Illinois § 20

§ 20.

Responsibilities of the Council. The Council is responsible for the development and dissemination of programs, plans, and policies to reduce the environmental footprint of State government and for improving the implementation of greening the government initiatives in other institutions, thereby reducing costs to taxpayers and improving efficiency in operations. The Council shall convene on a quarterly basis and shall be responsible for the following: (a) Establishing long-term environmental sustainability goals that the State will strive to achieve within a period of 3, 5, and 10 years to improve the energy and environmental performance of State buildings, consistent with efficiency and economic objectives. These goals shall, at a minimum, include the following: broad-based performance goals for energy efficiency; use of renewable fuels; water conservation; green purchasing; paper consumption; and solid waste generation. These goals can be met through increased efficiency, operational changes, and improved maintenance and use of cost-effective alternative technologies, raw materials, and fuels. The Council shall: (1) communicate the environmental sustainability goals to all State agencies; (2) establish an electronic system to track and report on environmental progress; (3) monitor improvement activities; and (4) propose new goals as appropriate. (b) Coordinating an awards program that recognizes units of State and local government and educational institutions for developing, adopting, and implementing innovative or exemplary environmental sustainability plans in conformance with this Act. (c) Creating specific guidance materials for State agencies, educational institutions, and units of local government on how to integrate environmental sustainability into existing management systems, planning, and operational practices, while still providing necessary services and ensuring efficient and effective operations. These guidance materials must include a list of environmental and energy best practices, case studies, policy language, model plans, and other resource information. These materials must be made available on a website devoted to the Green Governments Illinois program. (d) Developing and implementing, to the extent fiscally feasible, training programs designed to instill the importance and value of environmental sustainability. (e) Providing new ways for State government to build markets for environmentally preferable products and services without compromising price, competition, and availability. The Council shall initially focus on integrated pest management, bio-based products, recycled content paper, energy efficiency, renewable energy, alternative fuel vehicles, and green cleaning supplies. Within existing resources, and within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, the Department of Central Management Services, with the approval of the council, shall designate a single point of contact for State agencies, suppliers, and other interested parties to contact regarding environmentally preferable purchasing issues. (f) Working collaboratively with State agencies, units of local government, educational institutions, and the legislative branches of government to promote benchmarking, commissioning, and retro-commissioning to make government and institutional buildings more resource-efficient, energy efficient, and healthful public places. (g) Reviewing budgetary policy and making recommendations to the Governor on incentives for State agencies to undertake environmental improvements that result in long-term cost-savings, productivity enhancements, or other outcomes deemed appropriate to the State's sustainability goals. (h) Reporting annually to the Governor and the General Assembly on the results of environmental sustainability actions taken by State agencies, educational institutions and units of local government during the prior fiscal year. The report must include the environmental and economic benefits of the environmental sustainability actions, where feasible, the consumption of those actions, and provide recommendations for future environmental improvement activities during the following year. The report shall be filed by September 1, 2008, and November 1 of each subsequent year. (h-5) Participating in the proposal review and subgrant award processes conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency to distribute the portion of funds eligible for State government use under the federal Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, H.R. 6, Title V, Subtitle E (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants). A designee of the Governor shall also participate in these processes, and no subgrant may be awarded unless the Governor's designee first approves that subgrant. (i) The chairman of the Council shall determine whether or not the I-Cycle program is operating effectively and make recommendations concerning management of the I-Cycle program. The chairman has the authority to dissolve the I-Cycle program if the program is found to be ineffective. (Source: P.A. 102-444, eff. 8-20-21.)