Johnson urges Obama to act on FutureGen
U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Urbana, Friday urged President Obama to take "decisive action" on the $1.8 billion FutureGen clean coal plant set to be built near Mattoon.
In a letter to the president, Johnson said "this project is seemingly in limbo and in need of a jump-start."
The FutureGen Alliance, a coalition of utility companies and coal companies, has been promoting the project, which would capture carbon-dioxide emissions and store the gases deep underground. Soon after the alliance chose Mattoon as the site for the plant in 2007, the Bush administration pulled federal funding, contending the project had gotten too expensive.
But with Obama's election, FutureGen seemed to be given new life. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced in March that he believed the project had merit and "is critical to meeting our energy and climate change challenges," spokeswoman Stephanie Mueller said. And in May, she said the agency had set aside about one-third of the $3.4 billion available in congressionally approved "clean coal" funds for FutureGen.
"President Obama, you now hold this power and I sincerely urge you to use your influence to achieve the goal that you have worked toward and bring FutureGen to Mattoon," Johnson wrote. "Your administration assumed power almost six months ago; however, the Record of Decision (ROD) has still not been released. Had the Bush administration released the ROD as promised, construction of FutureGen would have begun by now and the Illinois economy would have started to benefit from the thousands of jobs that the project promises to bring over the next four years."
Johnson added: "With all due respect, current economic conditions, coupled with the need for FutureGen's technology, demand immediate action. As a sign of good faith, I ask your administration to release the ROD without delay, to expedite the expenditure of federal funds that could be used for site-specific activities and construction, which are vital to moving FutureGen forward in Mattoon.
"Having heard you speak on the subject of coal, I know we both believe that clean coal technology can help make our country energy independent. We can make this work in America and FutureGen will make us move closer towards the goal of a greener world. However, with every passing day I fear we are letting a tremendous opportunity pass. Please use your influence to bring FutureGen in Mattoon to fruition."
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