Section 130.10  Purpose

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity recognizes that renewable fuels produced from Illinois agricultural products will enhance the economy of Illinois, expand rural economic development, reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil supplies, and improve the environment by reducing harmful emissions from vehicles.  In 2003, factors such as the electric blackout in the northeastern United States, the electricity crisis affecting California and other western states, instability in the Middle East, and extraordinarily high gasoline prices have created a situation in which renewable forms of energy must be utilized in order for both the Illinois economy and national economy to grow. 

Reliable supplies of renewable fuels will be integral to the long term energy security of the United States [20 ILCS 689/5].  Illinois is the largest producer of soybeans in the United States and ranks second in annual corn production.  Illinois is also the leading producer of ethanol and biodiesel in the nation, with an ethanol production capacity of approximately 800 million gallons per year. Accordingly, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity administers the Illinois Renewable Fuels Development Program, which will offer grants to new and existing ethanol and biodiesel production facilities in Illinois.  Implementation of the Program is intended to reduce costs for ethanol production facilities, stimulate the agricultural sector of Illinois' economy, encourage the use of renewable fuels as alternatives to the nation's reliance on fossil fuels, and reduce global warming emissions.  New and expanded renewable fuel production facilities will expand local economies, create permanent jobs, generate revenue for the State of Illinois, and increase revenue for local grain farmers.

When awarding public funds for public works projects, the State of Illinois has a compelling interest in ensuring that the highest standards of quality and efficiency are applied to the project.  Project labor agreements provide the State of Illinois with a guarantee that specific public works projects will be completed with highly skilled workers, and also functions as a means to provide for peaceful, orderly and mutually binding procedures for resolving labor issues.  Accordingly, recipients of renewable fuel development grants will be required to enter into project labor agreements establishing wages, benefits and other provisions pertaining to labor organization employees. This requirement does not prohibit the construction of renewable fuel production facilities in Illinois that are undertaken without a project labor agreement.