This July, PRN was proud to co-host a webinar series with the University of Illinois Extension and the Just Transition Fund to explore state and federal opportunities related to the energy transition. These included topics on clean energy programs, transportation electrification, and other programs and initiatives focused on reinvestment in Illinois’ rural communities and coal communities.
The growth we are experiencing in clean, renewable energy in Illinois is part of a national trend that is expected to accelerate. For the past decade we’ve seen a shift away from coal as our coal fleet has aged, natural gas and renewable prices have fallen, and concerns of a warming planet have increased. This transition to clean energy is not without its challenges, but it also brings immense opportunity, particularly for rural communities.
Recent state and federal laws have sought to capitalize on this opportunity and to address some of the challenges to ensure that investments are reaching people and communities that need them the most. The Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, the bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have all dramatically transformed the energy landscape for rural communities; offering game-changing access to clean energy tax credits and a suite of programs to deliver cost-effective clean energy projects. Our webinar series can help you get an introduction to the programs, initiatives, and people that can support you and your community through this energy transition.
Webinar 1: The first webinar in our Energy Transition Webinar Series focused on the clean energy opportunities available from USDA Rural Development. The PACE Program, New ERA Program, and the REAP Grant bring affordable clean energy to communities, rural electric cooperatives, and rural small businesses and farms, respectively. We shared how these funds are “stackable” along with state “renewable energy credits” and federal tax credits, that are newly available as “direct pay” to non-taxable entities. You can watch Webinar 1 here!
Webinar 2: The second webinar focused on state and federal investments that will bring Illinois communities a wide variety of opportunities in economic development, clean energy, transportation electrification, and more. We heard from the Economic Development Administration, the State Energy Office, IL Department of Transportation, and the IL Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. You can watch Webinar 2 here!
Webinar 3: The third and final webinar focused on programs, initiatives, and funding available to support transitioning energy communities experiencing economic and social impacts of the power plant and coal mine closures! Representatives from the Energy Communities Interagency Working Group, Just Transition Fund, and the National Association of Counties “Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities” Initiative shared information about their technical support and funding opportunities. You can watch Webinar 3 here!
Thank you to our webinar presenter organizations and agencies:
- Vote Solar, Will Kenworthy, will@votesolar.org
- Pleiades Strategy, Frances Sawyer, frances@pleiadesstrategy.com
- USDA Rural Development
- PACE Program
- New ERA Program
- REAP Grant, Callie Heidbreder, Callie.Heidbreder@usda.gov
- Illinois Department of Transportation, Elizabeth Irvin, elizabeth.irvin@illinois.gov
- Office of Energy website and email at EPA.Energy@illinois.gov
- Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Climate and Equitable Jobs Act page
- Economic Development Administration, Emily Rhodes, ERhodes@eda.gov
- Energy Transition Workforce Commission, Jason Keller, Jason.Keller@illinois.gov
- Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities, Briggs White, Deputy Director and Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, State Director of Rural Development and lead of the IWG Rapid Response Team
- National Association of Counties, Building Resilient Coal Communities, Grace Blanchard, GBlanchard@naco.org
