Benefits to Illinois

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Economic Growth

Illinois is home to vast deposits of high-energy bituminous coal, which is currently not favored by power generators due to the high levels of byproduct emissions from the coal. FutureGen will greatly benefit industries involved in mining, transportation and the use of coal – industries that currently employ thousands of people across the state.

FutureGen will also create jobs. A new economic impact study from Southern Illinois University Carbondale found that FutureGen would have a much larger economic impact than the 1,300 construction jobs and 150 permanent jobs the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) estimates would be created.

During the four-year construction period, there would also be more than $1 billion in economic impact statewide and 1,225 indirect and induced spin-off jobs will be created as a result of the ripple effect generated by FutureGen.

Once FutureGen is operational, the study shows it will generate $135 million annually in total statewide economic output, with an $85 million annual increase in Coles and Douglas counties if either Mattoon or Tuscola is selected. It will also create an additional 360 indirect and induced full-time jobs statewide, according to the report.

Environmental Benefits

FutureGen represents an important and revolutionary scientific breakthrough. For the first time the power of coal can be harnessed without releasing harmful emissions into the environment.

FutureGen will help ensure the long-term viability and affordability of coal as a major energy source for the United States. The project will represent a significant step in the United States’ efforts to become a self-sufficient energy producer, further reducing our dependence on foreign oil.

Scientific Advancement

FutureGen will serve as a research laboratory for discovering and refining clean coal technology, hydrogen production and carbon sequestration, and will result in the development of new technologies designed to improve the efficiency of the energy industry.