The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation is seeking applications for its Other Renewables program to support projects in categories where incentives are determined on a case-by-case basis: Solar Thermal, Biomass, Advancing Renewable Energy, and Emerging Technologies.

Focus Areas

• Solar Thermal technology can provide hot water, heating, and cooling for buildings.
• Biomass projects use materials such as wood, energy crops, food and animal waste, that are turned into useful energy using a variety of processes, including combustion, gasification, anaerobic digestion, etc.
• Projects in the Advancing Renewable Energy program, may include assistance with purchasing specialized renewable energy hardware for the implementation of hands-on training programs at colleges and universities.
• Emerging Technologies supports renewable energy technologies that are not yet widely used in Illinois.

Funding Guidelines

• Funding for Solar Thermal is limited to up to $100 per square foot of collector area or up to to 50% of the project cost, whichever is less.
• Funding for all other projects is determinded on a case-by-case basis.
• The grant process is competitive. Some projects may be awarded at lower levels than requested; others may be declined altogether.

Eligibility Criteria

• 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
• Local government agencies serving Illinois residents
• Colleges and Universities
• ALL applicants are required to provide a letter from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) confirming their Employer Identification Number (EIN). 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations must additionally provide an IRS Tax Determination Letter, which may contain the EIN information, and Form AG 990-IL, the IL Charitable Annual Report.

Application Criteria

• The Foundation gives priority to projects that:
  • Have secured all additional funding
  • Feature a strong education and outreach component, including permanent educational signage, displays, and other publicity materials
• The Foundation adheres to the definition of renewable energy adopted in the Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Coal Development Law of 1997: The Law states that: "renewable energy resources" includes energy from wind, solar thermal energy, photovoltaic cells and panels, dedicated crops grown for energy production and organic waste biomass, hydropower that does not involve new construction or significant expansion of hydropower dams, and other such alternative sources of environmentally preferable energy. "Renewable Energy resources" does not include, however, energy from the incineration, burning or heating of waste wood, tires, garbage, general household institutional and commercial waste, industrial lunchroom or office waste, landscape waste, or construction or demolition debris.

For more information, visit Other Renewables.