98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
SB3056

 

Introduced 2/7/2014, by Sen. Daniel Biss

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
70 ILCS 2605/56 new

    Amends the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act. Provides that the district may sell or otherwise dispose of recovered resources or renewable energy resources resulting from the operation of district facilities. Allows the district to take in materials used in the generation of usable products from recovered resources or which increase the production of renewable energy resources. Provides legislative findings, and defines terms. Effective immediately.


LRB098 18041 JLK 53170 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB3056LRB098 18041 JLK 53170 b

1    AN ACT concerning local government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act
5is amended by adding Section 56 as follows:
 
6    (70 ILCS 2605/56 new)
7    Sec. 56. Resource recovery.
8    (a) The General Assembly finds that:
9        (1) technological advancements in wastewater treatment
10    have resulted in the ability to capture recovered resources
11    and produce renewable energy resources from material
12    previously discarded;
13        (2) the capture and beneficial reuse of recovered
14    resources and the production of renewable energy resources
15    serves a wide variety of environmental benefits including,
16    but not limited to, improved water quality, reduction of
17    greenhouse gases, reduction of carbon footprint, reduction
18    of landfill usage, reduced usage of hydrocarbon-based
19    fuels, return of nutrients to the food cycle, and reduced
20    water consumption;
21        (3) the district is a leader in the field of wastewater
22    treatment and possesses the expertise and experience
23    necessary to capture and beneficially reuse or prepare for

 

 

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1    beneficial reuse recovered resources, including renewable
2    energy resources; and
3        (4) the district has the opportunity and ability to
4    change the approach to wastewater treatment from that of a
5    waste material to be disposed of to one of a collection of
6    resources to be recovered, reused, and sold, with the
7    opportunity to provide the district with additional
8    sources of revenue and reduce operating costs.
9    (b) As used in this Section:
10    "Recovered resources" means any material produced by or
11extracted from the operation of district facilities,
12including, but not limited to:
13        (1) solids, including solids from the digestion
14    process, semi-solids, or liquid materials;
15        (2) gases, including biogas, carbon dioxide, and
16    methane;
17        (3) nutrients;
18        (4) algae;
19        (5) treated effluent; and
20        (6) thermal energy or hydropower.
21    "Renewable energy facility" shall have the same meaning as
22a facility defined under Section 5 of the Renewable Energy
23Production District Act.
24    "Renewable energy resources" means resources as defined
25under Section 1-10 of the Illinois Power Agency Act.
26    "Resource recovery" means the recovery of material or

 

 

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1energy from waste as defined under Section 3.435 of the
2Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Act.
3    (c) The district may sell or otherwise dispose of recovered
4resources or renewable energy resources resulting from the
5operation of district facilities, and may construct, maintain,
6finance, and operate such activities, facilities, and other
7works as are necessary for that purpose.
8    (d) The district may take in materials which are used in
9the generation of usable products from recovered resources, or
10which increase the production of renewable energy resources,
11including, but not limited to food waste, organic fraction of
12solid waste, commercial or industrial organic wastes, fats,
13oils, and greases, and vegetable debris.
 
14    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
15becoming law.