Illinois Environmental Protection Agency

The purpose of the Biomethane Program is to support the development of localized, community-based biomethane capture and utilization systems that significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions through on-site generation and use, such as anaerobic digestion, landfill gas capture, and strategies to reduce livestock off-gassing through dietary changes. Through a competitive grant structure, the initiative aims to transform the biomethane market by testing new technologies and deployment models that help decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors and enable communities and producers to participate in emerging biomethane and carbon-credit opportunities.

Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)

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The program is expected to fund at least 20 biomethane projects that collectively process roughly 5 million tons of solid waste. GHG reduction estimates are based on the U.S. EPA WARM model, comparing a no-recovery scenario to aggressive landfill gas recovery and offsite utilization. Cost assumptions reference NREL’s 2021 Select Food Waste Utilization Options report. Activity data include tons of manure processed and assumptions for mixed solid waste under typical Illinois landfill conditions.

Yes

https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-10/fy_2025_epa_general_terms_and_conditions_effective_october_1_2024_or_later.pdf

Government Organizations;

Applicants must be registered and pre-qualified through the GATA portal. Applicants must be in good standing with the Secretary of the State of Illinois. The project must be located in Illinois. The applicant must be able to provide up-front costs for the project with the understanding that reimbursement for eligible project costs will occur no more frequently than monthly.

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Project Grants

Economic Development

A project implementation timeline with key milestones, itemized project/s budget, and, if applicable, copy of engineering/project designs completed within the last five years identifying prospective project/s.

An entity may not apply for a grant until the entity has registered and pre-qualified through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal.

Applicants must use the application forms provided along with the GATA Uniform Application and the GATA Uniform Budget. Unless otherwise exempt from requirements under 2 CFR §25.110(b) or (c) or (d), all applicants are required to 1) be registered in SAM before submitting its application; 2) provide a valid UEI number in its application; and 3) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal, Federal pass-through or State award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal or State awarding agency.

All applications will be reviewed for administrative completeness and adherence to the competitive grant evaluation merit-based criteria described in the NOFO. Applications found to be administratively complete will undergo a comprehensive, merit-based review performed in compliance with GATA and 2 CFR 200 Uniform Requirements.

Following a decision of intent to award, the Illinois EPA is required by GATA to conduct a financial and administrative risk assessment of the applicant. Additional information may be required from all successful applicants. For an applicant to remain eligible for the award, it must provide the requested information within 30 days after notification of intent to award. The Programmatic Risk Assessment Questionnaire evaluates the applicant’s ability to successfully carry out the terms of a specific project and assesses four risk categories: 1) quality of management systems and ability to meet the management standards; 2) history of performance; 3) reports and findings from audits performed on prior awards; and 4) the applicant’s ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements imposed on awardees. Successful applicants will enter into a grant agreement with the Agency and be reimbursed by 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 as soon as the grant agreement is executed between the grantee and the Illinois EPA and signed by the Agency Director or Director’s designee.

Application deadline can be found in the published Notice of Funding Opportunity.

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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. Appeals must be received within 14 calendar 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.

No

Yes

This grant funds the implementation of biomethane projects throughout the State of Illinois. Restricted to eligible entities and projects identified in the NOFO.

Quarterly GATA Uniform Periodic Performance Report (PPR), Quarterly GATA Uniform Periodic Financial Report (PFR), Quarterly Narrative Performance Report (NPR), & Cumulative Close-out Performance, Financial, and Narrative Reports

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, 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.

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$250,000 - $1,000,000

According to EPA WARM model, reduce equivalent of 5 million tons of solid waste.

CODE of FEDERAL REGULATIONS Title 2: Grants and Agreements PART 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR 200) Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA), 30 ILCS 708/1 Illinois Administrative Code

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2520 W Iles Ave P.O. Box 19276 Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276

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

More information about U.S. EPA climate pollution reduction grants can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/inflation-reduction-act/climate-pollution-reduction-grants, and authorizing statues and regulations for U.S. EPA in Federal 2 CFR 200 and Section 60114 of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Biomethane projects may include anaerobic digestion systems, landfill gas capture and use, on-site biomethane energy use (heat, electricity, CHP), livestock dietary changes to reduce methane, improved manure management, organic waste collection and pre-processing, community-scale biomethane systems, methane leak detection and optimization technologies, and/or equipment or tools that support on-site biomethane use.

12/1/2025

FY 2026 : $20,660,000