Equitable Energy Future Grant
Supports disadvantaged Illinois communities by funding clean-energy works led by local contractors and social organisations.
The Equitable Energy Future Grant is a state programme administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). It funds clean energy contractors, organisations, and service providers delivering clean energy projects and services in Illinois Disproportionately Affected Communities (DACs) — geographic areas defined under CEJA that have historically borne a disproportionate share of environmental burdens and lack access to clean energy benefits. Annual programme funding is up to $34 million, and individual awards are capped at $1 million per contractor. A separate DCEO source cites the programme at $25.5 million; the $34 million figure comes from the dedicated programme page and is the figure used here. The programme is one of 13 named CEJA initiatives and is operated alongside programmes such as the Energy Transition Community Grant ($40M/yr) and the Community Solar Energy Sovereignty Grant ($8.5M/yr).
Eligible applicants include for-profit companies, nonprofits, universities, and research organisations that are delivering clean energy work in Illinois DACs. Individuals are not eligible. Projects must be in or directly serving Disproportionately Affected Communities as defined under CEJA — applicants must verify DAC eligibility for their project geography before applying. Specific NOFO timing is not set out in currently available source materials; the programme is treated as rolling pending published NOFO announcements from DCEO. Contact CEO.CEJA@illinois.gov for current programme status.
The $1 million per-contractor award cap means that applicants with multiple simultaneous projects must stay within that ceiling in a single grant. Competitive applications will quantify clean energy benefits delivered specifically within DAC boundaries, demonstrate contractor capacity for community-based project delivery, and align with CEJA's explicit equity goals. DCEO's CEJA programme announcements page (dceo.illinois.gov/ceja/ceja-program-announcements.html) is the primary venue for NOFO releases and application instructions.
Grants of up to $1 million per contractor for clean energy projects and services delivered in Illinois Disproportionately Affected Communities, funded under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act.
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