Public Act 0046 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0285 Enrolled LRB095 03604 NHT 23614 b

Public Act 095-0046

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Coal Resources Development Law of 1997 is amended by adding Section 6-5.5 as follows:

(20 ILCS 687/6-5.5 new)

Sec. 6-5.5. Renewable energy grants.

(a) Subject to appropriation, the Department may establish and operate a renewable energy grant program to assist school districts in the installation, acquisition, construction, and improvement of renewable energy resources in the public schools, including without limitation solar energy (such as solar panels), geothermal energy, and wind energy.

(b) Application for a grant under this Section must be in the form and manner established by the Department. The grant shall cover 50% of the cost for which the grant is sought, up to a maximum grant of $1,000,000, if the applicant school district is able to demonstrate that it has funds to pay the other 50% of the cost. The school district may accept private funds for its portion of the cost.

(c) The Department may adopt any rules that are necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this Section.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2007.