSMART Dashboard 

  • WaterSMART Small-Scale Water Efficiency Grants or SWEP, provide cost-share funding, on a competitive basis, to implement small-scale projects ($250,000 or less) that aim to conserve, better manage, or enhance the efficient use of water supplies. SWEP prioritizes projects supported by previous planning efforts, including but not limited to, canal lining, water delivery automation, and flow measurement. To date, SWEP has facilitated the implementation of over 470 projects 

• 2024-25 Application - closing 1/26/25 => Check notice around 11/02/25 for FY 26-27 announcement

• Maui DWS Water Conservation Plan

• Water Conservation in Landscape  

• Rainwater harvesting; ASHRAE 

• GIS - Annual rainfall 

• Handbook of water reclamation 

• Grasspave2; Brochure 

County of Maui Office of Innovation and Sustainability

• Grant 

More Resources

1. Database of State Incentives