The additional funding under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for the State Energy Program will allow DCEO to develop new programs and expand current programs in order to fund cost-effective energy projects that create and retain Illinois jobs, reduce energy consumption (and costs), increase renewable energy capacity, reduce green house gas emissions, and leverage private funds.
The Illinois Energy Plan is the most comprehensive and innovative program to date to address the state’s energy needs. This investment is important to the state’s overall economic recovery and will strengthen Illinois’ position as a leader in Sustainable, Clean, Renewable, American Energy.
GREEN ROOFS PROGRAM
The development of Green roofs offers strong environmental, ecological, and economic benefits. This program will facilitate the development of green roofs in the state of Illinois. Eligible projects include those where a building roof will be partially or completely covered with vegetation and soil, or a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. Green roofs will provide economic development, a carbon capture system and energy and maintenance cost savings.
The application period has closed for this program.
ELECTRIC EFFICIENCY PROGRAM
In June 2008 Illinois initiated a robust electric efficiency portfolio in the electric service territories of its two largest utilities (Commonwealth Edison and Ameren Illinois). This program is designed to fill the gaps in energy efficiency support for Illinois public sector entities that are located outside of the ComEd and Ameren Illinois electric utility service territories. Also targeted are non ComEd and Ameren Illinois electric utilities (municipal and cooperative utilities) in an effort to provide seed money to initiate electric efficiency programs.
The application period has closed for this program.
Other funds are still available for the Public Sector Electric Efficiency program for public sector entities in the Ameren Illinois electric utility and ComEd service areas.
THERMAL EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC FACILITIES
The Program will provide grants to public sector entities for improving the energy efficiency of thermal equipment or processes. Measures will include natural gas system efficiency improvements and geothermal systems among others. The incentives are available to units of local, state, and federal government, schools, community colleges and universities.
The application period has closed for this program.
LARGE CUSTOMER ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM
In June 2008 Illinois initiated a robust electric efficiency portfolio in the electric service territories of its two largest utilities (Commonwealth Edison and Ameren Illinois). This program is designed to fill the gaps in energy efficiency support for Illinois industrial complexes and other large energy users. These include notably natural gas measures as well as non ComEd and Ameren Illinois electric utilities (municipal and cooperative utilities, etc.). However, projects eligible for funding through any Energy Efficiency Portfolio (EEP) program offered by DCEO, ComEd or Ameren are not eligible for funding through this program.
The application period has closed for this program.
RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION PROGRAM
Illinois boasts significant potential for renewable power generation: wind, solar, biogas, biomass and hydro-electric production offer both economic and environmental benefits. This program is designed to to foster the investment in and the development and use of renewable energy resources to generate significant amounts of clean, renewable, American made energy that can be generally sold into the electricity market. Facilitation of such investment in renewable energy projects will bring strong economic development benefits including new income streams, new jobs, new investment, and new property tax revenues for local governments.
COMMUNITY RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAM
While a number of utility-scale wind projects are under development in Illinois, so-called medium scale, "Community Renewable Energy" projects are not financially viable without assistance. This program is targeted at solar, wind, and other renewable energy projects that provide energy for the applicants' own energy needs. Eligible applicants include cooperative electric utilities, schools, universities, local governments, not-for-profit organizations and businesses.
DCEO also offers technical assistance, through the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University, to potential applicants to answer questions regarding renewable energy systems, to assist with project conceptualization and pre-planning, assist with the application process, and provide other technical assistance. This assistance may also be on specific technical issues such as best practices for project siting, zoning and permitting issues, transmission interconnect and queuing issues, wind monitoring and wind resource assessment, and economic and financial impact analysis. For assistance, please contact the Institute at 309-298-2684 or [email protected] .
The application period has closed for this program.
GREEN INDUSTRY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
The focus of the Green Business Development Grant Program is to support domestic renewable energy and energy efficiency adoption through the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency businesses and component manufacturers, producers of dedicated biomass crops, and the manufacturers of recycled content products. The Program targets projects that develop and expand these manufacturing sectors and corresponding supply chains while improving the economy of the State through new business development. Manufacturers or producers funded through this Program will expand Illinois’ capabilities to support further development of markets for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and recycled content products. Expanded supply for these markets will reduce energy usage, expand renewable energy production, divert material from municipal solid waste landfills, and reduce GHG emissions in Illinois.
The application period has closed for this program.
NEXT GENERATION BIOFUELS PRODUCTION PROGRAM
A number of technological improvements are now available that can be used to improve the environmental aspects and resource efficiency of biofuels manufacturing processes. This program is designed to support the adoption of critical improvements. Eligible projects are those that plan to adopt technologies that increase the overall efficiency of the renewable fuel production process or reduce the overall full life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of the renewable fuel produced. Such processes include measures that:
- Improve water conservation
- Improve energy conservation
- Add value to bio-fuel co-products and bi-products
- Adopt fractionation processes
- Utilize corn fiber conversion
- Utilize cellulosic conversion
The application period has closed for this program.