- Under Section 40101(d) of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the U.S. Department of Energy is funding state grant programs to enhance electric grid resilience. These funds are congressionally approved and lawfully awarded. The Illinois Climate Bank will distribute $8 million annually for five years, prioritizing reliability, innovation, and disadvantaged communities. Funds support microgrids, weatherization, automation, and emission-reducing grid upgrades. Investments focus on equity, cost savings for low-income residents, workforce readiness, and sustainable infrastructure. Awards are based on population, land area, and risk factors to ensure effective mitigation and modernization.
- The award is designed to strengthen and modernize Illinois’ power grid and to provide a reliable power infrastructure to all communities to have access to affordable, reliable, and clean electricity, focusing on the following:
- Reliability and resiliency improvements in Equity Investment Eligible Communities (EIECs) that align with potential climate change impacts.
- Grid investments that support environmental objectives such as reducing emissions and leveraging nature-based solutions.
- Cost-saving measures that prioritize low- and moderate-income residents to lower their energy burden.
- Supporting equity through building awareness in frontline communities, increasing access and opportunities for residents and businesses in EIECs, and supporting communities and small utilities in planning and investing in resiliency.
- Ensuring safe operations and supporting the preparation of the workforce for emerging technology opportunities. State awards are based on a formula that includes factors such as population size, land area, probability and severity of disruptive events, and a locality’s historical expenditures on mitigation efforts.
40101d Grid Resilience
Preventing Outages and Enhancing the Resilience of the Electric Grid
Program Awardees
The Illinois Finance Authority (IFA) is pleased to announce the awardees from the first round of its Grid Resilience Grants program, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy under Section 40101(d) of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Department of Energy’s mission is to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions. Learn more at energy.gov.
Awardees from the Illinois Climate Bank’s first round of competitive applications, submitted in Spring 2024, are listed below and more detailed project descriptions are located here.
| Applicant | Federal Funding | Grantee Cost Share | Combined Investment | County |
| Adams Electric Cooperative | $513,361 | $480,370 | $993,731 | Schuyler |
| City of Newton | $266,137 | $248,966 | $515,103 | Jasper |
| City of Springfield | $1,127,470 | $551,519 | $1,678,989 | Sangamon |
| Egyptian Electric Cooperative Association | $1,775,714 | $1,937,690 | $3,713,404 | Various |
| Illinois Municipal Utilities Association | $475,376 | $229,765 | $705,141 | Various |
| MJM Electric Cooperative | $207,356 | $188,481 | $395,837 | Macoupin |
| SouthEastern Illinois Electric Cooperative | $543,232 | $260,752 | $803,984 | Pope |
| Southern Illinois Electric Cooperative | $4,337,114 | $4,036,720 | $8,409,834 | Various |
| Southern Illinois Power Cooperative | $987,350 | $923,650 | $1,911,000 | Various |
| Total Round 1 Funding | $10,269,110 | $8,857,913 | $19,127,023 |
Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFO)
Illinois Finance Authority (IFA), in its capacity as the Illinois Climate Bank (CB), invites project proposals under Illinois’ award for the 40101(d) Federal Formula Grant Program: Preventing Outages and Enhancing the Resilience of the Electric Grid (Program). With this NOFO, IFA/CB invites eligible entities interested in applying for funding under this Program to file their pre-application proposals in compliance with the terms of this NOFO. IFA/CB reserves the right to revise any part of this NOFO by issuing addendum(s) at any time. Issuance of this NOFO, or subsequent addendum(s), if any, does not constitute a commitment by IFA/CB or the State of Illinois to fund any project. In addition, IFA/CB may cancel this NOFO at any time, without incurring any liability from responders or potential responders.
- Pre-applications Due: June 30, 2025 by 5pm CT
- How to Apply: Submit your application through GATA Grantee Portal at the link below
- Total Available funding under this NOFO: $14,400,000.
- Expected amounts of individual awards: $150,000 – $8,000,000 per project.
- Anticipated start dates and periods of performance for new awards: Jan. 2026-2032.
- Type of assistance instrument that may be awarded if applications are successful: Grant.
- Cost Match: 48% of federal funding for Small Utilities (as defined in the NOFO) and 115% for all other eligible entities.
The ultimate allocations may differ, based on the project selection outcome. IFA/CB reserves the right to not award the full amount of funding available under this NOFO and to make the remainder available under future notices of funding opportunities. IFA/CB has discretion in selecting projects and reserves the right to only award the projects its merit review found most responsive to the funding objectives and Illinois priorities.
Documents:
- NOFO_IFA-GRID-02
- NEW! NOFO_IFA-GRID-02_Q&A (update 6.25.25)
- NEW! IFA_40101d_NOFO2_Attachment_A-template (updated)
- Budget Justification-BIL 40101d template
- DOE ALRD_DE-FOA-0002736_Amd_000009
AmpliFund Instructions: