SR0516

LRB094 15118 MKM 50287 r






1

SENATE RESOLUTION


 
2
    WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly has made the 
3
development of affordable and secure energy from Illinois coal 
4
a high priority, as evidenced by the Illinois Resource 
5
Development and Energy Security Act and numerous other 
6
legislative actions; and

 
7
    WHEREAS, New coal-fueled electric power plants and other 
8
power plants can serve as a buffer for Illinois consumers 
9
against the increasingly  high cost of natural gas and imported 
10
petroleum; and

 
11
    WHEREAS, Delays in constructing new plants elevate the 
12
future cost of electric power, which adversely affects 
13
purchasers, such as not-for-profit electric cooperatives and 
14
their consumers; and

 
15
    WHEREAS, New technologies, including circulating fluidized 
16
bed boiler systems, can significantly control harmful 
17
emissions from power plants built under current State and 
18
federal air quality regulations; and

 
19
    WHEREAS, Developers have made substantial investments of 
20
private funds to obtain land, water resources, and the 
21
necessary permits to construct new coal-fired energy products; 
22
and

 
23
    WHEREAS, It is understandable that citizens residing in the 
24
area surrounding a coal-fueled electric power plant may have 
25
reasonable concerns over its construction that would best be 
26
addressed in a thorough and expeditious manner pursuant to the 
27
applicable law; and

 
28
    WHEREAS, Case No. 05-cv-4095 was filed on May 20, 2005, in 
29
the United States District Court for the Southern District of 
 


 






SR0516
- 2 -
LRB094 15118 MKM 50287 r




1
Illinois, to challenge the validity of an air quality 
2
preconstruction permit that was issued in Franklin County by 
3
the United States Environmental Protection Agency; and

 
4
    WHEREAS, The viability of this proposed facility may be 
5
affected if the proceedings in the United States District Court 
6
are unduly prolonged; therefore, be it
 
7
    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL 
8
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Illinois Senate 
9
respectfully urges the honorable United States District Court 
10
for the Southern District of Illinois to expedite a hearing on 
11
the merits of the complaint in the matter of Case No. 
12
05-cv-4095; and be it further

 
13
    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
14
presented to the Honorable G. Patrick Murphy, Chief Judge of 
15
the United States District Court for the Southern District of 
16
Illinois.