ComEd and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (MMC) announced today the recipients of the 2024 Powering Safe Communities grant program. The program awarded over $185,000 in grants across ComEd’s northern Illinois service territory.
This year’s grants, worth up to $10,000 each, focus on projects that support municipal public safety and clean energy initiatives, particularly electrification projects. These projects aim to reduce carbon emissions, improve public health outcomes, and enhance community resilience.
“ComEd is proud to partner with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus to support community-driven safety and clean energy initiatives,” said Melissa Washington, Senior Vice President of Customer Operations and Strategic Initiatives at ComEd. “”By investing in these critical projects, we’re enhancing public safety and building more resilient communities. Our efforts in clean energy, transportation, and electrification demonstrate our commitment to a sustainable, secure future. Together, we’re making Northern Illinois safer and more environmentally friendly for everyone.”
This marks the 10th year of the Powering Safe Communities program, awarding over $2 million and 200 grants to northern Illinois communities since its launch in 2015. This year’s recipients include:
- Public Safety Enhancements: Many communities received grants for radar speed signs, often solar-powered, electric vehicles (EVs) and bicycles for police departments, and public EV charging stations.
- Improved Air Quality: Fire departments received grants to replace gas-powered equipment with battery-powered alternatives.
“The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus is thrilled to continue our partnership with ComEd to provide funding that enhances public safety and clean energy projects that prepare our region for future challenges,” said Neil James, Executive Director at Metropolitan Mayors Caucus. “We are proud to help our local governments achieve their safety, sustainability, and infrastructure goals.”
Making EVs more accessible and growing the network of public chargers is a key component of the state’s goal of getting 1 million EVs on the road by 2030, outlined in the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). Today, there are over 100,000 registered EVs in Illinois, with the number steadily climbing, prompting EV charging infrastructure to expand to match the demand. New incentive programs offered by ComEd and the state of Illinois are helping remove barriers so that more customers and communities can make the switch—bringing more clean energy technology into our region and improving air quality for everyone.
