Gov. Pritzker, ComEd Announce $50 Million Federal Grant for Rockford Grid Modernization
Clean energy investments under Pritzker administration continue with Rockford project, which will total $116M by 2029
October 24, 2024
ROCKFORD- Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined ComEd, Region 1 Planning Council, Rockford leadership, and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to announce that DOE has granted ComEd $50 million in federal funding to enhance the city of Rockford’s power grid. This Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership (GRIP) program investment, the largest in Illinois history, supports DOE’s ongoing clean energy initiative in states across the nation.
“Over the past several years, Illinois has established itself as a leader in the fight against climate change and a powerhouse in the new energy economy. Today, through a $116 million dollar investment in enhanced grid technology and resiliency, energy interconnectivity, and renewable infrastructure deployment, the Biden-Harris administration is bringing us a step closer to meeting our ambitious climate and energy goals,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “To the City of Rockford, ComEd, DOE, and Region1 Planning Council, thank you for investing in the present and future of Illinois. I am proud to be your partner in this work and look forward to seeing this project – and others just like it – come to life across the state.”
"In Illinois, we've made it clear that we are committed to a clean energy future, and one that is rooted in equity” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “This investment not only expands access to renewable resources and strengthens our grid, it’s the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) in action.”
“By Investing in America, the Biden-Harris Administration is updating our energy infrastructure to ensure our U.S. power grid can provide reliable, affordable power for generations to come,” said U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy David M. Turk. “The Department of Energy is making the largest-ever direct investment in critical grid infrastructure through projects like ComEd’s, supporting essential work to build resilience while generating union jobs for highly skilled workers.”
The $50 million in federal funds will be matched by ComEd, alongside other investments from community partner Region 1 Planning Council and various innovation partners and vendors. By 2029, the investment in the Rockford grid will total about $116 million. The funds will enhance ComEd’s clean energy investments, further expand access to carbon energy resources, improve grid resilience against extreme weather, and offer clean jobs training for members of the Rockford community and surrounding areas.
“The GRIP grant is indicative of Illinois’ emergence as a national leader in the clean energy transition,” said Gil C. Quiniones, CEO of ComEd. “These funds will not only help ComEd to modernize and decarbonize Rockford’s grid but also to prepare jobseekers for careers in the fast-growing clean energy sector. ComEd is proud to partner on this investment with the U.S. Department of Energy, the State of Illinois and a wide range of Rockford-area organizations with a role in preparing the city’s infrastructure for a cleaner, more electrified, more equitable energy future.”
“The City of Rockford is honored to be part of this impactful project to enable electrification and decarbonization,” said Thomas P. McNamara, Mayor of Rockford. “In addition to improving power quality needs in our area and supporting the expansion and development of new businesses within the city, we look forward to continued collaboration with ComEd to maximize the project’s benefits with expanded community education and local workforce development for our residents.”
Following Governor Pritzker’s landmark Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) in 2021, the state has worked to secure private and federal investments to strengthen Illinois’ clean energy initiatives. With an ultimate goal of putting Illinois on a path to 100 percent clean energy by 2050, partners like the DOE, ComEd, and Region 1 Planning Council, have become instrumental in developing clean energy technologies and equitable workforce development in the clean energy industry.
Rockford joins as one of only 57 smart grid projects nationwide, and over the next twelve months, ComEd and other partners will identify areas and communities that would most benefit from clean energy and grid investments. Soon, the Rockford community will also see increased workforce development and small business resource programs to support the ongoing clean energy transition and secure the workforce of the future.
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