The following bills of interest to the energy industry have been introduced into the 100th Illinois General Assembly for consideration during its Spring 2017 session:
Senate Bill 71 (Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park) – would provide for an immediate effective date for sections of last year’s Future Energy Jobs Bill that deal with renewable energy. Assigned to the Senate Energy Committee.
Senate Bill 611 (Sen. Scott Bennett, D-Champaign) – would establish the Mahomet Aquifer Protection Task Force to address the issue of maintaining clean drinking water for communities served by the Mahomet Aquifer. Assigned to the Senate Environment Committee.
Senate Bill 1383 (Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Peru) – would amend various sections of the state’s Underground Utility Facilities Damage Protection Act, which sets standards for excavation near underground utility facilities. Assigned to the Senate Energy Committee. Companion bill to House Bill 3634 (Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg), which has been assigned to the House Executive Committee.
House Bill 232 (Rep. Andre Thapedi, D-Chicago) – would change the definition of distributed renewable energy generation device by removing language limiting hydroelectric power. Assigned to the House Energy Committee.
House Bill 2952 (Rep. Tom Morrison, R-Palatine) – would require the Illinois Commerce Commission to change its rules regarding cost recovery for natural gas main extensions. Assigned to the House Public Utilities Committee.
House Bill 3038 (Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago) – would place limits on electric utilities recovery of past due charges from customers under a Purchase of Receivables (POR) arrangement with Alternative Retail Energy Suppliers (ARES). Assigned to the House Public Utilities Committee.
House Bill 3770 (Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana) – would place limitations on storage or disposal of coal ash over a single source aquifer, such as the Mahomet Aquifer. Assigned to the House Public Utilities Committee.