The Bureau of Energy and Recycling seeks to demonstrate the economic development benefits, including job creation, of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and recycling through a variety of programs and services. Further, Bureau programs will demonstrate that economic development, sustainable energy, recycling practices, and environmental protection go hand in hand.

In addition, the Bureau will continue to promote the leadership of the State of Illinois, through its own energy and recycling policies and practices, at state facilities. Individually tailored programs are available to assist Illinois citizens, communities, non-profit organizations, businesses, industry, and other government agencies in an effort to achieve the Bureau's mission.

RECENTLY UPDATED

Click here for a summary of Bureau of Energy and Recycling programs.

Illinois Sustainable Education Project Guidelines and Application are now posted.  Click here for application and guidelines.

Program areas include the following:

ECONOMIC STIMULUS
On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the $787 billion economic stimulus bill known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  The Act includes substantial investment in Energy Initiatives.  DCEO’s Bureau of Energy and Recycling is charged with implementing these provisions in order to create jobs, stimulate the economy, improve the environment and further our Nation toward energy independence.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS
Energy efficiency investments in Illinois’ economy brings strong and diverse benefits, including protecting consumers and businesses from higher energy prices, improving electric reliability by reducing congestion on the electricity grid, supporting the retention of manufacturing jobs by reducing manufacturing energy costs and supporting the manufacture of new high-efficiency products, hedging risk against fuel price volatility, supporting public health and the environmental quality by reducing energy waste, and helping to keep Illinois’ energy dollars in the local economy.

RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAMS
Illinois boasts significant potential for renewable power and heating: wind, solar, and biogas offer both economic and environmental benefits. Wind energy costs have fallen significantly, and modern wind farms provide both stable income for farmers and significant property tax revenues for local governments. Biogas facilities allow livestock owners to transform wastes from pollution into clean energy, and solar thermal technologies offer an increasingly cost-effective alternative to volatile natural gas prices. Illinois strongly supports the development of these resources.

BIOFUELS PROGRAMS
Home-grown fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel reduce Illinois' dependence on foreign oil, keep energy dollars in the local economy, support local corn and soybean prices, and make a cleaner and healthier environment for Illinois. Illinois is the nation's largest ethanol producer, and is working hard to maintain leadership in biofuels technology development and production.

RECYCLING PROGRAMS
Every year, recycling in Illinois diverts over 9.1 million tons of useful materials from landfills and saves enough energy to heat and light 578,000 homes.  Recycling paper in Illinois saves 53.3 million trees alone.  Recycling material versus land-filling creates up to 10 times as many jobs, saves energy and generates cost-effective materials that are cycled back into the economic mainstream as manufacturing feedstock.  Illinois is proud of its performance in advancing recycling and best practices in solid waste management, while creating and retaining jobs for Illinois citizens.