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| Public Act 097-0266 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning wind energy.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Lake | ||||
Michigan Offshore Wind Energy Advisory Council Act. | ||||
Section 5. Definitions. In this Act: | ||||
"Council" means the Lake Michigan Offshore Wind Energy | ||||
Advisory Council created under this Act. | ||||
"Department" means the Illinois Department of Natural | ||||
Resources. | ||||
"Local government" means county, township, or | ||||
municipality. | ||||
Section 10. The Lake Michigan Offshore Wind Energy | ||||
Recommendation Report. | ||||
(a) In order to assist in the evaluation and consideration | ||||
of offshore wind energy projects in Illinois waters of Lake | ||||
Michigan, the Department shall examine the topics identified in | ||||
subsection (b) of this Section and report its findings and | ||||
recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by June | ||||
30, 2012. During preparation of the report, the Department is | ||||
not expected to fund or perform original scientific studies. | ||||
(b) In preparing a report, the Department shall evaluate | ||||
all of the following: | ||
(1) Appropriate criteria for the Department to use to | ||
review applications for offshore wind development of Lake | ||
Michigan lakebed leases. | ||
(2) Criteria for identifying areas that are favorable, | ||
acceptable, and unacceptable for offshore wind | ||
development, including, but not limited to, impacts to | ||
wildlife, protected habitats, navigation, commercial | ||
fisheries, and recreational uses of Lake Michigan. | ||
(3) A recommended process for ensuring public | ||
engagement in the Department's process for leasing Lake | ||
Michigan lakebed for offshore wind energy projects. | ||
(4) Options for how the State shall be compensated for | ||
Lake Michigan lakebed leasing. | ||
(5) A summary of the lessons learned from other | ||
domestic and international offshore wind development | ||
experiences, including, but not limited to, those related | ||
to public policy, regulatory, and siting concerns for | ||
offshore wind development. | ||
(6) Identification of local, State, and federal | ||
authorities with permitting, siting, or other approval | ||
authority for wind power development in Lake Michigan. | ||
(7) Recommendations for needed State legislation and | ||
regulations governing offshore wind farm development. | ||
Section 15. The Lake Michigan Offshore Wind Energy Advisory | ||
Council. | ||
(a) The Council is created as a separate entity within the | ||
Department of Natural Resources and shall consist of the | ||
Director or Chairman, or their designee, of the following 5 | ||
State agencies: | ||
(1) The Department of Natural Resources. | ||
(2) The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. | ||
(3) The Illinois Power Agency. | ||
(4) The Illinois Commerce Commission. | ||
(5) The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. | ||
(b) The Director of Natural Resources shall serve as | ||
chairperson of the Council. The chairperson shall select the | ||
following public members to serve on the Council: | ||
(1) One individual representing a statewide | ||
environmental organization. | ||
(2) One individual representing the tourism industry. | ||
(3) One resident of the State representing an Illinois | ||
institution of higher education. | ||
(4) Two residents of the State representing lakefront | ||
communities.
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(5) One individual representing an electrical utility | ||
industry. | ||
(6) One individual representing an independent | ||
transmission company. | ||
(7) One individual representing the offshore wind | ||
energy industry. | ||
(8) One individual representing local government | ||
officials. | ||
(9) One individual representing a regional | ||
environmental organization. | ||
(10) One individual representing the commercial | ||
fishing industry. | ||
(11) One individual representing the recreational | ||
boating community.
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(c) At his or her discretion, the chairperson may appoint | ||
additional public members to the Council. | ||
(d) The Speaker of the House, Minority Leader of the House, | ||
Senate President, and Minority Leader of the Senate shall each | ||
appoint one member of the General Assembly to serve on the | ||
Council.
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(e) Members of the Council shall serve without | ||
compensation. | ||
(f) The Council shall examine the topics identified in | ||
subsection (b) of Section 10 of this Act and shall make | ||
recommendations to the Department during the preparation of the | ||
report to the General Assembly and Governor.
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Section 20. Repeal of Act. This Act shall be repealed on | ||
July 1, 2012.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, | ||
2011.
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