HB3632 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 30496 AMQ 56929 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB3632

Introduced 2/17/2023, by Rep. Sonya M. Harper

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

220 ILCS 5/8-406.3 new

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Creates the Disadvantaged Communities Protection Commission comprised of the Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that available energy sources appropriately benefit and do not inappropriately burden such communities. Specifies duties for the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall make a recommendation to the Governor and the energy company proposing an energy project if there are any current or potential threats or anticipated burdens resulting from a proposed energy project. Provides that the Commission will work with the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to establish and maintain a statewide advanced leak detection standard for all pipeline operators. Provides that this standard shall require pipeline operators to find and repair leaks on the operators' system, including those previously designated as nonhazardous. Provides that funding shall be made available for disadvantaged communities to build better infrastructure to safeguard against gas pipeline adversities.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by adding Section 8-406.3 as follows:

(220 ILCS 5/8-406.3 new)

Sec. 8-406.3. Disadvantaged Communities Protection Commission.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Commission" means the Disadvantaged Communities Protection Commission created under subsection (b).

(b) For the protection of disadvantaged, vulnerable, or marginalized communities in need of energy solutions throughout this State, the Disadvantaged Communities Protection Commission is formed, which shall be comprised of the Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that available energy sources appropriately benefit and do not inappropriately burden such communities. The Commission shall jointly conduct:

(1) a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of the proposed energy project, which shall include socioeconomic, public health, and environmental risk factors in addition to vulnerabilities that may affect the costs and benefits of the proposed energy project; and

(2) an accounting of the social cost of greenhouse gases and consideration of any unique economic, environmental, and ecological impacts of the energy project on disadvantaged, vulnerable, or marginalized communities. The Commission shall advocate for such communities to ensure that the energy project is net-beneficial as a whole. Further, the Commission shall advocate for renewable energy options for such communities, considering affordability, sustainability, distributional impacts, and impacts on the affected environment. The Commission's analysis shall also evaluate rate estimates for energy options.

(c) The Commission shall make a recommendation to the Governor and the energy company proposing an energy project if there are any current or potential threats or anticipated burdens resulting from a proposed energy project.

(d) The Commission shall work with the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to establish and maintain a statewide advanced leak detection standard for all pipeline operators, including local distribution companies. This standard shall require pipeline operators to find and repair leaks on the operators' system, including those previously designated as nonhazardous.

(e) Funding shall be made available for disadvantaged communities to build better infrastructure to safeguard against gas pipeline adversities.