The Senate was in Session Tuesday through Thursday of this week. The House has taken a month long Spring Break and will return to Springfield April 4th.
[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level1)]
The Senate Revenue Committee met this Wednesday to consider SB 2612 (Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria). SB 2612 would provide a five-year extension to the statewide standard for assessing property taxes on windfarms. There was no opposition to SB 2612 in Committee and the bill was approved on an agreed bill list.
The Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee met this past Thursday and approved SB 2522 and SB 2813. SB 2522 (Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park) is an initiative of the Illinois Power Agency and addresses some audit finding that the Agency has been dealing with for years. The bill is identical to HB 5539 (Rep. Christian Mitchell, D-Chicago) that passed out of the House Public Utilities Committee last week.
SB 2813 (Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park) is an initiative of Direct Energy, and would add a definition for “solar customer” to the Public Utilities Act. The bill would define “solar customer” as any customer that uses a photovoltaic electric delivery system. There was no opposition to SB 2813 and Sen. Harmon committed that any amendments to SB 2813 would be brought back to the Energy Committee.
The Senate Environment and Conservation Committee met this past Thursday but little action was taken. SB 2920 (Sen. Toi Hutchinson, D-Chicago Heights) was posted for Committee but not heard. SB 2920 is an initiative of the Illinois Environmental Council. The bill would require that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency give special consideration to the concerns of the Environmental Justice Commission in the implementation of the Clean Power Plan. The bill would also change the structure and the makeup of the Environmental Justice Commission.
With the Illinois Primary Election on Tuesday of next week, the Senate will only be in Session Wednesday and Thursday. At this time, no major committees related to the energy industry have posted meeting for next week. After next week, the Senate will take a Spring Break from March 19th through April 4th.
The Energy Association will be hosting its annual Cocktail Receptions honoring key House and Senate Committees. The House Reception is scheduled for April 6th at Maldaner’s from 5:30 to 7:30. The Senate Reception is scheduled for April 12th at the Statehouse Inn from 5:30 to 7:30. Please contact our office at 217-523-7348 or email at jmonk@elaineg75.sg-host.com or edrake@elaineg75.sg-host.com to let us know if you will be attending.
J. Monk
P. Evans
[/s2If]