Mattoon is awarded the $1.5 billion clean coal project
SPRINGFIELD, IL - The FutureGen Alliance has announced that Mattoon will be the location of the $1.5 billion FutureGen clean coal powered plant. State Senator Michael Frerichs (D-Gifford) said that the nearly emissions free plant will create an estimated 1,300 construction jobs and 150 permanent jobs.
"It's time to celebrate in East Central Illinois," said Senator Frerichs. "The FutureGen plant in Mattoon will create jobs in our region, establish Illinois as a leader in clean coal technology, and help Illinois' coal industry."
FutureGen's clean coal technology allows the production of energy without dangerous sulfur and carbon dioxide emissions. Instead, the coal is converted into a synthetic gas with the pollutants stripped out. The CO2 produced is stored underground. Over the past four years, the State Geological Survey has shown that Illinois lands are well-suited for such action. The project will help ensure the long term viability of Illinois Basin coal and would represent a significant step in the State's efforts to become a self-sufficient, clean energy producer.
A Southern Illinois University study estimated that there would be $1 billion dollar impact statewide, with 1,225 indirect spin-off jobs created during the four-year construction period, and an additional 360 full-time jobs. Once FutureGen becomes operational, it is expected to generate an estimated $135 million annually statewide.
Senator Frerichs sponsored legislation that helped create an $80 million incentive package to increase the likelihood of Illinois landing the clean coal project. The FutureGen plant will serve as a large scale engineering laboratory for the testing of new, clean power and coal to hydrogen technologies
"Illinois sits on the nation's largest coal reserve," said Senator Frerichs. "With global warming and CO2 emissions becoming growing concerns, we have the opportunity to show the world that there are ways to use coal to generate power without polluting our skies."
The FutureGen alliance hopes that the plant will be ready to produce electricity by 2012. The plant will generate 275 megawatts of electricity; however, any power produced will be an added benefit to the knowledge gained by operating the large scale engineering laboratory.
"It's is exciting to see Mattoon win the bid over competitors in Texas. The only thing more exciting would be to see an Illini victory over USC," joked Senator Frerichs.
