Press Releases
May 25, 2007
Contact: Megan Doern (202) 715-1546
Lawrence Pacheco (202) 715-1555
FutureGen Project Takes Giant Leap Forward, Draft Environmental Impact Statement Released
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FutureGen project has reached a significant milestone this week with the release of the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) by the United States Department of Energy (DOE). The DEIS includes a review of all four candidate sites (Mattoon and Tuscola, Ill. and Odessa and Jewett, Tex.). All four sites will move forward in the site evaluation process with a final site to be selected by the FutureGen Alliance this fall, after the issuance of DOE's final EIS and Record of Decision.
"DOE's finalization and release of the DEIS is a major milestone as it keeps this project moving forward at a fast pace to develop this much needed, first-of-a-kind, research and development project," said Michael J. Mudd, chief executive officer of the FutureGen Alliance. "With the issue of climate change at the top of the Congress' domestic agenda and top of mind with many policymakers around the globe, FutureGen and its continued progress towards advancing new technologies such as carbon capture and sequestration is more important than ever before."
The release of the DEIS triggers a series of events such as the upcoming public hearings, conducted by DOE, at each of the four sites. The hearing schedule (subject to change) is:
| June 19: Odessa, Tex. | June 26: Mattoon, Ill. |
| June 21: Jewett, Tex. | June 28: Tuscola, Ill. |
"The upcoming public hearings are an extremely important part of the siting process and we look forward to hearing from these four communities and other interested parties," said Mudd.
FutureGen is a first-of-its-kind coal-fueled power plant with near-zero emissions that will produce hydrogen and capture and permanently store carbon dioxide deep underground.
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About the FutureGen Alliance
The FutureGen Alliance, a non-profit organization, represents some of the world's largest coal companies and electric utilities including: American Electric Power Service Corporation; Anglo American Services (UK) Limited; BHP Billiton Energy Coal; Inc.China Huaneng Group; CONSOL Energy, Inc; E.ON U.S. LLC; Foundation Coal Corporation; Peabody Energy Corporation; PPL Energy Services Group, LLC; Rio Tinto Energy America Services; Southern Company Services, Inc.; Xstrata Coal Pty Limited These companies provide energy to tens of millions of residential, business, and industrial customers in North America, Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa and South America. The Alliance is partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy to design and build the facility. Learn more about FutureGen and the Alliance at www.FutureGenAlliance.org.