MS/J40 Program

The IEPA Office of Energy’s community college partner, the Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN), currently works with the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC) to assist with net zero education, planning, and support for Illinois community colleges. IGEN and SEDAC conduct stakeholder education and outreach by hosting collaborative meetings, develop members-only portals/webpages with additional resources, provide emissions inventory and net zero reports, as well as help with project implementation and progress tracking. Colleges with sufficient institutional resources such as staffing and funding work well for this program; however, those without sufficient resources are limited in their ability to plan beyond the short-term to make long-term systemic changes that will decrease energy use and increase energy efficiency on campus. Minority Serving Community College (MSCC) serving minoritized undergraduate and second-employment populations as noted in the UIUS Office of Community College Research and Leadership report https://occrl.illinois.edu/docs/librariesprovider2/update-newsletter/il-minority-serving-cc.pdf; those working with J40 communities as classified through the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#3/33.47/-97.5; those recognized as Environmental Justice Areas of Concern utilizing the IEPA’s EJ Start Map https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=f154845da68a4a3f837cd3b880b0233c; and/or those with low levels of budget expenditures per student are significantly impacted by this burden. Colleges that meet one or more of these markers, will be collectively referred to as MS/J40 and eligible to receive associated program services.

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

N/A

N/A

The intended outcome of this assistance-based program will be to encourage MS/J40 community colleges to analyze past, present, and future energy consumption behaviors and best management practices while providing analytical and hands-on educational opportunities for students and community members. Performance will be measured by engagement of program partner with Illinois based qualifying MS/J40 community colleges, to provide technical assistance for energy consumption benchmarking utilizing ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, to develop specialized community college net zero plans with identified energy efficiency projects, and allocate project funds to MS/J40 community colleges for implementation of curriculum. These performance measures align with the strategic goals of the Illinois EPA Office of Energy and U.S. DOE State Energy Program funding.

Yes

N/A

Other;

The Illinois EPA Office of Energy will be working directly with the Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN).

Beneficiary must be registered and pre-qualified through the GATA portal. Beneficiary must be in good standing with the Secretary of the State of Illinois. All work performed must be located in Illinois. The beneficiary must be able to provide up-front service costs with the understanding that reimbursement for eligible service costs will occur no more frequently than once per month.

Project Grants

Education

Established program with engaged partners; an outreach implementation timeline with key milestones; and itemized budget.

Beneficiary must be prequalified in the GATA portal.

IEPA Office of Energy will partner with IGEN for services. Application procedures are not applicable.

IEPA Office of Energy will partner with IGEN for services. Application criteria selection are not applicable. However, criteria selection for program participants will include the identification and confirmation of community colleges as identified according to the MS/J40 Environmental Justice Net Zero Planning Program criteria. Specifically, IGEN will reach out to community colleges identified as MSCCs, those working with significant J40 communities, those identified as Environmental Justice Areas of Concern, and/or those with the low levels of budget expenditures per student. Colleges selected for participation will be required to show that they have not developed a Net Zero Plan or a Climate Action Plan that contributes to a Master Plan guiding the development and renovation of campus infrastructure.

Following a decision of intent to award, the Illinois EPA is required by GATA to conduct a financial and administrative risk assessment of the beneficiary. Additional information may be required. Requested information must be provided within 30 days after notification of intent to award. The Programmatic Risk Assessment Questionnaire evaluates the beneficiaries ability to successfully carry out the terms of the program 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 beneficiaries’ ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements imposed on beneficiary. Once all requirements have been fulfilled, the beneficiary 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. All program projects should be planned for completion by April 2028 and all reimbursement requests submitted no later than June 2028

The program must be completed no later than June 30, 2028.

Fiscal Year 2025

IEPA Office of Energy will partner with IGEN for services. Appeals procedures are not applicable.

Renewal procedures are not applicable. If the program funds are not allocated to IGEN in accordance with the U.S. DOE Agreement EE0010070, then the funding must be reallocated to another program.

No match requirements

This grant funds the implementation of net zero planning and minor EE campus related projects for identified and eligible MS/J40 community colleges within the State of Illinois.

Quarterly GATA Uniform Periodic Performance Report (PPR) & the Uniform Periodic Financial Report (PFR); Annual Narrative Report; & Cummulative Close-out Performance, Financial, and Narrative Reports, as well as additional reporting as required by U.S. DOE Agreement EE0010070

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

To be outlined in the Uniform Grant Agreement.

$1,884,900.00

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 Department of Energy State Energy Program (SEP) funding can be found at:

Energy efficiency and energy conservation related net zero project funding may include the development or expansion of college curricula to include topics such as engineering efficiency with focus on building code and sustainable design, ecology with focus on anthropogenic effects and mitigation, climatology with focus on net zero emissions, or the like. Project funding may also include the implementation of EE projects identified in final net zero planning reports. EE project funding will be geared toward the procurement or upgrade of primary resources such as generators, water heaters, and lighting systems and/or controls.

7/2/2024

FY 2025 : $1,884,900