HOUSE RESOLUTION #1076

Offered by Representatives Bill Mitchell-Robert F. Flider-Patrick J. Verschoore-Jim Watson-Jil Tracy, Rich Brauer, Keith P. Sommer, Shane Cultra, Ron Stephens, David Reis, and Raymond Poe

    WHEREAS, Coal gasification technologies are considered a

cleaner method of producing energy by converting coal into a

synthetic gas; the procedure also allows for larger use of

Illinois coal, which many coal-fired power plants have stopped

using due to its high sulfur content; and
 

    WHEREAS, Last year, Secure Energy, Inc. purchased property

for a coal gasification project to produce synthetic natural

gas from Illinois coal; the $250 million facility would

generate approximately 40 permanent jobs and would use 600,000

tons of Illinois coal each year from the Viper Mine in Elkhart;

and
 

    WHEREAS, Secure Energy sought financial assistance from

the State and has been waiting nearly a year for final approval

for a $14,100,000 coal development grant; and
 

    WHEREAS, Illinois' Coal Development Fund was created to

assist the development of coal and energy projects, especially

projects that promote to use of Illinois coal; and
 

    WHEREAS, In November of 2007, the Governor removed more

than $10,200,000 from the Coal Development Fund to provide

temporary funding for the Regional Transportation Authority,

and now there is not sufficient moneys in the Coal Development

Fund to support Secure Energy's grant; therefore, be it
 

    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE

NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that,

in accordance with Section 3-2 of the Illinois State Auditing

Act, the Auditor General is directed to conduct a performance

audit of the activities of the Department of Commerce and

Economic Opportunity and other State agencies with respect to

actions taken under the Illinois Coal and Energy Development

Bond Act, particularly with respect to deposits into and

transfers, appropriations, and other withdrawals from the Coal

Development Fund; and be it further
 

    RESOLVED, that in accordance with Section 3-4 of the

Illinois State Auditing Act, the Auditor General is also

directed to investigate the propriety of the method by which

moneys were removed from the Coal Development Fund and given to

the Regional Transportation Authority; and be it further
 

    RESOLVED, that the Auditor General commence this audit as

soon as possible and report his findings and recommendations

upon completion in accordance with the provisions of the

Illinois State Auditing Act; and be it further
 

    RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be delivered to

the Auditor General.

Adopted by the House of Representatives on May 13, 2008.