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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
PROPOSED RESOLUTION FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY COMMUNITY BENEFIT FUND ANNUAL GRANT PROGRAM
WHEREAS, Cook County is committed to Sustainable and Vital Communities through its Policy Roadmap Strategic Plan and seeks to foster innovation, job growth, economic development and career training in sustainable industries; and
WHEREAS, the renewable energy and energy efficiency fields are growing at an increasing rate, creating opportunities for County residents to build new skills and obtain good-paying jobs in renewable energy development, installation, retrofits and related areas; and
WHEREAS, Cook County is actively working to meet the goals outlined in its Clean Energy Plan, which includes 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from a 2010 baseline, 100% renewable electricity by 2030 for County-owned and operated buildings, and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050; and
WHEREAS, The Bureau of Asset Management (BAM) provides clean, safe, secure, sustainable and accessible facilities to service all Cook County departments and elected officials and is responsible for identifying and securing energy purchases for County operations; and
WHEREAS, BAM has entered into an off-site Power Purchase Agreement(“PPA”) with Constellation Energy, a retail energy supplier and Swift Current, a solar developer (“energy partners”), to meet the County’s operational and sustainability goals; and
WHEREAS, the PPA includes a 12 year retail energy supply agreement with the energy partners starting in March 2025 for 49,000 MWH of electricity and local project Renewable Energy Certificates (“RECs”); and
WHEREAS, in addition to the renewable electricity, the County was also able to secure a total of $432,000 in monetary support from the Energy Partners for workforce development opportunities over the life of the PPA; and
WHEREAS, the Agreement specifically provides for an annual contribution of $12,000 from Constellation and $24,000 from Swift Current to be used for renewable energy education, training programs, and similar Cook County energy job training resources; and
WHEREAS, Cook County’s Department of Budget and Management Services (“DBMS”) established the Cook County Renewable Energy Community Benefits Fund to receive the annual contributions from Energy Partners; and
WHEREAS, contributions from the Cook County Renewable Energy Community Benefits Fund shall be distributed to community-based organizations, businesses or non-profits (known as “Beneficiaries”) located in Cook County annually through a competitive grant application process; and
WHEREAS, in 2025, Constellation will directly distribute payment to the beneficiary chosen by Cook County and in subsequent years may provide its annual contribution to the Cook County Renewable Energy Community Benefits Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Co-Benefits Fund Advisory Committee (made up of representatives from Bureau of Asset Management, Bureau of Administration, Bureau of Economic Development, and Bureau of Finance) will solicit applications through an annual competitive process and select qualified beneficiaries as a recipient(s) of the Cook County Renewable Energy Community Benefits Fund Grant each year over the next 12 years.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Bureau of Asset Management to establish the Cook County Renewable Energy Community Benefits Fund Grant Program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that any contributions received by the County from Energy Partners, pursuant to Power Purchase Agreements and for the purpose of workforce development as outlined above, shall be deposited in the Cook County Renewable Energy Fund; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, any increase in contribution amounts from the current or future Energy Partners included in any future Power Purchase Agreements shall be allocated in the same manner described herein and for the purposes of expanding renewable energy job training and educational resources to Cook County residents; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Bureau of Asset Management shall disburse the Renewable Energy Community Benefit grant funds to the beneficiary (or beneficiaries) selected by the Renewable Energy Community Benefit Fund Advisory Committee for the purposes outlined each year.
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