 On Jan. 29, the department announced it was pulling its support for
the $1.8 billion project, which relies heavily on federal funding.
After more than four years of negotiations, the FutureGen Alliance
announced Dec. 18 its intention to construct the 275-megawatt,
clean-coal power plant in Mattoon.The project was expected to be
of great benefit to the region, anticipated to stimulate the economy
and provide a cleaner, more environmentally friendly way to
manufacture energy. Bomke is supporting efforts by members of the
Illinois congressional delegation to meet with President George W.
Bush next week and ask that the decision be reversed.
If the president decides against reversing the Department of
Energy's decision, lawmakers plan to work with Congress in hopes of
securing enough federal funds in the upcoming federal budget to
continue with the project. Though Congress has the final say on the
facility's future, the process of re-securing the financial backing
could be quite lengthy.
Possible electric rate increases
Ameren and ComEd are both seeking permission to increase electric
rates by implementing a new delivery rate and surcharge. Ameren has
requested a $247 million rate hike, which would most likely result
in an increase of approximately 4.5 percent for consumers. ComEd
hopes the increase will bring in an additional $360 million, meaning
customers could see their bills go up by as much as 8 percent.
The utilities have submitted the delivery-rate increase requests
to the Illinois Commerce Commission. In response, the ICC scheduled
six public hearings throughout the state to allow Ameren customers
to ask questions and voice concerns over the proposed increases. The
first hearing was in Decatur on Monday.
[to top of second column]
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 Other scheduled hearings:
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Feb. 6 --
Williamson County Pavilion (behind Illinois Centre Mall), 1602
Sioux Drive, Marion
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Feb. 13 --
Belleville City Council chambers, 101 S. Illinois St.,
Belleville
-
Feb. 19 -- Peoria
City Hall, Room 400, 419 Fulton, Peoria
-
Feb. 26 -- Quincy
City Council chambers, 730 Maine St., Quincy
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Feb. 28 -- Champaign City Council
chambers, 102 Neil St., Champaign
Blagojevich associate sent back to jail
Tony Rezko, a political ally and campaign contributor of Gov. Rod
Blagojevich, was arrested at his home Jan. 28 for bond violations.
When his trial begins, Rezko will face charges of fraud, money
laundering and attempted extortion. The Blagojevich associate
recently earned national attention when his ties to Illinois Sen.
Barack Obama were uncovered by the media.
In Springfield, Senate Republicans have been trying for months to
pass legislation that would end the allegations of pay-to-play
politics that continue to dog Blagojevich.
Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, has stalled the advance
of the legislation by refusing to allow the ethical and fiscal
reform measures to be considered by Illinois Senate.
[Text from file sent on behalf of
Sen.
Larry Bomke by Illinois
Senate Republican staff]
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