Provides Greater Incentive for Rural Electric Consumers to Go Green

SPRINGFIELD – May 7, 2010. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced a $1.5 million federal stimulus grant to assist the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC) in implementing a new energy efficiency initiative. Through the HomE program, AIEC members will receive incentives for equipment upgrades and other measures to reduce their energy consumption.

“The state’s investment in energy efficiency programs like HomE reinforces our commitment to building a stronger, and greener, economy in Illinois,” said DCEO Director Warren Ribley. “Through this program, we’re demonstrating how environmental protection and economic development go hand-in-hand by creating jobs, improving our energy consumption and saving money for hard-working Illinois families.”

Through HomE, AIEC will provide rebates for residential homes owned by electric cooperative members in Illinois. Participating members must start by having an energy assessment done by their local electric cooperative, which then makes them eligible for rebates for heating-cooling upgrades, installation of a heat pump water heater or insulation and weatherization as recommended in the energy assessment.

“The electric cooperatives of Illinois are heavily invested in promoting energy efficiency for their member-owners. The HomE program is a great asset and should provide an excellent incentive for cooperative members to make these improvements right away, improving the energy efficiency of thousands of homes,” said Duane Noland, president and CEO of the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives.

The grant was awarded through the Electric Efficiency Program, a component of the state’s Energy Plan, administered by DCEO and funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Over $100 million in federal recovery funding is available to implement the plan, which is Illinois' most comprehensive effort to date to achieve significant gains in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

For more information on the program, including eligibility details, visit the Illinois Electric Cooperatives website at http://www.aiec.org/. For more details on the State’s Energy Plan and other energy efficiency programs, visit the Illinois Energy Office’s website at www.illinoisenergy.org.