Description

Note: This program is closed as of December 2015. Updates regarding funding availability for Fiscal Year 2016 will be posted on the program website shown above as they are available. At this time, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is unsure if there will be any changes to incentive levels for 2016. 

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is offering grants for community-scale solar and wind projects located in Illinois.

The incentives last year for proposed solar photovoltaic projects were grants up to 25% of eligible project costs for business entities and 40% for local government and non-profit entities. Solar thermal and wind energy projects were eligible for grants up to 30% of eligible project costs for business entities and 40% for local government and non-profit entities. The maximum grant award is $250,000. 

Applicants must be customers of a utility that imposes the Renewable Energy Resources and Coal Technology Development Assistance Charge. 

All solar PV and wind energy systems must be installed by a distributed generation installer that is certified by the Illinois Commerce Commission. A list of certified installers can be found here.