CHICAGO – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced a new initiative to improve the energy efficiency of K-12 public schools in Southwest Illinois. With $1 million in funding provided by Dynegy Inc., the initiative establishes grants of up to $100,000 per facility for schools in Madison, Monroe and St. Clair counties. This new funding will serve as an additional important tool for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) existing Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) program. The EPC program encourages comprehensive installation of energy efficiency improvements financed through energy savings.
“High energy prices are impacting our school districts and requiring them to take money away from other priorities to pay their energy bills. We are very pleased to announce the availability of $1 million to help schools comprehensively reduce their energy consumption,” said Gov. Blagojevich. “Thanks to the support of Dynegy, we will have another way for schools in Madison, Monroe and St. Clair counties to save money, while also teaching their students an important lesson about protecting our environment.”
Dynegy agreed to make the funds available for schools in the three county area near its Baldwin power plant. DCEO today released a Request for Applications (RFA) for schools to apply for support through the program. The RFA is available on the agency’s Web site at www.illinoisenergy.org.
Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) is a method of financing energy efficiency improvements. With EPC, anticipated savings that result from efficiency projects are used to finance the actual improvements, which generally include modernized lighting and HVAC systems. DCEO’s Energy Performance Contracting program provides free technical assistance to schools to help them with the contracting process and to make sure that the schools get the most financially advantageous contract possible.
“Dynegy’s support of energy efficiency at public schools in the Metro East area is an extension of our community support at large,” said Stephen A. Furbacher, President and Chief Operating Officer of Dynegy Inc. “The majority of our employees – approximately 650 – live and work in the state of Illinois, where our power generation facilities produce low-emission, reliable and cost-efficient electricity with enough capacity to keep the lights on in more than 4 million Illinois homes. Further, supporting education is Dynegy’s major community initiative. Energy efficiency initiatives complement other volunteer and philanthropic activities focused on improving the educational infrastructure in the Illinois communities where our employees live and work.”
“There is nothing more important than ensuring that our students get the very best possible education, and this funding will mean more money will be spent on helping our children learn since our schools will be paying lower energy bills,” State Senator James Clayborne Jr. (D-East St. Louis) said.
“This is going to be a great way for several schools across the region to invest more money in our students by lowering their energy bills. I want to thank Dynegy for supporting this important program that is going to make a real difference,” State Senator William Haine (D-Alton) said.
“Gov. Blagojevich has invested more money in our public schools than any previous governor in a single administration. And this new funding means that more of that money will be spent in our classrooms and less on higher energy bills. It is a win for our schools, our students and our environment,” State Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Collinsville) said.
“Our children are our greatest asset, and we must provide our public schools with all of the tools necessary to help them learn and achieve. Dynegy is helping us invest more money in our classrooms to help make that possible,” State Rep. Wyvetter Younge (D-East St. Louis) said.
“Every dollar schools can save on their energy bills is a dollar they can redirect to teaching or extracurricular programs,” DCEO Director Jack Lavin. “We hope that schools will be able to use the program to finance geothermal heat pump systems and other long-term high efficiency improvements.”
In addition to grant funds provided by DCEO, schools are encouraged to explore other grant funding possibilities, including from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF). The ICECF has a history of supporting energy efficient lighting and/or helping to offset the increased cost of geothermal heat pump installations.
Area schools will be receiving a Request for Application (RFA) from DCEO. Under the RFA, schools must submit a short letter of their intent to apply for program funds by May 31, 2006.
Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois’ history. Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn’t work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions – each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges. Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses. It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs. Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.