Illinois Delegation Asks DOE to Release FutureGen Record of Decision

December 20, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Tim Johnson (R-IL) were joined by the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation today in calling on the Secretary of the Department of Energy, Samuel Bodman, to release the Record of Decision – a final public decision that certifies the project meets environmental requirements – for FutureGen.

Even though the site selection has been completed and the 30-day public comment period for the Environmental Impact Statement has ended, the Department of Energy has failed to issue a Record of Decision without which, it will be difficult to keep the project on track and on budget.

“We are pleased that this independent council of renowned experts carefully assessed the science and strengths of this Illinois location and favorably affirmed the commitment of state and local resources that were assembled in response to clear federal expectations announced 4 years ago,” the Illinois members wrote. “While the site selection has been completed, the 30-day period for the issuance of the Record of Decision (RoD) by the Department of Energy has not been met. We are interested in learning when the Department intends to release this document so that this project can move forward in Illinois without additional unnecessary delays.”

On Tuesday, the FutureGen Alliance announced their decision to locate the $1.5 billion emissions-free coal generation plant in Mattoon, Illinois. FutureGen will be a $1.5 billion government-industry project which will produce the first emissions-free coal generation plant of its kind. It is a demonstration for gasifying coal (converting it to hydrogen and carbon monoxide), producing hydrogen and electricity, capturing carbon dioxide, and sequestering it underground. The plant would generate approximately 275 MW of electricity, which is enough to supply 150,000 homes. Facility construction would begin in 2010, with full-scale operation beginning in 2013.

The FutureGen Initiative was initially announced by President Bush in February 2003. In early December of 2005, the Department of Energy signed an agreement with the FutureGen Alliance, a non-profit consortium of coal producers and energy generators. Over the last year, site selection, design activities, and environmental analyses has laid the groundwork for final project design, construction, and operation. The Department of Energy announced on November 9, 2007 the completion of the Final Environmental Impact Statement, and acknowledged that the FutureGen Alliance, as required under the cooperative agreement with the Department, would make its final site selection before the end of the year.

Other members signing on to today’s letter include Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), Representatives Bobby Rush (D-IL), Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), Dan Lipinski (D-IL), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), Peter Roskam (D-IL), Danny Davis (D-IL), Melissa Bean (D-IL), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Jerry Weller (R-IL), Jerry Costello (R-IL), Judy Biggert (R-IL), Dennis Hastert (R-IL), Don Manzullo (R-IL), Phil Hare (D-IL), Ray LaHood (R-IL) and John Shimkus (R-IL).

Text of the letter appears below:

December 18, 2007

The Honorable Samuel W. Bodman
Secretary
United States Department of Energy
Forrestal Building, Room 7B138
1000 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, D.C. 20585-0800

Dear Mr. Secretary:

This week the FutureGen Alliance announced its final selection of Mattoon, Illinois, as the location for the construction of the FutureGen project - - pronouncing the Mattoon proposal “exceptional” and underscoring the highest forms of teamwork and community support. We are writing today to urge the Department to release the Record of Decision (RoD) for the FutureGen project, so that this important effort can stay on track and on budget.

We are pleased that this independent council of renowned experts carefully assessed the science and strengths of this Illinois location and favorably affirmed the commitment of state and local resources that were assembled in response to clear federal expectations announced 4 years ago.

The Department of Energy announced on November 9, 2007 the completion of the Final Environmental Impact Statement, and acknowledged that the FutureGen Alliance, as required under the cooperative agreement with the Department, would make its final site selection before the end of the year.

While the site selection has been completed, the 30-day period for the issuance of the Record of Decision (RoD) by the Department of Energy has not been met. We are interested in learning when the Department intends to release this document so that this project can move forward in Illinois without additional unnecessary delays.

In 2003, when President Bush announced the long term commitment of the United States government to this project, representatives of academia, industry, labor and government responded, investing considerable resources to make their case. It is the commitment of the Illinois Congressional Delegation to maintain the scope of this project in Illinois and implement the independent recommendation of the FutureGen Alliance.

We look forward to the continued commitment by the Department of Energy to the current project and look forward to learning the issue date of the RoD.

Sincerely,

Dick Durbin
U.S. Senator

Source: Senator Dick Durbin

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