The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) has announced the availability of $1.5 million in grant funding to support energy efficiency upgrades at publicly owned public water supply facilities statewide.
Through its Office of Energy, the Illinois EPA aims to modernize drinking water treatment plants by funding improvements to equipment and systems that reduce energy consumption and operating costs. Individual grants will range from $50,000 to $500,000, with recipients required to provide a local match of 10 to 20 percent, depending on their geographic location.
Application materials can be found on the Illinois EPA Office of Energy Public Water Supply Energy Efficiency Grant Program webpage. The application deadline is 5 p.m. on May 4th.
Eligible projects must be based on recommendations from a third-party energy efficiency assessment. Potential improvements include pump and motor upgrades, installation of variable frequency drives, enhancements to energy demand management, and improvements to heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and lighting systems.
“Energy efficiency at public water supply facilities is critical for operational resilience and environmental performance,” said Illinois EPA Acting Director James Jennings. “By investing in these improvements, utilities strengthen system reliability while advancing long-term sustainability goals.”
The Public Water Supply Energy Efficiency (PWSEE) grant program is funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) administered by the U.S. Department of Energy. Project selection will prioritize cost effectiveness, projected energy savings, local energy rates, and demonstrated benefits to environmental justice communities.
In the program’s initial round, $483,000 was awarded to three Illinois public water supply facilities for projects such as lighting and control system upgrades, pump or drive replacements, and HVAC modifications—improvements expected to save more than 715,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.
More details about other Illinois EPA grants and loans for public water infrastructure are available on the agency’s Grants & Loans page. For information on Office of Energy programs, including the PWSEE Grant Program, contact the Office of Energy at 217-785-8841.