Chicago-based utility Commonwealth Edison and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus will financially support numerous nearby communities in selecting electric vehicle charging, equipment electrification, and energy efficiency projects to decarbonize their mission-critical operations.
Twenty-one fire, police, and parks departments will receive a total of $169,500 in funding from ComEd’s Powering Safe Communities grants to help finance safety projects throughout northern Illinois.
"With the clean energy transition underway in Illinois, ComEd's partnership with cities and towns is critical to ensuring all residents have an opportunity to unlock the benefits of clean energy and the jobs and economic opportunity that come with it,” said Louis Binswanger, Senior Vice President of Government, Regulatory and External Affairs at ComEd.
ComEd Powering Safe Communities grant recipients include:
The Addison Fire Department will replace outdated ventilation fans with newer models to eliminate the department's dependence on fossil fuels and enhance firefighter safety.
The Amboy Fire Department is purchasing tools and equipment necessary for responding to car and battery fires, enabling the fire department to expand its response area for these fires beyond the City of Amboy to Harmon, Sublette, and West Brooklyn, Illinois.
The Bartlett Police Department received a grant to help update automatic external defibrillator devices (AEDs) used by patrol officers and provide AED training for all village departments.
The Beecher Police Department will purchase two solar-powered, digital traffic signs to help collect vehicle speed data to better identify illegal driving trends in the community and enable 24-hour monitoring on primary roadways.
The Broadview Fire Department received a grant to purchase battery-powered extrication tools for vehicle accidents. With the addition of these tools, the department will be better equipped to safely and swiftly remove passengers from a severe vehicle crash.
Channahon Park District will upgrade existing AEDs and add additional units throughout district park facilities.
The City of Evanston received a grant to help the city prepare for increased public safety vehicle electrification by installing a new EV charging station for the police department. The grant will also enable the city to purchase an EV to support public safety efforts at outdoor community events.
The city of Polo received a grant to support the deployment of the community's first public EV charging station in the downtown area and promote the use of green transportation.
Wilmington will use its funding to enhance public safety along Illinois Route 53 by procuring new solar-powered safety signage that draws motorists' attention at two pedestrian crosswalk locations within the city.
The Hazel Crest Fire Department received a grant to purchase new, durable, portable radios to enhance the on-scene coordination and situational awareness of first responders during emergencies.
The Park Forest Fire Department is replacing five automated external defibrillators located at various Village-owned buildings.
The village of Elmwood Park received a grant to help fund the installation of a new, four-vehicle EV charging station in the Village Hall parking lot. These chargers will be open to the public to support increased EV adoption.
The village of Evergreen Park is purchasing two solar-powered speed radar signs for use near schools.
The village of Lisle will install its first public EV charging station there.
The village of Maywood received a grant to help fund the purchase and installation of its first EV charging station in its downtown parking area. This charging station will support transportation electrification and make charging technology more accessible.
The village of Mokena received a grant to purchase and install equipment to improve the safety and well-being of pedestrians at a highly trafficked crosswalk.
The village of North Riverside will buy and install a new EV charger in the Village Commons to align with the village's mission of advancing local sustainability and building community resiliency.
Orland Park received a grant to purchase solar-powered, LED pedestrian crossing signs throughout the Village to increase crosswalk visibility.
The village of Robbins received a grant to help fund the purchase of new, energy-efficient speed display signs throughout critical areas in the Village. Paired with bright, LED blinkers, these signs will help increase motorists' awareness of their speed in school zones and residential areas.
The village of Skokie received a grant to support the purchase and installation of a new EV charging station near multi-family housing and downtown businesses.
The village of Sublette received a grant to purchase and install LED speed signs in residential areas to enhance child safety in recreational areas throughout the Village.
Over nine years, ComEd has awarded 178 grants totaling more than $1.8 million to help communities achieve energy transition goals. The state of Illinois has aimed for one million EVs on state roads by 2030.
