South Dakota Resources

General resources regarding state clean energy policies, incentives, and utilities.

• South Dakota Clean Diesel Grant Program: The South Dakota Clean Diesel Grant Program, administered by the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR), provides rebates for schools to replace older, high-emission diesel buses with cleaner, lower-emission alternatives. Schools can receive funding for:
  • Up to 25% of the cost for a new bus meeting EPA emissions standards
  • Up to 35% for a bus meeting CARB Low-NOx standards
  • Up to 45% for a zero-emission (electric) school bus

  Funding comes from the EPA’s Clean Diesel Grant Program and the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust. The goal is to reduce student exposure to air pollution while improving air quality across South Dakota. READ MORE →

• School Energy Loans: The State Energy Office is offering zero-interest loans to K-12 public schools for energy efficiency projects. The school must submit the following loan application data sheet to be considered for the funds. READ MORE →
• South Dakota Solar FAQ: The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission’s role in solar development involves education and regulation. For utilities within the PUC’s jurisdiction, the PUC regulates generator interconnection practices and the price that solar generators get paid for excess generation. The PUC also has siting authority for solar farms with a capacity of 100 MWs or more. READ MORE →
• Renewable Energy System Tax Exemption: South Dakota established a new property tax incentive that replaced two existing property tax incentives for renewable energy. Facilities that generate electricity using wind, solar, hydro, hydrogen generated by another eligible resource, or biomass resources are eligible for this incentive, as are facilities that generate other forms of energy using solar or geothermal resources. READ MORE →