Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that a high voltage transmission line may be constructed, placed, or maintained across any public right-of-way or along any highway, federally aided State highway, controlled access highway, interstate highway, or roadway, except as deemed necessary by the Secretary of Transportation to protect public safety or ensure the proper function of the highway. Provides that in the case of the co-location of a high voltage transmission line with Department of Transportation highway right-of-way, the Secretary of Transportation shall engage in coordination activities with a utility or developer to review requested highway corridors for a possible permitted location of a high voltage transmission line. Provides that when a permissible route along a highway corridor has been identified by the Department and the utility or developer, the Department must engage in consultation with the utility or developer to develop a constructability report to be used by both parties when co-location projects are being planned and approved. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Establishes an order of priority when siting a location for a new electric transmission facility.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 220 ILCS 5/8, 605 ILCS 5/9