2024 Powering Safe Communities Program
Awards Over $185,000 to Local Communities
ComEd and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (MMC) are pleased to
announce the recipients of the 2024 Powering Safe Communities grant
program. This year, the program awarded over $185,000 in grants
across ComEd’s northern Illinois service territory. The grants,
worth up to $10,000 each, are awarded to projects that support
municipal public safety and clean energy initiatives, with a focus
on electrification projects that can reduce carbon emissions,
improve public health outcomes and advance community
resiliency.
"ComEd is proud to partner with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
to support community-driven safety and clean energy initiatives,"
said Melissa Washington, Senior Vice President of Customer
Operations and Strategic Initiatives at ComEd. “"By investing
in these critical projects, we're enhancing public safety and
building more resilient communities. Our efforts in clean energy,
transportation, and electrification demonstrate our commitment to a
sustainable, secure future. Together, we're making Northern
Illinois safer and more environmentally friendly for everyone."
This is the tenth year of the Powering Safe Communities program,
which has awarded over 200 grants totaling nearly $2 million to
northern Illinois communities since its launch in 2015. Common
among this year’s recipients are plans to purchase radar speed
signs, many of which are solar powered, electric vehicles (EVs) and
bicycles for public safety use and electric vehicle charging
stations for municipal and public use.
“The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus is thrilled to continue our
partnership with ComEd to provide funding that enhances public
safety and clean energy projects that prepare our region for future
challenges,” said Neil James, Executive Director at Metropolitan
Mayors Caucus. “We are proud to help our local governments
achieve their safety, sustainability, and infrastructure
goals.”
Below is a summary of the 25 ComEd Powering Safe Communities
grant recipients for 2024:
The Bensenville Police Department will use its grant to
acquire two radar units for its patrol cars, which will enable
accurate measurement of traffic speeds to improve road safety and
enforce traffic laws.
The Berwyn Police Department will use its grant for the
purchase of two solar-powered speed trailers to enhance safety
measures in school zones and high-traffic areas. These trailers
will monitor and control traffic speeds effectively, ensuring safer
streets for residents and students.
The Chicago Heights Police Department will use its grant
to acquire four solar-powered speed radar signs and one
solar-powered flashing stop sign. These installations will be
strategically placed near busy intersections and schools to enhance
pedestrian and traffic safety.
The Chicago Ridge Police Department will purchase and
deploy one solar powered programmable speed violator strobe light
and speed display with its grant. The speed radar signs would be
secured on Ridgeland Avenue where there is a growing concern for
speeding vehicles by both our residents and elected officials.
The City of Oakbrook Terrace will use its grant to obtain
solar-powered street crossing signage ensuring sustainable
operation while effectively alerting drivers and pedestrians to
crosswalks aimed at enhancing safety for school routes in areas
currently lacking such infrastructure. This initiative is crucial
for ensuring safe passage for students and pedestrians,
particularly in high-traffic zones around schools.
The Frankfort Police Department will purchase one
electric bike and one speed radar sign with its grant. This
equipment allows the department to continue providing a high level
of service to the community with less environmental impact. The
Shield Radar Speed Sign will also allow for data collection to
properly deploy other assets and resources to combat and deter
vehicular safety concerns in critical areas.
The Hickory Hills Police Department will implement three
new solar-powered speed radar signs and added solar enhancements to
existing units with its grant. These installations are focused on
areas with high pedestrian traffic near dense housing and
recreational facilities, promoting safer community
environments.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Department will
purchase two speed radar signs equipped to collect vehicle size
data with its grant, facilitating better management of trucking
weight issues on a low-capacity bridge. These measures contribute
to improved traffic safety and infrastructure management.
The Midlothian Fire Department will use its grant to
attain a battery-powered chair for lifting and moving patients
safely through its stairs. This new chair replaces their outdated
manual chair, improving safety for both patients and fire
department personnel.
The Palos Hills Police Department will use its grant to
obtain one speed radar sign, a messaging board, and a trailer,
enhancing their ability to collect data for optimal police resource
deployment and traffic management.
The Richton Park Fire Department will use its grant to
replace five AEDs. With over 12,000 residents and thousands of
visitors annually, updated AEDs can potentially save lives during
cardiac emergencies.
The River Grove Police Department will install six
solar-powered speed radar signs in high-traffic crash areas near
schools with its grant, aiming to significantly reduce accidents
and ensure safer school zones for students and pedestrians.
The Riverwoods Police Department will purchase a
solar-powered radar sign on Deerfield Road with its grant, where
the highest percentage of vehicle accidents occur. This will
improve road safety and prevent collisions effectively.
The Rolling Meadows Police Department: will use its grant
to implement battery powered police bikes to its current bicycle
patrol program. The battery powered bicycles would enable officers
to patrol a larger geographic area and allow them to respond to in
progress calls for assistance sooner, thus reducing response times.
The battery powered bicycles would overall enhance public
safety.
The Toluca-Rutland Fire Protection District will use its
grant for a battery-powered ventilation equipment, which will
replace gas-powered equipment to improve air quality.
The Village of Bolingbrook will use its grant for an
electric mini ambulance for efficient emergency response at public
events and parks. The mini ambulance will include a built-in cot,
compartment for an automatic defibrillator, and essential medical
supplies, promoting environmental sustainability through electric
power use and emission reduction.
The Village of Homewood Police Department will purchase
four solar-powered speed radar signs along with equipment for
safety personnel with its grant. This includes 15 LED stop handheld
signs, 13 LED flares, and 41 LED personal safety devices, such as
LED personal safety lights and LED road flare kits. These signs
will be installed in high-traffic residential areas.
The Village of Huntley will use its grant to purchase
portable speed radar signs throughout the village to proactively
address and mitigate traffic speed issues, ensuring safer road
conditions for all residents and visitors.
The Village of Lily Lake will use its grant to purchase a
severe weather warning siren projected to reach a one-mile radius.
This provides coverage to approximately 1,000 residents of Lily
Lake, 80 residences in surrounding unincorporated communities, and
an additional 200 residents during easterly winds.
The Village of Monee will use its grant for camera
systems on their water tower to monitor severe weather events,
ensuring early detection and prompt response, and sharing data with
the National Weather Service.
The Village of Palatine will purchase a public EV
charging station for their downtown and existing Metra commuter
parking lot with its grant. This serves commuters, residents in
nearby apartments, downtown business employees, and shoppers.
The Village of Peotone will use its grant for two solar
speed signs near schools to monitor and analyze speeding patterns,
significantly improving traffic safety for students and
residents.
The Village of Round Lake Beach will purchase five
solar-powered speed radar signs near parks and a school with its
grant. These installations significantly bolster safety efforts to
reduce speeding and enhance pedestrian safety in key community
areas.
The Village of Vernon Hills will use its grant for a
public EV charging station installed at Village Hall, marking a
significant step forward in sustainability efforts.
The Wayne Police Department will use its grant to install
three solar-powered speed radar signs. This upgrade includes two
fixed units and one portable unit, enhancing safety measures to
monitor and control traffic speeds effectively.
These grants build on ComEd’s broader efforts to promote
equitable EV adoption and sustainable community practices. Beyond
the Powering Safe Communities Program, ComEd provides various
funding and educational resources to individuals and communities
interested in advancing transportation electrification, including a
variety of EV related rebates, a Fleet Electrification Assessment
tool for commercial and municipal customers and an EV toolkit to
support customers at any part of their EV journey.
Making EVs more accessible and growing the network of public
chargers is a key component of the state’s goal of getting 1
million EVs on the road by 2030, outlined in the Climate and
Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). Today, there are over 100,000 registered
EVs in Illinois, with the number steadily climbing, prompting EV
charging infrastructure to expand to match the demand. New
incentive programs offered by ComEd and the state of Illinois are
helping remove barriers so that more customers and communities can
make the switch—bringing more clean energy technology into our
region and improving air quality for everyone.
ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon
Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 200 energy company with
approximately 10 million electricity and natural gas customers –
the largest number of customers in the U.S. ComEd powers the lives
of more than 4 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70
percent of the state's population. For more information visit
ComEd.com, and connect with the company on Facebook, Instagram,
LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.
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