ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation was established in
December 1999 as an independent foundation with a $225 million endowment
provided by Commonwealth Edison.
The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation invests
in clean energy development and land preservation efforts, working with
communities and residents to improve environmental quality in Illinois.
The Foundation funds projects in three core program
areas: improving energy efficiency, developing renewable energy
resources, and preserving and enhancing natural areas and wildlife
habitat throughout Illinois.
The Foundation's programs have grown steadily since
it awarded its first sets of grants in 2001. Over the last seven years,
the Foundation has awarded 2634 grants, totaling $138 million to Illinois
nonprofit organizations, schools, municipalities and other local government
agencies. The grants support activity in our state's 102 counties.
The largest group of grants assists local governments
and nonprofits to make money-saving energy efficiency investments in
their facilities. Foundation grants have supported installation of high-efficiency
lighting in more than 3,000 buildings, including 2,000 K-12 schools.
The Foundation also is providing funding to design more than fifty new
and remodeled educational, public safety, affordable housing and other
community facilities to reduce their energy use.
In the renewable energy funding area, more than half
of all grants are supporting the installation of wind power systems
in Illinois communities, especially systems that will provide power
for schools and colleges. The second largest share of renewable energy
funding supports installation of solar energy systems, including small-scale
photovoltaic systems on dozens of K-12 schools.
The Foundation's natural areas funding is focused on
acquisition of important wildlife habitat. In all, $25 million in Foundation
grants have helped permanently protect 12,000 acres of land in Illinois.
