Alliance members are working to achieve the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping temperature increases below 1.5 degrees Celsius by reducing emissions, accelerating action, centering equity, and tracking progress. 

Explore Illinois's policies and actions across the Alliance's 10 key policy areas. Numbers presented below only reflect the number of policies in this database and thus may not reflect all climate policies pursued.

illinois

GHG Targets + Governance

Just Transition + Equity

Industry

Pricing Carbon + Valuing Damages

Electricity

Transportation

Resilience

Natural + Working Lands

Climate Finance

Buildings

total

CPRG Implementation Grant: State of Illinois Climate Pollution Reduction Grant

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency received over $430 million in EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) Program Implementation Funds to support priority reduction measures focused on building and industrial decarbonization, freight electrification, climate-smart agriculture, and fossil fuel retirement. Sectoral actions include: 

- Transportation: Transportation is the state’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, and Illinois’ application includes $115 million for heavy-duty vehicle electrification, reflecting Illinois’/Chicago’s status as a freight hub and burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing hub, as well as the disproportionate environmental justice impacts of heavy-duty vehicle pollution.
- Buildings: ​The largest section of Illinois’ application, $172 million, focuses on buildings, with an emphasis on improving access and affordability for clean building technologies in disadvantaged communities, as well as market development and contractor training. Deploying clean building technologies like heat pumps can help Illinoisans lower their bills and enjoy cleaner air and greater comfort in their homes while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Agriculture: ​More than $111 million of Illinois’ application is earmarked for projects to build climate leadership in the agricultural sector, a major industry in Illinois, and help incentivize sustainable, climate smart agricultural practices.

Illinois plans to use part of its a $430 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant award to create a novel Clean Industry Concierge, which will help industrial facilities in the state navigate, coordinate, and access funding opportunities; obtain support in designing and implementing decarbonization measures; and provide strong guidance on industry best practices in efficient and cost-effective low-carbon technologies and processes. The state is conducting stakeholder engagement to develop the program.

Clean Industry Concierge

industry

Governor Pritzker Announces $25.5 Million in Grant Funding for CEJA Equitable Energy Future Grant Program

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced $25.5 million in funding for the Equitable Energy Future Grant Program to grow and diversify Illinois' clean energy ecosystem. This grant funding will provide seed funding and pre-development funding opportunities to equity-eligible contractors to work on renewable energy projects in low-income and historically disadvantaged communities.

Illinois Works Jobs Program Act

The Illinois Works Jobs Program Act was created as a result of Governor Pritzker’s historic $45 billion capital plan and his commitment to expanding equity in Illinois’ construction workforce. With this new capital funding set to pave the way for tens of thousands of jobs over the next decade, Illinois Works was intentionally designed to increase equity and opportunity in capital construction jobs.

The Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program is a key component of the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act - landmark legislation to prepare residents for jobs created by the historic $45 billion capital expansion plan. This program is designed to increase diversity and equitable employment in Illinois' construction trades.

Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program

just_transition

Midwest Governors Support Tranche 2 Transmission Lines in Letter to MISO Board of Directors.

Governors Pritzker, Whitmer, and Walz expressed their support for MISO’s Long Range Transmission Planning Tranche 2.1 portfolio within a joint letter. The governors noted the importance of long-term resource planning and the engagement of diverse stakeholders on the development of a robust and long-range transmission system to ensure a cost-effective and reliable power system.