$5.0M
per applicant
Loan
Below-market financing
Rolling
No fixed cutoff
Rolling
Apply when you're ready
Moderate
Underwriting required
The SBA 7(a) loan program provides government-guaranteed financing for small businesses pursuing clean energy projects, energy efficiency upgrades, and sustainability investments. IRA amendments expanded eligible uses to include solar, EV charging, energy storage, and efficiency retrofits.
Do I qualify?
Answer the questions below to get an instant self-assessment of your fit for this program. This is informational — final determinations are made by the administering agency.
1.Applicant must be a for-profit small business operating in the United States
2.Business must meet SBA size standards for its industry (typically <500 employees)
3.Eligible uses: solar panels, EV charging stations, energy storage, HVAC upgrades, insulation
4.Maximum loan amount: $5 million; government guaranty up to 85% for loans ≤$150K, 75% above
5.Must demonstrate ability to repay from business cash flow
6.Personal guarantee required from all owners with 20%+ equity stake
7.Cannot be delinquent on any existing federal debt
IRS · United States
Allows businesses to deduct up to $5.65/sq ft for commercial buildings achieving significant energy savings through improvements to HVAC, lighting, and building envelope systems. IRA expanded the deduction and allowed non-profits and government to allocate it.
LPO · United States
Offers federal loan guarantees for innovative clean energy projects that struggle to access conventional financing. Supports first-of-kind commercial-scale projects in renewable energy, storage, advanced nuclear, and industrial decarbonization.
NCDOR · North Carolina
Provides state income tax credits for investments in renewable energy equipment and energy efficiency improvements for business properties in North Carolina, stackable with federal ITC.