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* Maxwell Evans…

State legislators are taking the “first step” toward building an offshore wind farm on the Southeast Side by proposing the state invest in programs that would enable more workers from underrepresented communities to work on the project.

State Rep. Marcus Evans (D-33rd) introduced a bill Thursday to create a “Rust Belt to Green Belt” fund to support workforce diversity programs. It’s in service of a pilot project that would create at least 150 megawatts of wind power.

The 185-page bill would set rules for future offshore wind projects, such as requiring contractors to submit plans for hiring from underrepresented populations.

It would also require the Illinois Power Agency to begin seeking offshore wind project proposals from contractors within 360 days of the bill’s passage. […]

“Right now, the [Illinois International] Port would be the place where we would ideally want to see [the wind farm] at,” Peters said. “The idea is to have it be perpendicular off the port, if we were able to do it on the lake.”

* Press release…

On Thursday, legislation to authorize additional funding and extend the successful “Batinick Buyout” program for state pensions passed out of the House Personnel & Pensions Committee. House Bill 4292, of which Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) is a chief co-sponsor, was passed by the committee with unanimous support.

“I’m happy an idea I had years ago to save the state significant money has been successful and will continue under this legislation,” said Rep. Batinick. “I look forward to seeing this legislation move through the General Assembly and re-execute this successful buyout option.”

HB 4292 would amend the General Obligation Bond Act and authorize an additional $1 billion to State Pension Obligation Acceleration Bonds. These bonds make accelerated pension benefit payments and would be increased from $1 billion to $2 billion in this legislation. Participants can receive this accelerated pension benefit payment instead of any pension benefit or for a reduction in the increases to their annual retirement annuity and survivor’s annuity. This extension would move from June 30th, 2024 to June 30th, 2026.

Rep. Batinick originally introduced this pension reform language in 2018, which closely resembled a plan he introduced in 2016 and 2017. At the time, he was the first person in the United States to propose such a concept in bill form. It offers retirees more flexibility with their pensions and helps the state save taxpayer money.

Rep. Batinick is the House Republican Spokesperson for the Personnel & Pensions Committee.

* Capitol News Illinois…

Aiming to increase diversity in wind and solar jobs, a proposed measure in the Illinois General Assembly would require more transparent reporting on the level of participation of minority-owned businesses in clean energy jobs.

Rep. William Davis, D-Hazel Crest, advanced House Bill 4217 through the House Energy and Environment Committee on Tuesday. The measure aims to increase “diverse participation in projects that could include African-Americans, Latinx, and women-owned firms.”

In the bill, energy suppliers who generate more than 500 kilowatt hours of electricity with at least 100,000 customers and companies that develop, install, or maintain a renewable energy project with annual revenues over $15 million would be required to submit annual reports on procurement goals and spending on contracts with female-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned companies and small businesses.

Annual reports would need to outline a buying plan for specific goods and services the company plans to procure in the next six to 18 months, include any procurement codes used by the company. It’s an effort to assist entrepreneurs and diverse companies in understanding upcoming opportunities with the company submitting the buying plan, according to the bill.

* Update from Illinois Review…

UPDATE: Wednesday morning’s hearing on HB 4244 was postponed, as the House Human Services Committee did not have the needed quorum. Since Monday, the number of bill opponents more than doubled - from over 5000 to now over 12,000, with more being added hourly.

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois lawmakers will once again be contemplating another political “hot potato” when they return to the State Capitol this week. As of Monday morning, 5526 (Update now: 5579) opponents have signed onto the Illinois General Assembly website to submit witness slips against HB 4244, a bill introduced and sponsored by only one Democrat lawmaker - Lake County resident Bob Morgan.

HB 4244 would require all doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and medical centers to register their patients’ personal immunizations with a state-run database. Currently, the state immunization registry already in place is optional.

* Related…

* Speaker names new House budget negotiation team: Longtime chief budgeteer Harris will lead team to navigate his final state budget: Harris will lead the group rounded out with Reps. Will Davis, D-Homewood; Elizabeth Hernandez, D-Cicero; Mike Zalewski, D-Riverside; and Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, during this legislative session.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 3:11 pm

Comments

==== “The idea is to have it be perpendicular off the port, if we were able to do it on the lake.”=====

He might want to take a look at the borders of Illinois and Indiana. I think after about 50 feet out into the lake south of around 79th St down to the Indiana border is under the jurisdiction of Indiana.

https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/cmp/documents/3_boundary.pdf

Comment by Been There Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 3:22 pm
Oh Lord, stop it with the offshore wind. We have plenty of land in Illinois. It’s not like Massachusetts, where they don’t have enough space.

Even the wind industry isn’t interested in building turbines in Lake Michigan.

Comment by Senator Clay Davis Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 3:32 pm
” the [Illinois International] Port would be the place… if we were able to do it on the lake”

After years of river/wetland mitigation to attract wildlife and migrating birds this may not be the best idea. the whole area is also an EPA Area of Concern

https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-aocs/remediation-and-restoration-projects-grand-calumet-river-aoc

Comment by Donnie Elgin Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 3:52 pm
They’ll have to get permission from the feds…Lake Michigan is a federal waterway subject to the jurisdiction of the USCG.

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 3:56 pm
This is not the year to think that people will cntinue to jump at the partial pension buyout option. The one that freezes your pension monthly amount for 5 years and cuts the annual increase from 3% compounded to 1.5% simple after that. Social security recipients just got a 5.9% increase for inflation. This next years’ inflation numbers may be similar. Taking that partial buyout will leave a pensioner falling behind quickly.
My estimate told me I would start losing money overall on that option after 13 years of being retired. That was just comparing the standard plan to the partial buyout option. It didn’t even take inflation into account.

Comment by thoughts matter Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 4:15 pm
Greg’s last budget (banned punctuation). We will sorely miss him next year, possibly decade.

Comment by Proud Sucker Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 4:17 pm
I will be taking the AAI buyout. For first 6 years the amounts are the same. During that time the one-time payout will make money (4% - conservatively). Once the 3% would have kicked in I can pull out the same amount as the regular increase (3%) therefore no lost funds. Doing this (with some increases in amount pulled out) will last 24 years. In addition if I pass all these funds can be given to family - not just my spouse (who would get 1/2 of my monthly payment. This 1/2 payment only lasts until she passes and then no more funds are distributed. Key is how large is the payout?

Comment by Pete Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 6:38 pm
@Common Sense ===They’ll have to get permission from the feds…===

No different the projects that are adjacent or cross the Des Plaines River, Calumet Sag, Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal, etc. They need EPA, USCG, and Army Corps of Engineers to review and approve. Add to that list FAA and FWS because it’s a tall structure. And that’s if the City of Chicago can get out of their own way. I give it about 10-15 years before any project comes to fruition.

Comment by From DaZoo Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 9:49 am