* Press release…

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) announced that Illinois has secured $430,251,378 million in federal funding from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program. The CPRG program is providing funding to implement projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Nearly 300 applications were submitted by entities nationwide for the project implementation grants totaling nearly $33 billion in funding requests. U.S. EPA awarded just 25 grants totaling $4.3 billion, with Illinois being the third largest award.

“When I signed the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, I did it knowing that we could not move into a clean energy future without ensuring that no one was left behind—and with this grant award, the Biden-Harris administration has made it clear that their priorities are the same,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This grant will fund clean buildings, agriculture, and transport, and further position Illinois as the hub for smart, clean development that we have strived to become.” […]

Other highlights from Illinois’ CPRG Application:

• Transportation: Transportation is the state’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, and Illinois’ application includes $115 million for heavy-duty vehicle electrification, reflecting Illinois’/Chicago’s status as a freight hub and burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing hub, as well as the disproportionate environmental justice impacts of heavy-duty vehicle pollution.
• Buildings: The largest section of Illinois’ application, $172 million, focuses on buildings, with an emphasis on improving access and affordability for clean building technologies in disadvantaged communities, as well as market development and contractor training. Deploying clean building technologies like heat pumps can help Illinoisans lower their bills and enjoy cleaner air and greater comfort in their homes while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Agriculture: More than $111 million of Illinois’ application is earmarked for projects to build climate leadership in the agricultural sector, a major industry in Illinois, and help incentivize sustainable, climate smart agricultural practices.

* From the US EPA…

Selected Application Summary

The selected application will support the State of Illinois in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, which commits the state to 100% carbon-free power by 2045. It will also promote energy efficiency, electric vehicle deployment, and building electrification and reforming utility planning and regulation. The grant will fund five priority reduction measures focused on building and industry decarbonization, freight electrification, climate-smart agriculture, and fossil fuel retirement.

Key Things to Know

Based on information provided by the applicant, the selected project will deliver the following benefits to reduce greenhouse gases and support communities:

• Accelerate clean and efficient buildings with the goal of retrofitting 12,000 homes and 2.3 million square feet of commercial space and training hundreds of clean building contractors.
• Provide incentives, workforce training, and technical assistance to reduce greenhouse gas and diesel emissions from freight, including trucks and trains.
• Establish a clean industry concierge to support low carbon retrofitting of 10 industrial facilities.
• Promote adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, including converting approximately 300,000 acres to no-till.
• Accelerate transition from gas-powered lawn equipment to electric equipment.
• Create high-quality jobs and new workforce training opportunities in low-income and disadvantaged communities to increase accessibility for individuals facing barriers to employment.