HR0943

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, Wind power facilities provide emission-free 
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options to oil-fueled and gas-fueled power plants and promote 
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the generation of electricity as a renewable energy resource; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Wind energy is a tiny but fast-growing share of 
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U.S. energy; since Congress reinstated a key tax credit for 
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wind producers, the industry is poised for rapid expansion in 
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the next year; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The growth of renewable energy sources has 
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resulted in 17 states passing laws requiring that some part of 
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the total electricity used come from renewable sources such as 
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wind power; and
 
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    WHEREAS, In August 2005, the Illinois Commerce Commission 
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adopted  Governor Blagojevich's Sustainable Energy Plan as a 
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voluntary plan, under which Illinois' utilities would begin 
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acquiring 2% of their electricity from sources such as wind, 
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solar, and methane captured from landfills by the end of 2006, 
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ramping up in 1% annual increments to 8% in 2012; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Wind power facilities are developing rapidly in 
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Northern and Central Illinois and are planned or under 
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construction in Adams, Boone, Bureau, Carroll, LaSalle, Lee, 
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DeKalb, McLean, Pike, and Stephenson Counties; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Each wind turbine is approximately 213 feet high 
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with a blade diameter of up to 170 feet, and the revolving 
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blades, especially when numbers of turbines are concentrated 
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into wind farms, pose a danger to migrating birds, including 
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threatened and endangered species; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Scientists don't know whether wind turbines 
 


 






HR0943
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LRB094 19677 RSP 56144 r




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reduce overall bird populations, but are concerned that 
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turbines, added to other factors such as habitat destruction, 
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could result in the species decline; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In some states environmentalists have sued to 
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force turbine owners to take corrective measures because of the 
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danger to threatened and endangered species; and

 
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    WHEREAS, It is important to recognize the danger of wind 
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turbines to flying birds, and that corrective measures such as 
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placement of wind turbines away from the migratory routes of 
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birds can help in reducing bird mortality; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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the Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the 
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Illinois Commerce Commission, conduct a study to assess the 
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danger of wind turbines to birds, including threatened and 
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endangered species in Illinois, and report its findings and 
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recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor no 
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later than July 1, 2007; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be sent to the 
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Director of Natural Resources, the Chairman of the Illinois 
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Commerce Commission, and the Governor.