DuPage County receives clean energy grant

A federal grant will help DuPage County make energy-friendly upgrades on its campus.

The county received $449,600 through a $20.5 million grant program from the U.S. Department of Energy.

The county plans to use the money to add two electric vehicle charging ports for public use outside the courthouse, additional solar panels on the roof of the administration building and LED lighting upgrades throughout county buildings.

“We are thrilled to receive federal dollars which allow us to achieve energy savings and promote additional green initiatives on our county campus,” DuPage County Board Chairwoman Deborah Conroy said.

A portion of the grant will pay for a study of the clean-energy workforce in DuPage. The study will identify the supply and demand for clean-energy jobs and aid in decisions related to workforce development.

County officials say the study could help position DuPage for future funding associated with clean energy jobs.

The county also will use a portion of the grant to provide clean-energy-related job training, which could include covering tuition or training costs.

“We want DuPage County to be a leader in the clean energy sector,” Conroy said. “We believe this grant is just the first step as we invest in training programs ensuring that DuPage County workers will be in high demand when employers seek to fill positions in this growing segment of our local economy.”