The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a $20 million funding initiative to accelerate the deployment of public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the state. The program will support the installation of Level 2 and DC fast chargers, aiming to make charging more accessible and equitable for Illinois residents.
Funding applications open on 17 November 2025 through the Amplifund platform and will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. The program requires that each application for Level 3 (DC fast) chargers include at least two station locations, with up to eight ports per site eligible for funding. There is no limit on the number of Level 2 chargers that can be proposed. Eligible applicants must either own the charging site or the equipment, and projects must achieve a minimum score to qualify for funding consideration.
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Projects will be evaluated based on readiness, geographic coverage, and proximity to existing chargers, with additional priority given to locations in counties where the Illinois EPA has not previously funded EV projects. The program also emphasizes equity, granting additional points to proposals in Environmental Justice (EJ) or R3 communities, and those designated as Equity Investment Eligible Communities (EIEC) under the state’s mapping tool.
“Governor Pritzker has prioritised electrification of the transportation sector to improve air quality and benefit the health of our residents,” said Illinois EPA Acting Director James Jennings. “To support that priority, we are committed to expanding the charging infrastructure necessary to power current and future electric vehicles throughout Illinois.”
The announcement follows a federal court order requiring the U.S. government to release previously withheld funds for EV charging infrastructure in 14 states, including Illinois. Shortly afterward, the state announced $18.4 million in grants through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program to develop 25 fast-charging sites along major transportation corridors.