Illinois EPA Offers $7M for Wastewater Resilience Grants

IL EPA News

Published February 11th, 2026

Detected February 27th, 2026

Summary

The Illinois EPA is offering $7 million in grant funding through the Resilient Energy for Wastewater Infrastructure (REWI) Grant Program. Publicly owned wastewater treatment plants can apply for awards ranging from $200,000 to $2,000,000 to enhance energy resilience with solar energy systems and battery storage. The application period closes on April 30, 2026.

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What changed

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) has announced a new grant program, the Resilient Energy for Wastewater Infrastructure (REWI) Grant Program, offering $7 million to publicly owned wastewater treatment plants. The program aims to strengthen energy resilience by funding assessments of energy vulnerabilities and the implementation of solar energy systems paired with battery storage. Individual awards will range from $200,000 to $2,000,000, with a matching requirement of 25% or 50% depending on population served and geographic location. The funding leverages the U.S. Department of Energy's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

Publicly owned wastewater treatment plants in Illinois are encouraged to apply. The application period closes on April 30, 2026. Successful applicants will need to meet the specified matching requirements and will be scored based on project feasibility, resiliency planning, integration of solar and battery storage, and benefits to Environmental Justice communities. This initiative is crucial for protecting public health and the environment by addressing risks from severe weather, aging infrastructure, and cyber threats.

What to do next

Review eligibility and application requirements for the REWI Grant Program.
Prepare and submit grant applications by the April 30, 2026 deadline.
Secure necessary matching funds (25% or 50%) for proposed projects.

Source document (simplified)

Febru ary 11, 2026 K im Biggs, Illinois EP A FOR IMMEDIA TE RELEASE 217 -558- 1 536 kim.bigg s@illinois.gov Illinois EP A Announces $7 Million Funding Opportuni ty Ava il able for Resilience Pr ojects at W astewa ter T reatment P l ants Springfield – Illinois Environm ental Pr otection A gency’ s (Illinois EP A) Office of Energy is o ffering $7,000,000 in gr an t funding to str engthen energy r esilience at publicly o wned wastewa ter tr eatment plants (WW TP s). Through th e Resilient Energy for W astewa ter Infr astr uc ture (REWI) Gr ant Progr am, communitie s can access funding t o as ses s energy vulner abilities and implement solar ener gy system s paired with battery stor age. Individual awards wil l r ange fr om $200,000 to $2,000,000, with a matc h requir ement of 25% or 50% based o n population served and geogr aphic location. The application perio d will clos e April 30, 2026. “Resilient wastewa ter infr astructure is es sential f or protect ing public health, safe guar ding the environment, and ensuring community stability. ” said Illinois EP A Acting Director James Jennings. “The REWI Gr ant P rogr am enhances s ystem r eliability by dir ectly addre ssing emerg ing risk s from sever e weath er, aging infras tructure, and cyber threats. ” The REWI Gr ant P rogr a m lever ages U. S. Department of Energy Infr astructure Inv estment and Jobs Act (IIJ A) funding to support Illinois ’ critical infr astructure. Applications will be s cored com petitively based on pr oject feasibility and readine ss, resiliency planning, integr ation of solar and battery stor age, and benefits to Environm ental Justic e communities. Application m aterials are av ailable at the Il linois EP A Office of Energy REWI w ebpage. Beyond t he REWI progr am, Illinois EP A is committed to inv esting in public water infr astructure thr ough a number of progr ams, including: • W astewater/ Stormwa ter a nd Drinking W ater Loan Pr ogr am • Lead Ser vice Line Inventory Gr ant Pr ogr am/Lead S ervice Line Replace ment Loan Pr ogr a m • P ublic W ater Supply Energy Efficiency Gr ant Prog r am For mor e informa tion, visit the Office of Energy webpage or c all 217- 785-8841. ###