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 economic stimulus bill is designed to revive the economy and put America back to work by saving or creating 3.5 million jobs over the next two years through $499 billion in critical investments and providing $288 billion in tax relief.
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.
STATE ENERGY PROGRAM - $3.1B TOTAL
The State Energy Program (SEP) provides formula grants from the Federal Department of Energy to states in order to fund programs geared to increase energy efficiency, reduce energy use and costs, develop alternative energy and renewable energy sources, promote economic development, and reduce reliance on foreign oil.
Illinois' formula allocation for SEP under the ARRA is $101,321,000. Types of projects likely to be covered may include:
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Renewable Energy
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Energy Efficiency
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Biofuels Refineries
ENERGY EFFICIENCY & CONSERVATION BLOCK GRANTS - $3.2B TOTAL ($2.8B TO STATES/$400M COMPETITIVE)
The purpose of the program is to assist eligible state and local government entities in implementing energy efficiency and conservation strategies to reduce fossil fuel emissions created as a result of activities within the jurisdictions of eligible entities; to reduce total energy use; and to improve energy efficiency in the transportation, building, and other appropriate sectors. Illinois’ total formula distribution under the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant Program is $112,175,600 of which DCEO will receive $21,834,600. Sixty percent of DCEO’s funds must be used to provide subgrants to units of local government in the state that are not eligible for direct formula grants from U.S. DOE.
Types of projects likely to be covered may include:
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Alternative fueled/electric fleet vehicles
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Building energy audits
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Efficiency improvements or renewable energy technologies for government facilities
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Distributed energy resource technologies (e.g. combined heat and power, ground source heat pumps)
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Energy efficient traffic signals and street lighting
"SMART" APPLIANCES - REBATES FOR CONSUMERS - $300M TOTAL
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. The ENERGY STAR label is now on major appliances, office equipment, lighting, home electronics, and more.
DCEO is to receive Illinois’ share of the non-competitive funding. At this time, the formula for distribution to each state has not been determined as U.S. DOE has not issued guidance.
COMPETITIVE PROGRAMS
DCEO is also monitoring a number of competitive Stimulus DOE programs, including:
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Research, Development, Demonstration, Deployment - $2.5 billion
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Advanced Battery Manufacturing - $2 billion
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Transmission/Smart Grid - $4.5 billion
Watch this site for more information on how you can access these programs.