Nebraska Dollar and Energy Saving Loans (DESL)
Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE)
Up to $500,000
Low-interest energy loans for Nebraska
The Dollar and Energy Saving Loans (DESL) program, run by Nebraska's Department of Water, Energy, and Environment, provides low-cost financing for energy-efficiency and renewable-energy projects to Nebraska businesses, manufacturers, farms, nonprofits, and local governments. The state partners with Nebraska lending institutions by purchasing 50–90% of each loan, which lets lenders offer below-market simple interest rates of 5%, 3.5%, or less — with rates as low as 1.5% for NPPD customers and 3% for OPPD customers. Businesses, manufacturers, institutions, and nonprofits can borrow up to $500,000, as can farm and ranch operations producing at least $1,000 of agricultural products per year. Eligible projects include high-efficiency HVAC and water heating, insulation and weatherization, lighting, and renewable wind, solar, and fuel-cell systems. Since 1990 the program has financed over 31,000 projects.
- Funding type
- Loan
- Level
- State
- Amount range
- Up to $500,000
- Realistic amount
- Typical business DESL loans fund a single efficiency or renewable project — HVAC replacement…
- Deadline
- Rolling — applications accepted year-round through participating Nebraska lending institutions.
- Status
- active
- States
- Nebraska
- Payment model
- loan
Who qualifies
- Nebraska business, manufacturer, institution, nonprofit, local government, or political subdivision (excluding state government)
- Farm and ranch operations producing $1,000+ of agricultural products in a calendar year
- Project must be an eligible energy-efficiency or renewable-energy improvement
- Loan obtained through a participating Nebraska lending institution
- Maximum loan $500,000 per qualifying borrower category
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- High-efficiency space heating and cooling (HVAC) equipment
- High-efficiency water heating equipment
- Insulation and weatherization
- Windows and doors
- Lighting upgrades
- Renewable wind, solar, and fuel-cell projects
- Other qualifying energy-efficiency equipment
Ineligible expenses
- Equipment not meeting program efficiency standards
- General business expenses unrelated to the energy improvement
- Projects for state-government entities (excluded)
- Non-energy building improvements
How to apply
-
1
Confirm eligible improvements
Review the DESL eligible-improvements list to confirm your HVAC, insulation, lighting, water heating, or renewable (wind/solar/fuel cell) project qualifies and which term applies (1–15 years).
~2 hrs
-
2
Apply through a participating Nebraska lender
Apply for the loan at a participating Nebraska bank or credit union. The lender submits the DESL paperwork; DWEE purchases 50–90% of the loan to buy down the rate.
~3 hrs
-
3
Check utility rate specials
If you are an NPPD (1.5%) or OPPD (3%) customer, confirm eligibility for the utility-linked rate special before closing.
~1 hrs
-
4
Close loan and complete the project
Close the loan, complete the qualifying improvement, and repay at the buydown rate over the 1–15 year term.
~2 hrs
If your business is an NPPD or OPPD electric customer, ask the lender specifically for the 1.5% (NPPD) or 3% (OPPD) DESL rate — these utility-linked buydowns are well below the standard 5%/3.5% rates and are easy to miss if you don't name them. The state's 50–90% loan purchase is what makes the rate possible, so apply through a participating lender, not just any bank.
Deadline & timing
No application window. Borrowers apply through a participating Nebraska bank or credit union; DWEE buys down its share of the loan to lower the rate.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.