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Illinois to spend $25.1 million on public EV charging infrastructure

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Illinois to spend .1 million on public EV charging infrastructure


Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director John J. Kim has announced plans to spend more than $25 million on new EV charging infrastructure under the Driving a Cleaner Illinois program.

That $25.1 million of Illinois EPA money ($25,152,259.44, to be exact) is being awarded to 20 applicants, and will eventually fund 643 new Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) ports at 141 locations throughout the state. These awards come in addition to $12.6 million the Illinois EPA awarded in Volkswagen Settlement funding (read: Dieselgate penalties) for more than 300 new EV fast charging ports in 2023.

“Through these grants, Illinois will increase the number of fast charging ports by over 100 percent, resulting in nearly 1,000 more fast charging ports available for Illinois’ EV motorists and visitors,” said Director Kim. “This is significant progress in building out EV charging infrastructure throughout Illinois, with more opportunities on the way.”

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The money is geared towards putting DCFC charging stations at publicly accessible locations like malls, grocery stores, gas stations, and hotels (etc.). Additional “points” (translation: funds) were awarded to projects in Equity Investment Eligible Communities.

“In Illinois, we’re strategically turning our vision for a clean energy future into a reality,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Thanks to recent grant awards, my administration will double the number of publicly available fast charging ports — putting us one step closer to our goal of reaching 100% clean energy by 2050.”

The complete list of award winners is listed, below.

Grantee Award Amount Location(s) of EV Chargers Location Type
3216N Inc $320,000.00 Elk Grove Village
Stone Park
Gas Stations
Adams Electric Cooperative $277,814.00 Quincy (2) Community College
Hotel
Amoco Food Shop Number 1 Inc $320,000.00 Chicago (2) Gas Stations
BP Products North America Inc $8,320,000.00 Addison
Aurora (2)
Bellwood
Bloomington
Bolingbrook
Chicago (2)
Crystal Lake
Des Plaines (2)
Effingham (2)
Elk Grove Village
Glen Ellyn
Hampshire
Huntley
Joliet (2)
Kankakee
Lake in the Hills
Lombard
McHenry
Morris
Mt. Vernon
Naperville (2)
Romeoville
Round Lake Beach
Round Lake Park
Summit
Third Lake
Troy
Volo
West Chicago
Woodridge
Zion
Gas Stations
Egyptian Electric Cooperative Association $320,000.00 Carbondale
Carterville
University
Hotel
Gjovik Ford $400,000.00 Plano
Sandwich
Car Dealerships
GPM Investments LLC $319,751.44 Edgewood
St. Elmo
Gas Stations
ITSM Software Consultants Inc $1,810,000.00 Algonquin (2)
Arlington Heights (2)
Bridgeview
Buffalo Grove
Chicago
Matteson
North Chicago
Roselle
West Chicago (2)
Shopping/Retail
Lanman Oil Company $480,000.00 Charleston
Mattoon
Tuscola
Gas Stations
OBE Power Networks 1 LLC $320,000.00 Ottawa (2) Parks/Recreation
OSF Healthcare System $320,000.00 Peoria (2) Healthcare
Pilot Travel Centers LLC $1,440,000.00 Decatur
Effingham
Gilman
Marion
Marshall
Oakwood
Rochelle
Vandalia
Woodhull
Gas Stations
PowerPort EVC LLC $320,000.00 Ashkum
Bourbonnais
Shopping/Recreation
Red E Charging LLC $2,079,402.00 Arcola
Atlanta
Bolingbrook
Brimfield
Chicago
Fulton
Loves Park
Marion
Peotone
Richton Park
Shorewood
Villa Park
Wilmette
Gas Stations
Rivian Automotive LLC $920,000.00 Normal
Oak Brook
Springfield
Shopping/Retail
Road Ranger LLC $1,600,000.00 Bourbonnais
Dixon
Grayville
Marion
Marshall
McLean
Minonk
Princeton
Rochelle
Springfield
Gas Stations
Shiner Management Group Inc $320,000.00 Gurnee
Mundelein
Shopping/Retail
Sustainable Energies Corporation $1,760,000.00 Country Club Hills
East Peoria
Glendale
Grayslake
Gurnee
McHenry
Melrose Park
Moline
Round Lake Beach
Waukegan (2)
Restaurants
Universal EV LLC $2,945,292.00 East Peoria (2)
Princeton (2)
Casey
Sandoval
Salem
Granite City
Peoria
Decatur
Ottawa (5)
Gilman
Marion
Lincoln
Hoffman Estates
Chillicothe
Elk Grove Village
Hotels
Shopping/Retail
Victory Lane Ford Inc $560,000.00 Carlinville
Litchfield
Car Dealerships
TOTAL $25,152,259.44
Via Illinois EPA.

Electrek’s Take

Mercedes charging hub
Mercedes-Benz Chargepoint charging hub; via Mercedes-Benz.

More EV charging infrastructure is undoubtedly a good thing, and these funds are going to help encourage business and public sector entities in the state to keep doing the right thing here and invest in the future of transportation.

It’s also worth noting that these Illinois EPA funds can “stack” with similar Make-Ready EV charging infrastructure rebate programs from ComEd, a utility company that provides service in northern Illinois. The first phase of the ComEd rebate program has a $77 million budget over two years.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

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Illinois

Illinois bill would strengthen protections for domestic violence survivors after murder of Jayden Perkins, 11

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Illinois bill would strengthen protections for domestic violence survivors after murder of Jayden Perkins, 11


A measure just passed by Illinois state lawmakers could better protect domestic violence survivors in Illinois.

The Illinois Prisoner Review Board, which is responsible for letting prisoners out on parole, may soon have to undergo mandatory training on domestic violence.

This is in response to the murder of 11-year-old Jayden Perkins, who was stabbed to death while trying to protect his pregnant mother from an attack — allegedly by her ex-boyfriend who was just let out of jail.

After Jayden died, two members resigned by the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. His death is the reason why the board now has an executive director, but lawmakers and domestic violence victims knew they needed to fight for so much more.

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Jayden died a hero — trying to save his mom, Laterria Smith, from her ex-boyfriend, Crosetti Brand, on March 13, 2024.

Prosecutors and police say Brand, who is now on trial in the casewent to Smith and her son’s home and stabbed her in the neck. When Jayden tried to intervene and protect his mother, Brand allegedly stabbed him in the chest.

Jayden’s death at his and his mom’s Edgewater neighborhood apartment should never have happened in the first place.

“It was really a failure in every part of the system in this case,” said Amanda Pyron, chief executive officer of The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence.

Pyron worked with the office of Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Prisoner Review Board to the legislation.

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Smith feared for her life and filed an order of protection against Brand. But the CBS News Chicago Investigators found critical information was not communicated to the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, so Brand was let out on parole.

The next day, Jayden was murdered.

“It doesn’t appear that they were checking for active orders of protection,” Pyron said. “It doesn’t appear that they were checking for pending orders of protection.”

The bill now on its way to Gov. Pritzker’s desk would:

  • Require the Illinois Prisoner Review Board to run a “leads” report on someone up for parole, which contains criminal history, active orders of protection, and any such orders pending.
  • Require the board to publish names of people who violate release terms within 60 days.
  • Require the board to complete 20 hours of training for topics like domestic violence.
  • Require seven board members to have at least five years’ experience in fields like law enforcement.

“It speaks to the need of appropriate procedures that include those voices, that respect those voices, that ensure the safety of survivors who are involved in the system,” said Illinois state Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago).

Cassidy worked months with lawmakers and other activists to pass the bill.

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While there is some relief, Cassidy said there is more work to be done for victims like Jayden and his family, with whom she plans to speak soon.

“I very much am looking forward to be getting a second to be able to share this good news,” Cassidy said.

Brand’s trial is ongoing, and he is representing himself.

Gov. Pritzker’s office said he is planning to sign the bill into law.

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Bears legend Brian Urlacher shares stance on trans athletes in girls' sports as issue rocks Illinois

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Bears legend Brian Urlacher shares stance on trans athletes in girls' sports as issue rocks Illinois


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Former Chicago Bears star linebacker Brian Urlacher made his stance known on the issue of transgender athletes in women’s and girls’ sports as the debate creates a divide in the state where he made his reputation – Illinois. 

Urlacher shared his opinion on the issue during an interview on the “Global View” podcast on May 9 and questioned why it is even a debate in some circles.

“Why is it even a debate? A woman is a woman and a man is a man… you’re born with what you’re born with,” Urlacher said. 

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Jerome Bettis, #36 of the Pittsburgh Steelers, runs over Brian Urlacher, #54 of the Chicago Bears, for a touchdown on Dec. 11, 2005 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Urlacher even referenced an ongoing controversy in Minnesota, where a transgender pitcher is currently dominating the girls’ softball season. The trans athlete reportedly won 14 straight games heading into the playoffs and earned first-team All-State honors rocked the state in recent weeks. 

“It’s just different because we are men, there are certain things we do better than women, and it’s just, number one, it’s not fair, and if I had a daughter who had to be forced to play against a man I would not be okay with it and I would raise hell about it,” Urlacher said. 

“I just don’t get it, it’s a common sense thing, I just don’t see how you can push this and make someone thing they’re a different sex.”

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EX-VIKINGS PLAYER RIPS MINNESOTA AG AS STATE SUES TRUMP TO KEEP TRANS ATHLETES IN GIRLS’ SPORTS

Brian Urlacher in 2018

Former Chicago Bears player Brian Urlacher is honored during halftime of a game between the Chicago Bears and the Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sept. 17, 2018. (Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports)

The Pro Football Hall of Famer praised President Donald Trump for signing the “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order at the White House on Feb. 5. 

Illinois has become a hotbed of controversy over the issue of trans athlete inclusion in recent days after a biological male competed in a seventh-grade track meet against biological females at the Naper Prairie Conference Meet. 

The incident resulted in a Naperville 203 Community School District Board meeting descending into a heated debate over the issue on Monday. 

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Brian Urlacher at podium

Brian Urlacher is honored with a Ring of Excellence ceremony for his recent induction into the Hall of Fame at Soldier Field on Sep. 17, 2018 in Chicago. (Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

Awake Illinois has filed a civil rights complaint against the district, with the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights alleging a violation of Title IX.

They called on federal funds to be withheld from the district, which it says receives between $8 million and $9 million in federal grants annually. The complaint is part of a broader effort by Awake Illinois, which previously filed similar Title IX complaints against other districts and the Illinois State Board of Education.

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Several central Illinois counties are under a tornado watch. Here’s what to know

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Several central Illinois counties are under a tornado watch. Here’s what to know


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A tornado watch is in effect for much of central Illinois, with some counties under a tornado warning.

A tornado warning was issued for Sangamon and Menard counties. The warnings are set to expire at 3:15 p.m.

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The following counties are under the watch: Bureau, Christian, Cumberland, Edgar, Fulton, Knox, Macon, McDonough, Morgan, Piatt, Schuyler, Tazewell, Woodford, Cass, Clark, DeWitt, Effingham, Henry, Livingston, Marshall, McLean, Moultrie, Putnam, Shelby, Vermilion, Champaign, Coles, Douglas, Ford, Iroquois, Logan, Mason, Peoria, Stark, and Warren.

As of 2:20 p.m., the watch is supposed to expire at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Hazardous Weather Outlook

Many of the same counties are also under a Hazardous Weather Outlook.

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Those counties are:

Knox, Stark, Peoria, Marshall, Woodford, Fulton, Tazewell, McLean, Schuyler, Mason, Logan, DeWitt, Piatt, Champaign, Vermilion, Cass, Menard, Scott, Morgan, Sangamon, Christian, Macon, Moultrie, Douglas, Coles, Edgar, Shelby, Cumberland, Clark, Effingham, Jasper, Crawford, Clay, Richland, and Lawrence.

Central Illinois radar

What does the outlook say for Tuesday?

Scattered thunderstorms will continue to develop on Tuesday afternoon and generally shift east across central Illinois through the early evening, according to the National Weather Service.

Some of these storms could be strong to severe. The storms may be capable of producing damaging wind gusts, hail over one inch, and isolated tornadoes.

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Are storms expected on Wednesday?

NWS is not predicting hazardous weather for Wednesday or the rest of the week.

(This story has been updated to include new information.)

Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@gannett.com.



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