Effective December 2024, the Illinois Clean Energy
Community Foundation Has Ceased Operations

Grant Programs – Energy

Prior to the final grant to Prairie State Conservation Coalition, the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation distributed 5,082 grants totaling approximately $323.2 million to Illinois schools, municipalities, local government agencies and nonprofit organizations to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy, natural areas and wildlife habitat in Illinois. For most of its existence, the majority of the Foundation’s funds (51%) supported Energy programs.

ENERGY PROGRAMS

The Foundation’s energy efficiency and renewable energy program supported:
• 3,617 energy efficiency projects
• 725 renewable energy projects
• 429 solar grants to K-12 schools in Illinois
• 16 net zero energy buildings
• 3 net zero energy wastewater treatment plants

K-12 Solar Schools Program
This program supported the installation of 1kW photovoltaic (PV) systems throughout Illinois at institutions serving kindergarten through grade 12. Since 2006, the Foundation distributed $5.4 million in 429 small-scale solar grants to educational institutions in Illinois. Each 1kW PV system installation allowed students to see how sunlight is converted into electricity and follow their system’s real-time generation online. The goal of this program was to turn school buildings into hands-on science experiments, helping teachers to instruct students about science, math, technology, the environment and other important topics. Ongoing support for schools was provided by the Foundation for Environmental Education.

Net Zero Energy Building Program
Since 2016, the Foundation supported 16 Net Zero Energy Projects including: schools/educational facilities, recreation centers, public housing facilities, municipal offices, public safety facilities and wastewater treatment plants

Net Zero Energy Wastewater Treatment Plants Program
The Foundation launched the Net Zero Energy Wastewater Treatment Plant program and awarded the first of three grants in 2016. This program encouraged wastewater treatment plants in Illinois to take a holistic approach to integrating energy efficiency, renewable self-generation and best practices. It helped demonstrate the energy potential of wastewater and feasibility of site net zero energy operations. The program also helped educate the public and professionals while it contributed to industry knowledge of operating net zero energy wastewater treatment plants.

Other Renewables Program
The Foundation supported projects in categories including solar thermal, biomass, advancing renewable energy and emerging technologies.
Solar thermal – to provide hot water, heating and cooling for buildings.
Biomass – to use materials such as wood, energy crops, food and animal waste, that can be turned into useful energy using processes including combustion, gasification and anaerobic digestion.
Advancing renewable energy – to purchase specialized renewable energy hardware for hands-on training programs at colleges and universities.
Emerging technologies – to support renewable energy technologies that were not widely used in Illinois.

PV for Nature/Welcome Centers Program
The Foundation supported the installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems at existing nature/welcome centers owned by park districts, forest preserves and other 501 (c)(3) non-profit organizations preserving natural areas in Illinois. This allowed the facilities to:
• Offset electricity purchased from the grid
• Lower electric utility costs
• Decrease carbon footprint
• Demonstrate that solar PV panels work in Illinois
• Educate the public about sustainability and renewable energy

Information updated as of December 2024.