State of Illinois
92nd General Assembly
Legislation

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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.

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