This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter reports on the enactment of the clean energy legislation into law, offers information about the extension of the statewide disaster declaration and the re-issuance of previous Executive Orders, shares Governor Pritzker's request for information about local capacity for resettling evacuees from Afghanistan, includes a link to ISACo's 2021 Public Acts Report, requests proposal ideas for ISACo's 2022 legislative agenda, announces upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) webinar opportunities, spotlights ISACo corporate partner White & Company and invites Counties to join ISACo.
Clean Energy Bill Enacted into Law
Governor Pritzker signed the clean energy legislation into law on Wednesday, September 15, 2021.
The bill, signed into law as P.A. 102-0662 and linked here, received final legislative approval by the General Assembly following Senate passage on September 13. The bill had previously passed the House on September 9.
As previously reported in our September 14 News and Views e-newsletter, the new law seeks to decarbonize the Illinois energy sector by closing private coal plants by 2030. Under the bill, the policy of the State would be to move toward 100% clean energy by 2050.
Municipally-owned coal plants must be 100% carbon-free by December 31, 2045. The Prairie State Energy Campus in the Metro East and Springfield’s CWLP coal plants must reduce 45% of the carbon emissions by January 1, 2035.
All private natural gas-fired plants must be closed by 2045. Natural gas-fired plants owned by municipalities must be closed by 2045 unless converted to green hydrogen or similar technology.
The new law includes mitigation provisions to offset impacts of closing fossil fuel plants.
Exelon will receive a $694 million bailout over five years to keep the nuclear fleet running.
ISACo did not take a position on the legislation.
A more comprehensive summary of the provisions within the new law is available via this link.
Governor Pritzker Extends Statewide Disaster Declaration and Re-Issues Executive Orders
On September 17, 2021, Governor JB Pritzker issued another statewide Disaster Proclamation (linked here) through October 16.
He also signed Executive Order (EO) 2021-23 (linked here), thereby extending previous executive orders. This latest EO extends the residential eviction moratorium through October 3.
Governor Pritzker Requests Information About Local Capacity for Resettling Evacuees from Afghanistan
On September 14, 2021, Governer J.B. Pritzker sent a letter (linked here) to mayors, county boards and Illinois General Assembly leaders regarding the local capacity for resettling evacuees from Afghanistan. The Governor asks that every mayor, county board and Illinois General Assembly leader indicate local capacity in their communities for Afghan refugees seeking safe and welcoming communities in which to resettle.
In addition, Governor Pritzker asked the Office of Welcoming Centers for Refugee and Immigrant Assistance at the Illinois Department of Human Services to coordinate this effort.
The Governor requests that local leaders email Lilian Jimenez, Associate Director for Welcoming Centers for Refugee and Immigrant Services with any information about their local capacity. Ms. Jimenez can be reached at 312-793-2705 if there are questions.
For a list of immigrant-serving organizations in Illinois, including 13 refugee resettlement agencies, visit www.DHS.Illinois.Gov/Welcome. Many of these organizations are accepting donations and volunteer time from those who want to support evacuees from Afghanistan
ISACo Public Acts Report
ISACo published a report of tracked bills enacted into law in 2021. The report is available by clicking on the image below and will be updated to include any legislation approved during the fall Veto Session (October 19-21 and 26-28) and subsequently enacted into law.
ISACo Accepting Legislative Proposals for 2022
Does your county have a problem in need of a legislative solution? If so, please e-mail it to ISACo at info@isacoil.org. Submitted proposals will be considered by the Legislative Committee. Proposals ultimately approved by the ISACo Board of Directors will be included within our 2022 Illinois County Action Program (ICAP).
Upcoming NACo Webinars
NACo has announced the following upcoming webinar opportunities:
Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act: Energy, Water & Transportation Provision
(Monday, September 20, 2021, 12:00-1:00pm CST)
Join NACo for a national membership call on the energy, water and transportation policies and programs included in the bipartisan infrastructure package H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that is currently moving through Congress.
Click on this link to register for this event.
Model Energy Public-Private Partnerships: Policy Needs Webinar
(Thursday, September 23, 2021, 12:00-1:00pm CST)
This event is an external webinar. For questions or assistance, please contact the event organizers.
Please join the U.S Chamber of Commerce and NACo for a roundtable discussion on how PPPs and “Energy as a Service” are being used to advance energy management and meet climate action objectives.
This event is part of New York Climate Week. For more information, contact Chuck Chaitovitz, vice president for Environmental Affairs and Sustainability.
Click on this link to register for this event.
Non-Law Enforcement Responses to People Experiencing a Mental Health Crisis
A Data-Driven Justice Initiative Webinar
(Thursday, September 23, 2021, 2:00-3:30pm CST)
Counties and cities across the country are looking for innovative ways to respond to 911 calls for service involving people experiencing a mental health crisis. Local leaders are exploring potential non-law enforcement responses through mobile crisis teams or other types of partnerships. This webinar will feature localities that have created such programs, their lessons learned, and resulting best practices. Immediately following the webinar, attendees are invited to attend virtual breakout sessions of the DDJ peer engagement groups: Criminal Justice, Behavioral Health and Social Services and Planning and Research.
Click on this link to register for this event.
Corporate Sponsor Spotlight
This week's corporate partner spotlight highlights ISACo's partnership with Wight & Company.
For more than 80 years, Wight & Company has helped clients create exceptional, enduring buildings and spaces that enrich people's lives. Wight also specializes in providing professional services for transportation and infrastructure projects for counties, municipalities, state agencies, and private landowners.
More information about the services by Wight & Company is available via this link.
Click on this link to learn more about the benefits and opportunities available through ISACo's Corporate Partner Program.
Become an ISACo Member!
Is your county a member of ISACo? If not, why not?
ISACo is a statewide association whose mission is to empower county officials to provide excellent service to their residents.
ISACo member counties are comprised of forward-thinking public servants who recognize that the challenges confronting county governments require new and innovative ideas, collaborative solutions and collective advocacy at the state and federal levels of government.
Members of the association will benefit from education and training opportunities, peer-to-peer networking, shared resources and robust representation before policymakers at various levels of government. ISACo creates and connects county officials to these opportunities and successfully equips them to make counties ideal places to live, work and play.
If your county is interested in discussing membership in ISACo, please contact Executive Director Joe McCoy at (217) 679-3368 or jmccoy@isacoil.org. ISACo member counties are listed here. Thank you for your consideration.