State of Illinois
92nd General Assembly
Legislation

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[ Introduced ][ Senate Amendment 001 ]


92_SJ0035eng

 
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 1                     SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 35
 2               (As amended by Senate Amendment No. 1)

 3        WHEREAS,  Development  of  Illinois'  natural  resources,
 4    especially its coal reserves,  in  an  environmentally  sound
 5    manner  will  stimulate the economy of this State, especially
 6    in the southern part of our State; and

 7        WHEREAS,  Illinois  is  currently  in  the   process   of
 8    transitioning  from  a  fully  regulated  electric generation
 9    market into a competitive electric generation market; and

10        WHEREAS, Recent events in the western part of the  United
11    States   have  demonstrated  the  need  to  develop  electric
12    generation  resources  to  ensure  a   reliable   supply   of
13    electricity; and

14        WHEREAS,  There is an increasing need for electricity and
15    electric generation capacity within Illinois and  surrounding
16    states; and

17        WHEREAS,  Illinois  has  the richest coal reserves in the
18    nation and it is  imperative  that  these  coal  reserves  be
19    developed and utilized; and

20        WHEREAS,  It  is  paramount  that any electric generating
21    facilities built in Illinois use Illinois natural  resources,
22    especially  Illinois  coal,  and protect the environment with
23    the best available technology; and

24        WHEREAS, In preparing for the coming deregulated electric
25    power generation market, Illinois must plan to take advantage
26    of  the  environmentally  sound  use  of  its   own   natural
27    resources, including Illinois coal; and

28        WHEREAS,   Illinois   has   the   opportunity  to  foster
29    significant economic development within the State during  the
30    transition into a deregulated electric marketplace; and
 
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 1        WHEREAS,  The  development  of  power generation capacity
 2    raises concerns about the environmental impact of those power
 3    generation facilities; and

 4        WHEREAS, Current federal regulations regarding  emissions
 5    of   nitrogen   oxides   and   emission  credits  may  impede
 6    development of necessary electric generation facilities; and

 7        WHEREAS, Illinois must work  to  ensure  that  sufficient
 8    nitrogen   oxide  emission  credits  are  available  for  new
 9    electricity generating sources that will utilize  clean  coal
10    technologies; and

11        WHEREAS,  Illinois'  budget  for  nitrogen oxide emission
12    allowances is limited due to the State's current reliance  on
13    nuclear  power  which  will  eventually be decommissioned and
14    therefore, unavailable for generating electricity; and

15        WHEREAS, The  development  of  clean  coal  technologies,
16    including  coal  gasification,  with  the  vast coal reserves
17    within Illinois will enable Illinois to harvest  the  rewards
18    of  utilizing  the  proven coal reserves of this State and to
19    support the further development  of  clean  energy  solutions
20    utilizing our State's natural resources as the fuel; and

21        WHEREAS, President Bush has called for the development of
22    a national energy policy; and

23        WHEREAS, Illinois is uniquely positioned to contribute to
24    the development of that national energy policy through use of
25    its  extensive  natural  resources  and  coal  reserves in an
26    environmentally sound manner; and

27        WHEREAS, Some adjustments  in  Illinois'  nitrogen  oxide
28    emission   allowances   established   by  the  United  States
29    Environmental Protection Agency will be necessary  to  foster
30    the   development  of  electric  generating  facilities  that
31    utilize  Illinois  natural  resources  and   coal   reserves;
 
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 1    therefore, be it

 2        RESOLVED,  BY  THE  SENATE  OF  THE NINETY-SECOND GENERAL
 3    ASSEMBLY  OF  THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS,   THE   HOUSE   OF
 4    REPRESENTATIVES  CONCURRING  HEREIN,  that we urge the United
 5    States  Congress  and   the   United   States   Environmental
 6    Protection   Agency  to  increase  Illinois'  nitrogen  oxide
 7    emission allowances budget; and be it further

 8        RESOLVED, That a suitable  copy  of  this  resolution  be
 9    delivered  to  the  President  of the United States, the Vice
10    President of the United  States,  the  Administrator  of  the
11    United  States  Environmental Protection Agency, the Governor
12    of the  State  of  Illinois,  the  members  of  the  Illinois
13    Congressional  delegation,  and  the  Speaker  of  the United
14    States House of Representatives.

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