SB1300 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 09433 HLH 29630 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB1300

Introduced 2/9/2007, by Sen. Dale A. Righter

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

55 ILCS 5/5-12020 new
65 ILCS 5/11-13-26 new

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county may establish standards for wind farms and electric-generating wind devices in unincorporated areas of the county outside of the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality. Provides that a county may regulate the siting of wind farms and electric-generating wind devices. Provides that a municipality may not regulate zoning with respect to wind farms and electric-generating wind devices except within its zoning jurisdiction. Authorizes test wind towers for up to 3 years. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning local government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Counties Code is amended by adding Section 5-12020 as follows:

(55 ILCS 5/5-12020 new)

Sec. 5-12020. Wind farms. A county may establish standards for wind farms and electric-generating wind devices. The standards may include, without limitation, the height of the devices and the number of devices that may be located within a geographic area. A county may also regulate the siting of wind farms and electric-generating wind devices. There shall be at least one public hearing not more than 30 days prior to a siting decision by the county board. Notice of the hearing shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. Counties may allow test wind towers to be sited without formal approval by the county board. Test wind towers must be dismantled within 3 years of installation. For the purposes of this Section, "test wind towers" are wind towers that are designed solely to collect wind generation data.

Section 10. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by adding Section 11-13-26 as follows:

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-26 new)

Sec. 11-13-26. Wind farms. A municipality may not regulate wind farms and electric-generating wind devices except within its zoning jurisdiction. There shall be at least one public hearing not more than 30 days prior to a siting decision by the corporate authorities of a municipality. Notice of the hearing shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality. A municipality may allow test wind towers to be sited without formal approval by the corporate authorities of the municipality. Test wind towers must be dismantled within 3 years of installation. For the purposes of this Section, "test wind towers" are wind towers that are designed solely to collect wind generation data.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.