For Illinois cities & counties
City halls, libraries, fire stations, water plants — most cost more to run than they need to. Since 2022, a federal rule called Direct Pay lets your city receive cash from the federal government for clean-energy upgrades. No tax return required.
30–70%
of project cost covered when Direct Pay and grants stack
No filing
no tax return required to receive Direct Pay
10+ years
clean-energy funding runs through 2032
What matters for you
Since 2022, a federal rule called Direct Pay lets cities and counties receive cash from the federal government for clean-energy projects — 30% or more of what solar panels, heat pumps, and battery storage cost to install. Extra bonus payments (10–20% each) apply for using American-made materials, siting projects in former coal or fossil-fuel communities, or serving low-income areas.
Federal grants from the U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency, plus state grants from the Illinois Department of Commerce (DCEO), can be combined with Direct Pay to cover the majority of a project's cost. Missing any one of these leaves money on the table — most cities do.
Fire stations, water treatment plants, and emergency operations centers can't afford to lose power. Solar panels paired with battery storage keep them running when the grid goes down and cut daily energy costs at the same time. Federal Direct Pay makes this affordable — the cash-back covers 30% or more of the installed cost.
Every report we deliver includes clear before-and-after numbers, verified savings calculations, and defensible methodology. Designed to hold up in budget hearings, public presentations, and Freedom of Information Act requests. No jargon, no black boxes.
Federal Direct Pay · Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
For most of history, federal tax credits for clean energy — things like solar panels, heat pumps, and building efficiency upgrades — only helped organizations that owed federal income taxes. Churches, schools, and cities were left out because none of them owe federal taxes to begin with. The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act created a rule called Direct Pay to fix that. When your organization installs qualifying clean-energy equipment, the federal government mails you a check for 30% or more of what it cost.
You can qualify for an extra 10–20% bonus payment if the project uses American-made materials, sits in a former coal or fossil-fuel community, or serves a low-income area. We handle the eligibility questions and paperwork when you upgrade to a Walk-Through Audit.
Also available — $199 Automated Benchmark Report
Delivered as a branded PDF in 3–5 business days. Credits fully toward any full audit within 90 days.
No signup, no cost, no obligation. Ninety seconds and you'll know where you stand.