(30 ILCS 710/Art. II heading)

(30 ILCS 710/2-1) (from Ch. 5, par. 2202-1) Sec. 2-1. This Article shall be known and may be cited as the "Rural Energy Conservation Act". (Source: P.A. 84-1452.)

(30 ILCS 710/2-2) (from Ch. 5, par. 2202-2) Sec. 2-2. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall administer programs providing financial assistance in the form of interest subsidies or other forms as allowed by federal law or regulation, court order, or federal administrative order, to individuals and small businesses in rural areas served by rural electric cooperatives for weatherization and energy conservation purposes. For purposes of this Act, weatherization shall include, but not be limited to, insulation, caulking, or weather stripping, adding storm doors or storm windows, repairing or replacing broken windows or doors, cleaning and minor repairs of heating systems, and installation of set-back thermostats. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall administer the interest subsidy program directed to assist individual consumers. The financial assistance for individuals shall not exceed $2,000 and may be extended to individuals whose household gross income does not exceed 150 percent of the area median income as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Each Department administering a program under this Section shall develop the application procedures and terms of the assistance. Each Department shall make use of existing administrative procedures where such procedures are applicable. (Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

(30 ILCS 710/2-3) (from Ch. 5, par. 2202-3) Sec. 2-3. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall administer a program demonstrating various alternative energy or energy conservation technologies appropriate for the rural areas of the State. Alternative energy shall include, but not be limited to, solar heating and cooling systems, photovoltaic systems, bioconversion, geothermal recycling and reuse of waste heat or energy, utilization of methane gas derived from industrial and agricultural by-products and other technologies identified by the Department. (Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

(30 ILCS 710/2-4) (from Ch. 5, par. 2202-4) Sec. 2-4. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide educational materials, information and technical assistance to support energy conservation education programs designed to assist Illinois' rural population in dealing with economic problems due to high energy costs. (Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)