Agencies
Services
Energy Efficiency Trust Fund Grant Program
Formerly the Low Income Residential Energy Efficiency Grant Program or LIREE
The Illinois EPA Office of Energy announces a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for availability of funds from the Energy Efficiency Trust Fund (EE Trust Fund). 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.
Illinois EPA Office of Energy intends to award funding to public housing authorities, local governments (municipalities, counties, or townships), or nonprofit organizations for implementation of energy efficiency improvements benefiting residents receiving housing assistance from a state or federal program. Funding will be awarded to single family or duplex residential properties located in an area of environmental justice concern. Areas of environmental justice (EJ) concern are communities that experience disproportionate adverse human health and environmental impacts. The Illinois EPA defines "area of EJ concern" as a census block group with a low-income and/or minority population greater than twice the statewide average.
Eligible EE Trust Fund projects include, but are not limited to building envelope insulation, window replacement, HVAC retrofit/upgrade, hot water equipment retrofit/upgrade, indoor/outdoor lighting upgrades, high-efficiency appliance installation/replacement, and/or programmable thermostat installation.
Applications will be accepted until all funding has been expended. The award range is $25,000 to $500,000. To be considered for funding, projects must have been identified by an energy efficiency audit performed at the residential property in the past 5 years. The cost share requirements range from 2% to 10% depending on the total award request. Please refer to the NOFO for additional details.
Important program changes:
- Eligible projects must be single family or duplex residential properties areas of environmental justice concern. EJ status can be pre-determined by the applicant by using the Illinois EPA EJ Start Mapping Tool.
- Applicants must have conducted an energy efficiency assessment in the last 5 years and submit with application.
- Eligibility expanded to all utility service areas.
- The application period will not close until funds are expended.
- Funding will be awarded to applicants meeting the eligibility criteria on a first come, first serve basis.
- Awarded grantees will submit contractor invoices. IL EPA will remit payment to the grantee to pay contractors. Proof of payment to contractors must be proviced to IL EPA within 45 days.
Send EE Trust Fund Grant Program questions to Rebecca Luke, Office of Energy - Energy Projects Coordinator at Rebecca.J.Luke@Illinois.gov. For more information about the Illinois EPA's commitment to advance environmental equity, visit the Office of Environmental Justice webpage.
Application Assistance Resources
EE Trust Fund Grant Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
COMING SOON EE Trust Fund Grant Program Application Assistance Webinar
Application Forms
If you are having trouble opening any of the pdf documents, please right-click the document link and choose “save as,” then open the downloaded file outside of your internet browser with Acrobat Reader.