Governor Pritzker Announces $57 Million in Grant Awards Through the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act

CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced 88 awards totaling $57 million through the Community Solar Energy Sovereignty Grant Program ($7.7 million), Equitable Energy Future Grant Program ($10.3 million), and Energy Transition Community/Zion Grant Program ($39 million) – initiatives under the landmark Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). These programs will catalyze energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that will help clean energy businesses grow and utilize Illinois’ clean energy workforce.

“A true clean energy future is one that leaves no community behind,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Through the transformative Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, we’re ensuring historically disadvantaged communities are at the forefront as we grow our clean energy economy. These grant programs are driving clean energy projects where they’re needed most, creating opportunities and a future where all Illinoisans can thrive.”

“These investments are more than just dollars—they are commitments to communities that have historically been left behind in the energy economy,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “By prioritizing workforce development, and innovation, we are ensuring that all Illinoisans—regardless of zip code—have access to the benefits of our growing clean energy sector.”

Community Solar Energy Sovereignty Grant Program

Through the Community Solar Energy Sovereignty Grant Program, $7.7 million is being awarded to 11 grantees to more equitably grow the clean energy workforce. The program supports community-based organizations and technical service providers in low-income and historically disadvantaged communities to plan, develop, and execute community solar projects.

“The programs DCEO is administering through CEJA are essential to achieving our mission of a more sustainable future for Illinois,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “The State of Illinois is creating programs through an equitable lens to support communities that need it most and positive changes that will last for generations.”

The goal of this grant program is to provide upfront seed capital funding to overcome barriers to project development caused by lack of capital in historically disadvantaged communities. The program prioritizes funding for community solar projects that are located in and provide benefits to environmental justice or Restore Reinvest Renew (R3) communities. Environmental justice and R3 communities are areas where residents have historically been excluded from economic opportunities, including opportunities in the energy sector, and areas that experience high levels of pollution.

“The landmark Climate and Equitable Jobs Act is already changing lives and livelihoods across Illinois,” said Senate President Don Harmon (D – Oak Park). “These grants will help us build upon the progress that has already been made through CEJA while bolstering a diverse clean energy workforce.” ​

“CEJA programs are helping us prepare Illinois’ world-class workforce for the clean energy jobs of the future,” said Assistant Majority Leader Marcus C. Evans, Jr. (D – Chicago). “The State has designed equity-focused programs that remove barriers to entry and provide opportunities in historically disadvantaged communities.” ​ ​
​

Equitable Energy Future Grant Program

The Equitable Energy Future Grant Program is delivering awards totaling $10.3 million to 12 grantees to provide seed funding and pre-development funding opportunities to equity eligible contractors to work on renewable energy projects in low-income and historically disadvantaged communities. The goal of the Equitable Energy Future Grant Program is to help remove barriers to projects, community, and business development in communities that have been historically left behind due to lack of available capital.

Qualified entities included equity eligible contractors, non-profits, co-operatives majority-governed by equity eligible persons, and businesses or non-profits with a proposed project that meets equity building criteria. Equity eligible contractors are businesses or non-profits that are majority-owned by equity eligible persons, including participants/graduates of CEJA workforce programs, Illinoisans who are in the foster care system or who were formerly in the foster care system, people who were formerly incarcerated, and Illinoisans who live in an R3 zone or environmental justice community.

Energy Transition Community/Zion Grant Program

Sixty-five localities and municipal entities will receive awards totaling $39 million through the Energy Transition Community/Zion Grants Program – an initiative under CEJA that provides funding for communities that have been impacted by closures or significant reductions of fossil fuel plants, coal mines, or the nuclear plant in Zion. Communities in 22 areas impacted by recent or impending plant or mine closures or reductions were eligible to apply for the program.

Both programs are designed to meet the needs of individual localities by addressing the economic and social impacts of plant closures. The funding can be used on a variety of initiatives and investments, including workforce investments, housing support, business attraction efforts, and more. Recipients were selected by responding to a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) with a letter of support from the municipality or county where the plant or mine was located.

As part of the program, the grantees will develop detailed plans for the grant funding, which includes stakeholder engagement and a detailed project design and budget that outlines specific intended uses for the grant funds. The community stakeholder engagement process is a critical element designed to ensure grantees solicit community input and consult with a diverse set of stakeholders to best support those most impacted by energy transitions.

Grant awards were calculated based on the economic impact of plant or mine closure, specifically, property tax losses and jobs lost due to the plant transition, with a minimum award of $50,000. A link to the full list of recipients can be found here.

The Community Solar Energy Sovereignty, Equitable Energy Future, and Energy Transition Community/Zion Grant Programs are among several contractor, workforce, and community support programs established by the landmark CEJA legislation intended to move Illinois to a 100% carbon-free future. Under CEJA, DCEO will administer $180 million per year in workforce and community support programs designed to enhance Illinois’ clean energy economy and prepare the state’s workforce and communities for the jobs of the future.

The CEJA training, contractor, and community investment programs administered by DCEO include: