CHICAGO – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced $1 million in funding to improve the energy efficiency of K-12 public schools in Southwest Illinois. Utilizing the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) Energy Performance Contracting program (EPC), the schools were able to apply for funding awards to install more energy efficiency improvements that are normally financed through energy savings. The funding was provided by Dynegy Inc. and was made available for schools in Madison, Monroe and St. Clair counties.
“High energy prices are impacting our school districts and requiring them to take money away from other priorities to pay their energy bills. We are very pleased to announce these grants to help schools comprehensively reduce their energy consumption,” said Gov. Blagojevich. “Thanks to the support of Dynegy, we will have another way for schools in Madison, Monroe and St. Clair counties to save money, while also teaching their students an important lesson about protecting our environment.”
The schools receiving the funds are Alton CUSD # 11 - $172,000 (David Elson, Superintendent, 618/474.2600); Beck Area Career Center - $72,000 (Dian Albert, Director 618/473.2222); East St. Louis District #189 - $311,000 (Dr. Theresa Saunders, Superintendent, 618/646.3009); Freeburg Community High School #77 - $100,000 (Andrew Lehman, Superintendent, 618/539.5533); Lebanon CUSD #9 - $216,000 (Harry J. Cavanaugh, Superintendent, 618/537.4611) and Valmeyer CUSD #3 - $129,000 (Brian Charon, Superintendent, 618/935.2100).
Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) is a method of financing energy efficiency improvements. With EPC, anticipated savings that result from efficiency projects are used to finance the actual improvements, which generally include modernized lighting and HVAC systems. DCEO’s Energy Performance Contracting program provides free technical assistance to schools to help them with the contracting process and helps schools negotiate better contracts. DCEO made the funding awards based on a formula favoring the greatest amount of energy savings per grant dollar awarded.
“Dynegy’s support of energy efficiency at public schools in the Metro East area is an extension of our community support at large,” said Stephen A. Furbacher, President and Chief Operating Officer of Dynegy Inc. “The majority of our employees – approximately 650 – live and work in the state of Illinois, where our power generation facilities produce low-emission, reliable and cost-efficient electricity with enough capacity to keep the lights on in more than 4 million Illinois homes. Further, supporting education is Dynegy’s major community initiative. Energy efficiency initiatives complement other volunteer and philanthropic activities focused on improving the educational infrastructure in the Illinois communities where our employees live and work.”
“There is nothing more important than ensuring that our students get the very best possible education, and this funding will mean more money will be spent on helping our children learn since our schools will be paying lower energy bills,” State Senator James Clayborne (D-East St. Louis) said.
“This is a great way for several schools across the region to invest more money in our students by lowering their energy bills. I want to thank Dynegy for supporting this important program that is going to make a real difference across the region,” State Senator William Haine (D-Alton) said.
“Energy savings for schools means more funding will go directly to the children of Southwest Illinois. My appreciation goes to Gov. Blagojevich for developing this program with Dynegy that will make a real difference in our schools and communities,” State Rep. Daniel Beiser (D-Alton) said.
“Gov. Blagojevich has invested more new money in our public schools than any previous governor in a single administration. And these grants mean that more of that money will be spent in our classrooms and less on higher energy bills. It is a win for our schools, our students and our environment,” State Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Collinsville) said.
“Gov. Blagojevich and I are pleased to support this innovative program that is going to greatly impact energy efficiency and lower schools’ energy bills. Over the last four years, we have dedicated billions of new funding into Illinois schools, and it is programs like this that let us continue to focus on educating our youth," State Rep. Dan Reitz (D-Steeleville) said.
“Our children are our greatest asset, and we must provide our public schools with all of the tools necessary to help them learn and achieve. Through these grants, Dynegy is helping us invest more money in our classrooms to help make that possible,” State Rep. Wyvetter Younge (D-East St. Louis) said.
“Every dollar schools can save on their energy bills is a dollar they can redirect to teaching or extracurricular programs,” DCEO Director Jack Lavin. “The efficiency improvements financed through these grants will let them do just that.”
In addition to these grant funds and others provided by DCEO, schools are encouraged to explore other grant funding possibilities, including from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF). The ICECF has a history of supporting energy efficient lighting and/or helping to offset the increased cost of geothermal heat pump installations.
Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois’ history. Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn’t work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions – each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges. Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses. It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs. Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.