The Energy Transition Community Grant Program was created by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (Public Act 102-0662) in 2021. Prairie Rivers Network worked closely with coal communities to inform and advocate for the program. The annual grants are available to support communities in planning for or addressing the economic and social impact of a power plant or coal mine closure. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is in charge of administering the grant program.
Eligible applicants include local units of government, including municipalities, counties, school districts, and other taxing districts within 30 miles of a closed or closing power plant or coal mine. The fossil fuel power plant or nuclear power plant or coal mine must have closed or significantly reduced operation within 6 years before the application or will be closed or have operation significantly reduced within 6 years following the application. A list of eligible plants and mines is published with the Notice of Funding Opportunity each year.
We have prepared the following resources to help communities prepare for and apply for the grant. These resources were prepared based on the 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity and some grant program details may change in 2025.
- Fact Sheet
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Closed 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity (next NOFO expected January 2025)
- Grant Application Templates:
- Coming Soon! Phase 2 Stakeholder Engagement Toolkit
The following considerations are important if you are considering applying for this grant:
- An entity must be registered in the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal, https://grants.illinois.gov/portal/, at the time of grant application.
- If the eligible applicant is not the host city or village for an eligible plant or coal mine, the applicant must acquire a letter of support from the host city or village. If the mine or plant is in an unincorporated area, the county becomes the “host” and issues the letters of support.
