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92_HR0405 LRB9209078RHrh 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION 2 WHEREAS, Development of Illinois' natural resources, 3 especially its coal reserves, in an environmentally sound 4 manner will stimulate the economy of this State, especially 5 in the southern part of our State; and 6 WHEREAS, Illinois is currently in the process of 7 transitioning from a fully regulated electric generation 8 market into a competitive electric generation market; and 9 WHEREAS, Recent events in the western part of the United 10 States have demonstrated the need to develop electric 11 generation resources to ensure a reliable supply of 12 electricity; and 13 WHEREAS, There is an increasing need for electricity and 14 electric generation capacity within Illinois and surrounding 15 states; and 16 WHEREAS, Illinois has the richest coal reserves in the 17 nation and it is imperative that these coal reserves be 18 developed and utilized; and 19 WHEREAS, It is paramount that any electric generating 20 facilities built in Illinois use Illinois natural resources, 21 especially Illinois coal, and protect the environment with 22 the best available technology; and 23 WHEREAS, In preparing for the coming deregulated electric 24 power generation market, Illinois must plan to take advantage 25 of the environmentally sound use of its own natural 26 resources, including Illinois coal; and 27 WHEREAS, Illinois has the opportunity to foster 28 significant economic development within the State during the 29 transition into a deregulated electric marketplace; and 30 WHEREAS, The development of power generation capacity -2- LRB9209078RHrh 1 raises concerns about the environmental impact of those power 2 generation facilities; and 3 WHEREAS, Current federal regulations regarding emissions 4 of nitrogen oxides and emission credits may impede 5 development of necessary electric generation facilities; and 6 WHEREAS, Illinois must ensure that sufficient nitrogen 7 oxide emission credit are available for new electric 8 generating sources that will utilize clean coal technologies; 9 and 10 WHEREAS, Illinois' budget for nitrogen oxide emission 11 allowances is limited due to the State's current reliance on 12 nuclear power which will eventually be decommissioned and 13 therefore unavailable for generating electricity; and 14 WHEREAS, The development of clean coal technologies, 15 including coal gasification, with the vast coal reserves 16 within Illinois will enable Illinois to harvest the rewards 17 of utilizing the proven coal reserves of this State and to 18 support the further development of clean energy solutions 19 utilizing our State's natural resources as the fuel; and 20 WHEREAS, President Bush has called for the development of 21 a national energy policy; and 22 WHEREAS, Illinois is uniquely positioned to contribute to 23 the development of that national energy policy through use of 24 its extensive natural resources and coal reserves in an 25 environmentally sound manner; and 26 WHEREAS, Some adjustments in Illinois' nitrogen oxide 27 emission allowances established by the United States 28 Environmental Protection Agency will be necessary to foster 29 the development of electric generating facilities that 30 utilize Illinois natural resources and coal reserves; and -3- LRB9209078RHrh 1 WHEREAS, The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is 2 charged with overseeing the nitrogen oxide emissions credit 3 program and is the most appropriate agency to make 4 recommendations to the General Assembly regarding any 5 adjustments necessary to accommodate the development of 6 sufficient new electric generating capacity; therefore, be it 7 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 8 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 9 we urge the United States Congress and the United States 10 Environmental Protection Agency to increase Illinois' 11 nitrogen oxide emission allowances budget; and be it further 12 RESOLVED, That the Illinois Environmental Protection 13 Agency shall prepare and submit a report to the General 14 Assembly regarding the availability of nitrogen oxide 15 emissions credits within the State and within the trading 16 region established by the United States Environmental 17 Protection Agency; the report shall contain data regarding 18 the use of emissions credits by existing electric generating 19 units, the availability of emission credits for purchase in 20 Illinois and within the trading region, the number of 21 emission credits that may be reasonably projected for use by 22 new sources in Illinois, and the relationship between the 23 cost and availability for electricity and access by existing 24 and new sources to emission credits and shall contain 25 recommendations for legislative and regulatory changes that 26 may be necessary to encourage the development of new electric 27 generating capacity in Illinois; and be it further 28 RESOLVED That the report shall be submitted to the 29 General Assembly by October 31 of each year until 2007; and 30 be it further 31 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 32 delivered to the President of the United States, the Vice -4- LRB9209078RHrh 1 President of the United States, the Administrator of the 2 United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Governor 3 of the State of Illinois, the Director of the Illinois 4 Environmental Protection Agency, the members of the Illinois 5 Congressional delegation, and the Speaker of the United 6 States House of Representatives.