Posted on August 27, 2009 1:38 AM
New Grant Opportunities and Updates for Energy-Related Funds (8-27-09)
EECBG Plans for Formula Funds Due, Money Allocated
Plans for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) assigned by formula were due August 10, 2009, following a deadline extension from June 25. Illinois received $112,175,600 for EECBG to be distributed by formula to the state and local governments. A breakdown of the funding amounts as allocated can be found online.
EECBG Recipients: Don’t Forget Your EECS!
Energy Efficient and Conservation Strategy (EECSs) are required of all EECBG applicants. Local governments can either submit an EECS with their application or within 120 days after the effective date of award. Samples of EECSs can be found online.
EECSs create a plan to help grant recipients set benchmarks and provide a strategy to track progress on energy savings, jobs created, greenhouse gas emission reduction and other factors. The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) has a new data center that will provide an energy and emissions profile for each municipality in CMAP’s seven-county region. CNT reached out to 37 direct recipients of EECBG in our region to offer assistance in the strategy development process. Interested localities should contact CNT Energy Planner Lindy Wordlaw (773-269-4012 or lindy@cntenergy.org).
For more information relating to the EECBG on how to leverage funds and which strategies can provide the biggest economic and environmental impacts, see presentations from the ARRA EECBG Workshop, which CMAP co-hosted on June 3, 2009. Presentations include the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) on EECBG; ComEd’s Smart Ideas program an opportunity for leveraging EECBG funds; a CNT presentation on developing an EECS; how to save money with Energy Audits; and the Illinois Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC).
Illinois State Energy Plan Approved, Ready for Implementation
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) approved the State of Illinois Energy Plan on August 14, which allows the state to begin implementation. The ARRA State Energy Program (SEP) ensures that each state has a comprehensive plan to increase energy efficiency while reducing energy costs, reliance on imported energy, and the impacts of energy production and use of fossil fuels. Plans are assessed on the amount of jobs created, energy saved, installed renewable energy and its capacity, greenhouse gas emissions reduced, savings in energy costs and funds leveraged. According to DCEO, the plan is “the most comprehensive effort to date to address the state’s energy production needs.”
The Illinois Energy Plan includes approximately $101 million in competitive grants for renewable energy ($33 million), manufacturing/processing ($33 million), energy efficiency ($33 million) and biofuels ($10 million). The state was awarded $40,528,400 on August 14, and Illinois will receive the rest of its $101 million after demonstrating successful implementation of its plan. A detailed table describing the grant opportunities, eligible applicants and contact information was created by DCEO and can be found here. Local governments, private companies and non-profits can apply. Applications for each program are linked below, with deadlines as follows:
