Renewable Energy Resources Program report

The Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Coal Resources Development Law (20 ILCS 687, "the Law") was passed in December 1997. Article 6 of the Law directs the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to administer the Renewable Energy Resources Program (RERP) and to provide grants, loans, and other incentives to foster investment in, and the development and use of, renewable energy resources. The Law directs the Department to establish eligibility criteria for the incentives and to review them annually and adjust them as necessary. The provisions of this Law are repealed ten years after the effective date unless renewed by act of the General Assembly. The sunset date is December 16, 2007. The Law defines "renewable energy resources" to include energy from wind, solar thermal energy, photovoltaic cells and panels, dedicated crops grown for energy production and organic waste biomass, hydropower that does not involve new construction or significant expansion of hydropower dams, and other such alternative sources of environmentally preferable energy. "Renewable energy resources" does not include, however, energy from the incineration, burning or heating of waste wood, tires, garbage, general household, institutional and commercial waste, industrial lunchroom or office waste, landscape waste, or construction or demolition debris.