SB1570 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 10957 NHT 21214 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB1570

Introduced 2/19/2009, by Sen. Carole Pankau

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 605/605-333 new
30 ILCS 105/5.719 new
105 ILCS 5/10-20.42
105 ILCS 5/34-18.36
110 ILCS 805/3-42.3

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the State Finance Act, the School Code, and the Public Community College Act. Creates the School Wind and Solar Generation Program to fund wind generation projects and solar generation projects for school districts and community college districts. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to implement and administer the program; allows the Department to award full or partial grants for, without limitation, engineering studies, feasibility studies, research studies, and construction costs. For each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014, requires the State Comptroller to order transferred and the State Treasurer to transfer $5,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the School Wind and Solar Generation Fund, a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that all money in the Fund must be used for the purposes of the program. Allows school districts and community college districts to own and operate solar generation turbine farms (not just wind generation turbine farms) that directly or indirectly reduce energy or other operating costs. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning schools.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 605-333 as follows:

(20 ILCS 605/605-333 new)

Sec. 605-333. School Wind and Solar Generation Program.

(a) There is created the School Wind and Solar Generation Program to fund wind generation projects and solar generation projects for school districts and community college districts. The Department shall implement and administer this program. Under the program, the Department may award, to school districts and community college districts that apply, full or partial grants for, without limitation, engineering studies, feasibility studies, research studies, and construction costs for wind generation projects and solar generation projects.

(b) On or before January 1, 2010 and every 2 years thereafter, as long as funding to award grants under this Section is available, the Department shall mail information regarding the School Wind and Solar Generation Program to all school districts and community college districts in this State.

(c) Receiving a grant under this Section does not disqualify a district from being eligible for other Department funding programs regarding energy.

(d) For each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014, the State Comptroller shall order transferred and the State Treasurer shall transfer $5,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the School Wind and Solar Generation Fund. The School Wind and Solar Generation Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. All money in the School Wind and Solar Generation Fund must be used, subject to appropriation, by the Department for the purposes of this Section.

(e)The Department may accept additional funding for the School Wind and Solar Generation Program from the federal government and private donations.

Section 10. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.719 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.719 new)

Sec. 5.719. The School Wind and Solar Generation Fund.

Section 15. The School Code is amended by changing Sections 10-20.42 and 34-18.36 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/10-20.42)

Sec. 10-20.42. Wind and solar farms farm. A school district may own and operate a wind or solar generation turbine farm, either individually or jointly with a unit of local government, school district, or community college district that is authorized to own and operate a wind or solar generation turbine farm, that directly or indirectly reduces the energy or other operating costs of the school district. The school district may ask for the assistance of any State agency, including without limitation the State Board of Education, the Illinois Power Agency, or the Environmental Protection Agency, in obtaining financing options for a wind or solar generation turbine farm.

(Source: P.A. 95-390, eff. 8-23-07; 95-805, eff. 8-12-08; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08.)

(105 ILCS 5/34-18.36)

Sec. 34-18.36. Wind and solar farms farm. The school district may own and operate a wind or solar generation turbine farm, either individually or jointly with a unit of local government, school district, or community college district that is authorized to own and operate a wind or solar generation turbine farm, that directly or indirectly reduces the energy or other operating costs of the school district. The school district may ask for the assistance of any State agency, including without limitation the State Board of Education, the Illinois Power Agency, or the Environmental Protection Agency, in obtaining financing options for a wind or solar generation turbine farm.

(Source: P.A. 95-390, eff. 8-23-07; 95-805, eff. 8-12-08; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08.)

Section 20. The Public Community College Act is amended by changing Section 3-42.3 as follows:

(110 ILCS 805/3-42.3)

Sec. 3-42.3. Wind and solar farms farm. To own and operate a wind or solar generation turbine farm, either individually or jointly with a unit of local government, school district, or community college district that is authorized to own and operate a wind or solar generation turbine farm, that directly or indirectly reduces the energy or other operating costs of the community college district. The board may ask for the assistance of any State agency, including without limitation the State Board, the Illinois Power Agency, or the Environmental Protection Agency, in obtaining financing options for a wind or solar generation turbine farm.

(Source: P.A. 95-390, eff. 8-23-07; 95-805, eff. 8-12-08.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.