Funded Projects – Illinois Green Economy Network

IGEN receives funding from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to support education and training for renewable energy and energy efficiency technology, and for the operations/services of colleges within our network. In FY23, IGEN received $2M from IEPA to support member colleges’ projects.

Active members of the IGEN network are eligible to submit funding proposals for activities, programs, and projects related to the grant’s scope of work and annual budget. Proposals are subject to approval based on criteria through an evaluation and review process. Funding proposals are evaluated according to five criteria: alignment with IEPA and IGEN goals, project plan, project impact, need for support, and budget and fiscal viability.

Proposed activities, program, and projects include, but are not limited to:

Curriculum development and other support to enhance current or create new energy efficiency and renewable energy-related courses and programs.
Energy efficiency and renewable energy-related equipment, installation, and upgrade projects for campuses as living laboratories, with a demonstration, education, or training component requirement.
Campus and community energy-related conferences, events, and workshops.
Customized energy efficiency and renewable energy-related education and training with industry partners.
Energy-related audits or feasibility studies.Energy-related efforts and partnerships for career pathways to grow the green workforce.

FY23 Projects

College of DuPage

Install energy efficient LED lighting in the greenhouse, manufacturing laboratory, and welding laboratory in the Technical Education Center. COD will also install a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station with data collection and reporting. Also included will be signage to acknowledge funding.

Danville Area Community College

Purchase a solar system for a tiny greenhouse, including curricula integration and hands-on training for electrical diagnosis and repair, green construction, solar/wind, and training on the greenhouse as a system for students in sustainability programs.

Frontier Community College – Illinois Eastern Community Colleges

Install a solar-powered workstation to expand renewable energy/solar infrastructure, including demonstration, education, and training for the campus and community.

Heartland Community College

Install a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station with data collection and reporting functionality. The college will include signage acknowledging funding.

Illinois Valley Community College

Install a 66 kW solar system, generating 52,296 kWh per year, including curricula integration and education and training for students. IVCC will also install a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station with data collection and reporting. Also included will be signage to acknowledge funding.

John Wood Community College

Install energy efficient LED stage lighting in the auditorium, including education and training for students on LED lighting and its installation.

Kankakee Community College

Install a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station with data collection and reporting functionality. The college will include signage acknowledging funding.

Kaskaskia College

Install ground and roof-mount solar systems at the Trenton Education Center, including curricula integration and hands-on training for students. KC will also install a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station with the data collection and reporting functionality. Also included will be signage to acknowledge funding.

Lake Land College

Install a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station with data collection and reporting functionality. The college will include signage acknowledging funding.

Lewis and Clark Community College

Lewis and Clark Community College will complete a variety of projects with grant funding, including:

Conducting a building envelope assessment at Gilman Hall and the Scott Bibb Center and implementing the recommendations, including education and training for students on the implementation of improvements to be made.
Installing energy-efficient LED lighting with additional controls at the Hathaway Cultural Center and Trimpe Hall, including education and training for students on LED lighting and its installation.
Installing tankless water heaters at the Hatheway Cultural Center and Trimpe Hall to move toward the goal of the electrification of campus systems, including education and training for students on tankless water heaters and their operation.
Install a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station with data collection and reporting functionality. The college will include signage acknowledging funding.

Lincoln Land Community College

Install energy-efficient LED lighting, motion sensors, and daylight harvesting at the campus in Jacksonville, including education and training for students. LCC will also install a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station with the data collection and reporting functionality. Also included will be signage to acknowledge funding.

Lincoln Trail College and Wabash Valley College – Illinois Eastern Community Colleges

Convert natural gas boilers and water heaters to heat pump electric systems, including education and training for the community and students.

Malcolm X College – City Colleges of Chicago

Install a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station with data collection and reporting functionality. The college will include signage acknowledging funding.

McHenry County College

Install a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station with data collection and reporting functionality. The college will include signage acknowledging funding.

Morton College

Install a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station with data collection and reporting functionality. The college will include signage acknowledging funding.

Oakton Community College

Install a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station with data collection and reporting functionality. The college will include signage acknowledging funding.

Rend Lake College

Install a 90 kW DC ground-mount solar system near the Agronomy Innovation Center and Applied Science Building, generating 135,000 kWh per year, including curricula integration and education and training for students on ground-mount solar systems and their operation.

Sauk Valley Community College

Purchase and utilize a solar photovoltaic installation learning system, including curricula integration and hands-on training for solar energy technician program students.

Shawnee Community College

Install energy-efficient LED lighting at the main and rustic campuses, including education and training for students. SCC will also install a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station with the data collection and reporting functionality. Also included will be signage to acknowledge funding.

South Suburban College

Install energy-efficient LED lighting in classrooms at the main campus and Oak Forest Center, including learning opportunities for the campus and community. SSC will also install a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station with the data collection and reporting functionality. Also included will be signage to acknowledge funding.

Southeastern Illinois College

Install a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station with data collection and reporting functionality. The college will include signage acknowledging funding.

Southwestern Illinois College

Install a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station with data collection and reporting functionality. The college will include signage acknowledging funding.

Triton College

Purchase and utilize an interactive wind turbine trainer, including curricula integration and hands-on training for the Associate Degree in Applied Science in Renewable Energy Technology and Renewable Energy Technology Certificate.