Energy Efficiency Trust Fund 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 that benefit 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 20 dwelling units per location. 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.

N/A; State Funded

20 ILCS 687/6-6

N/A

The Illinois EPA Office of Energy will accept applications from public housing authorities, units of local government (municipalities, counties, and townships), or nonprofit organizations for implementation of energy efficiency improvements at properties benefiting residents receiving housing assistance. Funding will be awarded for projects of up to 20 dwelling units per location.

Yes

The Grant Funds Recovery Act (30 ILCS 705) applies to this program.

Government Organizations; Public Housing Organizations; Nonprofit Organizations;

Eligible applicants must submit a project located in Illinois; Proposed project must be located in an environmental justice area of concern; Property maintained by public housing authority, municipality, county, township, or nonprofit organization; Property primarily used for residential purposes; Property must be single family or duplex residential property; Proposed project benefits residents receiving housing assistance; Proposed project decreases energy demand or consumption at the property; Applicant can meet the match requirement outlined in CSFA.

N/A

Project Grants

Government Services

Registered in the GATA Grantee Portal and in good standing with pre-qualification requirements.

N/A

Applicants are required to submit a comprehensive narrative project plan that describes all aspects of the project(s). The narrative project plan will include the following, at minimum: 1. Cover letter with description of the project scope and anticipated impact on residents. 2. A description of the applicant, the project, and eligible project activities for each eligible property including: a. Applicant name; b. Applicant organization governance/type (e.g., public housing authority, municipality, county government, nonprofit, etc.); c. Applicant address; d. Scope of applicant organization’s geographical reach; e. Physical address of the property to benefit from the proposed project; f. Property county; g. Property description (i.e. facility use, number of dwelling units, mechanical systems, age of appliances, etc.); h. Dwelling units to be included in project (description of unit such as unit number and/or location) i. Date of energy efficiency assessment provided with application in response to item B4 below. j. Description of how the properties to benefit from the proposed project is classified under local, state, and federal housing programs; k. Electricity service provider; l. Total project costs/total funding request. m. Type of project(s) (e.g., the part of building affected, description of current equipment to be replaced, description of proposed replacement equipment, etc.); n. List of appliances, system, equipment, and building material upgrades that are ENERGY STAR certified o. Narrative energy savings (kWh) rationale for the proposed project; p. Estimated total energy savings (kWh) of proposed project; q. Estimated total cost savings of proposed project; r. Average electricity rate paid ($/kWh) for the previous 12 months; and s. Communication plan for sharing project information and benefits with current residents. 3. A project implementation timeline with key milestones for each eligible property. The timeline and milestones should include the following relative to the proposed energy efficiency activities: a. Anticipated date for entering into a contract with a vendor for purchasing all necessary equipment to carry out the project; b. Anticipated date for entering into a contract with a contractor for installation of equipment; c. Anticipated date for beginning project work: d. Anticipated project completion date; e. Anticipated first monthly payment request; and f. Anticipated final monthly payment request. 4. A project budget that itemizes equipment and labor costs and separates eligible from ineligible costs, including any/all equipment, service, labor, and contractual costs. The contractor(s) the applicant anticipates using for the project and itemized associated costs for each should be included. Important: Any/all equipment, service, labor, and contractual costs itemized in the project budget should correspond to the narrative project scope provided in the Cover Letter. 5. 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. 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.) 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. Successful applicants will enter into a grant agreement with the Agency. Selected applicants will submit invoices for payment no more frequently than monthly. The start date for the performance of the award is as soon as the grant agreement is executed between the awardee and Illinois EPA. Projects should be planned for completion within 12 months of the execution of the grant agreement. All payment requests must be submitted no later than 14 months after the execution of the grant agreement.

All applications will be reviewed for completeness and adherence to the grant eligibility requirements described in this NOFO. Applications found to be complete and meet ALL eligibility requirements will be funded, on a first come first serve basis. The program will accept applications until all available funds have been awarded. Additional review processes include: • If the Agency determines that an applicant incorrectly calculated or indicated the project cost and/or total funding request based on the applicable cost estimate or eligible costs, and the Agency can correct the error, the application will still be accepted and reviewed. If the applicant is awarded the grant, the Agency will contact the applicant and request a decision from the applicant as to whether it will accept the award based on the Agency’s determination of the project cost and/or total funding requested. If the applicant does not accept the Agency’s determination, the application will be rejected. • If the amount of available grant funding is not sufficient to fund the application in its entirety, the review committee may evaluate the application to determine if a discrete portion or phase of the Project meeting the mission of this NOFO can be funded. • Illinois EPA staff will be responsible for reviewing applications. • Neither the State of Illinois nor Illinois EPA is obligated to make any award as a result of this NOFO. Grant applicants are not authorized to proceed with projects until the Director has signed the Grant Agreement.

Successful applicants will enter into a grant agreement with the Agency. Grantees will submit detailed invoices for eligible project costs to the Agency no more frequently than once per month for the duration of the agreement. The start date for the performance of the award is the date the grant agreement is executed between the awardee and Illinois EPA. The cost share for selected projects depends on the total award request, and requirements are as follows: • 2% cost share of the total project cost for awards between $25,000 to $99,999.99; • 5% cost share of the total project cost for awards between $100,000 to $249,999.99; and • 10% cost share of the total project cost for awards between $250,000 to $500,000. Match may include money spent (i.e. personnel, indirect, etc.) or in-kind services utilized to complete the approved scope of work within the effective dates of the grant agreement. If an applicant wants to use a grant from another funding agency as match, the applicant should check with the funding agency issuing the grant to ensure that it may be used as match for the Energy Efficiency Trust Fund Grant Program.

As identified in NOFO.

As identified in NOFO

A merit-based evaluation appeal process is available to applicants who submit a complete application. Evaluation scores may not be protested. Only the evaluation process is subject to appeal. An appeal must be submitted in writing to the following address: Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Attn: Energy Efficiency Trust Fund Evaluation Process Appeal, Office of Energy, 1021 N. Grand Avenue East, PO Box 19276, Springfield, Illinois, 62794-9276. Appeals must be received within 14 calendars days after the date that the grant award notice has been published by the Illinois EPA to grants.illinois.gov. The written appeal should include at a minimum the following: the name and address of the appealing party, identification of the grant, and a statement of reasons for the appeal. The Agency will acknowledge receipt of an appeal within 14 calendar days from the date the appeal was received. When an appeal is received, the execution of all grant agreements that the Illinois EPA intends to make under this NOFO shall be stayed until the appeal is resolved, unless the Illinois EPA determines the needs of the State require moving forward with execution of the grant agreements. The State need determination and rationale shall be documented in writing. The Agency will respond within 50 days or supply a written explanation to the appealing party as to why additional time is required. The appealing party must supply any additional information requested by the Illinois EPA within the time period set in the request. The Illinois EPA will resolve the appeal by means of written determination, which shall include, but not be limited to, review of the appeal determination, and rationale for the determination.

N/A

The cost share for selected projects depends on the total award request, and requirements are as follows: • 2% cost share of the total project cost for awards between $25,000 to $99,999.99; • 5% cost share of the total project cost for awards between $100,000 to $249,999.99; and • 10% cost share of the total project cost for awards between $250,000 to $500,000. Match may include money spent (i.e. personnel, indirect, etc.) or in-kind services utilized to complete the approved scope of work within the effective dates of the grant agreement. If an applicant wants to use a grant from another funding agency as match, the applicant should check with the funding agency issuing the grant to ensure that it may be used as match for the Energy Efficiency Trust Fund Grant Program.

Eligible projects include but are not limited to: 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 o Energy metering changes

The Uniform Periodic Performance Report (PPR) and the Uniform Periodic Financial Report (PFR) are required at a minimum on a quarterly basis. Quarterly 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 PPR and PFR report shall cover the first three months after the Award begins. Quarterly reports must be submitted no later than 30 calendar days following the three-month period covered by the report. Failure to submit the required PPR and PFR report may cause a delay or suspension of funding. In performance reports, Grantees must report the status of the project, specific tasks completed during the reporting period, tasks that remain to be completed, and the projected date of project completion. In financial reports, the grantee must report specific costs incurred and paid by the grantee during the reporting period. Also, grantees will be required to submit cumulative performance and financial close-out reports. A template of the quarterly report(s) will be supplied to all grantees. Any additional reporting requirements will be outlines in the executed agreement.

Illinois Administrative Code 7000.90

Grantee shall maintain for three (3) years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report, adequate books, all financial records and, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to this Award, adequate to comply with 2 CFR 200.334, unless a different retention period is specified in 2 CFR 200.334, 44 Ill. Admin. Code 7000.430(a) and (b) or PART TWO or PART THREE. If any litigation, claim or audit is started before the expiration of the retention period, the records must be retained until all litigation, claims or audit exceptions involving the records have been resolved and final action taken.

44000000

$5,000,000

$25,000-$500,000

N/A

The EE Trust Fund was established to benefit residential electric customers through projects determined to promote energy efficiency in the State of Illinois, per 20 ILCS 687/6-6.

N/A

1021 North Grand Ave East, Springfield, IL 62794

https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/energy/energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency-trust-fund-grant.html

Wastewater Treatment Plant Assessments 532-30-1672; Wastewater Treatment Plant Energy Efficiency 532-30-2080

Attic insulation, heating and cooling distribution system retrofit, upgrade to EnergyStar high-efficiency appliances, installation of programmable thermostats, lighting and window upgrades.

10/17/2023

FY 2023 : $2,000,000
FY 2024 : $5,000,000
FY 2025 : $5,000,000