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1    AN ACT concerning wind energy.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Lake
5Michigan Offshore Wind Energy Advisory Council Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:
7    "Council" means the Lake Michigan Offshore Wind Energy
8Advisory Council created under this Act.
9    "Department" means the Illinois Department of Natural
10Resources.
11    "Local government" means county, township, or
12municipality.
 
13    Section 10. The Lake Michigan Offshore Wind Energy
14Recommendation Report.
15    (a) In order to assist in the evaluation and consideration
16of offshore wind energy projects in Illinois waters of Lake
17Michigan, the Department shall examine the topics identified in
18subsection (b) of this Section and report its findings and
19recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by June
2030, 2012. During preparation of the report, the Department is
21not expected to fund or perform original scientific studies.
22    (b) In preparing a report, the Department shall evaluate

 

 

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

 

 

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1Council.
2    (a) The Council is created as a separate entity within the
3Department of Natural Resources and shall consist of the
4Director or Chairman, or their designee, of the following 5
5State agencies:
6        (1) The Department of Natural Resources.
7        (2) The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
8        (3) The Illinois Power Agency.
9        (4) The Illinois Commerce Commission.
10        (5) The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
11    (b) The Director of Natural Resources shall serve as
12chairperson of the Council. The chairperson shall select the
13following public members to serve on the Council:
14        (1) One individual representing a statewide
15    environmental organization.
16        (2) One individual representing the tourism industry.
17        (3) One resident of the State representing an Illinois
18    institution of higher education.
19        (4) Two residents of the State representing lakefront
20    communities.
21        (5) One individual representing an electrical utility
22    industry.
23        (6) One individual representing an independent
24    transmission company.
25        (7) One individual representing the offshore wind
26    energy industry.

 

 

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1        (8) One individual representing local government
2    officials.
3        (9) One individual representing a regional
4    environmental organization.
5        (10) One individual representing the commercial
6    fishing industry.
7        (11) One individual representing the recreational
8    boating community.
9    (c) At his or her discretion, the chairperson may appoint
10additional public members to the Council.
11    (d) The Speaker of the House, Minority Leader of the House,
12Senate President, and Minority Leader of the Senate shall each
13appoint one member of the General Assembly to serve on the
14Council.
15    (e) Members of the Council shall serve without
16compensation.
17    (f) The Council shall examine the topics identified in
18subsection (b) of Section 10 of this Act and shall make
19recommendations to the Department during the preparation of the
20report to the General Assembly and Governor.
 
21    Section 20. Repeal of Act. This Act shall be repealed on
22July 1, 2012.
 
23    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
242011.