September 21, 2022

Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $1 Million in Pollution Prevention Grants for University of Illinois System

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $1,049,196 awarded to the University of Illinois System by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic $100 million program investment. These pollution prevention (P2) grants will allow the University of Illinois System to provide businesses with technical assistance to help them implement P2 practices to prevent or reduce pollution before it is even created, while also reducing business and liability costs.

“By prioritizing communities that are underserved or too often bear the brunt of pollution, our nation is continuing to move in the right direction to combat climate change while improving the health for many Illinoisans—which is why programs like P2 as well as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are so important,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud to help announce this infusion of federal resources alongside Senator Durbin, and I will continue to advocate for clean air, water and land across Illinois and our nation.”

“Preventing pollution before it begins is a cost-effective way to combat climate change,” said Durbin. “This funding will allow the University of Illinois System to support overburdened communities with environmental best practices, and I’ll keep working to bring home federal dollars to work toward a more sustainable future.”

These P2 grants are among 39 national grants made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $100 million program investment.

Recipients of the P2 grants include:

  • University of Illinois at Chicago ($350,000): University of Illinois at Chicago Energy Resources Center will use the grant to provide technical assistance to 20 industrial plants in some of Chicago’s underserved communities. UIC-ERC, in partnership with the city of Chicago, will help facilities find and achieve energy and cost savings, emissions reduction, and waste reduction.
  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ($349,999): University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Smart Energy Design Assessment Center will use the grant to provide technical assistance and training for 260 businesses, including 80 businesses located in or adjacent to underserved communities.
  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Prairie Research Institute ($349,197): University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Illinois Sustainable Technology Center will use the grant to host two training events, create a pollution prevention guidebook and offer technical assistance to 15 Illinois manufacturing and processing facilities.

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