Section 20 ILCS 1105/3 - Powers and duties(a) In addition to its other powers, the Environmental Protection Agency has the following powers:(1) To administer for the State any energy programs and activities under federal law, regulations or guidelines, and to coordinate such programs and activities with other State agencies, units of local government, and educational institutions.(2) To represent the State in energy matters involving the federal government, other states, units of local government, and regional agencies.(3) To prepare energy assurance plans for consideration by the Governor and the General Assembly. Such plans may include procedures for determining when a foreseeable danger exists of energy shortages, including shortages of petroleum, coal, nuclear power, natural gas, and other forms of energy, and may specify the actions to be taken to minimize hardship and maintain the general welfare during such energy shortages.(4) To cooperate with State colleges and universities and their governing boards in energy programs and activities.(6) To accept, receive, expend, and administer, including by contracts and grants to other State agencies, any energy-related gifts, grants, cooperative agreement funds, and other funds made available to the Agency by the federal government and other public and private sources, as well as any of those funds made available to the Department before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.(7) To assist the Department of Central Management Services in establishing and maintaining a system to analyze and report energy consumption of facilities leased by the Department of Central Management Services.(a-5) In addition to its other powers, the Department has the following powers: (1) To investigate practical problems, seek and utilize financial assistance, implement studies and conduct research relating to the production, distribution and use of alcohol fuels.(2) To serve as a clearinghouse for information on alcohol production technology; provide assistance, information and data relating to the production and use of alcohol; develop informational packets and brochures, and hold public seminars to encourage the development and utilization of the best available technology.(3) To coordinate with other State agencies in order to promote the maximum flow of information and to avoid unnecessary overlapping of alcohol fuel programs. In order to effectuate this goal, the Director of the Department or his representative shall consult with the Directors, or their representatives, of the Departments of Agriculture, Central Management Services, Transportation, and Revenue, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and the Environmental Protection Agency.(4) To operate, within the Department, an Office of Coal Development and Marketing for the promotion and marketing of Illinois coal both domestically and internationally. The Department may use monies appropriated for this purpose for necessary administrative expenses. The Office of Coal Development and Marketing shall develop and implement an initiative to assist the coal industry in Illinois to increase its share of the international coal market.
(5) To assist the Department of Central Management Services in establishing and maintaining a system to analyze and report energy consumption of facilities leased by the Department of Central Management Services.(6) To consult with the Department of Transportation and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for the purpose of developing methods and standards that encourage the utilization of coal combustion by-products as value added products in productive and benign applications.(7) To provide technical assistance and information to sellers and distributors of storage hot water heaters doing business in Illinois.(d) The Agency shall develop a package of educational materials containing information regarding the necessity of waste reduction and recycling to reduce dependence on landfills and to maintain environmental quality. The Agency shall make this information available to the public on its website and for schools to access for their development of materials. Those materials shall be suitable for instructional use in grades 3, 4 and 5.Amended by P.A. 102-0444,§ 920, eff. 8/20/2021.Amended by P.A. 098-0692,§ 25, eff. 7/1/2014.Amended by P.A. 098-0044,§ 15, eff. 6/28/2013.P.A. 89-93, eff. 7-6-95; 89-445, eff. 2-7-96; 90-304, eff. 8-1-97; 92-736, eff. 7-25-02.