Legislators want more money for experimental power plant

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By Mike Riopell | Thursday, February 1, 2007 1:17 AM CST | () comments

SPRINGFIELD — A dip in federal support could stall the eventual construction of a $1 billion experimental power plant project that could come to Illinois.

Illinois remains in the mix to land the FutureGen power plant, a facility that burns coal for electricity but keeps carbon dioxide emissions out of the air by pumping them more than 5,000 feet underground.

Mattoon and Tuscola remain candidates for the project, along with two sites in Texas. It could create 1,000 construction jobs and 200 permanent ones.

Last week, 10 members of the Illinois congressional delegation began lobbying to get more money for the eventual power plant. They say the $18 million that’s budgeted isn’t enough. They want $54 million.

The possible shortfall arose when Democrats took control of Congress and decided to cap spending.

The group sent a letter last week that was signed by, among others, U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Barack Obama, and U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, the Urbana Republican who represents Mattoon and Tuscola.

They argued that less cash “will likely delay advancement of this important project and lead to escalation of construction costs in the long-term.”

But Durbin spokeswoman Sandra Abrevaya said the amount of money won’t affect which state gets FutureGen. The money will follow it.

State Sen. Dale Righter said landing the project is the first step.

“Everyone’s going to have to suck it up a little bit, I guess,” said the Charleston Republican who represents both potential sites in Illinois.

Also in their letter, the group asked for money for other interests, such as $100 million more in the budget for Amtrak and “adequate” money for the Army Corps of Engineers and its efforts to keep invasive Asian carp from spreading to the Great Lakes.

Mike Riopell can be reached at mike.riopell@lee.net or (217) 789-0865.

What’s next

A step toward the eventual FutureGen decision could come next month. Officials are waiting for the results of a required study to weigh the environmental impacts of a plant. The final decision is expected in September 2007.