The following bills of interest to the energy industry were introduced into the 100th Illinois General Assembly for consideration during its Spring 2017 session:
Senate Bill 71 (Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park and Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie) – would clarify certification procedures for wind power installers. Passed by the Senate on a vote of 47-3. Passed by the House of Representatives on a vote of 113-0.
Senate Bill 611 (Sen. Scott Bennett, D-Champaign and Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana) – would establish the Mahomet Aquifer Protection Task Force to address the issue of maintaining clean drinking water for communities served by the Mahomet Aquifer. Passed by the Senate on a vote of 56-0. Passed by the House of Representatives on a vote of 115-0.
Senate Bill 1488 (Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris) –would eliminate the Radioactive Waste Task Force and related sections of law. Approved by the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee. Held on Third Reading in the Senate.
Senate Bill 1839 (Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago and Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg)) – would make significant changes in the Telecommunications Act designed to modernize much of the state’s telecommunications system, especially voice communications. Also included changes in the state’s 911 statute. Passed by the House of Representatives on a vote of 81-27. The Senate concurred on a vote of 53-3.
House Bill 1848 (Rep. Reginald Phillips, R-Charleston)—would expand the state’s clean coal technology portfolio standards law to incent construction of a electricity generating facility near Mattoon. Held in a subcommittee of the House Energy Committee. Re-referred to the House Rules Committee.
House Bill 3042 (Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Collinsville) – would create a grant program to stimulate development of clean coal technology power generation. The grant program is subject to legislative appropriations. Approved by the House Energy Committee. Re-referred to the House Rules Committee.
House Bill 3396 (Rep. Mike Fortner, R-West Chicago and Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris)) – would facilitate the purchase of electricity for a municipal electric company by the Illinois Power Agency. Passed by the House of Representatives on a vote of 112-0. Passed by the Senate on a vote of 56-0.