SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Director James Jennings today announced additional funding for two energy efficiency grant opportunities. The Energy Efficiency Assessment (EEA) Program has $350,000 in funding available for recipients to conduct energy efficiency assessments at properties serving residents receiving housing assistance from a state or federal program. The Energy Efficiency Trust Fund (EETF) Program is offering $10 million in funding to implement projects previously identified in an energy efficiency assessment at eligible properties serving residents receiving housing assistance. These grant programs are now accepting applications.
“The EEA and EETF programs are complementary funding opportunities: the EEA enables property owners to identify energy inefficiencies and the EETF supports implementing equipment and structural upgrades to address energy inefficiencies,” said Acting Director Jennings. “Each program reduces the significant up-front costs for housing entities, which allows for thorough and impactful energy reductions, realized cost savings, and improved comfort for residents.”
Eligible applicants include public housing authorities, units of local governments, and nonprofit organizations throughout Illinois that serve residents who receive rental assistance, housing choice vouchers, or utilize subsidized housing assistance programs. Funding awards will be issued on a first-come, first-serve basis for both programs, and will remain open until funding is depleted or until March 31, 2026 for the EEA program, or until June 30, 2026 for the EETF program. For eligibility and application information, visit:
Energy Efficiency Assessment Program https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/energy/energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency-assessment-program.html
Energy Efficiency Trust Fund Grant Program https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/energy/energy-efficiency/energy-effi ciency-trust-fund-grant.html
Energy efficiency assessments are an effective benchmarking tool to help reduce energy costs and improve building performance. Award recipients of the prior EEA funding opportunity are eligible to apply for and receive EETF program funding for energy efficiency projects identified in a third-party assessment of audit.
Before applying to the grant program(s), applicants must be pre-qualified through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal, https://gata.illinois.gov/. For more details on eligibility and how to apply to both the EEA and EETF programs, visit: https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/energy.html
The Illinois EPA was created in 1970 as part of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, making it the longest-standing environmental protection agency in the United States. The mission of the Illinois EPA is to safeguard environmental quality, consistent with the social and economic needs of the State of Illinois, so as to protect health, welfare, property, and the quality of life. For more information, visit the Illinois EPA’s website at https://epa.illinois.gov/