METROPOLIS – State Representative Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) says the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced several recipients of Energy Transition Grants in the 117th district. The Energy Transition Community Grants, totaling more than $5.5 million, were made available due to the enactment of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). The grants provide funding for communities that have been impacted by fossil fuel plant or coal mine closures or significant reductions.
“I am thankful that schools, counties, communities, and entities of local government that I represent that have been harshly impacted by the passage of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act are receiving some financial help to lessen the impact of the loss of revenue experienced due to the closures of coal-fired power plants and coal mines,” Windhorst said. “I did not support CEJA, because I believe its policies toward fossil fuels harm Southern Illinois’ residents and employers, and threaten our ability to produce sufficient baseload energy. However, CEJA is currently the law of the land, and I am fighting to make sure that communities impacted by the law are getting their fair share of grant funding to help bridge the financial gap that was created by CEJA’s enactment.”
Energy Transition Program Grant awards were calculated based on the economic impact of plant or mine closure, specifically, property tax losses and jobs lost due to the plant transition, with a minimum award of $50,000.
117th district entities of local government receiving grants include:
Village of Carrier Mills – $116,701
City of Eldorado – $199,319
Eldorado School District – $729,416
Village of Galatia – $745,516
Galatia Community Unit School District #1 – $597,515
Village of Goreville – $50,199
City of Harrisburg – $507,898
Harrisburg Community Unit School District #3 – $539,006
Lake Egypt Fire Protection District – $50,921
Massac County – $1,182,105
Saline County – $859,400
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