Bill Text: IL HB1558 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Creates the Lake Michigan Offshore Wind Energy Council Act. Creates the Lake Michigan Offshore Wind Energy Council as a separate entity within the Department of Natural Resources. Provides that the Council shall consist of (1) the Director of Natural Resources, the Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the Director of the Illinois Power Agency, the Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission, or their designees, (2) certain other public members selected by the Director of Natural Resources, and (3) members of the General Assembly appointed by the House and Senate leadership. Provides that members of the Council shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as members of the Council. Provides that the Council shall examine certain topics related to offshore wind energy facilities on Lake Michigan and report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2011. Provides that the Act shall be repealed on July 1, 2012. Effective July 1, 2011.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-0)

Status: (Passed) 2011-08-08 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 97-0266 [HB1558 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-HB1558-Chaptered.html

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Public Act 097-0266
HB1558 Enrolled LRB097 10218 ASK 50414 b
AN ACT concerning wind energy.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Lake
Michigan Offshore Wind Energy Advisory Council Act.
Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:
"Council" means the Lake Michigan Offshore Wind Energy
Advisory Council created under this Act.
"Department" means the Illinois Department of Natural
Resources.
"Local government" means county, township, or
municipality.
Section 10. The Lake Michigan Offshore Wind Energy
Recommendation Report.
(a) In order to assist in the evaluation and consideration
of offshore wind energy projects in Illinois waters of Lake
Michigan, the Department shall examine the topics identified in
subsection (b) of this Section and report its findings and
recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by June
30, 2012. During preparation of the report, the Department is
not expected to fund or perform original scientific studies.
(b) In preparing a report, the Department shall evaluate

all of the following:
(1) Appropriate criteria for the Department to use to
review applications for offshore wind development of Lake
Michigan lakebed leases.
(2) Criteria for identifying areas that are favorable,
acceptable, and unacceptable for offshore wind
development, including, but not limited to, impacts to
wildlife, protected habitats, navigation, commercial
fisheries, and recreational uses of Lake Michigan.
(3) A recommended process for ensuring public
engagement in the Department's process for leasing Lake
Michigan lakebed for offshore wind energy projects.
(4) Options for how the State shall be compensated for
Lake Michigan lakebed leasing.
(5) A summary of the lessons learned from other
domestic and international offshore wind development
experiences, including, but not limited to, those related
to public policy, regulatory, and siting concerns for
offshore wind development.
(6) Identification of local, State, and federal
authorities with permitting, siting, or other approval
authority for wind power development in Lake Michigan.
(7) Recommendations for needed State legislation and
regulations governing offshore wind farm development.
Section 15. The Lake Michigan Offshore Wind Energy Advisory

Council.
(a) The Council is created as a separate entity within the
Department of Natural Resources and shall consist of the
Director or Chairman, or their designee, of the following 5
State agencies:
(1) The Department of Natural Resources.
(2) The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
(3) The Illinois Power Agency.
(4) The Illinois Commerce Commission.
(5) The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
(b) The Director of Natural Resources shall serve as
chairperson of the Council. The chairperson shall select the
following public members to serve on the Council:
(1) One individual representing a statewide
environmental organization.
(2) One individual representing the tourism industry.
(3) One resident of the State representing an Illinois
institution of higher education.
(4) Two residents of the State representing lakefront
communities.
(5) One individual representing an electrical utility
industry.
(6) One individual representing an independent
transmission company.
(7) One individual representing the offshore wind
energy industry.

(8) One individual representing local government
officials.
(9) One individual representing a regional
environmental organization.
(10) One individual representing the commercial
fishing industry.
(11) One individual representing the recreational
boating community.
(c) At his or her discretion, the chairperson may appoint
additional public members to the Council.
(d) The Speaker of the House, Minority Leader of the House,
Senate President, and Minority Leader of the Senate shall each
appoint one member of the General Assembly to serve on the
Council.
(e) Members of the Council shall serve without
compensation.
(f) The Council shall examine the topics identified in
subsection (b) of Section 10 of this Act and shall make
recommendations to the Department during the preparation of the
report to the General Assembly and Governor.
Section 20. Repeal of Act. This Act shall be repealed on
July 1, 2012.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
2011.