Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB1570

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the State Finance Act, the School Code, and the Public Community College Act. Creates the School Wind and Solar Generation Program to fund wind generation projects and solar generation projects for school districts and community college districts. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to implement and administer the program; allows the Department to award full or partial grants for, without limitation, engineering studies, feasibility studies, research studies, and construction costs. For each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014, requires the State Comptroller to order transferred and the State Treasurer to transfer $5,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the School Wind and Solar Generation Fund, a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that all money in the Fund must be used for the purposes of the program. Allows school districts and community college districts to own and operate solar generation turbine farms (not just wind generation turbine farms) that directly or indirectly reduce energy or other operating costs. Effective immediately.

Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Coal Resources Development Law of 1997, the State Finance Act, the School Code, and the Public Community College Act. Creates the School Wind and Solar Generation Program to fund wind generation projects and solar generation projects for school districts and community college districts. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to implement and administer the program; allows the Department to award full or partial low-interest loans for, without limitation, engineering studies, feasibility studies, research studies, and construction costs. Provides that the loan funds, subject to appropriation, shall be paid out of the School Wind and Solar Generation Revolving Loan Fund, a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that all repayments of loans shall be deposited into the Fund. For each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014, allows the State Comptroller to order transferred and the State Treasurer to transfer $5,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund and other State funds to the School Wind and Solar Generation Revolving Loan Fund. Provides that all money in the Fund must be used for the purposes of the program. Provides that the Fund shall not be subject to sweeps, administrative charges or chargebacks or any other fiscal or budgetary maneuver that would in any way result in the transfer of any funds from the School Wind and Solar Generation Revolving Loan Fund to any other fund of the State or having any such funds utilized for any purpose other than for the purposes of the program. Provides that the renewable energy grant program shall assist public schools and community colleges with engineering studies and feasibility studies and in the installation, acquisition, construction, and improvement of renewable energy resources (instead of assisting school districts in the installation, acquisition, construction, and improvement of renewable energy resources in the public schools). Removes a provision that provides that a renewable energy grant shall cover 50% of the cost for which the grant is sought, up to a maximum grant of $1,000,000, if the applicant school district is able to demonstrate that it has funds to pay the other 50% of the cost. Allows school districts and community college districts to own and operate solar generation turbine farms (not just wind generation turbine farms) that directly or indirectly reduce energy or other operating costs. Effective immediately.

Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act, the Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Coal Resources Development Law of 1997, the State Finance Act, the School Code, and the Public Community College Act. Creates the School Wind and Solar Generation Program to fund wind generation projects and solar generation projects for school districts and community college districts. Allows the Illinois Finance Authority to implement and administer the program; allows the Authority to award full or partial low-interest loans for, without limitation, engineering studies, feasibility studies, research studies, and construction costs. Provides that the loan funds, subject to appropriation, shall be paid out of the School Wind and Solar Generation Revolving Loan Fund, a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that all repayments of loans shall be deposited into the Fund. Provides that all money in the Fund must be used for the purposes of the program. Provides that the renewable energy grant program shall assist public schools and community colleges with engineering studies and feasibility studies and in the installation, acquisition, construction, and improvement of renewable energy resources (instead of assisting school districts in the installation, acquisition, construction, and improvement of renewable energy resources in the public schools). Removes a provision that provides that a renewable energy grant shall cover 50% of the cost for which the grant is sought, up to a maximum grant of $1,000,000, if the applicant school district is able to demonstrate that it has funds to pay the other 50% of the cost. Allows school districts and community college districts to own and operate solar generation turbine farms (not just wind generation turbine farms) that directly or indirectly reduce energy or other operating costs. Effective immediately.

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