Co-hosts: University of Illinois Extension, Prairie Rivers Network, Just Transition Fund, USDA Rural Development

This webinar series will explore state and federal opportunities related to the energy transition, including clean energy programs, transportation electrification, and other programs and initiatives focused on reinvestment in Illinois’ rural communities and coal communities.

Moderator: Amanda Pankau, Prairie Rivers Network

Webinar 1: Rural Clean Energy, July 7th, 12pm CT - USDA Rural Development, Pleiades Strategy, Vote Solar

Presenters:

• Francis Sawyer and Gentry Higgins, Pleiades Strategy
• Callie Heidbreder, USDA Rural Development, Rural Energy Coordinator
• Will Kentworthy, Vote Solar, Regulatory Director for US Midwest

The first webinar in our Energy Transition Webinar Series will focus on the clean energy opportunities available from USDA Rural Development, including the PACE Program, the New ERA Program, and the REAP Grant. These funding opportunities will bring affordable clean energy to communities, rural electric cooperatives, and rural small businesses and farms, respectively. We’ll share how these funds are “stackable” along with state “renewable energy credits” and federal tax credits, that are newly available as “direct pay” to non-taxable entities.

Remaining Series information:

Webinar 2: Harnessing Federal and State Opportunities, July 21st, 12pm CT - Economic Development Administration, Illinois EPA Office of Energy, Illinois Department of Transportation; Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

The second webinar in our Energy Transition Webinar Series will focus on state and federal investments that will bring Illinois communities a wide variety of opportunities in economic development, clean energy, transportation electrification, and more. We’ll hear from the Economic Development Administration, the State Energy Office, IL Department of Transportation, and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Webinar 3: Energy Community Support, July 28th, 12pm CT - USDA Rural Development, National Association of Counties, Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plan Communities, Illinois Department of Labor, Illinois Energy Transition Workforce Commission

The third and final webinar in our Energy Transition Webinar Series will focus on programs, initiatives, and funding available to support transitioning energy communities experiencing economic and social impacts of the power plant and coal mine closures! Representatives from the Energy Communities Interagency Working Group, Just Transition Fund, Illinois Department of Labor, Illinois Energy Transition Workforce Commission, and the National Association of Counties “Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities” Initiative will join the webinar to share information about their technical support and funding opportunities.

Speaker Information:

• Recurring Presenters: Amanda Pankau, Prairie Rivers Network, Sr. Energy Campaign Coordinator
• Rachael Young, Just Transition Fund, Director of Grantmaking
• Natalie Roper, Just Transition Fund, Director of Special Projects

Webinar 1: Rural Clean Energy, July 7th, 12pm CT Francis Sawyer and Gentry Higgins, Pleiades Strategy Callie Heidbreder, USDA Rural Development, Rural Energy Coordinator Will Kentworthy, Vote Solar, Regulatory Director for US Midwest

Webinar 2: Harnessing Federal and State Opportunities, July 21st, 12pm CT Emily Rhodes, Economic Development Administration, ED Representative Chad Kruse, Illinois EPA Office of Energy, Manager Elizabeth Irvin, Illinois Department of Transportation, Deputy Director of Planning and Programming Hilary Scot-Ogunrinde, Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Webinar 3: Energy Community Support, July 28th, 12pm CT Betsy Dirksen-Londrigan, USDA Rural Development, State Director Grace Blanchard, National Association of Counties, Program Manager, Resilient Economies and Communities Briggs White, Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plan Communities, Deputy Director Jason Keller, Illinois Department of Labor, Assistant Director (Illinois Energy Transition Workforce Commission)