$640K in Renewable Energy Resources Program Rebates

In fiscal year 2009, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity paid out over $640,000 in renewable energy resources program rebates to 91 individuals, businesses, schools and non-profits.

4/6/2010

by Amanda Griffin-Johnson

Using our transparency website, IllinoisOpenGov.org, I found that in fiscal year 2009, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity paid out $642,374 in rebates for the Renewable Energy Resources Program. Many of the 91 recipients listed were individuals. Other recipients included businesses, foundations, and schools. The largest rebates went to Moreland Aviation Ltd ($19,975), Sunil Kadakia ($19,946), and Schmidt Associates Inc ($16,796).

The DCEO’s website states that the “focus of the Solar and Wind Energy Rebate Program, through the State’s Renewable Energy Resource Program, is to encourage utilization of smaller-scale solar and wind energy systems in Illinois.” Eligible applicants for the program “include homeowners, businesses, public sector and non-profit entities who are customers of an electric or gas utility that impose the Renewable Energy Resources and Coal Technology Development Assistance Charge.” The programoffers rebates of “up to 30% of total project cost for residential and business applicants, and 50% for public sector and non-profit entities” with the maximum rebate set at $50,000. The DCEO also notes that the response to the rebate program has been “overwhelming” and “no funding remains for this fiscal year.”

To find this information on the IllinoisOpenGov site, go to “Checks to Businesses & People” and scroll down “Category of Spending” to “Renewable Energy Resource Program Rebate” and “Renewable Energy Resources Program Rebate.”