State officials focus on winning FutureGen

October 18, 2006

SPRINGFIELD -- The competition between Illinois and Texas to land an experimental power plant is heating up.

On Tuesday, the point man for Illinois’ efforts to win the $1-billion FutureGen project downplayed claims by Texas officials that the Lone Star State has an advantage in the fight for the job-rich plum.

Texas’ FutureGen team has touted their state’s liability laws in regard to the pumping of carbon dioxide into the ground, which is a key component of nearly eradicating emissions from the coal-fired generator.

There is no such law on the books in Illinois, potentially hurting the state’s ability to defend itself if there are problems with the carbon dioxide storage process.

State attorneys are reviewing the matter and Illinois lawmakers are pushing legislation that would address the liability question, but Jack Lavin, director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, said the issue won’t be the lone factor in choosing where to build the plant.

“I think it’s one issue and the FutureGen alliance will be looking at many issues,” said Lavin. “It’s not going to be decided on one thing.”

Two sites in each of the states are finalists for the project, which would burn coal but pump emissions into the ground, rather than release them into the atmosphere through traditional smokestacks.

Lavin said the two sites Illinois -- Mattoon and Tuscola -- have advantages over the two sites in west Texas.

“We believe we have science on our side. We have transportation infrastructure that’s second to none. We have education institutions. We have a lot of assets,” Lavin said.

His comments came as officials unveiled a lengthy list of people who will serve on a task force created to lobby for the two Illinois sites.

The panel is co-chaired by U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Plano, and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, a Springfield Democrat.

U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, an Urbana Republican, said the task force is bipartisan and represents a strong mix of business, labor and environmental groups.

“This is indeed a team effort,” said Johnson, who represents Mattoon and Tuscola.

Along with politicians, members include coal industry officials, state college and university leaders, state and local business groups and top labor officials.

The task force was announced during a ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield.

State Rep. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, and state Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, have introduced legislation that would address the carbon dioxide liability issue. Rose said it is an example of the many efforts that are being made to bring the facility to Illinois.

“It truly, truly has been a team endeavor,” Rose said.

The federally backed project is considered a political plum because it will generate more than 1,000 construction jobs and have 150 permanent workers once it goes on-line in 2012.

A decision on where it will be located is expected to come next September.