Grants Available To Help Reduce Energy Costs for Maine Rural Businesses

Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry sent this bulletin at 10/05/2026 07:30 AM EDT

View as a webpage  /  Share

The following Maine Department of Energy Resources news item is being sent to DACF subscribers as a courtesy.

Grants Available To Help Reduce Energy Costs for Maine Rural Businesses

Maine DOER

The Maine Department of Energy Resources (DOER), in partnership with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF), is offering $950,000 in grants and technical assistance to help small rural businesses reduce and manage energy costs.

The funding is available through the Affordable and Clean Energy for Rural Enterprises (ACRE) grant program, which supports energy efficiency, clean energy, and other measures that can lower energy expenditures and improve energy security and resilience.

Small businesses that are part of Maine’s key industries, as defined in Maine’s Ten-Year Economic Development Strategy, are encouraged to apply for:

  • Technical assistance, including energy audits, assessments, project scoping, and funding navigation; or
  • Project funding for eligible energy-related equipment and installation costs.

The grants will be administered through DOER’s Clean Energy Partnership program, which has deployed more than $9 million to advance Maine’s clean energy, economic development, climate, and workforce goals.

Applications are due by 4 p.m. on November 3, 2026. The Request for Applications (RFA) and related documents are available through the Vendor Self Service System (VSS). Search for RFA #202609150. Applications must be submitted through VSS to the Office of State Procurement Services.