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NOPEC outlines grants, audits and PACE lending options for Lorain small businesses
Summary
Representatives from NOPEC described energy audits, grant assistance, tax credits and small‑business PACE lending and encouraged local businesses and nonprofits to apply for audits and funding under several statewide and federal programs.
Kyla Presto and Aaron Markovi of NOPEC gave Lorain council members an overview of NOPEC’s community investment, small‑business energy audit grants, and Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) lending tools and urged local small businesses and nonprofits to pursue audits and incentive programs.
The briefing matters because the programs NOPEC administers can reduce energy costs for small businesses, support investments in efficiency or solar, and provide low‑cost capital designed for smaller projects that traditional lenders often skip.
Presto, NOPEC’s relationship manager for Lorain, noted NOPEC is a governmental energy aggregator covering more than 240 member communities. She said Lorain has been a NOPEC member for gas aggregation since 2002 and that the city has received $797,000 from NOPEC’s Energized Community grant program since 2019; this year the city received about $28,313 for energy improvement projects.
Markovi, NOPEC’s director of economic development and community investment, outlined NOPEC‑funded energy audits and financial programs for small businesses. He said NOPEC funds a portion of audit costs (typical audits cited at $3,000–$4,000; cap $20,000) and maintains a roster of pre‑qualified auditors. On financing, Markovi described NOPEC’s PACE program tailored to small businesses (property‑assessed repayment; off‑balance sheet treatment) and a STEP (Savings Through Efficiency Program) loan up to $125,000 at a fixed rate (presenter cited a 5% rate as typical). He said NOPEC’s PACE/STEP lending can fund up to 100% (PACE) or up to 75% (STEP) of qualified energy measures and is aimed at projects such as roofing, HVAC, lighting and solar.
Markovi reviewed federal incentives available under the Inflation Reduction Act (solar tax credits, EV/charging incentives, commercial building energy credits) and encouraged businesses and nonprofits to coordinate tax and grant strategies because many programs are fluid and subject to change. Council members asked about NOPEC’s consumer protections and a “do‑not‑knock” registry; Presto said NOPEC administers a do‑not‑knock program for participating communities and provides customer care and outreach.
NOPEC staff offered to help local businesses and nonprofits start with an energy audit and to route applicants to available grants, tax credits and low‑cost loans. The presenters said NOPEC stands ready to assist with applications and outreach and provided contact information for follow‑ups.
