WIND ENERGY FACILITIES ACT Senate SponsorsSen. Michael W. Frerichs 1/8/2013SenateSession Sine Die New ActCreates the Wind Energy Facilities Construction, Deconstruction, and Siting Act. Provides that every commercial wind energy operator that is the owner of a commercial wind energy facility located on land owned by another person or entity shall enter into an agricultural impact mitigation agreement with the Illinois Department of Agriculture to preserve the integrity of any agricultural land that is impacted by commercial wind energy facility construction. Provides that the commercial wind energy operator is responsible for deconstruction of the commercial wind energy facility and for all costs associated with deconstruction of that facility and associated facilities. Provides that a county or municipality shall approve or disapprove the request for siting approval of a commercial wind energy facility within the specified areas of a county or municipality. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules that are necessary and appropriate for the implementation and administration of the Act. Provides that a county or municipality may require setback standards that are not to exceed certain specifications. Effective July 1, 2012. 2/7/2012SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. Michael W. Frerichs 2/7/2012SenateFirst Reading 2/7/2012SenateReferred to Assignments 2/17/2012SenateAssigned to Agriculture and Conservation 2/24/2012SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Michael W. Frerichs 2/24/2012SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments 2/27/2012SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Agriculture and Conservation 2/28/2012SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Postponed - Agriculture and Conservation 2/28/2012SenatePostponed - Agriculture and Conservation 3/1/2012SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Michael W. Frerichs 3/1/2012SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments 3/6/2012SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 Assignments Refers to Agriculture and Conservation 3/7/2012SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Postponed - Agriculture and Conservation 3/7/2012SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 Postponed - Agriculture and Conservation 3/7/2012SenateHeld in Agriculture and Conservation 3/9/2012SenateRule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As March 30, 2012 3/27/2012SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Postponed - Agriculture and Conservation 3/27/2012SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 Postponed - Agriculture and Conservation 3/27/2012SenatePostponed - Agriculture and Conservation 3/30/2012SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 3 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Michael W. Frerichs 3/30/2012SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 3 Referred to Assignments 3/30/2012SenateRule 2-10 Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Established As April 26, 2012 4/17/2012SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 3 Assignments Refers to Agriculture and Conservation 4/26/2012SenateRule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments 4/26/2012SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments 4/26/2012SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments 4/26/2012SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 3 Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments 1/8/2013SenateSession Sine Die