Gov. Blagojevich Urges Congress to Advance Landmark Clean-Coal Project
Hearing Thursday With Department of Energy Secretary Bodman
Alliance Board Concludes Two-Day Board Meeting in Mattoon, Vows
to Continue Moving Project Forward
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[February 07, 2008]
CHICAGO -- As Blagojevich administration officials wrapped up a
two-day meeting with members of the FutureGen Alliance board of
directors regarding plans to advance the landmark FutureGen
clean-coal project, Gov. Rod. R. Blagojevich sent a letter to
congressman John Dingell, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce
Committee, urging him to stand by the FutureGen project and proceed
with the original plans to bring FutureGen to Illinois. The
committee is scheduled to hear testimony Thursday from U.S.
Department of Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman on the department's
2009 budget proposal. Last week Bodman announced his intention to
try to dismantle the $1.5 billion FutureGen clean-coal project.
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"FutureGen is the only clean-coal project nationwide ready to
demonstrate how coal gasification -- integrated with carbon capture
and sequestration technology -- can allow us to tap America's vast
coal reserves while dramatically reducing the greenhouse gas
emissions that cause global warming," the governor wrote to Rep.
Dingell. "The withdrawal of support by USDOE for the FutureGen
project creates a tremendous setback to our progress in addressing
two issues of great importance to our nation: our quest for energy
independence and our fight against climate change. That is why I ask
that you use all the powers of the legislative branch to reverse
USDOE's decision and uphold the federal government's commitment to
build FutureGen, the world's cleanest fossil fuel-fired power
plant."
FutureGen is a coal gasification facility, which will convert
coal into hydrogen and electricity while capturing and safely
storing the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide deep underground. The
project is intended to lay the groundwork for developing similar
plants around the country and the world, pioneering the capture and
storage of greenhouse gases.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2008/Feb/07/images/ads/current/roger%20webster%20const%20bch%20050207.png)
Before attempts by the Department of Energy to restructure
FutureGen could move forward, Congress would have to approve
reprogramming the project.
President Bush initiated FutureGen in 2003, and as recently as
his State of the Union address last week, he reiterated that
environmentally responsible energy is essential to keeping our
economy growing. As recently as Nov. 30, the Department of Energy
reaffirmed that the project was moving forward as planned. After an
almost three-year, rigorous site review process, the FutureGen
Alliance announced on Dec. 18 that Mattoon will be home to the
landmark project. Only after it became clear that an Illinois site
would be chosen over a Texas site did the department suggest the
project be delayed and on Jan. 30 that it be dismantled.
On Wednesday, members of the
FutureGen Alliance vowed to continue
working with the state of Illinois to do what they can to move the
project forward and reassured residents of their commitment to the
city of Mattoon. Representatives from all 10 of the 13 companies
comprising membership on the alliance board, which involves
participation of companies and governments from six continents and
the United States, attended the meeting this week. The alliance
vowed to continue working with Illinois to ensure the project moves
forward and succeeds in Mattoon.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2008/Feb/07/images/ads/current/bassett-bcard_ad-123006.png)
"The board meeting this week indicates that the alliance is still
very much committed to seeing FutureGen advance and be built in
Mattoon. We will continue to do all we can to see that Illinois
plays an active role in helping to address global climate change.
FutureGen is the only project in the world that can proceed with
urgency to make that happen. We urge President Bush, who initiated
FutureGen in 2003, to stand by the project and move it forward,"
said Jack Lavin, director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity.
"The board of directors thought that it was not only appropriate
to hold our meeting at the selected site of the FutureGen facility,
but it also was necessary so that we could demonstrate to the
citizens our commitment to moving FutureGen forward in Mattoon,"
said Mike Mudd, CEO of the FutureGen Alliance. "I want to thank the
citizens of Mattoon and all of Illinois for their support and hard
work during the site selection process."
The text of the governor's letter follows:
The Honorable John Dingell
House Committee on Energy and Commerce
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman,
As you begin to examine the fiscal year 2009 Department of Energy
(USDOE) budget request, I would like to thank you for holding the
upcoming hearing with Secretary Bodman and share with you my concern
about an issue that is fundamental to the energy efforts in my state
of Illinois as well as the nation: FutureGen.
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![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2007/Nov/14/images/ads/current/lincoln-chrysler-lda-111307.png) FutureGen is the only clean coal project nationwide ready to
demonstrate how coal gasification – integrated with carbon capture
and sequestration technology – can allow us to tap America's vast
coal reserves while dramatically reducing the greenhouse gas
emissions that cause global warming.
In December, 2007 Mattoon, Illinois was chosen for the site of
the FutureGen project after tireless efforts of my administration
and the FutureGen Alliance. Over the past 5 years, the State of
Illinois has committed millions of dollars to the future success of
this critical clean coal initiative that has the potential to
provide the clean, secure, energy independence we seek. Last week,
Secretary Bodman announced that the DOE was abandoning the five
years of investment made by the federal government in the FutureGen
project and that they will start over with a new process.
This raises many serious questions about USDOE, among them: How
can business and international partners rely on the word the U.S.
government if the UDOE abandons a process that it started and to
which it has been committed for almost five years?
How can the Secretary sign a letter to a Member of Congress on
November 30, 2007, asserting that the project was on track for
completion of site selection and publication in the Record of
Decision by the end of 2007, and then within six weeks declare that
he has no intention of publishing the Record of Decision and walk
away from all of the work that had been put into the project?
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2008/Feb/07/images/ads/current/hearing-aid-center-bch091007.png)
The withdrawal of support by USDOE for the FutureGen project
creates a tremendous setback to our progress in addressing two
issues of great importance to our nation: our quest for energy
independence and our fight against climate change. That is why I ask
that you use all the powers of the legislative branch to reverse
USDOE's decision and uphold the federal government's commitment to
build FutureGen, the world's cleanest fossil fuel-fired power plant.
Proceeding with FutureGen as planned will demonstrate that we can
capture and safely store greenhouse gases deep underground, paving
the way for America's continued use of coal and enabling coal to be
an engine for job creation and economic growth. With the current
energy crisis world-wide and the economic instability here at home,
implementing sound policy that addresses these issues is of utmost
importance. FutureGen enjoys strong support from the scientific and
business energy community and had the potential to offer great
success and reward to the Illinois and our Nation.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2008/Feb/07/images/ads/current/mcquellon's%20bc%20030607.png)
The coal industry, mine workers, environmental groups and the
international consortium of thirteen power companies that comprise
the FutureGen Alliance, all recognize the great importance of
FutureGen to our nation.
I urge you to stand by FutureGen as originally envisioned and to
resist the Administration's proposals to abandon this landmark
project. Thank you for your continued commitment to successful
energy policy for our country.
Sincerely,
Rod R. Blagojevich
Governor
[Text from file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2008/Feb/07/images/ads/current/medicap-bc-082207.png)
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