Project Timeline
2003
The U.S. Department of Energy announces plans to build FutureGen as a prototype
of the fossil fuel power plant of the future.
Governor Blagojevich announces Illinois’ effort to secure FutureGen as a major initiative to promote jobs and spur economic development in Illinois. Plans were also announced to amend state laws to create financial incentives to attract the project.
2005
The FutureGen Alliance is established and enters into partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy to help manage and fund the FutureGen project. The Alliance is an international not-for-profit consortium of the world’s largest coal producers and electric power generators.
An open and competitive siting, environmental review and permitting process begins. States, cities, towns and other locations vying to host the site must meet a set of technical, environmental, regulatory and financial criteria developed by the FutureGen Alliance, with input from the U.S. Department of Energy, independent technical experts, stakeholders and the public.
Project structuring and conceptual design for the power plant begins.
2006
Siting, environmental review and permitting process continues, including the submission of formal proposals from candidates requesting to host the site. Twelve sites from seven states apply to host the project.
FutureGen Alliance announces final four site candidates on July 25: Mattoon and Tuscola, Illinois; and Jewett and Odessa, Texas.
Project structuring and conceptual design concludes.
FutureGen Alliance and U.S. Department of Energy announce site of FutureGen project.
2006/2007
Siting, environmental review and permitting process continues for Mattoon and Tuscola, Illinois; and Jewett and Odessa, Texas.
U.S. Department of Energy begins FutureGen plant design process.
2008
Siting, environmental review and permitting process concludes.
2008/2009
Design process continues.
2010
Facility construction begins, generating 1,300 jobs.
2011
Facility construction concludes.
Plant startup and testing begins.
2012
Plant startup and testing concludes.
2013
Full-scale plant operations begin, with an estimated permanent workforce of 150 during the operational phase.
2016
Site monitoring begins.
