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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Martha Paschke, Director of Innovation and Strategy
Julie Frankino, Grant Writer
DATE: March 20, 2024
SUBJECT:
A Resolution seeking City Council approval of a notice of intent to participate as a member of a coalition led by Kane County, Illinois in an application for the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Climate Pollution Reduction Grant in an amount not to exceed $7,043,647.
PURPOSE:
The Coalition led by Kane County, Illinois is seeking funding through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant to fund projects that demonstrate a potential to substantially reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions for the region.
BACKGROUND:
The Climate Pollution Reduction Grant incentivizes applicants to apply as members of a coalition and requires that a notice of intent be submitted by each member with the application.
DISCUSSION:
As a part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant for implementation makes available funds for projects that demonstrate significant greenhouse gas reductions, reducing pollution that contributes to climate change.
The Kane County, Illinois led coalition includes the counties of Will, DuPage, Kendall, and Lake, as well as the municipalities of Batavia, Elgin, Highland Park, Naperville, Waukegan, Downers Grove, Mokena, and Wheeling.
The coalition application will include both individual projects from each member applicant as well as group buy items. Aurora's application will include funds for photovoltaic (solar) installations for municipal buildings that have been identified as suitable, as well as Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers for public use. Group buys to be included in the application for all members will include residential cold climate air source heat pumps and electric vehicle (EV) chargers for multi-family buildings.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
This will allow Aurora to join the coalition led by Kane County, Illinois in applying for the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Recommend the City Council authorize the Mayor or his designee to sign the notice of intent to participate in the coalition led by Kane County, Illinois for the "Climate Pollution Reduction Grant".
cc: City Council
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution authorizing the execution of a notice of intent to sign a Memorandum of Agreement by July 1, 2024 to participate in the coalition led by Kane County, Illinois for the "Climate Pollution Reduction Grant" implementation application and program.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States has enacted Public Law No. 117-169, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, and established the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) Program to address greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution contributing to climate change; and
WHEREAS, Kane County, Illinois - Coalition lead applicant; DuPage County, Illinois - subrecipient; Kendall County, Illinois - subrecipient; Lake County, Illinois- subrecipient; Will County, Illinois - subrecipient; City of Aurora, Illinois - subrecipient; City of Batavia, Illinois - subrecipient; City of Elgin, Illinois - subrecipient; City of Highland Park, Illinois- subrecipient; City of Naperville, Illinois - subrecipient; City of Waukegan, Illinois- subrecipient; Village of Downers Grove, Illinois - subrecipient; Village of Mokena, Illinois-subrecipient; and Village of Wheeling, Illinois-subrecipient (hereinafter "the Parties"), are units of local government within the meaning of Section 10 of Article 7 of the Constitution of the State of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, the Parties are also public agencies within the meaning of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act (5 ILCS 220/1, et. seq.); and
WHEREAS, the Parties are authorized to contract among themselves to obtain or share services, or exercise, combine, or transfer any power or function in any manner not prohibited by law (5 ILCS 220/3); and
WHEREAS, the CPRG program is designed to incentivize eligible applicants to apply for funding together as a coalition to implement GHG reduction measures across multiple municipalities; and
WHEREAS, more than two (2) million residents covered by the coalition will benefit from the award by reducing GHG emissions, improving air pollution, and accelerating the transition to a green economy; and
WHEREAS, prior to receiving any awarded funds by the EPA, the lead applicant for the Coalition (Kane County, Illinois) will be required to submit a forthcoming Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) which will provide documentation that the receiving organizations have consulted with each other and are committed to fulfilling their respective roles and responsibilities to successfully implement the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction measures described in the application; and
WHEREAS, to apply for, administer, and manage the funds associated with the CPRG grant program, the partner agencies committing to participate in the Coalition are expected to execute said forthcoming Memorandum of Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the Mayor or his designee, be hereby directed and authorized to execute the Notice of Intent, attached hereto as Exhibit A.