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FutureGen widely supported, but final OK will come from science
By Mike Riopell
mike.riopell@lee.net
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SPRINGFIELD -- In the last several weeks, Illinois’ bid to lure the one-of-a-kind power plant FutureGen has made headlines when surrounding states have sounded their support.

Tuscola and Mattoon are competing with two towns in Texas for the distinction -- and jobs that would come with hosting the new plant. In their effort to win, Illinois officials have recently touted the support of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and, most recently, Ohio.

But a spokesman for the FutureGen Alliance, the partnership running the project, said that while all that support in general is nice, it likely won’t sway the final decision.

“In the end, the decision is going to be based on science,” said spokesman Lawrence Pacheco.

Science would be key because of the technology. The proposed plant would burn coal but send harmful pollutants underground for storage.

Coal has fallen out of favor with some because of the pollution it creates. So some nearby states with lots of coal to sell see the technology as a possible boon.

And though Illinois has vocal backing from many midwestern states, Texas officials say they aren’t on their own.

“This is going to shock you,” said Chuck McDonald, spokesman for the FutureGen effort in Texas. “But we got all the southern states to back our submission.”

Those include Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and others.

Still, state Rep. Chapin Rose, a Mahomet Republican who represents both Illinois sites, says he’s appreciated the state’s “leave no stone unturned attitude” toward winning FutureGen.

He hopes the local geology and Illinois’ massive coal deposits will help.

“The coal’s here,” he said. “It’s not in Texas.”

All four sites are waiting on a final OK from the federal government before a decision can be made. McDonald said each state should be prepared to be a gracious runner-up, especially because a decision could be imminent.

“I suspect the alliance has already made up its mind,” he said.

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