Record #: R2016-742   
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Intro date: 10/5/2016 Current Controlling Legislative Body: Committee on Finance
Final action: 11/1/2016
Title: Call for Committee on Finance Chairman to gather information for possible appeal of Illinois Appellate Court decision to stop Rock Island Clean Line LLC project to deliver wind energy electricity to Illinois customers
Sponsors: Lopez, Raymond A., Ervin, Jason C., Moreno, Proco Joe, Waguespack, Scott, Cardenas, George A., Munoz, Ricardo, Reboyras, Ariel, Sadlowski Garza, Susan, Solis, Daniel, Moore, David H., Taliaferro, Chris, Dowell, Pat, O'Shea, Matthew J., Scott, Jr. Michael, Austin, Carrie M., Foulkes, Toni, Maldonado, Roberto, Sawyer, Roderick T., Silverstein, Debra L., Brookins, Jr., Howard, Cappleman, James, Villegas, Gilbert, Pawar, Ameya, Reilly, Brendan, Osterman, Harry, Santiago, Milagros, Moore, Joseph, Mitts, Emma, Smith, Michele, Thompson, Patrick D., Tunney, Thomas, Curtis, Derrick G., Zalewski, Michael R., Napolitano, Anthony V., Mell, Deborah
Topic: COMMITTEE/PUBLIC HEARINGS - Committee on Finance
Attachments: 1. R2016-742.pdf
RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the City of Chicago has over one million electric customers: residential, commercial and industrial;
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago has frequently re-affirmed its support for a transition away from fossil fuel resources and towards a sustainable future of zero carbon resources;
WHEREAS, Rock Island Clean Line LLC ("Rock Island") is developing a $2 billion, 500 mile high voltage direct current electric transmission line to deliver wind energy from northwest Iowa to Illinois, benefiting consumers by reducing wholesale electric costs in Illinois by $320 million in the first year of operation alone, and making available enough renewable energy for 1.4 million homes in Chicago and the surrounding region;
WHEREAS, the Rock Island project would create approximately 1400 quality union construction jobs per year for three years, and support major business opportunities for the many businesses located in the City of Chicago;
WHEREAS, the Illinois Commerce Commission, in November of 2014, determined that the Rock Island project was beneficial to the public and issued a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the project to proceed;

WHEREAS, the Appellate Court of Illinois, Third District, recently overturned the approval of the Illinois Commerce Commission, a decision which, if sustained, 'would kill the Rock Island project and deny the citizens of the City of Chicago access to the affordable renewable energy and other economic opportunities of the project, while also serving as a dangerous anti-competitive precedent for alternative energy development in Illinois;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the members of the Chicago City Council, support Rock Island's development;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chairman of the Committee on Finance be called upon to gather information from various Rock Island executives, including its Chief Executive Officer, President, and General Counsel, in order to evaluate the potential negative impact of t...

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