Gov. Pritzker Joins U.S. EPA to Announce Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Grants for Illinois

CHICAGO- Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Illinois EPA Director James Jennings to celebrate funding for Illinois provided by U.S. EPA through the Inflation Reduction Act. The first grant, previously announced in July, was funded through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) implementation program, totaling $430 million.

Illinois was also selected to receive two awards totaling $95 million through EPA’s Clean Ports Program, which was announced by EPA in late October.

“Today we are celebrating another tremendous step forward in the mission to create jobs and build a cleaner future, securing more than $500 million across two different grants to help propel us toward becoming one of the best states in the nation when it comes to addressing the climate crisis,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This partnership between state and federal agencies has once again yielded incredible results for our state – cleaner air and water, stronger and more sustainable infrastructure, and further economic growth and opportunity. I am deeply grateful to the Biden–Harris administration for believing and investing in our vision.”

“This unprecedented funding from the Biden-Harris administration will help build a greener, cleaner, healthier future for Illinois residents,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. “EPA congratulates Gov. Pritzker for his leadership and innovative plans to fight climate change in Illinois and power the state’s economy through zero-emission technologies and resources.”

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 general CPRG implementation competition totaling nearly $33 billion in funding requests. U.S. EPA awarded 25 grants totaling $4.3 billion, with Illinois being the third largest award. This is the second phase of CPRG funding, and Illinois was initially awarded $3M for planning through CPRG Phase I in the summer of 2023.

U.S. EPA’s Clean Ports Program will support the deployment of zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure at water ports across Illinois. The program will also fund planning activities to build the capacity of ports to transition to zero-emission operations over time. Illinois was selected for two grants through the program, a $92 million deployment award for zero-emission technology deployment, and a $3 million award for climate and air quality planning. In April, the Illinois EPA solicited projects through a competitive Call for Partners. Through that solicitation, the Illinois EPA partnered with the Illinois International Port District (IIPD), the Kaskaskia Regional Port District, the Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District (MetroLINK), the Shawneetown Regional Port District, and the Upper Mississippi River International Port District for the deployment grant. This $92 million zero-emission technology deployment award will fund zero-emission locomotives, drayage trucks, and other freight-handling equipment such as skid steers and forklifts, as well as electric vehicle chargers, hydrogen dispensers, solar power, and on-site battery storage.

“I’m thrilled that Illinois continues to benefit from the Inflation Reduction Act with this federal funding through EPA’s Clean Ports Program and Climate Pollution Reduction Grant,” said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. “All Illinoisans deserve clean air to breathe and clean water to drink, and these initiatives make that a reality for our communities that have long been overburdened by industrial pollution. With these significant investments, we will help protect the planet for the next generation by investing in climate-smart agriculture and decarbonization, reduce air pollution, and facilitate Illinois’ goal to reach 100% carbon-free power by 2045.”

"Access to clean air, water and energy is not a privilege-- it's a fundamental right for all Americans," said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. "As we continue to grapple with the consequences of climate change, I'm grateful the U.S. EPA and Illinois EPA are delivering to better the lives of Illinoisans. Our only way forward is together-- at every level."

“The State of Illinois is proud to partner with public ports to advance the electrification of freight movement across the state,” said Illinois EPA Director James Jennings. “Through funding for zero-emission locomotives, trucks, tractors, forklifts, and more, these infrastructure and planning awards will complement the state’s efforts to transition to 100% clean energy by 2050.”

“The IIPD is proud to be a collaborating partner with the Illinois EPA as a recipient of Clean Ports Program grant funds. We continue to shape our future in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner,” said Ivan Solis, IIPD Board Chairman. “These funds will be put to work as we transform our port into the green ‘Multimodal Hub of the Future.’ This investment puts us in a prime position for future development as we look to bring in new tenants and move toward more sustainable technologies, including electric vehicle supply equipment, shore power infrastructure, solar and wind power generation, hydrogen fueling infrastructure, battery energy storage systems and much more.”

In addition to funding freight-handling equipment, the zero-emission technology deployment grant will support the purchase of a battery-electric passenger ferry in the Quad Cities to replace a diesel-powered ferry currently operated by MetroLINK.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Illinois EPA on the first battery-electric ferryboat project in Illinois”, said Jennifer Hirsch, Manager of Administration for MetroLINK. “These grant funds will help expand our sustainability and electrification footprint in the Quad Cities, while enhancing the health and vitality of our community. We thank the State of Illinois for their commitment to advancing sustainable infrastructure across the state.”

The planning grant will cover several port districts: Illinois Waterway Ports Commission (includes five port districts), the Mid‐America Intermodal Authority Port District, and the Upper Mississippi River International Port District.

Prior to the Clean Ports and CPRG selections, 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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