HB5694 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 18722 PJG 65439 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB5694

Introduced 2/16/2012, by Rep. Arthur Turner

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Illinois Oil Independence Act. Creates the Illinois Oil Independence Commission. Sets forth the membership and terms of members of the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall develop a plan to reduce Illinois's dependence on oil. Provides that the Commission shall report to General Assembly by February 1, 2013 with recommendations for short-term and mid-term policies needed to achieve the overall reductions in oil use.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

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 Illinois Oil Independence Act.

Section 5. Definitions. "Commission" means the Illinois Oil Independence Commission created under this Act.

Section 10. Illinois Oil Independence Commission.

(a) The Illinois Oil Independence Commission is created. The Commission shall be composed of the following members:

(1) four voting members, as follows:

(A) the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or his or her designee;

(B) the Chairman of the Board of the Regional Transit Authority or his or her designee;

(C) the Secretary of Transportation or his or her designee; and

(D) the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency or his or her designee;

(2) four voting members, nominated and voted on by the Commission's voting members appointed under paragraph (1) of this subsection, as follows:

(A) one with expertise in environmental issues;

(B) one with expertise in public transportation, transit-oriented development, or transportation policy;

(C) one with expertise in residential and low-income energy provision; and

(D) one with expertise in sustainability planning;

(3) four voting members of the General Assembly appointed as follows:

(A) one member of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(B) one member of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(C) one member of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate; and

(D) one member of the Senate to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and

(4) three non-voting members appointed by the Governor with relevant expertise as follows:

(A) one representing the University of Illinois;

(B) one representing the Center for Neighborhood Technology; and

(C) one representing Argonne National Laboratories.

(b) Members of the Commission, with the exception of General Assembly members, shall be appointed for a term of 5 years and may be reappointed. General Assembly members shall be appointed to 2 year terms and may be reappointed. The members shall elect one of the voting members to serve as chairperson of the Commission. The Commission meets at the call of the chair. A quorum is necessary for action by the Commission; 7 voting members of the Commission constitute a quorum, unless a vacancy exists among the Commission's voting members. If a vacancy exists, then a quorum of the Commission consists of a simple majority of the voting members.

(c) Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation and may be reimbursed for travel and other actual expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose.

(d) The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) to develop near-term and long-range strategic plans with respect to strategies to reduce petroleum consumption from the heating and transportation sectors in Illinois.

(2) to identify, promote, and recommend policies to further reduce petroleum consumption in the State, including but not limited to the strategies set forth in Section 15.

(3) to consider other matters as it may deem appropriate to the fulfillment of its purposes and to advise the Governor, the General Assembly, other parties, and the public with regard to matters pertaining to its purposes and duties, including its findings and recommendations.

Section 15. Illinois oil independence plan. The Commission shall develop a plan to reduce Illinois's dependence on oil. The plan must include targets for reducing Illinois's total oil consumption that equal the maximum economically achievable oil savings. The targets may not provide for less than a 30% overall reduction in oil consumption from 2009 levels by 2030 and a 50% overall reduction from 2009 levels by 2050. In establishing these targets, The Commission shall consider:

(1) the future oil and gasoline costs to the drivers, homeowners, industries, and businesses in Illinois, as well as the environmental and national security effects of Illinois's oil dependence and the local economic development opportunities, including job creation potential, of improving energy efficiency and moving to clean, renewable, made-in-Illinois energy sources; and

(2) The potential of oil savings from the following strategies to improve energy efficiency and move to clean, renewable energy:

(A) shifting freight transported in Illinois from trucks to other transportation modes, including rail and marine transportation;

(B) the rapid deployment of electric vehicles, through a combination of policies that include comprehensive planning with utilities, investments in electric vehicle infrastructure, consumer tax incentives, and targeted deployment communities;

(C) establishing rebates or other consumer incentives for retiring older, inefficient vehicles;

(D) coordinating land use and transportation planning to encourage growth in areas accessible by walking, biking, and public transportation;

(E) expanding and investing in public transportation, including bus transit and high speed rail, and offering incentives for commuters to use public transportation where available;

(F) transitioning to renewable energy for heating, including energy from off-shore wind, solar, geothermal, tidal, and sustainable biomass;

(G) achieving home and commercial weatherization and efficiency improvements;

(H) establishing additional policies and incentives for industrial efficiency improvements, including replacements of industrial boilers and other steps to reduce petroleum consumption; and

(I) adopting other strategies that can help enable Illinois to achieve the oil-reduction targets.

The Commission shall report to the General Assembly by February 1, 2013 with recommendations for short-term and mid-term policies needed to achieve the overall reductions in oil use, including recommendations for specific legislative actions. The recommendations must require that, by January 15, 2015 and by January 15th every 5 years thereafter, the Governor shall evaluate the State's progress toward meeting the oil-reduction goals and make additional recommendations to the General Assembly as necessary to ensure that the State can meet the reduction goals.