Energy Efficiency Trust Fund Grant Program

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Office of Energy announces the availability of funds from the Energy Efficiency Trust Fund (“EE Trust Fund”). The EE Trust Fund was established by 20 ILCS 687/6-6 to benefit residential electric customers through projects reducing energy demand. Illinois EPA Office of Energy is responsible for establishing a list of projects eligible for grants from the EE Trust Fund and an application process with determined criteria for this grant program. Illinois EPA Office of Energy is offering funding to public housing authorities, units of local government (municipalities, counties or townships), or nonprofit organizations for implementation of energy efficiency improvements benefitting residents participating in federal, state, or local public housing programs, housing choice vouchers, rental assistance, or subsidized housing assistance programs. Funding will be awarded for projects of up to forty (40) dwelling units per location, with costs not to exceed $20,000 per dwelling unit. The proposed improvement projects must include upgrades identified in an energy efficiency assessment conducted by a third-party assessor within the last five (5) years. Eligible projects may include: o Building envelope insulation o Window replacement o Space heating and cooling equipment retrofit o Heating and cooling distribution system retrofit o Domestic hot water equipment o Lighting upgrades (indoor and/or outdoor) o High-Efficiency appliance replacement o Programmable thermostats All appliances, systems, equipment, and building material components must be certified to meet ENERGY STAR product criteria on the date of installation, as applicable. The ENERGY STAR product finder is available here: https://www.energystar.gov/productfinder/. The Illinois EPA Office of Energy will accept applications from public housing authorities, units of local government (municipalities, counties, and townships), or nonprofit organizations responsible for management of residential properties in the State of Illinois. For the purposes of this program, a “dwelling unit” means a structure or part of a structure that is used as a residence by a person or persons maintaining a common household. A dwelling unit includes: • A free-standing residential building intended for use by a single family; • A single-family unit in multi-family buildings with 2 or more units; • An apartment; • A room in which people sleep even if they share kitchens or bathrooms, such as transitional housing. Cost Share Requirement: The cost share for projects depends on the total award requested and are as follows: • 2% cost share of the total award requested for awards of $100,000 to $249,999.99; • 5% cost share of the total award requested for awards of $250,000 to $499,999.99; and • 10% cost share of the total award requested for awards of $500,000 to $1,000,000. Cost share may include money spent (i.e. personnel, etc.) or in-kind services utilized to complete the approved scope of work within the effective dates of the agreement. Indirect costs are not eligible for funding. Funding will be awarded to eligible applications on a first-come, first-serve basis, until all funds are depleted or until June 30, 2026, whichever occurs first. The projects to be funded are energy efficiency improvements (minimum of $50,000 and maximum of $1,000,000, not to exceed $20,000 per dwelling unit) at up to 40 Illinois dwelling units per location where residents receive housing assistance from local, state or federal programs. Upgrades to common spaces or health and safety improvements must not exceed 20% of the total funding request. The number of awards will depend on the number of applications received and the level of funding requested. The Agency may offer partial awards if available funding remains. Awardees will have a performance period of 12 months to complete the project. Applicants are eligible to apply for funding multiple times for the same opportunity; however, if the applicant has received an award through the current opportunity, that award needs to be closed before applying again. Applicants may only manage one (1) grant agreement through the program at a time. To reduce administrative and financial burdens, the Illinois EPA will remit payment to the grantee based on detailed invoices documenting costs to be incurred. For example, a grantee has contracted work to be performed; the contractor will invoice the grantee for the services provided and equipment purchased; and the grantee will submit that contractor invoice and any other contractor invoices no more frequently than monthly to the Illinois EPA for payment to the grantee. The payment to the grantee is not to exceed 100 percent of allowable costs. Grantee must provide proof of payment to the contractor no later than 45 days after receipt of payment from Illinois EPA. Eligible costs include equipment, labor, service, and contractual items. Administrative and indirect costs are not eligible.

This grant is intended to financially support energy efficiency at properties that serve residents receiving housing assistance from local, state or federal programs. Energy efficiency plays a crucial role in reducing the demand for energy, and overall lessening the impact of energy production on natural resources and environmental quality.

The Energy Efficiency Trust Fund was established by 20 ILCS 687/6-6 to benefit residential electric customers through projects determined to reduce energy demand in the State of Illinois. Illinois EPA Office of Energy is responsible for establishing a list of projects eligible for grants from the Energy Efficiency Trust Fund and an application process with determined criteria for this grant program.

Applications will be accepted until all funds are depleted or until June 30, 2026.

Grantees must complete any current award agreements with IEPA prior to submitting applications for additional funding through this program.

Registration details for Technical Support Office Hours are available on the attachment below or the Illinois EPA program webpage. Additional support for the Illinois Amplifund Portal is available at https://il-amplifund.zendesk.com/

The following eligibility conditions must be met: 1. Property is located in Illinois. 2. Applicant must be a public housing authority, municipality, county, township or nonprofit organization. 3. Property residents are be beneficiaries of a federal, state, or local housing program, housing choice vouchers, rental assistance or subsidized housing. 4. Property has had an energy efficiency assessment/audit performed in the last five (5) years. 5. The energy efficiency assessment/audit must contain written recommendations for energy efficiency improvements. 6. The proposed project will improve energy efficiency at the applicant's property. 7. The proposed project impacts 40 or fewer dwelling units at the residential property. 8. All appliances, systems, equipment and building material components meet ENERGY STAR product criteria, if available, on the date of installation. 9. The applicant must be able to provide detailed invoices for project costs. 10. Applicant must be able to meet cost share requirements. An entity may not apply until it has registered and pre-qualified through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal, www.grants.illinois.gov/portal. If applicable, each entity should check with their County or Municipalities' highest level (generally the treasurer, clerk, etc.) to see how they are currently registered in the GATA portal. Registration and pre-qualification are required annually. During pre-qualification, verifications are performed including a check of federal SAM.gov Exclusion List and status on the Illinois Stop Payment List. The Grantee Portal alerts the entity of “qualified” status or informs how to remediate a negative verification (e.g., inactive UEI, not in good standing with the Secretary of State). Inclusion on the SAM.gov Exclusion List cannot be remediated. For Local Governments there are two types of registrations, which include: • Centralized - primarily for Local Governments (most common type) - Counties and Municipalities with multiple departments and divisions where the funds/awards go to the county or municipality's highest level and then to the specific division or department. The highest entity level would register for all departments and divisions. All entities that fall under this centralized registration would be listed/identified in a “Grantee Note” by the registrant or the registrant can obtain assistance from EPA.GATA@illinois.gov to enter in the additional entities for them. All of the awards for any of the entities listed would go to the registered FEIN, UEI and GATA registration (a.k.a. Organization ID) numbers listed on the centralized registration. ONE Internal Control Questionnaire (ICQ) would be completed and ONE Indirect Cost Rate would be identified for all entities identified under the registration. • Parent/Child - primarily for Local Governments (least common type) - Counties and Municipalities with multiple departments and divisions that have their own UEI numbers AND receive the funds/awards directly. The funds/ awards DO NOT go through the highest level. The highest entity (the parent) level would register its FEIN and UEI, complete an ICQ, and select an indirect cost rate.

Registered in the GATA Grantee Portal and in good standing with pre-qualification requirements. All projects MUST have been identified in an energy efficiency assessment completed by a third-party assessor within the last five years. For purposes of this NOFO, “energy efficiency assessment” means a review of the residential property conducted by someone other than the applicant’s staff that resulted in written recommendation(s) with the purpose of improving energy efficiency or reducing energy costs. The assessment must be attached to the application materials and include, at minimum, the following information: a. Name of Third-Party Assessor and Contact Information b. Property Description (building envelope, mechanical systems, electrical, site conditions, descriptions of major upgrades, etc.) c. Energy Consumption Analysis (Electric consumption, other fuel consumption, breakdown of energy use, energy benchmarking, etc.) d. Existing Energy Use Behaviors/Best Practices e. Description of Recommendations (Current issues/observations, proposed project cost/annual savings/simple payback/rate of return, photos of current condition, photos of proposed upgrade equipment, etc.) NOTE: Only items listed in the energy audit recommendations will be funded as part of the energy efficiency project. The proposed project and these recommendations must correlate accordingly. f. Additional Measure Recommendations (savings measures that may excede economic payback performance) g. Conclusion Please visit https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/professional-home-energy-assessments for assistance locating professional energy assessment service providers in your area or talk with your utility provider for a personalized recommendation.Eligible entites may also apply to the Energy Efficiency Assessment Program to receive funding to conduct an energy efficiency assessment. Information on this program is available at https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/energy/energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency-assessment-program.html.

https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/energy.html

There will be a notice of award sent through the Amplifund portal.

Following eligibility review, a Grant Agreement between the Illinois EPA and the applicant will be sent for the applicant to sign and return. Once the Grant Agreement is fully executed by the Illinois EPA, a copy will be returned to the applicant. Only after the Grant Agreement has been signed by the Director or Director’s designee of the Illinois EPA can expenses be incurred for grant payment. Any expenses incurred outside of the project period (before or after) defined in the Grant Agreement are at the applicant’s risk and are not eligible for reimbursement related to the grant. The Grant Funds Recovery Act (30 ILCS 705) governs all grants resulting from this NOFO.

Quarterly performance and financial reporting will be required unless more frequent reporting is required pursuant to specific award conditions. These reports will describe the expenditure(s) of the funds and performance measures related thereto. The first report shall cover the first three months after the Award begins. Quarterly reports must be submitted no later than 20 calendar days following the three-month period covered by the report. Failure to submit the required reports may cause a delay or suspension of funding. Grantees will be required to submit cumulative performance and financial close-out reports. Any additional reporting requirements will be outlined in the executed agreement.

Rebecca Luke Energy Projects Coordinator 217-558-8145 rebecca.j.luke@illinois.gov