PWS EE Grant Program

The U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) State Energy Program (SEP) provides funding and technical assistance to advance state-led energy initiatives and maximize the benefits of decreasing energy waste, per 10 CFR 420. Funding for this grant program comes directly from the USDOE Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) SEP program funding. The Illinois EPA Office of Energy is responsible for state-level program development and management, including the application process with determined criteria for this grant program and establishment of projects eligible for funding aimed at reducing the energy burden for Illinois consumers. Illinois EPA Office of Energy intends to fund the implementation of energy efficiency projects at public water supply (PWS) facilities, also referred to as drinking water treatment plants. Eligible energy efficiency measures identified in the projects must have been identified in an earlier energy efficiency assessment. Projects will be scored and selected based on project cost effectiveness as determined by proposed energy savings (kWh) per dollar invested and energy cost impact. Additional points will be added to any application that includes a project serving an area of environmental justice concern, as identified by the Illinois EPA Office of Environmental Justice AND for projects served by municipally-owned electric utilities or electric cooperatives. Energy burden (%) of the PWS service area will be used to break a tie.

Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58)

N/A

N/A

The intended outcome of this program is to support publicly-owned public water supply facilities and efforts to reduce the total energy consumption and costs associated with these facilities in the State of Illinois. Performance will be measured for each project (measured data pre- and post-upgrade) according to the following metrics: the net annual energy saved at the facility (kWh/year); energy saved per dollar funded (kWh/$), and the amount of energy used to process one million gallons of wastewater (kWh/MG). These metrics will be evaluated at the conclusion of a project and compared to both the pre-award state of the facility and the anticipated post-award state for the proposed project provided by the applicant. These performance measures align with the strategic goals of the Illinois EPA Office of Energy and are supported by the Illinois Performance Reporting System.

Yes

N/A

Government Organizations; Other;

The Illinois EPA Office of Energy will accept applications from publicly-owned PWS facilities in the State of Illinois. Additional points and prioritization will be given to properties in Illinois EPA area of Environmental Justice Concern and for projects located in municipally-owned electric utility or electric cooperative service territory.

N/A

Project Grants

Government Services

A project implementation timeline with key milestones, itemized project/s budget, and a copy of third-party energy efficiency assessment of facility 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. Applicants are required to submit a comprehensive narrative project plan that includes all aspects of the project(s). The plan should identify the following, at minimum, 1) a description of the applicant, the project, and the eligible project activities; 2) a project implementation timeline with key milestones. The anticipated timeline and milestones should be determined to the best of the applicant’s ability and include the following relative to the proposed energy efficiency activities; 3) a project budget that itemizes any/all equipment, service, labor, and contractual costs, as well as identifies eligible and ineligible costs separately; 4) project/s must have been identified in an energy efficiency assessment completed by a third-party assessor within the last five years that resulted in a facility-specific written recommendation(s) with the purpose of improving energy efficiency or reducing energy costs. A copy of the original energy efficiency assessment must be attached to the application materials. Complete applications must be submitted electronically by January 19, 2024 at 5:00 pm to epa.energygrants@illinois.gov with “[Applicant Name] PWS EE Application Materials” in the subject line. Applications submitted after 5:00 pm on January 19,2024 will not be considered for funding. All project descriptions, proposals, charts, tables, cost estimates, and copy of energy efficiency assessment must be included with the application.

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. The merit-based review is designed to evaluate projects against the following criteria in priority order: cost effectiveness, energy cost impact (i.e., savings and energy rate), and areas of environmental justice concern. If tie-breakers are needed, the highest energy burden (%) for the location of the property as defined by the USDOE LEAD Tool will be used to determine funding award. Energy burden is defined as the average annual housing energy costs divided by the average annual household income for a given geographic area.

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. Projects should be planned for completion by March 2026 and all reimbursement requests submitted no later than April 2026

Deadlines will be NOFO specific

Anticipated dates will be listed 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. 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.

N/A

10% match in an Illinois EPA area of Environmental Justice concern or 20% match outside an EJ area of concern.

This grant funds the implementation of energy efficiency projects at public water supply (PWS) facilities, also referred to as drinking water treatment plants. Restricted to eligible entities and projects identified in the NOFO.

Quarterly GATA Uniform Periodic Performance Report (PPR) & the Uniform Periodic Financial Report (PFR), & 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 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.

N/A

N/A

$20,000 to $500,000

N/A

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

N/A

1021 North Grand Avenue East, Springfield, IL 62794

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

More information about Deptartment of Energy State Energy Program (SEP) funding can be found at: https://www.energy.gov/eere/wipo/state-energy-program, and authorizing statues and regulations for Dept. of Energy SEP can be found at 10 CFR 420

Energy efficiency and energy conservation measures may include improvement to pump and motor equipment including proper sizing and/or upgrades to standard efficiency motors or installment of variable frequency drives (VFDs); energy demand management, including load shifting; as well as HVAC and/or lighting upgrades.

12/6/2023

FY 2024 : $750,000