Oak Park’s village board discussed proposed increases in the value of grants available to residents looking to make their homes more environmentally friendly.
Village staff reviewed outcomes from Oak Park’s energy grant program in 2025 and presented recommendations to the board on how to make the money allocated to the program go farther in 2026. Last year, 84 residents submitted grant applications for help with making their homes more energy efficient with updates like door and window installation, HVAC work and new renewable energy infrastructure, according to Oak Park Chief Sustainability Officer Lindsey Roland Nieratka.
Different types of grants are made available to residents at different income levels through the program. Increasing the amount available through the program will increase participation from residents of all income levels.
“We’ve heard in the higher income tiers that a larger amount to meet that capital outlay will help more people participate,” Roland Nieratka said. “We believe that increasing it in the lower income tier would also decrease the barrier for entry.”
Following the board study session on the proposed program changes, the program will look to offer residents making less than 80% of the area median income energy grants worth as much as $20,000, residents making between 80% and 120% of the area median income energy grants worth as much as $7,500 and offer 5-year no-interest loans worth as much as $10,000 to households of any income level for energy efficiency improvements.
The village would also offer multifamily properties with more than 4 units, 5-year, no-interest loans worth up to $150,000 or $10,000 per unit. The grants and loans come out of a village fund of $750,000 per year, but the village “did not get close” to paying out that amount last year, Roland Nieratka said.
Trustee Derek Eder said that Oak Park needs to prioritize the grant program amid federal rollbacks in green energy funding, but that the village needs to stay on the lookout for funding sources for the program.
“My position is that we need to spend more, climate action is desperately needed and the federal government is pulling back, so it’s up to local governments and municipalities to fill that gap,” Eder said. “We have to rise to that challenge. That’s why I continue to advocate for that spending, but we have to find a responsible way to continue it.”
The village board will vote to finalize the new energy grant guidelines at a Feb 10 board meeting, according to village documents.
