Announcement
July 14, 2009
Media Contact: Marcelyn Love 217/558.1542
Alka Nayyar 312/814.0097
Statement from Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director, Warren Ribley
On U.S. Department of Energy issuing record of decision on FutureGen clean coal project
[SPRINGFIELD] – We are pleased that the U.S. Department of Energy today issued the Record of Decision on the FutureGen clean coal project, giving the green light on the next phase of the project. This is an important milestone in our efforts to keep FutureGen alive, and it serves as major affirmation that selection of Illinois and Mattoon was done on the suitability and readiness of the site. Today’s action also reiterates the importance of FutureGen as the only clean coal project in the U.S. that holds the potential to revolutionize our coal industry and address the challenges of global warming. We will continue to work closely with the FutureGen Alliance, Illinois Congressional Delegation and our other partners in our quest for next-generation energy technology represented by FutureGen. I applaud the Obama administration and Energy Secretary Chu for their quick action to make FutureGen a reality.