Wastewater Treatment Plant Energy Efficiency (WWTP)

The Wastewater Treatment Plant Energy Efficiency Grant Program is administered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) Office of Energy. This initiative is funded through the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) State Energy Program (SEP), which is established under 10 CFR 420 to provide financial and technical assistance to state energy programs. The Illinois EPA utilizes these federal funds to support energy efficiency improvements at publicly-owned wastewater treatment facilities across Illinois. The program aligns with state and federal objectives to reduce energy waste, enhance infrastructure sustainability, and optimize operational costs for municipal utilities. The primary objective of the grant program is to fund the implementation of energy efficiency projects that are identified through formal energy assessments at publicly-owned wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). These projects must demonstrate cost-effective energy savings, measured as kilowatt-hours (kWh) saved per dollar invested. The goal is to reduce energy usage and costs while enhancing the environmental performance of critical public infrastructure. Eligible energy efficiency measures must be substantiated through prior assessments and are evaluated on their financial viability and projected energy impact. Funding amounts for previously awarded projects ranged from a minimum of $20,000 to a maximum of $500,000. Projects selected for funding underwent a competitive scoring process that prioritized cost-effectiveness, energy savings potential, and the proportional reduction in energy expenditures. The funding could be used for a variety of eligible implementation costs tied directly to the energy efficiency improvements, although no additional spending categories were specified in the public description. Eligibility for this grant program is limited to publicly-owned wastewater treatment plants. This means municipalities or other public entities responsible for wastewater services are the only qualified applicants. Projects submitted must be backed by a completed energy assessment to ensure only well-vetted improvements are considered. Details such as matching requirements, the number of awards available, or whether specific geographic or size-based preferences exist were not disclosed, and may require direct inquiry to the program administrators. The application period for this grant is currently closed. However, the existence of multiple funding rounds—specifically in 2019, 2020, and 2022—suggests the program is recurring. The Illinois EPA does not list specific open or close dates on the program page, nor are there details regarding pre-application requirements or expected reopening dates. Prospective applicants are encouraged to check the Office of Energy Funding Opportunity webpage or the Illinois EPA's Grants & Loans webpage for updates. Based on previous rounds, it appears the program is not rolling, but instead follows a cycle with multiple funding windows. For additional details or questions, interested parties should contact the IEPA Office of Energy via email at EPA.Energy@Illinois.gov or by phone at (217) 782-3397. The Illinois EPA Headquarters is located at 2520 W Iles Avenue, P.O. Box 19276, Springfield, IL 62794-9276. Applicants should monitor official state and agency websites for updates on future grant rounds and timelines. Historical awardee information from past rounds is available through linked PDF reports published in 2019, 2020, and 2022.