The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will fund up to $11 million in projects to improve energy efficiency among industrial and commercial customers in the state through two programs in its Energize Missouri Industries initiative, funded by federal stimulus dollars.

Through the initiative’s Industrial Energy Efficiency Program the state agency will make up to $8 million in grants for projects that could result in measurable energy savings, and may be used to benchmark facility energy performance, conduct energy audits and perform energy systems retrofits by installing energy efficiency projects. Examples of eligible projects include energy efficient lighting, ventilation, heating/cooling, heat recovery systems and equipment.

Industrial Energy Efficiency Program grants will be made through a competitive application process. The DNR will host a webinar June 9 to review the Industrial Energy Efficiency Program. Applications must be submitted to the state DNR by July 9. Go here for an application and eligibility requirements.

Through the Energize Missouri Industries initiative’s Price Efficiency Program, the DNR will award up to $3 million in grants through a “reverse auction,” in which pre-qualified providers will competitively bid for energy efficiency incentives.

Winning providers then will identify industrial and commercial customers to expend their allotment of incentive funds by implementing energy efficiency projects. Providers are entities such as energy service companies, equipment installers, and engineering and consulting firms.

To participate in the reverse auction, providers must be located in and provide services in Missouri, and submit prequalification forms to the DNR by June 25. The DNR will host a webinar June 8 to give providers an overview of the Best Price Efficiency Program. Prequalification forms are available on the department’s website.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources Energize Missouri Industries initiative is funded as part of nearly $57.4 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus) dollars the state applied for and was approved for in June 2009.