SPRINGFIELD — A billion-dollar coal power plant in east central
Illinois could mean new jobs created throughout the state,
according to a new study.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration Tuesday touted a Southern
Illinois University report that the experimental FutureGen project
would stimulate the economy outside Mattoon and Tuscola.
The two towns are Illinois’ finalists for the prototype power
plant, and the report’s release corresponded with meetings there
Tuesday.
The towns are competing with two in Texas for FutureGen, which
would burn coal and pump pollutants underground instead of into the
air.
The study by SIU professor Ira Altman suggests the plant could
create about 350 permanent energy industry jobs around Illinois in
addition to the 150 at the plant.
That’s a small slice of the state’s economy, but Altman said
that if FutureGen burns coal from Illinois, even more jobs could be
created.
“It all depends, of course, on where the coal would come from,”
Altman said.
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity spokesman Andrew
Ross said FutureGen’s developers have agreed to test Illinois’ coal
for potential use in the project.
The statewide jobs picture would also depend on unknown factors
about the plant’s technology.
Altman said that because FutureGen is a new idea, it’s hard to
tell exactly what impact it will have.
A final decision about where the plant will be located is
expected in September.
