ILLINOIS Commentary

Jerry Costello

FutureGen Project holds promise for Illinois coal

Earlier this year, the Bush administration announced an ambitious project to build a coal-fired electric and hydrogen production plant with near zero emissions. This is a bold step forward in advancing our use of domestic energy sources. A public/private partnership, the FutureGen project will be funded by the federal government, the energy industry and other countries; and I believe it holds tremendous promise for revitalizing Illinois coal. A decision on where to build the plant will be made in the near future, and Illinois has numerous advantages that make it the ideal location.

I sponsored a roundtable discussion in July at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale that brought together U.S. Department of Energy officials, the State of Illinois, other federal, state and local officials and the general public to hear details about FutureGen and why it should be located in Illinois. This event allowed the Department of Energy and the FutureGen sponsors and participants to explore Illinois' unique features and to discover the many ways our state can meet the goals and objectives of this project. The discussion also enhanced state and local officials' understanding of the FutureGen initiative.

Illinois has almost one-eighth of the coal reserves in the United States and the largest reserves of bituminous coal in the nation. The State of Illinois has long supported its coal industry through programs that finance research, development and commercialization of new technologies and uses of coal. As a result, Illinois is a national leader in developing clean and efficient coal technologies.

For example, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale operates its Coal Research Center, one of the field's most comprehensive programs in the United States, with a combination of facilities and achievements that make it a unique contributor to our nation's energy infrastructure. The Coal Research Center conducts a wide range of studies with direct practical applicability to the commercial development of coal. The ramifications of the center's work extend far beyond state lines and include improvements of coal cleaning processes and the reduction of air pollution from coal-fired power plants.

In addition, carbon sequestration will be one of the primary features that will set the FutureGen plant apart from other electric power projects. No other plant in the world has been built with this capability. Illinois offers geological sequestration potential over a wide area of the Illinois basin with potential storage media for carbon sequestration in structures such as deep coal beds, mature oil reservoirs, and saline reservoirs. Our state has a strong commitment to the growth of its coal and energy industries and its natural resources, geological composition, infrastructure, and extensive research and expertise in coal. This allows Illinois to play a proactive role in our national energy future.

Coal historically has been the least expensive fossil fuel available to the United States, and in contrast to other primary fuels, its costs are likely to decline as mine productivity continues to increase. Illinois has one of the highest coal mine productivity rates in the United States. The productivity in Illinois mines has increased 5.9 percent annually over the past 10 years. The low cost of coal is a major reason why the United States enjoys some of the lowest electricity rates in the world.

A reliable and affordable energy supply is crucial to America's economic vitality, security and quality of life. New and improved scientific and technical advances hold the promise of far greater emissions reductions and increased efficiency. The FutureGen initiative will serve

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U.S. Representative Jerry Costello represents the 12th Congressional District in southwestern Illinois. A resident of Belleville and former Chairman of the St. Clair County Board, he has served in Congress since 1989. The opinions and views of guest commentators are their own and may not represent those of the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives or the electric co-ops of Illinois.

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as the test bed for researching, developing, and demonstrating the best technologies in the world. Virtually every aspect of the prototype plant will be based on cutting-edge technology. Knowledge from this prototype power plant will help make coal into an environmentally sustainable energy resource.

Illinois can provide the resources and expertise needed to improve our national energy policy through the FutureGen initiative, and I was pleased to organize the critical first step in the process. We need to continue to promote opportunities like FutureGen and capitalize on the great natural and human resources our state holds for clean energy production.

What do you think? We've published commentaries from governors, senators and other dignitaries. Now we want to hear from you. Who do you think should write an Illinois Commentary? Or what topic should we cover? Send your suggestion to: Editor, Illinois Country Living, P.O. Box 3787, Springfield, IL 62708 or e-mail aiecinfo@aiec.coop.

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