By Brad Palmer
Carbondale, IL – THE ILLINOIS CLEAN COAL REVIEW BOARD WILL FUND THREE NEW STUDIES THAT IT HOPES WILL HELP KEEP THE FUTUREGEN PROJECT ALIVE IN MATTOON.
BOARD MEMBERS MET TODAY (Wed) IN CARBONDALE AND APPROVED FUNDING THE STUDIES BY RESTRUCTURING A TWO MILLION DOLLAR GRANT INITIALLY INTENDED FOR FUTUREGEN.
BOARD CHAIR AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAN REITZ SAYS THE MOST IMPORTANT PROJECT IS GEARED TO STUDYING HOW FUTUREGEN CAN TURN ILLINOIS COAL INTO A SYNTHETIC GAS CAPABLE OF BEING USED IN PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CARBONDALE COAL RESEARCH CENTER DIRECTOR JOHN MEAD SAYS THE DATA FROM THESE STUDIES WILL NOT ONLY BE CRITICAL FOR FUTUREGEN, BUT ALSO USEFUL FOR OTHER COAL-BASED PROJECTS DOWN THE LINE.
THE CLEAN COAL REVIEW BOARD HOPES TO HAVE THE STUDIES COMPLETED BY APRIL 2009, NOT LONG AFTER THE NEW PRESIDENT TAKES OFFICE.
THE FUTUREGEN ALLIANCE SELECTED MATTOON AS THE BEST SITE FOR THE FACILITY LAST DECEMBER ONLY TO HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PULL THE PLUG ON THE EFFORT JUST OVER A MONTH LATER.
