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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Coal gasification technologies are considered a
3 cleaner method of producing energy by converting coal into a
4 synthetic gas; the procedure also allows for larger use of
5 Illinois coal, which many coal-fired power plants have stopped
6 using due to its high sulfur content; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Last year, Secure Energy, Inc. purchased property
8 for a coal gasification project to produce synthetic natural
9 gas from Illinois coal; the $250 million facility would
10 generate approximately 40 permanent jobs and would use 600,000
11 tons of Illinois coal each year from the Viper Mine in Elkhart;
12 and
 
13     WHEREAS, Secure Energy sought financial assistance from
14 the State and has been waiting nearly a year for final approval
15 for a $14,100,000 coal development grant; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Illinois' Coal Development Fund was created to
17 assist the development of coal and energy projects, especially
18 projects that promote to use of Illinois coal; and
 
19     WHEREAS, In November of 2007, the Governor removed more
20 than $10,200,000 from the Coal Development Fund to provide
21 temporary funding for the Regional Transportation Authority,

 

 

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1 and now there is not sufficient moneys in the Coal Development
2 Fund to support Secure Energy's grant; therefore, be it
 
3     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
4 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that,
5 in accordance with Section 3-2 of the Illinois State Auditing
6 Act, the Auditor General is directed to conduct a performance
7 audit of the activities of the Department of Commerce and
8 Economic Opportunity and other State agencies with respect to
9 actions taken under the Illinois Coal and Energy Development
10 Bond Act, particularly with respect to deposits into and
11 transfers, appropriations, and other withdrawals from the Coal
12 Development Fund; and be it further
 
13     RESOLVED, that in accordance with Section 3-4 of the
14 Illinois State Auditing Act, the Auditor General is also
15 directed to investigate the propriety of the method by which
16 moneys were removed from the Coal Development Fund and given to
17 the Regional Transportation Authority; and be it further
 
18     RESOLVED, that the Auditor General commence this audit as
19 soon as possible and report his findings and recommendations
20 upon completion in accordance with the provisions of the
21 Illinois State Auditing Act; and be it further
 
22     RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be delivered to

 

 

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1 the Auditor General.