By JULIE A. BUTTON

Illinois' energy agency: new name, new duties

THE STATE'S lead energy agency got a new name and some new responsibilities this fall. Under Public Act 82-592, the Illinois Institute of Natural Resources (INR) was renamed the Department of Energy and Natural Resources (to be known as ENR), effective September 24, the day Gov. James R. Thompson signed the legislation.

ENR inherited all of INR's former duties and acquired jurisdiction over "atmospheric resources" and the newly created Coal Research Board. And with the resignation in November of Frank Beal, who had headed the agency since INR's creation in 1978, rENR is also looking lor a new director. Deputy director Mike Witte was named by the governor as acting director.

According to Ruth Heckathorn, manager of the communications division in ENR's Springfield office, the name change was necessary to more clearly define the purpose of the agency. INR was the lead energy agency in Illinois, but that was not reflected in its name. The name change makes the agency's mission more explicit, Heckathorn said. She also said there had been some confusion with the word "institute," which gave the impression of a private, for-profit organization rather than a slate agency.

Other legislation (P.A. 82-172) transfers responsibility for weather modification to ENR from the Department of Registration and Education; this legislation also revises the Weather Modification Board and eliminates licenses for weather modification operations, although permits are still required.

The new Illinois Coal Research Board (P.A. 82-568), will be chaired by the director of ENR. The nine-member board is to assist Illinois coal utilization research through such activities as:

•  assessing the aspects of coal in greatest need of research and developing a research agenda;

•   promoting the coordination of coal research information and advising research institutions of research needs within the state;

•  encouraging increased funding from any public agency or any other source; and,

• supporting coal research, approving projects consistent with the agenda, and authorizing the expenditure of money from the Public Utility Fund.

ENR has been appropriated $1 million from the Public Utility Fund for Illinois coal research by P.A. 82-18. The Public-Utility Fund comes from a .08 percent tax on the gross receipts of Illinois public utility companies.

All these changes are part of the evolution of a fairly youthful agency. The INR itself was the result of one of Gov. Thompson's first reorganization efforts a little over three years ago. In July of 1978 INR was created by consolidating the functions of the former Institute for Environmental Quality and the former division of energy within the Department of Business and Economic Development. In January of 1979 INR also absorbed the State Geological Survey Division, the State Natural History Survey Division, the State Water Survey Division and the State Museum Division — all formerly in the Department of Education and Registration.

Now ENR has a name that reflects its role in state government and has department status equal to the other "code" departments designated in the Civil Administrative Code.

Julie A. Dutlon is a research associate with the Illinois Legislative Council's science unit.

January 1982/Illinois Issues/11