ROCKFORD -- Eligible nonprofit organizations in the Rockford region will receive nearly $1 million in solar energy installations as part of Illinois' landmark Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, State Senator Steve Stadelman announced today.

Greenlink Energy Solutions of Rockford is partnering with Zion West Enterprises to identify and fund start-up and pre-development costs for renewable-energy projects for nonprofits that serve low-income and historically disadvantaged communities. The state's $964,270 investment is expected to result in $3.5 million in local projects for nonprofits and also pay for training for local workers to install solar equipment.

Rockford is one of 12 communities statewide benefitting from $10.3 million in grants under CEJA through its Equitable Energy Future Grant Program.

"The goal is to help remove barriers to projects in communities that have been historically left behind due to lack of available capital," Stadelman said. "The economic benefits of clean energy should touch every zip code."  

Qualified entities for the Equitable Energy grants included contractors, non-profits, co-operatives majority-governed by equity eligible persons and businesses or nonprofits with a proposed project that meets equity building criteria. Grants under two additional CEJA programs were also announced, for a total of $57 million in state funding to 88 recipients.