Gov. Pritzker Announces Illinois Has Been Awarded Over $430 Million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant
Illinois Receives Full Request and Third Largest Award
July 22, 2024
CHICAGO- 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.”
Under the planning phase of the CPRG program, U.S. EPA provided funding to interested states to design climate action plans. These plans were to focus on six major sectors responsible for GHG emissions: electricity generation, industry, transportation, buildings, agriculture/natural and working lands, and waste management. Illinois’ Priority Climate Action Plan was submitted to U.S. EPA on March 1, 2024. Under the implementation phase of the CPRG program, U.S. EPA encouraged applicants to seek funds for projects that will significantly reduce cumulative GHG emissions by 2030 and beyond, while accelerating decarbonization across one or more of the six identified sectors. Applications were scored with an emphasis on the magnitude of near-term GHG reductions to be achieved.
The structure of the programs in Illinois’ CPRG application builds on the progress already achieved as a result of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), signed into law in 2021, which committed Illinois to 100% carbon-free power by 2045. The projects outlined in Illinois’ CPRG application apply similar power sector decarbonization strategies to other sectors – including transportation, buildings, agriculture, and industry.
Equity and workforce development were priorities throughout Illinois’ application. In addition to being a significant opportunity for Illinois to preserve our climate, it was deliberately structured to help lower Illinoisans’ energy bills, support disadvantaged communities, create jobs, and build our economy. It is also structured to benefit all of Illinois, sharing benefits across the state.
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.
A Comprehensive Climate Action Plan will be due two years after the planning grant award. Prior to the CPRG award, Illinois was already recognized as a national leader on climate following the implementation of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, which puts the state’s power sector on the path to decarbonization.
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