Illinois EPA offers grants for wastewater efficiency

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is offering grants to public wastewater treatment plants to improve energy efficiency.

The agency has announced $3 million in grant funding. Grants ranging from $5,000 to $1.5 million will reduce energy consumption at treatment plants.

EPA Director Alec Messina says the department has worked with 15 Illinois municipalities for no-cost efficiency assessments. The grant program uses U.S. Department of Energy funds to upgrade plants where the most cost savings will be.

Applications for the grant are available online from the EPA . Applications are due by Feb. 12, 2019.

The applications will be ranked according to energy savings per dollar invested, energy rate paid by the facility and the energy cost to treat one million gallons of water at the plant.